Choo Sung-hoon says Edward Lee’s jungle-made 'bibimbap' was unforgettable

연합뉴스 / 2026-01-08 15:16:24

▲ Former UFC fighter-turned-TV personality Choo Sung-hoon speaks during the media conference for Channel A’s new entertainment show “Chef and the Hunter” held in Seoul on Jan. 8, 2026. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

SEOUL, Jan. 8 (Yonhap) -- “The bibimbap we ate in the jungle during filming was so good that I asked Chef Edward Lee if he could make it again later, but he told me, ‘Absolutely not.’”

Former UFC fighter-turned-TV personality Choo Sung-hoon said Thursday that the best dish he had during filming for Channel A’s new entertainment show “Chef and the Hunter” was bibimbap.

“Chef and the Hunter” is a survival-themed culinary variety show in which cast members hunt for wild ingredients in extreme natural environments and turn them into finished dishes.

The show stars Choo, Chef Edward Lee, who rose to fame through “Black and White Chef,” former announcer-turned-broadcaster Kim Dae-ho, and comedian Lim Woo-il.

Choo recalled meeting Lee again recently in New York and asking him to recreate the jungle bibimbap.

“He said the ingredients sourced on that day, at that location, and the timing of that moment were everything, and that even with the same ingredients, it could never be made again,” Choo said, expressing regret.

Lim echoed the sentiment, saying Lee’s bibimbap made solely with local ingredients was far from ordinary.

“After tasting the chef’s food, I realized my palate had been like a frog in a well,” he joked.

Lee, who was unable to attend the online production presentation due to personal reasons, appeared in a video message.

“I’ve always wanted to try something new, but I had never hunted or cooked in the wild before,” he said. “I hope viewers are inspired by watching us cook with unfamiliar ingredients.”

The cast’s first hunting destination was Indonesia, where they spent about two weeks hunting and cooking with ingredients they gathered on site.

Actress Kyung Soo-jin, the only female cast member during the Indonesia shoot, said she caught the biggest fish of her life.

“The biggest catch of my fishing life turned out to be a shark,” she said.

Lim recalled hunting a wild boar, saying, “I was the first to spot it and shouted, ‘It’s a wild boar,’ but no one believed me.”

Choo reflected on the dangers of hunting, noting, “Hunting isn’t something ordinary people can easily do. We never knew what might happen and could have gotten hurt. But through the experience, we really started to feel like a team.”

He added, “I don’t think viewers will like the show just because we suffered. I hope they feel envious watching us hunt wild boar or sharks ourselves and then enjoy truly delicious dishes prepared by Chef Edward Lee.”

Producer Koo Jang-hyun said the show differentiates itself from other survival programs.

“Many survival shows focus on building shelter and scraping together a single meal,” he said. “Our key point is how Chef Edward Lee transforms wild ingredients into something closer to fine dining, rather than just food to survive.”

“Chef and the Hunter” premieres Wednesday at 10 p.m. on Channel A.