Original subtitles

Yedang Entertainment Company presents

a SHOW EAST Production

Distribution by CJ Entertainment

A taste that shakes you to the core.

You experience it not with your tongue, but your heart.

5 Years Earlier

I've asked all of you here

to choose the next head of Woonam-jung.

Kim Kang-woo

Im Won-hee

Lee Hana

The golden blowfish is the ideal task

to give our next head.

Are you ready?

Yes, sir.

Present your dish.

So thin, I can see the print on the dish.

I've never seen a flower this pretty.

A butterfly flown from that flower is dancing in my mouth.

It tastes like peach blossoms.

Peach blossoms from raw fish? Incredible.

Your grandson is an exquisite chef.

Original story by HUR Young-man

This time it's a crane.

A touch from my chopsticks may send it into flight.

I taste the sea.

The crane is flying through the sea!

It's true that some tastes are to die for.

Exquisite.

How can we choose between them?

There is no way to choose between the two.

I can sense something different.

The after taste is different.

I feel like I'm standing on a sharp blade...

A sharp blade?

What's that taste?

What did you do?

Weren't you careful with the blowfish?

How could this happen?

Didn't you extract the poison?

Don't you know how deadly that is?

I don't make mistakes!

No, this can't be...

Directed by JEON Yun-su Something's not right.

Something's not right.

Le Grand Chef

Is there a special reason for the shape of this knife?

When King Soon-jong stopped eating,

the Royal Chef had no one to serve and stopped cooking.

And to avoid being forced to cook for the Japanese colonizers,

he cut off his own hand.

Please find a rightful owner for this knife.

It's the only way to atone for the sins of my ancestors.

How do you plan to choose the knife's new owner?

We'll hold a competition.

The greatest chef of this era shall carry on the Royal Chef's tradition.

He will be the Royal Chef of modern times.

Get me the phone! I'm a VJ!

Be quiet, you card shark!

Who says I'm a card shark?

What's with all the cash in your purse!

Heard you were in every poker and card house in town!

VJ? Yeah, right.

I was doing undercover research!

I'm awful at cards!

Yeah, right! You won all my money!

She's a card shark, alright!

She's got tricks up her sleeve!

- Back off, miss. - Bitch.

KIM Jin-su. You're free to go.

You came to get me yourself, sir?

Am I that important?

Hungry?

I haven't eaten in two days!

You're in luck. I'll treat you to something special.

- Really? - Sure.

Where are we?

You said it was a special treat.

Has he gone out? Sung-chan!

What's to eat in a place like this?

I'm starving...

What?

Stop poking me!

No, thank you.

Thank you, sir.

- Chief! - Hi!

- What brings you here? - You look like doing business well.

- How's the produce business? - Going fine.

Look at all your gray hair.

Thanks for the anchovies you send.

My wife loves 'em.

Any time.

When are we eating?

You heard about the competition, right?

The Royal Chef's knife?

You should enter.

Hiding here won't solve anything.

You should do what you enjoy. What's past is past.

I was never once happy cooking there.

I'm tired of competing to be the best.

I'm satisfied just cooking for people

and seeing them happy.

We haven't been introduced yet.

I'm Jin-su. You must be Sung-chan.

Enjoy your meal.

Did you make all this yourself?

Would you like to take some home?

The sesame leaves, too.

Sure.

Think you're at your parents?

It's like Mom packing me food.

I forgot the pickled crabs I made last week.

Pickled crabs?

They're to die for. Hold on.

That's enough Maybe next time.

When will that be?

She will stay here until you sign up for the contest.

Still, can't I have just one jar?

She stole my energy drink!

Grandpa, she didn't steal anything.

Did you think I wouldn't notice? You thief!

- Did you take it? - Of course not!

Grandpa, stop!

No, he gave this one to me!

You thief!

Sorry. It was nice meeting you!

Sung-chan! I didn't take anything!

Why'd you take it?

I didn't! I swear!

Your big bro's going out to work.

Who's that?

You scared me.

Who is she?

Never mind.

Excuse me, Jin-su? I have to go to work.

I filled out the application for you.

- Just sign next to your name. - What?

It's Sung-chan!

Got any freebies for your best customer?

Here. Your eyes are puffy each morning, right?

This squash is just the thing to help.

How about going for a drink some time?

You buy five boxes of squash, I'll let you borrow this instead.

So firm! What's your secret?

Buy these eggplants.

Serve them to your husbands, and they'll be firm like me.

Eggplants for sale!

Who's that, your girlfriend?

I don't like young women.

Just saying that to please us, huh?

Young women are too rough.

- Really? - Of course!

The price tag is right here. 2 dollars per kilo.

Please don't touch the produce.

Here's a sweet one. And take another with you.

Some cherry tomatoes for free. Come again, ma'am.

Have a nice day.

Are you trying to ruin my business?

Then sign the application form.

- My future son-in-law! - Mom!

We've got great squash and potatoes today.

Sure, but when will you meet my daughter?

She's the one who's busy.

- That rotten girl. - How much is this?

Okay, okay.

Call me if she turns up. I'll run right over!

- I'm coming! - Sung-chan!

Here's your water.

I'll be right there!

Wait just one minute, please.

Should we wait, or go somewhere else?

I'm hungry. Let's just go.

But...

Let's wait a bit. This place looks good.

Bro!

You were so good to me when we were at Woonam-jung.

Bong-ju hit me all the time, so I finally left.

Luckily, I met her, started this,

and made some money.

That's great.

I wanted to be just like you.

You punk...

Why don't we start over?

It was awesome watching you cook.

You know how many customers I have?

I'm king of the produce business.

Yeah, right.

OK, drop the chit chat.

I'll bring veggies from tomorrow.

Of course!

- See that? - No way!

I got mosquito bites all over me from sleeping in the car!

You know how much my back hurts sleeping here?

I'll buy you a cool patch.

Sign it.

Why let your talent go to waste?

Sorry.

It was one mistake! Don't be so hard on yourself.

You were never once happy cooking?

Sorry for wasting your time.

I'm sorry, too.

You are? Then sign up, please!

Do you deliver?

What?

I'll buy this whole truckload.

Sure. Where to?

WOO Jung-guh

Woonam-jung

Chef OH's Sauce

15 Years Earlier

Be the best!

The Royal Chef's knife has been found.

It belongs here.

Let's get it back, together.

That's why you called me here?

Woonam-jung descendant recovers Royal Chef's knife.'

Sounds nice...

People want me to win the contest.

You'll help, won't you?

I'm asking you to come back.

Take charge of the kitchen under me.

Wasn't that your dream?

I wanted to be the best chef there is.

Overseeing the kitchen here means you're the greatest.

Thanks, but no thanks.

You're not hatching any crazy ideas, are you?

You want to enter the contest and parade around on TV?

Keep your dignity as a chef.

I never did anything undignified.

Didn't you leave that poison in on purpose?

You wanted this place so badly, you even put people's lives at stake.

That's not true!

You wanted to give them a taste of something extreme...

I never even considered entering that competition.

- Good. - But I just changed my mind.

I'll show you who I am. I'll prove that I'm the best.

You're making a grave mistake.

It was your mistake to call me out here.

Arrest me! Please!

Grandpa!

I killed someone!

The old man's so strong.

Your gramps is at it again.

I'm sorry this keeps happening.

He ate noodles with us. Take him home.

Thank you, sir.

Please forgive me. I killed someone.

Okay grandpa, it's okay.

Sung-chan is entering the cooking competition.

He's really something.

I should go and support him as the town rep.

Go, and you're dead.

There's a pile of work in the fields!

I just thought I might be able to help him.

Stop yapping and fold this.

Watch the house for me, sweetie.

Wish me luck!

Sung-chan!

Wait! Take me with you!

Preliminary Round - Poultry The preliminary round is about to start.

Look at all these people! Think you can do it?

It won't be easy. The top chefs are all here.

Anyway, don't get nervous.

Wow, that's amazing.

How'd he make that?

Poultry

Start the music! Angle on the MC!

The preliminary round is going to be tournament.

The chefs may select pheasant, duck,

or chicken to showcase their talents.

Let the contest begin!

He chose the pheasant.

Woonam-jung chose the chicken.

In the Chosun Dynasty, they kept hawks to catch pheasants.

That's how precious they considered pheasant.

The white meat and yellow yoke of the eggs in perfect harmony.

The mother and her baby chick are dancing around in my mouth.

The yang of the chicken is blended with the yin of the egg.

This is more than just food.

Well done, Chef OH.

Woonam-jung!

We almost died because of you.

Do you think you have the right to compete here?

I want to start over. Please give me a chance.

You've got some nerve.

Well, let's have a taste.

Yeah! I knew it! Oh yeah!

I told you the pheasant would be good!

Anyway, you just breezed through the first round!

What are you doing?

Hey!

Wait!

Allegiance!

Corporal WOO?

Yes, sir!

Cook officer!

Nice to see you!

Doesn't that smell great?

It's the herring you wanted.

Give me the herring body.

OK, we'll give the tail and head to Hosung.

This isn't it! Give me the herring!

Hey...

I don't get it.

He's getting worse and worse.

Did you see my idiot husband?

He was here earlier, but he left to do some work.

Wait 'till I get my hands on him!

What's that doing on the floor?

Was it gramps?

He asked for a herring body, but he says that's not it.

Maybe he means taro shoots.

Taro shoots?

My grandpa loved taro. He used to call it herring.

Maybe he wants taro shoots?

Maybe that's it!

Anyway, if you see him, tell him to get home while he can.

When will he ever smarten up?

Wait!

Get over here, you!

Sung-chan!

How could you sell me off like that?

You would've been caught eventually.

But she hits hard!

You don't understand what it's like to be beaten by wife!

How'd you escape this time?

The door was locked, so I broke through a window.

What are you, a fugitive or something?

Just about!

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

Didn't see you.

Descendant of the Royal Chef...

2nd Round - Fish

We announce the ingredients for the second round!

The specific ingredients are now being brought in.

2nd Round - Fish Please give a big hand as each type of fish is revealed.

Croaker fish

Red snapper

Mullet

Golden blowfish

This is your last chance.

Give it up and come work for me.

It's the blowfish...

It's already ruined you once!

Bro?

Yeah?

I can do this, right?

Sure...

I'm the best, right?

Of course you are!

Thanks. I needed to hear that.

Let's ask for another kind of fish.

No, I can do this.

Don't do it, man.

I'm the best. You said it.

Cooking is the most meaningful kind of creativity.

When we eat delicious food, we feel loved.

What contestant will touch the judges' hearts?

Let the judging begin.

I dare not touch this beautiful work of art. It's perfection!

But we better taste it, right?

A miracle of rejuvenation! A court banquet inside my mouth.

I feel like a king right now.

A modest lady on the plate, a voluptuous courtesan in my mouth!

Does she fuss about in your mouth?

I don't believe this... What are you trying to prove?

Are you out of your mind?

The same thing twice?

I refuse to eat this.

Please, just one small taste.

5 Years Earlier If you want this place so much, then beat him!

I'm your grandson! This place belongs to me!

Why should I compete when it's already mine?

Beat him.

If you don't want to live your life in regret, like me...

You must beat him.

If you're all done, let's go get changed!

Wow.

Let's go.

He cannot be disqualified without someone testing his dish.

But he leaves poison in his blowfish!

He's an incompetent chef who endangers people's lives.

There's no proof that he left in the poison deliberately.

Maybe not, but I still can't trust him!

You know how precisely the blowfish must be prepared?

People's lives are at stake here!

Contest rules?

Wait!

Someone should still taste it.

What!

But who would eat this?

Yeah, who would eat that?

If I taste it and I am fine, you'll all try it, right?

What's the big deal?

Look at her!

Why did she eat?

I knew that.

- Go ahead and try it. - Taste it.

You should've seen it!

The judges gobbled it up. They were weeping in joy!

Sung-chan is amazing!

You really gotta respect the guy.

You're pretty amazing, yourself.

Ah... really? Why?

How'd you ever make it through this hole?

Sergeant KOO!

I used to get beat a lot back in the army.

Remember when I got beat badly

and you secretly cooked ramen for me?

I can't forget the taste.

But no matter how I try, I can't get it right.

Please.

Tell me the secret.

You're kidding me, right?

Stop laughing. I'm serious.

I can't explain it in words...

Sergeant KOO! Please!

Crazy fools.

Stop joking around and go home, mister.

He's got fields to plow.

Go on! Get to work!

- Corporal WOO? - Yes?

You got some time?

Sorry, the tractor always breaks down

and I can't keep borrowing the cow.

No problem. Just tell me the secret.

Left... left... That's good.

Now... right!

He's digging himself a hole, that fool.

Look man... The truth is...

Cooking class will be delayed due to rain.

What?

Do you know why ramen noodles are twisted?

No.

Go home and think about why.

The secret to the ramen is close by.

To cook the best fish soup, you must choose the right fish.

80% of a food's taste depends on the ingredients.

This one has clean scales and is fresh.

Caught by fly fishing, this is the best fish for a clear soup.

Well done.

This is a cheap fish you can buy in a country market.

The gills are ripped and the scales are falling off.

You can't make great meals with this sort of trash.

What the...?

Excuse me...

But isn't that a waste?

It can still be made into something good, can't it?

What do you think you're doing?

Cut the filming.

This is Woonam-jung.

The country's top quality restaurant!

But it's so expensive, how can ordinary people eat there?

Eat something cheap, then.

What?

Wrap this in newspaper for her.

It takes more than great ingredients to make the best food!

What an idiot...

I got it!

I know why ramen noodles are twisted!

Don't follow me into the toilet!

It's because our lives are full of twists and turns, right?

And our exhausted lives are contained in the spicy broth.

So what!

You're right. The secret was close by!

Get lost and let me poop, man!

If I want to recover that old taste, I have to go back.

Beat me. Just like they did in the army.

I'll do anything to taste the ramen from back then.

Please, beat me hard!

Come on! I'm begging you!

Need to taste the ramen like it was back then!

This is crazy, man.

I'm ready.

Here.

Does it taste the same?

What? Is it that good?

It's hot.

This is not it.

If I beat you a few more times, that should do it.

- No! - Just a few more times.

- No! Forget it! - Just a few more hits!

Try it, sir.

I make a pretty good tofu stew.

Grandpa's taste buds are hard to please.

See that? I think he likes it.

Beef was the most widely used ingredient in the Chosun palace.

Main Round - Beef Cows serve a lifetime then offer their meat,

much like the history of our people.

This contest carries on the tradition of the Royal Chef.

Please display your best talents with the best of ingredients: Beef.

Mom says I need good pepper oil to make tofu stew.

I'll cook it again someday.

What are the judging criteria?

It's not the tongue but the heart that senses taste.

This is absolutely heart melting.

Moon rising over a lotus flower.

A perfect combination of taste and color!

The judging will begin.

Tension is in the air.

9! 10! 10! What a great score!

A big applause for the winner of this round, Sung-chan!

He's making dumplings.

We can't see his hands! Amazing!

He's handing him the tweezers.

A master surgeon, no doubt.

- Now, a brush? - He's drawing!

What a masterpiece!

The judges all give him a 10!

Chef OH sets a new record!

Meat & Vegetables Brochette

Let's welcome, the director of Food&Culture Korea.

- Good afternoon. - Good afternoon, everyone.

Please tell us about brochettes.

There are some different kinds of brochettes.

According to the recipe difference,

seasoned, parboiled, battered and fried are the typical brochettes.

When was seasoned brochette first made?

It was already perfected in the mid-Chosun era.

Heartbreaking!

A taste that outlasts memory!

There is not much time left.

Please exert your best efforts.

How can you eat ramen at a time like this!

Let's congratulate the top 10 finalists.

The leader after five rounds with a total score of 480...

It's Chef Sung-chan!

There are only four spots to the finals.

Only four chefs will move on.

Now, we will announce our next round.

Charcoal Charcoal burns mystically slow and hot.

Good luck in finding the best charcoal there is.

Aren't we going to look for charcoal?

He was in charge of all the charcoal at Woonam-jung.

He knows all the best charcoal makers.

- Hello! - Hi!

Let's go.

I'm Hosung. Sung-chan's hometown friend.

- I'm Duk-gi. - Nice meeting you.

That's my seat.

But I know the way.

Let's go.

Let's go!

Sung-chan!

I talked with Madam CHOI. Stop going around bars.

How can you eat ribs with a hangover?

I drank way too much.

How are the new shops coming along?

It was 7 in Seoul, 4 in Daejeon...

We'll decide on the new shops after the competition.

What?

You're in second place at the moment.

Sales of your products in our stores have dropped by half.

You'd better win.

Or it'll cost both of us.

Chef OH of Woonam-jung must win the Royal Chef's knife.

We're getting charcoal here?

The best charcoal maker is in there.

Is he a prison ward?

No he's on death row.

Mr. HAN, it's me Duk-gi from Woonam-jung.

Remember? I found ginseng once and shared it with you?

I have a big favor to ask.

I need your charcoal for an important cooking contest.

Let me die quietly, man. Or I'll come back and haunt you...

This is crazy. I know someone back in town.

I called him and he'll get us good charcoal.

- Long time no see. - Shit.

What brings you here?

I brought some food to open the road to rebirth.

Everyone has a right to good food.

Did you find the charcoal?

Cut!

Tell Sung-chan to look somewhere else.

How did he know?

-- Don't forget me.

OH Bong-ju's charity concert -- Don't forget everything about me.

-- You're too far away from me.

-- So I look lonely.

I heard a lot about you.

I'm Chef OH of Woonam-jung.

So you're the reason our barbecued beef isn't as good as it used to be.

I heard you're the best charcoal maker.

Please teach me how to make it.

What a waste to take your talent to the grave!

Name your price.

No need to eat this garbage today.

They say ghosts who ate well have a better complexion.

What the! Stop it!

Why'd he bite your nose?

It won't stop bleeding.

What's going on?

There was a riot. HAN ended up in solitary confinement.

- Really? - What do we do now?

I heard that's HAN's mother.

She's been coming everyday for years but he won't see her.

What did you talk about?

Her son.

I feel so bad for her...

Her husband drowned when she was young.

She was forced to leave her son with his grandmother and remarry.

Selling herself to feed her son, in other words.

He was just seven at the time.

Who's there?

Rotten kid!

How dare you steal from my house!

Come here you! You need a good spankin'!

Get lost, you rotten kid! How dare you come here?

- Wait! - Rotten kid!

Let me break his legs!

How much did you steal from our house?

Let go!

I'm not your mom!

The crazy kid will call anyone his mom.

Don't come around here again!

Son... Is anyone feeding you?

Stop coming here.

'Cuz I'm...

I'm not your mom any longer...

He'd walk for 4 hours everyday to see his mom.

His mom always left sweet potatoes for him in secret.

One day she suddenly moved away, leaving him a last pot of food.

HAN went to the mountains and became a charcoal maker.

And he never came back down.

Then one day he heard news about his mom.

He wanted to show her that he could make the best charcoal.

You crazy bitch!

You can't run away from me!

Come here, you bitch!

No! Don't!

Please! Stop it! No!

Don't interfere in my life!

Here's a home-cooked meal for you.

The happiest time in my life was when I made charcoal.

Although the hot fire slowly blinded me...

It didn't matter.

'Cuz the one I wanted to see was always there in the flames.

Thank you, Sung-chan.

Your sweet potatoes melted away my resentment towards my mom.

There is a tree near where my mom's house used to be.

It's the most suitable wood I know of.

The beautiful flames will turn it into the best charcoal.

I wish you luck.

It's amazing! This'll make the best charcoal ever!

You'll never find a better tree than this!

Let's rock and roll!

Careful, it's hot!

This is why HAN wanted to look at it even if it blinded him.

Your sweet potatoes melted away his resentment.

The best food in the world is equal to the number of mothers.

Pretty cool saying, isn't it?

I'm going into town, wanna come?

Duk-gi burned his hand.

Need anything else?

Hurry back so we can celebrate.

Who are you?

What are you doing?

Take the charcoal and run!

Don't touch that!

Drive.

What happened?

Are you okay?

What happened?

The charcoal's all ruined.

I'm so sorry.

We couldn't protect it.

Now this is some charcoal.

Look at that bright color.

Let's have a taste.

The meat's juices are most important.

You need to cook it quickly over hot fire to seal in the juices.

The juices are brilliantly sealed in.

The scent of the charcoal on the steak is mouthwatering.

It's the best!

Birch tree charcoal, am I right?

Bastard! You stole it from us!

Let go!

Duk-gi!

What's with you?

Aren't you angry?

He's the one who stole it from us!

It's obvious!

Who says Where's the proof?

Bong-ju is way in the lead now.

If he doesn't catch up in the next round,

he won't make it to the finals.

What's the next round?

Beef carving

You wait and see! I'll make sure he pays!

As you can see, our cattle is grown

with the utmost care.

Wide stables and pastures, red earth and salt on the floor...

Sorry, forgot to turn on the camera.

Man...

It's on.

As you can see, our cattle is raised

with the utmost care.

- Wide stables... - Sorry, battery's out.

Battery...

You're doing it on purpose, aren't you?

It's working now.

As you can see, our cattle is...

-- look at me! - 'look at me!'

Hello?

This one looks pretty good.

What exactly are you looking for?

It's been days.

We went through all the major markets.

- Let's go eat. - Man...

I wish I could see in your head.

What is your perfect cow?

A cow to your standards doesn't exist.

You want something that doesn't exist!

This is why you couldn't find the right cow.

Why the heck did we trek all across the country?

This is the best cow there is, man!

Shut up.

What did you feed her? Let's use this one.

- Stop it. - This is great!

What? It's perfect!

What? Why?

That's not a cow.

What? Is it a pig?

That's Sung-chan's baby sister.

He raised her from birth like family.

Could you slaughter your own sister?

How can he?

But it's just an animal.

But to Sung-chan...

Just drop it! Or else!

Don't bring it up again! Got that?

It's the brackens rain.

When this rain falls, the boat out to sea can't return.

When the brackens rain falls, it's time to say goodbye.

You're the first thing I bought after leaving Woonam-jung.

I needed someone to keep me company back then.

She's a beauty, sir.

Come here. Let's go.

You fool!

Go on! Cut it!

We raised it all so dearly.

It's nothing but a piece of meat.

A good chef doesn't get attached to the ingredients!

How can I butcher something I like so much?

Why you!

Where'd you get such crazy ideas!

From your grandpa?

I promise you. Your sacrifice won't be in vain.

Finals - Beef carving

He started on the neck bones.

The neck should be stripped completely clean.

The judges will announce the results.

Chef OH, first place with a total score of 670.

Sung-chan, second with a total score of 580.

These two will advance to the finals.

You should've taken my offer while you still could!

Will the final contestants please come to the beef grading area.

Who cares. It's over.

Even with a perfect score, we won't win unless OH gets a zero.

Hurry up and eat.

I want to start home before rush hour.

Damn it! Why are you so pessimistic?

I'm being realistic, stupid.

You wanna fight! Come on!

Thanks for all your help, guys.

Sure...

The last contest for Royal Chef's knife shall begin.

The final judgment will be on the amount and quality of the meat.

Points will be awarded according to five different grades.

Let the judging begin.

Weight, size, percentage of fat... Grade A beef!

Good job, Sung-chan!

Excellent marbling and maturity, top grade!

Go, boss, go!

Meat color, no. 4 clear!

Fat color, no. 3 clear!

Mr. OH?

Still undecided on the new stores?

The competition's over. Make the calls.

I already have.

Go! Woonam-jung! Go!

Now we will announce the final scores.

Chef OH, 770 points.

Sung-chan, 680 points.

The new owner of the Royal Chef's knife is OH Bong-ju.

Look here. Isn't it a muscle hemorrhage?

Wait! Hold on!

Wait! Hold on!

See here? This is a hemorrhage.

What the hell are you doing?

It's a hemorrhage

What! It can't be!

We have a correction to make.

A hemorrhage has been found in Chef OH's beef,

so it is disqualified.

- Alright! - Sung-chan!

What are you talking about?

You made a big mistake while transporting the cow.

What the hell do you know?

Cows are very sensitive animals.

If they get stressed, hemorrhages will form.

Damn it!

Since we have a tie, another competition

will decide the winner.

Details on the final competition will be given later.

I knew the Royal Chef's line of descent was broken,

but I had no idea his grave was so neglected.

It's shameful. But 'cuz he stood against Japan,

his grave would be left neglected.

I'm very sorry.

My apologies...

Do you know how the Royal Chef died?

The last Royal Chef had two apprentices.

But I heard that one of the two

poisoned the Royal Chef.

Poisoned him?

Perhaps solving the mystery behind his death

will determine his true successor.

Mister?

I have a question to ask you.

Wait! Please!

What do you want to know?

I heard you've been here a long time.

Do you know who killed the Royal Chef?

Which apprentice killed him?

Sung-hyun did.

Sung-chan's grandfather.

Why did he do that?

Say it again.

Who killed the Royal Chef?

Say it again! Now!

When King Soon-jong lost Chosun,

he stopped eating in sorrow for his people.

Then one day, the honorable Royal Chef

made and offered up a bowl of beef soup for his king.

And to his surprise, the bowl came back empty.

According to the court subjects, King Soon-jong cried as he ate it.

What soup was it that it moved the king to tears?

All we know is that the beef soup has been passed down in secret.

This is why we have chosen beef soup for the final round.

We believe that the true disciple will exactly recreate the secret soup.

Secret Royal Soup Who will carry on the tradition of the Royal Chef?

And be the new owner of the knife?

Best of luck to both of our finalists.

I will not take part in this contest.

Cut!

Chef OH, what's with you?

I'd rather quit than to disgrace the Royal Chef's honor.

He was poisoned by an apprentice.

The Royal Chef had two apprentices.

One was my grandfather, who inherited Woonam-jung.

The other was his grandfather.

The Royal Chef was killed by Sung-chan's grandfather.

I couldn't believe it...

Stop making up stories, you coward!

Go on Ms. KIM. Tell them.

You knew about this? Is it true what he said?

Are you resigning from the competition?

No, I just refuse to cook.

Are you going to give up the Royal Chef's knife?

It's...

Remember when I was kicked out of Woonam-jung?

You made me your special beef soup.

I was sobbing inside.

Angry for being falsely charged, and sorry to you.

I even resented you for teaching me to cook.

I miss the beef soup you made me back then.

I want ribs.

Ribs?

Make it for me.

Okay, grandpa.

Looks good, huh? Here.

What's wrong? You said you wanted ribs.

This is wrong. I want ribs.

Grandpa, that's what this is.

Buy it for me!

Okay, if you eat this, I'll buy you ribs.

Come on try just one bite.

Ummm, yummy.

What is he doing?

He's making Secret Royal Soup for the contest on Independence Day.

He's been at it for a week. Maybe he doesn't know the secret.

Say something, old man.

Didn't you wear this when you made it?

Secret Royal Soup!

What the hell is it!

We're gonna keep the traditional taste.

Rotten bastard.

I heard the contest will be held on Independence Day.

I decided it's best to finish the competition.

More important than the contest, the Secret Royal Soup will be revealed.

It will be a very meaningful day.

Do you think Sung-chan will take to the challenge?

I gave you ribs, ma'am.

I didn't want pork, I want beef.

But you said ribs.

I meant beef ribs.

Sorry, I thought you meant pork.

Get it right next time.

Please, make the noise stop!

I don't want to hear it.

Stop the banquet.

Stop it.

It must be stopped!

1926, just after death of King Soon-jong

Adding Japanese flavor to Korean food makes a great combination.

I will carefully protect the secret recipe.

It's been passed down through generations in our family.

Guard it well and give it to your descendants.

I will, sir.

I heard there is a beef soup that brought tears to the king.

Will you cook it for our next banquet?

His master made that for the king.

Who is your master?

The one I serve has past away. I have no reason to cook.

I'll just drink in peace 'till I die.

But it's a very important banquet.

Sung-hyun! See that he gets some soup before he goes.

What a refreshing taste.

What's the name of this soup?

He asks what the name of this soup is.

Master! Master!

The Japanese soldiers are here to force you to cook for their banquet!

Please don't do this master!

I have no use for my hands anymore!

Master!

What are you doing, grandpa?

You're cooking beef soup?

Great! I really missed your cooking...

Grandpa? What's this?

Did your mentor give this to you?

Shouldn't we prepare some food for the guests?

Why don't we just order it from here?

I'll make it. It's the last thing I can do for him.

I want to do it myself.

I'll go buy the groceries.

I need beef ribs.

Bracken from Jeju Island...

I'll make the pepper oil myself.

Please get some oil while you're there.

And the taro shoots...

The taro shoots...

This is not it!

I want ribs!

Grandpa...

Is this what you were trying to tell me?

That's what you wanted to teach me?

Am I right?

Master...

That'll do...

I want to rest in peace...

No, master...

Give me the wine.

Let me rest in peace.

I don't want to hear their celebration any longer.

Please... Sung-hyun...

Now, I can prepare a banquet for my king...

Your majesty...

Your majesty...

Master! I'm so sorry...

Although he had no choice, he felt guilty for his master's death,

so he left Woonam-jung.

And Man-sik the betrayer ended up becoming the owner of Woonam-jung.

But Sung-hyun would've been the real Royal Chef.

How can that happen?

Does Sung-chan know?

Sung-chan? Where are you?

Call me when you hear this message.

Yes, chief.

Sung-chan showed up at the competition.

- What? - Where are you? Get here, now!

The Royal Chef's knife has a spirit.

It searches for its rightful master.

I will win to avenge the Royal Chef's death!

Independence Day, Aug15th - Final Round And show you that justice will prevail.

Soon the Secret Royal Soup making contest will begin.

What was the secret soup that made King Soon-jong cry?

I gotta go! Leave the shop open!

But today's a holiday.

If Sung-chan wins, we're giving out free food!

Hon! Wait! Your pants!

Let's see who will unveil the Secret Royal Soup.

I heard a shocking story about Woonam-jung.

Quiet. Tell me later.

Mr. Fujiwara, who is returning the Royal Chef's knife,

will also act as a judge.

Let's start with Chef OH's beef soup.

I made this with my grandfather's secret recipe.

It is exquisite, a taste I've never come across before.

Let's unveil Chef Sung-chan's beef soup.

What's this?

This is the Royal Chef's secret soup?

It's a common, everyday soup,

but it's grandpa's last gift to me.

This isn't a market stall.

Get that cheap soup out of here.

The judges are taste testing. Let's wait for the results.

What's going on?

They're taste testing, but there's no response yet.

Camera 1! Full shot on Fujiwara!

Now I understand...

...why King Soon-jong was moved to tears.

This beef soup contains every aspect of Korea.

The long-serving cow is Korea's grass-roots democracy.

The hot pepper oil is Korea's hot and lively spirit...

The taro shoots represent a nation that does not submit to foreign power.

The bracken is the vigorous life that spreads like wild grass.

What the Royal Chef cooked for the King was not just simply beef soup.

To the King who had lost his country,

he demonstrated that Korea's spirit will live on.

The king could read the Royal Chef's heart...

And that's why he cried...

It's hard to believe that a king would be so moved by a cheap bowl of soup.

What proof do we have that this is Royal Chef's soup?

My father said the name of the soup was Yuk-gae-jang.

What's the name of this soup?

What's the name of this soup?

Yuk-gae-jang is correct.

- Yes! Alright! - Any comments on Chef OH's soup?

Tell me about that.

It's delicious,

but it's not something the Royal Chef would've made.

You moron...

Using fried bean curd and soy sauce is a Japanese tradition, not Korean.

I'm actually stunned.

This tastes exactly like a soup

that's been in our family for generations.

It's as if my mom came to life and made it for me.

Camera 4! Go!

What is he saying?

I don't know how you learned to make it...

But whoever gave you the recipe,

probably didn't want it to be revealed.

Because...

it's a soup with both Korean and Japanese origins.

This is absurd!

The true descendant of the Royal Chef is Chef Sung-chan!

Congratulations. You are the new owner of this knife.

The great knife of the Royal Chef has finally found its owner.

Please give a big round of applause to Chef Sung-chan!

Alright!

Free Food Today!

Congratulations...

How to eat the best ramen

Eat it when you're hungry. P.S. You must be really hungry. -Hosung

Four bowls for delivery!

I'm here, mom!

There's my son-in-law!

Wait! Have some food before you go.

I can't. Too many deliveries to make.

More kimchi over here!

My daughter will be here soon. That rotten girl...

Maybe next time, mom.

There she is.

Let me introduce you two.

My daughter Jin-su, and Sung-chan.

'Jin-su, Sung-chan?' That means a great feast, doesn't it?

I didn't realize that.

Get me more rice over here!

Go on, say hello.

- Hello... - Ah... hi...

Over here, please.

Oh, yeah. Noodles for table five!

Three noodles please!

- Yes, sir. - Coming up.

Have a great day.

More kimchi, please.

- Check, please. - Coming!