[비즈한국] While writing about "Someday Wise Resident Life" last time, I lamented why there are no successors (or spin-offs) that live up to the original. Then, I belatedly realized that "Please Take Care of My Refrigerator since 2014" (Refrigerator) existed. As you know, "Refrigerator" was a "national cooking show" that aired for a whopping five years, from November 2014 to November 2019. I thought the era of "cooking shows" had passed for a while, but after "Culinary Class Wars" hit the jackpot last year, "Refrigerator" quickly returned with the subtitle "since 2014," bringing along the popular chefs from "Culinary Class Wars." Despite a roughly five-year hiatus, the fun of the rebooted "Refrigerator" remains intact. No, it is actually hitting a "peak form" that has matured to the fullest.
The returned "Refrigerator" maintains its original "tension" while creating a synergistic effect that carries on the popularity of "Culinary Class Wars." Most of the rotating guest chefs are those who made their names through "Culinary Class Wars." "Culinary Class Wars" winner "Napoli Matfia" (Kwon Sung-jun), runner-up Edward Lee, and chefs Choi Kang-rok, Jung Ji-sun, Park Eun-young, and Yoon Nam-no have appeared to keep the momentum of "Culinary Class Wars" going. Of course, the unique gravity of "Culinary Class Wars" has been stripped away, replaced by the unique lightheartedness of "Refrigerator."
Beyond the cast, the fact that the show is active in setting up "revenge matches" between those who competed in "Culinary Class Wars" is a fun element. From the very first episode where Young Tak and ChimChakMan appeared as guests, there was a match between Edward Lee and Choi Hyun-seok. The show adds to the fun by continuing the confrontations of those who had close matches or competed on the same themes in "Culinary Class Wars," such as Kwon Sung-jun vs. Choi Hyun-seok, Kwon Sung-jun vs. Edward Lee, Jung Ji-sun vs. Park Eun-young, Choi Hyun-seok vs. Bae Kyung-jun, and Kwon Sung-jun vs. Fabrizio. You can even enjoy the fate of "Sylvia," the lucky frying pan that was with Kwon Sung-jun, through the tension of "Refrigerator."
As you know, "Refrigerator" is a battle where chefs cook using ingredients from a guest's refrigerator within a 15-minute time limit. Since the winner is decided entirely by the guest's taste and preferences, the pressure on the chefs is low. Even if a 3-star Michelin chef like Ahn Sung-jae were to appear and make an "even" meat dish, if the guest's palate prefers a "less even" meat dish, they cannot win—that is the nature of "Refrigerator." This is why even when cartoonist and broadcaster Kim Poong beats chefs like Kwon Sung-jun or Yoon Nam-no, everyone can cheerfully praise the winner and have fun (though, in reality, it might hurt their standing in front of their junior staff at their restaurants).
Another charm of "Refrigerator" is that each chef's character is firm and three-dimensional, with no overlap. If original chef Choi Hyun-seok (who gained popularity again via "Culinary Class Wars") and "cooking world demon" Kim Poong (who performs "Kim Poong Magic") show off their seasoned broadcasting sense, then "Culinary Class Wars" alumni Kwon Sung-jun and Yoon Nam-no build a "youngest line" that showcases youthful ambition. Examples include Kwon Sung-jun sublimating his resemblance to Choi Hyun-seok's bravado into laughter, or the "Anti-Vibe Union" formed by Kwon Sung-jun and Yoon Nam-no against chef Son Jong-won, who is called the "Good-Vibe Chef."
Unlike ordinary variety shows where the level of laughter varies greatly depending on who the guest is, the returned "Refrigerator" delivers consistent laughter thanks to the chefs' extraordinary cooking skills—which rival those of professional entertainers—and the "tiki-taka" chemistry of hosts Kim Sung-joo and Ahn Jung-hwan, who are arguably the best in Korea. In particular, the March 30th episode featuring guests Cha Jun-hwan and Jung Jae-hyung provided literally "insane laughter," likely causing many viewers to cry from laughing or choke on their breath. Who could watch the "Crazy Delicious Cheat Dish" Kim Poong presented for Cha Jun-hwan and not laugh? The shocking visual of the "Loach from Hell," which even pro broadcaster Kim Sung-joo couldn't defend, became a huge topic, recording millions of views on YouTube.
On the May 11th broadcast, Asian superstars Kim Jae-joong and Choo Sung-hoon are scheduled to appear as guests, and it is already attracting attention because actor Jang Keun-suk, who previously appeared as a guest, will serve as a special chef to compete against "original Refrigerator chef" Kim Poong. Since Jang Keun-suk is the type of person who shook up "Refrigerator" with his signature bravado, expectations are high for the kind of laughter he will bring as a chef this time.
Not long ago, a news report featured survey results stating that more than half of the public is suffering from a "long-term state of resentment." Even more shockingly, 47.1% of respondents said they have experienced severe stress over the past year that has affected their health. Well, looking at political or social news in the last few months, how many times has anger flared up? I want to recommend that the people of South Korea, who have little to smile about, watch "Refrigerator" a little bit every day. Because at least during that time, you can laugh your head off without worry. You will realize through "Refrigerator" that watching slapdash cooking is much better for your mental health than watching slapdash politics with no narrative or inspiration. As it airs on Sunday evenings, I also recommend it to office workers who dread the "Monday blues."
About the author, Jung Soo-jin?
I have worked for various magazines, covering and writing about movies, travel, and pop culture. I don't want to fall behind trends, but I've become an "old soul" who predicts every obvious cliché in the next scene while watching the latest dramas. I am currently trying to regain my sense of things while drifting through the vast world of OTT, and my current wish is for an integrated OTT subscription plan.