Youn's Kitchen
Youn's Kitchen (Korean: 윤식당; RR: Yun sikdang) is a South Korean reality travel and food program that aired on tvN, in which a group of celebrities led by veteran actress Youn Yuh-jung travels to international locations to establish and manage temporary Korean restaurants, blending culinary challenges with cultural immersion and interpersonal dynamics.[1][2] The series debuted on March 24, 2017, with its first season set in Gili Trawangan, a small island near Bali, Indonesia, where the cast—Youn Yuh-jung as the main chef and owner, alongside Lee Seo-jin as director, Jung Yu-mi as assistant chef, and Shin Goo as part-timer—navigated the setup and operation of a pop-up Korean eatery over nine episodes concluding on May 19, 2017.[2][1] This season emphasized a slow-paced, healing format focused on warm human stories and teamwork in a paradise setting, earning a commendation at the 2017 Korea Content Awards for its innovative approach to variety programming.[2] The second season, which premiered on January 5, 2018, and ran for 11 episodes until March 23, 2018, shifted to Garachico, a coastal town on Tenerife in Spain, introducing actor Park Seo-joon to the core cast of Youn Yuh-jung, Lee Seo-jin, and Jung Yu-mi as they served authentic Korean dishes to local patrons.[3][1] Directed by Na Young-seok and Lee Jin-joo in both seasons, the program achieved significant popularity, with the second season's fifth episode attaining a 16% viewership rating, marking a record for tvN entertainment at the time.[3] Youn's Kitchen's success led to spin-offs, including Youn's Stay (2021), which adapted the concept to a guesthouse format in Gurye, Jeollanam-do, South Korea, amid pandemic-related changes, further highlighting Youn Yuh-jung's charismatic leadership and the ensemble's chemistry.[4] The original format has since inspired international adaptations, such as the Taiwanese version Ai's Kitchen announced in 2024.[5]Overview
Premise
Youn's Kitchen is a South Korean reality cooking and travel program in which a group of celebrities, led by veteran actress Youn Yuh-jung in the role of restaurant owner, travels to international locations to establish and operate a temporary Korean pop-up restaurant serving local customers and tourists over a period of approximately 10 days.[1][6] The core concept revolves around providing an escapist "healing" experience, blending culinary challenges with cultural immersion to offer viewers a respite from urban routines through the cast's collaborative efforts in a foreign setting.[2][7] The format emphasizes the preparation and execution of authentic Korean dishes adapted with locally sourced ingredients, with the cast members taking on all operational roles from ingredient procurement and menu planning to cooking, serving, and customer interaction.[1][8] This hands-on approach highlights the humorous and often chaotic dynamics among the inexperienced celebrity participants, who navigate kitchen mishaps, teamwork pressures, and cross-cultural exchanges to successfully run the establishment.[2][7] Episodes typically follow a structured narrative arc, beginning with the initial setup and sourcing preparations, progressing through the opening day's operational hurdles and menu experimentation, and concluding with reflections on the experience and closure of the pop-up.[1][6] This progression underscores themes of personal growth, communal bonding, and the promotion of Korean culinary traditions abroad.[8]Production
Youn's Kitchen was developed and produced by CJ E&M for the tvN network.[2] The primary director was Na Young-seok, renowned for his work on previous variety shows such as Grandpas Over Flowers after joining CJ E&M from KBS.[9] Additional directors included Lee Jin-joo, while the writer was Lee Woo-jung. The series aired on Fridays at approximately 9:50 PM KST, spanning from March 24, 2017, to March 23, 2018, for a total of 20 episodes across two seasons.[10][11] Production involved significant logistical challenges, particularly in coordinating international travel to remote locations and maintaining food safety standards in temporary pop-up restaurant setups.[12] The team opted for rural and island settings, such as a small island near Bali for the first season, to foster an authentic, low-competition environment that emphasized a slow-paced, healing atmosphere amid Korea's fast society.[13][14] This choice allowed the pop-up Korean restaurant concept to thrive in serene, paradise-like locales with minimal urban interference.[15]Cast
Season 1
The main cast of Youn's Kitchen Season 1 featured four veteran South Korean actors who portrayed key roles in operating a pop-up Korean restaurant abroad, drawing on their real-life experiences to create authentic dynamics.[10] Youn Yuh-jung played the owner, CEO, and main chef, leading the overall operations with her energetic oversight and providing comic relief through her witty and unpredictable personality that endeared her to viewers and co-stars alike.[10][16][17] Lee Seo-jin served as the restaurant manager, managing daily operations, customer service, and finances to ensure the venture's viability, often highlighting his meticulous approach to budgeting and efficiency.[10] Jung Yu-mi acted as the sous chef and kitchen assistant, supporting the team across cooking, service, and kitchen assistance with her adaptable and hands-on contributions that kept the restaurant running smoothly.[10][16] Shin Goo functioned as a seasoned helper and part-timer, drawing on his extensive acting background to offer practical advice and steady support in various tasks, joining the team after the initial episodes to bolster operations.[10]Season 2
Season 2 of Youn's Kitchen features a core cast of four members, with three returning from the previous season and one new addition to maintain continuity while introducing fresh dynamics.[18] Youn Yuh-jung reprises her role as the owner and CEO, providing steadfast leadership and overseeing the restaurant's operations as the main chef.[19] Lee Seo-jin returns as the restaurant manager, bringing more experienced oversight to handle serving, cashier duties, and barista responsibilities.[19] Jung Yu-mi continues as a versatile staff member, assisting in the kitchen with advanced tasks alongside her general support role.[19] Park Seo-joon joins as the new intern, starting from basic duties to learn the ropes and injecting youthful energy into the team.[19][18]Seasons
Season 1
Season 1 of Youn's Kitchen aired from March 24 to May 18, 2017, consisting of 9 episodes.[1] The cast established a pop-up Korean restaurant in Gili Trawangan, a small island near Bali, Indonesia, serving local residents and tourists over approximately 10 days.[10] The season focused on the team's challenges in setup, menu preparation, and operations in a tropical paradise setting, emphasizing teamwork and cultural interactions.[2] The main cast included Youn Yuh-jung as the owner and main chef, Lee Seo-jin as the manager, Jung Yu-mi as the assistant chef, and Shin Goo as a part-timer who joined after the initial episodes.[10]Season 2
Season 2 aired from January 4 to March 22, 2018, for 11 episodes.[1] Set in the coastal town of Garachico on Tenerife, Spain, the cast operated a temporary Korean restaurant, adapting to a European locale with local patrons and introducing more complex dishes.[3] The season highlighted increased operational experience from the first season, along with new interpersonal dynamics.[18] Returning cast members Youn Yuh-jung, Lee Seo-jin, and Jung Yu-mi reprised their roles, joined by Park Seo-joon as an intern.[18]Reception
Viewership
Season 2 of Youn's Kitchen averaged 3.261 million viewers per episode, according to Nielsen Media Research.[20] The first season generated initial buzz through its novel concept of celebrities managing a restaurant abroad, establishing a strong foundation for the series. The second season maintained high engagement levels, benefiting from audience familiarity with the returning cast, which contributed to consistent viewership growth.[21][22] The program primarily appealed to South Korea's 20-49 age group, aligning with tvN's core target demographic for its content. Internationally, it achieved additional reach via post-broadcast streaming on platforms such as Netflix and Viki.[23][7] Youn's Kitchen set records for the network's variety programming.[11]Ratings
Youn's Kitchen's ratings were measured using AGB Nielsen's nationwide metrics for pay TV audience share.[10] In Season 1, the series achieved an average rating of 11.125% across its episodes. The peak rating reached 14.141%.[24] Season 2 saw improved performance with an average rating of 13.330%. Its highest rating was 15.986% in Episode 5, driven by high customer turnout at the restaurant.[25] Both seasons exhibited a steady climb in ratings over their runs, with episodes airing on Fridays and competing effectively against major broadcast network programs in the same time slot.Awards and nominations
Youn's Kitchen received a notable nomination at the 54th Baeksang Arts Awards in 2018 for its second season.[26]| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 54th Baeksang Arts Awards | Best Entertainment Program | Youn's Kitchen 2 | Nominated |