Survival before cooking...Jungle Bob 2, Ryu Soo-young, Kim Ok-bin, and Choi Hyun-seok's tough livelihood
Feb 27, 2025
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On the 27th, the SBS Hall in Mok-dong, Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, held a production presentation for Jungle Rice 2. Han Bi-in PD, Ryu Ji-hwan PD, actors Ryu Soo-young, Kim Ok-bin, Choi Daniel, Lee Joon, and culinary researchers Choi Hyun-suk and Yoon Nam-no attended the meeting to talk about the program.
'Jungle Rice 2' is a program that captures the process of digging, catching, and cooking ingredients directly in an unknown jungle. Beyond simple survival dishes, we will present a new concept called 'Aesophageal Explorer'. As Season 1, which ended in October last year, was praised for its differentiated format and creative cooking using local ingredients, expectations for Season 2 have also increased.
The biggest change this season is that the filming location is wider. The cast will conduct more colorful gastronomic expeditions against the backdrop of Peru, where Amazon and alpine food ingredients coexist, and the Caribbean Dominican Republic, a paradise of fresh seafood.
The cast has also become powerful. In addition to Ryu Soo-young, who showed her cooking skills in the previous season, Choi Hyun-suk, a fine-dining chef with 30 years of experience, Yoon Nam-no, a personality chef called a `cooking stone,' and actors Kim Ok-bin, Choi Daniel, and Lee Jun joined to complete a more unique combination.
At the production presentation, the cast agreed that the filming of 'Jungle Rice 2' was much harsher than expected.
Choi Hyun-suk said "At first, I heard 'A gourmet trip' but it turned out 'Experience Jungle scene'"," he said, drawing laughter. He wanted to show "Why the chef followed me" at least one meal a day, but the reality was that the body was difficult and extreme survival. I haven't been feeling well for two weeks, but as time went by, it became a moist memory."
Yoon Nam-no also drew laughter after filming by jokingly complaining, saying, `This is a job scam.' He said "The production team said it was a meaningful and fun trip, but honestly, it was very difficult. I thought it was the worst experience, but in the end, it was like a gift that I will remember for the rest of my life," he said.
Kim Ok-bin is a cast member who has experienced both filming locations. "Peru and the Caribbean were in a completely different environment," he said, expressing his difficulties in filming. He said "It was difficult to deal with unfamiliar ingredients directly in Peru, and if there was anything you wanted to eat, you had to get the ingredients. I had to go to the salt farm if I wanted to eat salt, and I had to go to the cacao farm if I wanted to eat chocolate," he said, explaining the intensity of labor beyond his imagination. He also added that "I slept for the first time in a house with only a roof, and the war against bugs was serious.'
As for the Caribbean shooting "Only the destination was given and had to go to it on its own. There were days when I couldn't get on a boat due to permission problems, and I had to endure with the ingredients I collected myself. Honestly, I thought I would eat something delicious and travel comfortably, but it was harder than filming a movie," he confessed, making everyone laugh.
Ryu Soo-young said that although it was burdensome to be with professional chefs, there were many things to learn. He said "I thought it was different from professional chefs because it was a home-cooked meal style, but it felt like I was studying again from the beginning after seeing the know-how of chefs Choi Hyun-suk and Yoon Nam-no." I was shocked to see him make a dessert with just one milk and make a restaurant-class steak in the jungle"I couldn't help but admire.
On this day, the cast also made a pledge for ratings.
Ryu Soo-young declared "If the viewer rating exceeds 6%, I will make two flavors of hotteok and serve it directly to 200 people." In response, Yoon Nam-no said, "I want to run a food truck and go around the country to provide dishes myself. I intend to donate my appearance fee as well," he said, expressing his warm aspiration.
Meanwhile, Jeon Hyun-moo and Heo Young-ji will be the MCs of 'Jungle Bob 2', Ryu Soo-young, Kim Ok-bin, Choi Hyun-seok and Choi Daniel appear in the 'Peruvab' episode, and Yoon Nam-no and Lee Jun will join instead of Choi Hyun-suk and Choi Daniel in 'Caribab'.
Expectations are high on what kind of meals will be made in extreme environments and what dramatic moments will unfold between survival and gastronomy.
The first story of 'Jungle Rice 2' will premiere at 9 p.m. on the 27th.
mj.cho@sportschosun.com
