Actor Jang Geun-suk made his presence felt as an all-purpose MC who perfectly handled everything from hosting to cooking.
On the 17th, Jang Geun-suk visited Bongnyeongsa Temple in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province with chefs Monk Seonjae, David Lee and Fabri on the second part of MBC's Lunar New Year special three-part series 'Discovery of the dining table'—part 2, 'The table emptied for me'—and received instruction in the "table of emptiness" from Monk Seonjae.
Jang Geun-suk naturally continued the hosting, showcasing his abilities as an MC by introducing the temple scenery. When Monk Seonjae offered the cornelian cherry in the courtyard, Jang Geun-suk tried it without hesitation and commented that it was "sweet," showing sincerity as he seriously savored each ingredient.
Afterward, Jang Geun-suk stayed by Monk Seonjae's side and worked tirelessly to learn the philosophy of emptiness. In particular, he showed curiosity by asking about the five vegetables forbidden in temple cuisine—"o-sin-chae (wild garlic, chives, onion, garlic, green onion)"—asking what could replace garlic with remarks such as "In Korea it is hard to cook without garlic," and he also quietly helped by trimming carrots. With his natural hosting and cooking skills, Jang Geun-suk added savory appeal to the program and captured viewers' attention.
Before the main meal, Jang Geun-suk drank a soy sauce tea that awakens the body's energy and added vivid taste descriptions to stimulate viewers' senses. He also smiled, captivated by the deep flavor of 20-year-old soy sauce. After tasting temple kimchi made without o-sin-chae, he recommended pairing it with wheat noodles and shared his own food combinations, becoming immersed in the neat charm of temple cuisine. While presenting an ecstatic mukbang, Jang Geun-suk even volunteered himself as an ambassador for temple food, saying, "People who are usually very angry should try temple food at least once. It calms the mind."
The finale of the broadcast was the 'table emptied for me' contest. Betting a 20-year-old aged soy sauce base and going up against three chefs, Jang Geun-suk drew attention with a special temple-style doenjang jjajangmyeon that added doenjang to chunjang. Determined to exclude worldly flavors, he used apple juice and kelp stock for sweetness and umami instead of sugar, added starch water and put his care into the dish. Jang Geun-suk's "nostalgic jjajang table," served with shredded potato soup, earned praise from Monk Seonjae and added warmth to the broadcast.
In this way, Jang Geun-suk led the atmosphere on set with smooth hosting and lively reactions. He also played a key role in raising the program's immersion by carefully addressing the solemn attitude toward temple food and the philosophical values contained in the food. Curiosity grows about the other gourmet stories he will show on his final journey.
The third part of MBC's Lunar New Year special three-part series 'Discovery of the dining table,' in which viewers can see the activities of "a man earnest about food" Jang Geun-suk, will air at 9 p.m. on the 24th.
Meanwhile, the band CHIMIRO, led by Jang Geun-suk, will meet fans starting with '2026 THE CHIMIRO IN SEOUL' on April 11, followed by Osaka, Japan on April 16 and Tokyo on May 21.
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