Lee Yeon-bok said he once considered retirement after losing his sense of smell.
On the 7th, during the Channel A show 'Close Friends: Four-Person Table', chef Lee Yeon-bok shared the story of how he lost his sense of smell due to sinus surgery.
On that day, Lee Yeon-bok invited close friends actor Kim Kang-woo, announcer Jang Ye-won, and comedian Heo Kyung-hwan. Lee Yeon-bok said, "Kang-woo did a play. It ended not long ago," and added, "I really enjoyed it. After it ended, we met and the emotions didn't fade away, so he was in tears."
Jang Ye-won looked at Kim Kang-woo and said, "It's the first time I've seen you today, but you're really handsome in person." To this, Kim Kang-woo jokingly replied, "How bad must I look on screen?"
Lee Yeon-bok took out his knife bag and pulled out his favorite knife, a knife made from shell casings. Lee Yeon-bok mentioned that he gifted a Chinese cleaver to Kim Kang-woo and Heo Kyung-hwan.
Lee Yeon-bok said he would gift a knife to his close friends, making Jang Ye-won feel left out as she exclaimed she didn't receive one herself, which brought laughter. Heo Kyung-hwan and Kim Kang-woo showcased their dazzling knife skills, surprising everyone around.
Lee Yeon-bok stated he first met Jang Ye-won during the 2017 Winter Olympics event. He said, "Many people don't know that Ye-won is a fun person." Heo Kyung-hwan noted, "I received a call from Ye-won before her 'grants'. She was like, 'Chef, you are close with so many female celebrities, why didn't you call me?' She said, 'It's because you like me the most.'"
Lee Yeon-bok said, "I have a group chat with Ye-won and we meet often." Jang Ye-won chimed, "Most people call me Ye-won, but the chef is the only one who calls me 'Ae-won'." This drew laughter.
On that day, Lee Yeon-bok shared the story of losing his most important sense of smell. He said, "When I worked at the embassy, the ambassador asked me to go to Taiwan together. During a health check-up, I got tested too. They said I had serious sinusitis and needed a simple surgery. After that surgery, I lost my sense of smell."
Lee Yeon-bok said, "The surgery was possible, but they warned about a high risk of recurrence. At that time, I pondered whether I should change my profession. This was the only thing I had learned to do."
Lee Yeon-bok remarked, "In the past, there were no truffles or herbs. I wondered why people liked truffles so much. My wife said it's the scent of mud, but I still don't know that aroma."
Lee Yeon-bok mentioned, "When new ingredients come out on cooking competition shows, I couldn't use them all. That's why I'm really curious about new ingredients."
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