'Living legend of baseball' Kim Byung-hyun revealed his ambition for overseas market expansion while appearing on 'Living Report.'
In the fourth episode aired on the 16th of MBN·MBC DramaNet's entertainment program 'Living Report,' Kim Byung-hyun, who is active as a 'burger joint owner' after being a 'major leaguer,' appeared as a 'client for experience' and requested a 'customized guide' for overseas business. On that day, Lee Ji-hye and Jasson summoned their respective 'experience guides' from Taiwan and Cambodia, engaging in a fierce competition, resulting in Kim Byung-hyun choosing Taiwan and gifting Lee Ji-hye with a second consecutive victory.
When Kim Byung-hyun appeared in the studio, Jasson warmly welcomed him, mentioning, "What I still remember is the accumulated salary of 23.7 billion won." Kim Byung-hyun cheerfully laughed, saying, "The record has not yet been broken for amateur salaries." Lee Ji-hye asked, "Then what budget are you considering from 23.7 billion won?" and he specifically replied, "For a meat restaurant, about 500 million to 1 billion won; for a fast-food restaurant, around 100 million to 200 million won." In response, Lee Ji-hye recommended Taiwan, known as 'the Silicon Valley of Asia,' as the location for overseas expansion. Kim Byung-hyun showed great interest, saying, "Recently, I opened a burger shop in an area densely populated with office workers."
Following Lee Ji-hye's introduction, Hou Young, who has lived in Taiwan for eight years, appeared as an 'experience guide' and analyzed the food market in Taipei. First, he headed to the landmark of Taiwanese baseball, the 'Taipei Dome,' for Kim Byung-hyun, a former baseball player. An American traveler, whom he randomly met there, answered Hou Young's question, "Do you know Kim Byung-hyun?" with "I do," which made Kim Byung-hyun proud. Hou Young then stated, "Due to the hot and humid weather, fried dishes have developed in Taiwan," introducing popular local street foods such as fried chicken (ji pai), fried milk, and sugar-coated doughnuts (bai tang guo). He particularly noted that a Korean chicken brand recorded sales of 100 million won within a week, surprising the audience. Additionally, he showcased popular food trends at the local 'Linjiang Night Market,' including skewers, papaya milk (mu gua niu nai), and glutinous rice dumpling shaved ice (tang yuan bing).
The vivid stories of Korean entrepreneurs who succeeded in Taiwan also captivated everyone's ears. Hou Young first visited a snack shop in Taipei, learning that successful factors included a strategy of selling desserts together, menu labels accommodating vegetarian customers, and the introduction of machines for making gimbap, considering efficiency. Meanwhile, a meat shop owned by a couple in Taichung captured Kim Byung-hyun's attention due to thorough market research and preparation, leading to explosive sales. A pork soup restaurant that had only been open for two months also left a striking impression by appealing to local tastes.
During a break, Lee Ji-hye asked Kim Byung-hyun, "Which of the three MCs would you like to do business with?" Instead of choosing the trendy Jasson or the capable Lee Ji-hye, he opted for Kim Sung-joo because of his capital strength. Lee Ji-hye replied, "Actually, I also want to do business with Kim Sung-joo," eliciting laughter. Amidst the lighthearted chemistry, Hou Young shared his 12-pyeong studio while introducing real local life. He explained, "Since I don't cook much at home, it's common to have houses without kitchens," to which Lee Ji-hye suggested, "On the other hand, because the culture of dining out and delivery is well developed, Taiwan is perfect for the food service industry!"
Next to present was Jasson, who introduced Cambodia, an 'opportunity kingdom' that has risen on the back of the rapid growth of the tourism business. Hwang Hu-in, who runs a café and also performs as a singer locally, took the stage as an 'experience guide,' leading Kim Byung-hyun to a 17-year-old traditional handmade burger restaurant that catered to his taste. He then headed to 'Kono Rea Night Market,' where while exploring local popular foods, he discovered a shop selling Korean tteokbokki. After tasting the food, Hwang Hu-in remarked, "It's very similar to Korean tteokbokki," demonstrating the popularity of Korean spicy flavors that have captivated Cambodian palates.
Moreover, Hwang Hu-in also visited Korean restaurants that have successfully established themselves in Cambodia to learn their success secrets. In restaurants run by Korean owners, jajangmyeon and fried rice were priced at 8,000 won, seafood jjampong at 11,000 won, and chicken at 26,000 won—similar to or even more expensive than in Korea. Jasson explained, "In Cambodia, Korean food is considered a high-end cuisine, which generally results in higher prices." On the other hand, while the monthly salary for employees is around 290,000 won, labor costs are low, prompting Kim Sung-joo to express curiosity, saying, "Isn't this a lot more profitable than Korea?"
Hwang Hu-in surprised the audience by revealing not only the food service industry but also a handmade furniture factory run by his parents for the past 12 years. With a high enough income to send a child to an American university that costs 100 million won annually, Kim Byung-hyun's eyes sparkled at his parents' story. Furthermore, he was astounded to learn that a large three-floor house with a bathroom in every room, allowing for separate generations, rents for 1 million won. After the introduction of the two countries concluded, Kim Byung-hyun remarked, "Since there is a baseball infrastructure, wouldn't it work to say 'the hamburger shop of a former major leaguer'?" ultimately selecting Taiwan. However, as Kim Sung-joo, who constantly expressed a desire to be a business partner, showed a preference for Cambodia, Kim Byung-hyun jokingly asked, "Should I change my mind again?" leaving everyone amused until the end.
[Photo] Capture from MBN·MBC DramaNet 'Living Report'
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