MBC's Chuseok special "Jeon-guk 1-deung" returns today (8th) for the second showdown to determine Korea's best "rice."
Under the fresh concept of the country's first "local specialty champions league," the first broadcast of "Jeon-guk 1-deung" featured a Korean beef episode that captured viewers' attention with a mouthwatering parade of eating segments showcasing different cuts.
The Oct. 3 broadcast recorded a 3.2% household rating in the capital area according to Nielsen Korea, and notably achieved a 1.4% rating in the 20-49 demographic — a key indicator for advertisers and channel competitiveness — ranking first in its time slot, marking a meaningful achievement.
In today's (8th) broadcast, a real contest unfolds over rice, the soul food of Koreans. Rice from Yeoju in Gyeonggi, Andong in North Gyeongsang and Hwaseong in Gyeonggi will compete in a fierce three-way battle over the pride of a bowl of rice. As in the first episode, judging proceeds in three stages — pre-vote, interim vote and final vote — with a panel of 100 evaluators participating to promise a fairer and more exciting competition. In particular, this rice episode reportedly kept everyone holding their breath as the rankings flipped with each vote in a series of close contests.
The three MCs representing each region also visited the scenes in person to experience the appeal of the rice firsthand. First, Kim Dae-ho, who visited Andong, presented an eating segment featuring "cheong egg soy sauce rice" made with rice milled on site. The simple bowl topped with a cheong egg and sesame oil on freshly cooked rice stimulated the palate with a powerful taste of familiarity, and the subsequent parade of side dishes that "steal rice" prompted admiring and envious reactions in the studio, such as "Ah.. this is really too much" and "She's eating so deliciously it's maddening."
Park Na-rae, together with announcer Jeong Young-han, coined the self-styled name "I'm 'rice'-bound" and went on a Yeoju rice date. The final stop was a village feast hosted by a village head who has been farming rice for four generations. After tasting the rice there, Park Na-rae honestly confessed, "I'm sorry to the grandparents who farmed in Muan, but Yeoju rice is a little tastier." Chef Lee Won-il, watching this, praised Yeoju rice as "a rice with outstanding resilience and sweetness," drawing on his experience running a kimbap shop in the U.S., lending weight to Park Na-rae's assessment.
Meanwhile, representing Hwaseong in place of Moon Se-yoon, creator Mimiminu was dispatched. From a surprise visit to Hwaseong City Hall's cafeteria to experiencing rice farming with MZ-generation farmers, she showcased the charm of Hwaseong rice, characterized by a savory popcorn aroma. Immediately after watching Mimiminu's activity video, Moon Se-yoon presented an "all-time bite" by scooping a spoonful of Hwaseong rice and devouring it in one gulp, and the unexpected moment filled the studio with laughter and shock.
The broadcast also featured a rare special scene. Rice cookers appeared in the middle of the studio, and a "rice sommelier" performed on-site cooking of each region's rice and served it to the panel of 100. As the savory aroma spread, 300 servings of rice were cooked simultaneously and steam rose, creating a spectacular scene that drew admiration from everyone watching.
MBC's "Jeon-guk 1-deung" offers richer viewing beyond a simple taste contest by capturing the regional dedication and pride contained in each grain of rice. Following the Korean beef episode, the rice installment raises more curiosity about which region will claim the "Jeon-guk 1-deung" title. The unique contest to determine Korea's best-tasting rice, MBC's Chuseok special "Jeon-guk 1-deung" second episode, airs tonight (8th) at 8:10 p.m.<
[Photo] MBC
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