The successful return to rural life by comedian Lee Jae-hoon has been reported.
Recently, a video titled 'Meeting Lee Jae-hoon, cafe transformed from a spicy soup restaurant, blockbuster comedian update' was released on the YouTube channel 'Current Status Olympics.' In the video, Lee Jae-hoon revealed that he returned to the countryside in Jeonbuk's Imsil to care for his daughter, who was born 5 years ago as a premature baby weighing 890g after 7 months.
After moving to the countryside, he transformed his mother-in-law's spicy soup restaurant into a cafe with an eco-friendly concept. As a result of personally undertaking the interior, construction, and even the outdoor areas, the cafe began to gain attention for its signature menu item, shaved ice called 'pot bingsoo,' after actress Go Doo-shim visited. It was reported that Go Doo-shim even mentioned she wanted to take some red beans home.
Additionally, Lee Jae-hoon introduced live performances mimicking famous singers to make the cafe a local attraction. He noted, 'The cumulative number of visitors has exceeded 380,000. I count every morning to stay focused,' and expressed his ambition to give a car as a prize to the millionth visitor.
He also expressed satisfaction with the stable revenue compared to his entertainment activities. 'Income from entertainment can be unpredictable, but it's good to see the number of visitors steadily increasing at the cafe,' he shared, revealing, 'On the best sales day, the revenue was equivalent to the cost of a used mid-size car.'
Nevertheless, he emphasized, 'I'm not just chasing after money. In the past, I lived passively, but now I've become proactive. This is my stage,' highlighting his affection for the cafe. Regarding the secret to his success, he remarked, 'I make it a point to connect with each and every customer.'
Lee Jae-hoon made his debut as a comedian in 2001 through the KBS public recruitment program, gaining immense popularity for his humor using Jeolla Province dialect in 'Gag Concert.' During his broadcasting days, he made millions of viewers laugh under studio lights, but now he feels more comfortable on stage at a humble country cafe, directly holding the microphone and making eye contact with the audience. His life, having chosen a sunny cafe over a glamorous broadcasting stage, seems to reflect not just a simple career change, but 'a different peak with only the form of the stage changed.'
Meanwhile, Lee Jae-hoon is currently communicating with listeners through 'Running Radio' on Jeonbuk Traffic Broadcasting while managing the cafe.
[Photo] Lee Jae-hoon SNS, video capture
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