'Comedian Lee Jin-hwan revealed that after leaving the entertainment industry he succeeded as an omakase chef earning monthly sales of 20 million won.'
On the 16th broadcast of MBN "Special Report," Lee Jin-hwan, who once gained great affection for his "absurd gag" humor, was introduced in his second life.
Lee Jin-hwan, who debuted in 2000 as a comedian in MBC's 11th public recruitment class, gained great popularity with his absurd gag just six months after his debut. He recalled his heyday, saying, "I performed night shows and shot commercials and earned money at ages 20 to 21 that I couldn't have imagined."
But the situation was different when he returned after military service. Lee Jin-hwan said, "I served in the military later, and when I was discharged the absurd gag had already become a nostalgic act," explaining the reason he left broadcasting and made a living in the food service industry.
While running a raw fish restaurant his business did well thanks to word of mouth from customers, but he was greatly shocked by a comment he overheard in the open kitchen. "I heard someone say, 'If a comedian fails, they end up doing small business like this in the neighborhood,'" he recalled. "At that moment I woke up. I clenched my teeth with the thought that I would earn enough to live without asking others for help."
He reduced even his sleeping hours and taught himself to cook, then opened an omakase restaurant and has now established himself as a chef running a premium omakase in Gangnam. In a past broadcast Lee Jin-hwan also revealed that his current restaurant's monthly sales were around 18 to 20 million won.
Above all, Lee Jin-hwan's omakase also includes his parents' flavors. He explained, "Unlike typical omakase, my mother's dishes are included. I serve Korean dishes like aged kimchi in between courses." Much of the ingredients used in the restaurant are organic produce directly grown by his parents on their 4,000-pyeong farm.
On the broadcast he also expressed remorse toward his parents. Lee Jin-hwan confessed, "When I was young I avoided my mother because I was embarrassed that she was selling coffee at the market," and said, "Now I know that thanks to my mother I can make a living like this. I feel so sorry for being embarrassed back then."
He also said he is preparing to acquire the highest qualification related to pufferfish, the pufferfish master craftsman certificate, aiming to cook dishes others rarely attempt, and said, "My dream is to run my restaurant for a long time," and many people are cheering for his second act in life.
[Photo] 'Special Report'
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