tvN 'Fresh off the Sea season 3' recorded the highest ratings in its time slot for four consecutive weeks with a delightful meeting between Cho Jungseok and the four siblings.
On the 20th, the fourth episode of tvN 'Fresh off the Sea 3' (directed by Kim Se-hee) aired, showing the story of Yum Jung-ah, Kim Sunyoung, Kang Youseok and Roh Yoon-seo, the four siblings, heading to their second production site in Taean, Chungcheongnam-do. From guest Cho Jungseok's surprise appearance to clamming operations and a hearty spread prepared with clams they harvested themselves, a variety of fun continued. That episode ranked first in the nation across all channels including terrestrial broadcasters in the target demographic of tvN, men and women 20-49, continuing its four-week run at the top. (Nielsen Korea, paid platforms)
When the four siblings arrived in Taean, a hearty table full of the flavors of the sea was laid out before them. While guessing the day's catch menu, the production team teased, "Today we're going to a rock festival," heightening curiosity. At that moment, guest singer Cho Jungseok made a surprise appearance and the site was instantly filled with cheers.
Cho Jungseok arrived in Taean before the four siblings to prepare a surprise event. Walking the red carpet, he sang "Aloha" live himself, and the four siblings all cheered in unison, showing their delight.
The special connection between Cho Jungseok and the four siblings also drew attention. Yum Jung-ah, who had worked with Cho Jungseok in the film 'Bbaengban,' expressed special delight, saying, "I never expected to meet Cho Jungseok in Taean." Kim Sunyoung and Roh Yoon-seo, who formed ties with Cho Jungseok through Hospital Playlist and YouTube, could not hide their joy either. Cho Jungseok warmed the atmosphere further by calling Kim Sunyoung "a sister with an inner familiarity."
Kang Youseok, who had long cited Cho Jungseok as a role model, also elicited laughs with his reaction. Meeting his favorite Cho Jungseok in person, Kang Youseok said, "I won't sleep tonight," and his flustered manner provoked roaring laughter.
The identity of the "rock festival" the production team had teased was also revealed. Upon arriving at the vast mudflat, a banner reading "Clams are rock too" welcomed them, and the famous clam harvesting in Beopsan-ri, Taean, awaited the four siblings.
The scale of the operation was also extraordinary. The sight of dozens of tillers cutting across the mudflat at full speed evoked a "mudflat race." Riding a tiller to harvest, Cho Jungseok quipped when told, "Your posture looks like Spider-Man," "It is Spider-Man. I'm a spider husband," showing off his witty banter.
Cho Jungseok then shared an anecdote about his wife Gummy singing a celebratory song in his stead when a close PD asked him to perform one. He added to the laughter by saying the PD reacted, "Nice," and liked it even more.
The four siblings located breathing holes across the mudflat and began full-scale clam harvesting using rakes and sieves. In the situation where they had to dig up as many clams as possible before the tide came in, Yum Jung-ah displayed veteran-level hand skills and overwhelming speed. Kim Sunyoung, whose hands and mouth did not stop, Kang Youseok, who revealed an exceptional aptitude as the "clam ace," and Roh Yoon-seo, the "breathing hole hunter" who ran to every breathing hole she found, also stood out.
Cho Jungseok led the mood by handling not only the work but also the skits with nonchalance. In particular, he even summoned a female alter ego and performed a flirting skit with Kang Youseok, delivering nonstop laughter.
The impromptu "1st fresh off the sea mudflat long jump competition" was another highlight. The production team's bold offer to give 50,000 won if five people jumped a total of more than 5 meters prompted the members to take on the challenge. Cho Jungseok showed off a sky-high jump, and with the four siblings' performance and an extra round, they earned a total of 90,000 won.
After a final sprint to dig clams, the four siblings harvested a total of 30.4kg of clams. Having experienced harvesting themselves, the siblings reflected on the value of ingredients that appear on the table, saying, "I didn't know eating clams was this hard. We should eat them gratefully."
The house where the four siblings stayed, the Fresh off the Sea house, was a country home with a cozy red roof and a spacious yard set against rice paddies and fields. Yum Jung-ah announced the opening of "Fresh off the Sea restaurant" and took on Chinese dishes ranging from Taean clam jjambbong to sweet and sour pork, spicy pepper and vegetable stir-fry, and cucumber tangtang-i.
While Yum Jung-ah oversaw the cooking, Kim Sunyoung and Roh Yoon-seo prepared the ingredients, and Kang Youseok tried cucumber tangtang-i for the first time in his life. Cho Jungseok transformed into the fire manager, the "warrior of fire," helping with the cooking and even providing work songs, raising the mood on site.
Yum Jung-ah completed a fiery sweet pepper and vegetable stir-fry, earning reactions such as "tastier than a Chinese restaurant" and high praise from the production team. Cho Jungseok also perfectly overcame his sweet and sour pork trauma. Previously, during Sluggish mountain village life, his sweet and sour pork had burned black and become a topic of conversation; this time he checked the precise temperature and fried the sweet and sour pork perfectly at 170 degrees.
When the golden sweet and sour pork was completed, Kim Sunyoung exclaimed, "It's the most delicious sweet and sour pork I've ever eaten in my life." It was a passage that raised expectations about the taste of the hearty first dinner made together by Cho Jungseok and the four siblings.
[photo] broadcast capture
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