Baby Beast Kim Si-hyun, who appeared on Culinary Class Wars 2, expressed a heartfelt tribute to her late mentor.
On the 30th, Kim Si-hyun posted several photos and a long message on her social media mourning cooking researcher and director of the Tongyeong Food Culture Research Institute Lee Sang Hee.
First, Kim Si-hyun said, "She never begrudged anything she had cultivated all her life and worried about how to pass it on to the next generation, and those things that might feel too old and provoke resistance in the new generation, she would polish and tell in pretty, simple words."
Kim Si-hyun continued, "The world I discovered thanks to my teacher existed in more diverse and warmer ways than I knew, and thanks to her I gained not only culinary insight but a broader perspective," adding, "When I knew nothing, I simply met the teacher in Tongyeong, looked into her eyes and tasted the food, and bothered her by saying I wanted to learn without thinking, but I cannot forget how she welcomed me with open arms on every visit over the years."
She added, "When I had nothing noteworthy to show, she became my solid certificate and had more confidence in me than I did. When I heard the news, I felt my confidence leave me," saying, "When I received word that she was critical and went straight to Tongyeong that day, I grabbed her hand and sobbed, and even then she cheered that Si-hyun would do well. When I went to leave, she said we would see each other soon in Seoul, which will probably be a promise I can never forget," expressing her deep affection.
Kim Si-hyun drew attention by appearing as a Black Spoon Baby Beast on last year's Netflix Culinary Class Wars: cooking class wars season 2. She later revealed her connection with the late Lee Sang Hee when she appeared on the MBC variety show I Live Alone.
Lee Sang Hee, director of the Tongyeong Food Culture Research Institute, passed away on the 28th.
Below is Kim Si-hyun's full tribute.
She never begrudged anything she had cultivated all her life and worried about how to pass it on to the next generation
Those things that might feel too old and provoke resistance in the new generation, she would polish and tell in pretty, simple words.
She always said cooking is principle. Life is principle. If it's bland you need salt, and if it's hard you should rest — those words are still deeply ingrained.
The world I discovered thanks to my teacher existed in more diverse and warmer ways than I knew, and thanks to her I gained not only culinary insight but a broader perspective.
The teacher I met every morning at the early market was more energetic than anyone, and that energy was passed on to the elderly grandmothers sitting around, making Seohosi Market feel like one big family.
When I knew nothing, I simply met the teacher in Tongyeong, looked into her eyes and tasted the food, and bothered her by saying I wanted to learn without thinking
I cannot forget how she welcomed me with open arms on every visit over the years.
In the distant future, when I too have rings of experience appropriate to my age, will I be able to be to future generations what the teacher was to me?
When I had nothing noteworthy to show, she became a solid certificate and had more confidence in me than I did.
When I heard the news, I felt my confidence leave me.
I remember the days she worried that sharp attention from the broadcast might cause hurt or make me hate what I love.
Those words gave me a shelter like a bomb shelter and the strength to do things with more confidence.
On the days I went to Tongyeong I was more excited than any child.
The day we went to gather vegetables carrying baskets together, she promised we would come back for a picnic with Miraiimo next time,
on busy days she would nod off during conversations with me,
I drank the three-year-old liquor she brewed herself, and she drank warm tea and waited to regain her health,
when I went down with cherished people, I learned how to treat someone precious by watching her.
When I started working in fine dining and almost forgot the essence because it was hard and busy, she always reminded me and allowed me to approach it with a straight heart.
How many people can experience the meaning of 'teacher' so deeply?
When I received word that she was critical and went straight to Tongyeong that day, I grabbed her hand and sobbed, and even then she cheered that Si-hyun would do well. When I went to leave, she said we would see each other soon in Seoul, which will probably be a promise I can never forget. [Photo] Kim Si-hyun social media. [OSEN]