Even Lee Young Ae, forever remembered as “Dae Jang Geum” from the hit drama Jewel in the Palace, was left speechless after her first time as a cooking judge.
On the August 31 episode of JTBC’s Please Take Care of My Refrigerator, the actress appeared as a special guest while chefs battled to create dishes using the ingredients from her fridge.
For the first time ever, Lee Young Ae officially sat in the judge’s seat — something fans have been curious about for years.
She admitted, “Because of my role as Dae Jang Geum, I received countless offers to appear as a judge on cooking programs. But I always politely declined. This feels like a once-in-a-lifetime experience, so I’m very nervous.”
Despite her nerves, Lee Young Ae impressed everyone with how seriously she took the task. She closed her eyes with each bite, carefully savoring the dishes before giving her comments.
She praised the chefs, saying, “This is a taste I’ve never experienced before,” and even became teary-eyed, showing how moved she was by the flavors.
Her presence drew extra excitement from the chefs as well. Korean cuisine expert Son Jong Won said, “As a Korean chef, I always wanted to cook for her at least once.” Meanwhile, Chinese cuisine chef Park Eun Young boldly declared, “Health food is best in Chinese cooking. I’ll show a dish that gives real strength.”
As the matches continued, Sam Kim and Jung Ho Young also brought their best to the stage, with Jung Ho Young even saying he wanted to extend his winning streak while sharing his own connection with Lee Young Ae.
Though she has turned down countless judging offers in the past, Lee Young Ae’s appearance on Please Take Care of My Refrigerator reminded everyone why she is still so loved — graceful, honest, and forever connected to her legendary role as Dae Jang Geum.
Source: [1]
