'Gongyanggan chefs' Sunjae monk said he was given a one-year terminal prognosis after being diagnosed with liver cirrhosis, and that he regained his health through temple food.
Wavve's wellness ambitious project "Gongyanggan chefs" brings together the "signature dishes" of six masters of temple cuisine in one place, opening with grand ambitions. "Gongyanggan chefs," which will be released exclusively on the 13th, follows six master monks of temple cuisine as they prepare and share offerings (供養), and is a food reality program that deeply illuminates the philosophy and the meaning of practice contained in the food.
Netflix series "Culinary Class Wars" season 2's "White Spoon" Sunjae monk and Junggwan monk, who gained global recognition through "Chef's Table," along with Gyeho monk, Jeokmun monk, Daean monk, and Ugwan monk, a total of six masters, appear and reinterpret temple cuisine, which was designated as a national intangible cultural asset in 2025, in their own ways. In the context of vegetarianism and veganism becoming global trends, anticipation is rising for this wellness content that is suitable for enjoying with family during the Lunar New Year holiday.
In the first episode of "Gongyanggan chefs," the six master monks of temple cuisine gather in one place for the first time to present dishes reflecting their individual personalities, and the time for the "first topic" unfolds as they share food and conversation. When the six begin cooking simultaneously, Junggwan monk expresses excitement, saying "It feels like a cooking contest," and soon immerses himself in the dish "shiitake mushroom jocheong jorim" prepared with ingredients he brought.
Later, while preparing "naengmyeon," Sunjae monk watches the cooking process of Ugwan monk, a "New York-trained" chef, and shows interest, saying, "It's an ingredient we wouldn't use, but you can already see the youthful touch." Jeokmun monk also reacts positively, saying, "Going fusion is also a way to make temple cuisine more diverse," and curiosity grows about what Ugwan monk's signature dish will be as he exclaims, "That's it! The time has finally come."
After finishing their dishes, the six masters sit together and taste each other's food in turn, sharing life stories related to the dishes. Among them, Sunjae monk confesses, "One day my palms turned yellow and when I went to the hospital I was diagnosed with liver cirrhosis and given a one-year terminal prognosis," adding, "After researching temple food and changing my eating habits, antibodies miraculously formed in a year. Temple food essentially extended my life," a revelation that resonates. Also, Junggwan monk, Jeokmun monk, and Sunjae monk calmly convey the apologies and longings they felt for their parents and families, for whom it took a long time to accept their ordination (出家) and severing ties with the secular world, evoking empathy.
In the following "second topic," the six masters pair up in twos and each choose one of soy sauce·doenjang·gochujang to complete their temple dishes. This process includes actor Ryu Soo-young and Culinary Class Wars' Yoon Nam-no chef, Joseph Lidgerwood chef, and Korean food master Jo Hee-sook, who join in, and they express admiration for the flavors of the sauces the monks made and the completed dishes. In the final "third topic," the six monks prepare one offering table and carry out a bowl-offering meal for 53 people. Including the guests from the "second topic," actor Park Hae-jin, Professor Geum Nana, Michelin-starred chefs, and distinguished faculty, among others from various generations and backgrounds, gather in one place to experience a special offering culture.
Composed of four episodes, "Gongyanggan chefs" will release all episodes at 11 a.m. on the 13th.
[Photo] Provided by Wavve.
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