'North Korean Defector Chef' Kim Ryang-jin, Earning ₩500 Million Monthly, Reveals Past Discrimination and Bullying

Chef Kim Ryang-jin, who appeared on KBS2's 'The Boss's Ear is Donkey's Ear,' shared his painful experiences of discrimination and bullying following his defection from North Korea, contrasting with his current success.

During the broadcast, which also featured the daily lives of chefs Jung Ji-sun and David Lee, Kim Ryang-jin teamed up with chicken feet businesswoman Lee Soon-sil for a collaboration.

Lee Soon-sil visited Kim Ryang-jin's home, initially complimenting his neat interior. However, she playfully expressed discomfort with the minimalist decor, joking it felt like visiting a daughter-in-law's home due to its sparseness. The duo embarked on creating unique dishes like 'Chicken Feet Naengmyeon Skewers,' 'Boneless Chicken Feet Pancake,' and 'Chicken Feet and Radish Rolls.' Amidst Lee Soon-sil's boisterous cooking process, Kim Ryang-jin was kept busy tidying up his home. Despite their playful bickering, they successfully completed the dishes, hinting at future culinary endeavors.

Kim Ryang-jin, now boasting monthly revenues of 500 million KRW (approximately $360,000 USD), candidly disclosed the hardships he faced after defecting.

He recounted, "Even when I worked hard, I wasn't recognized." He detailed an instance where, tasked with applying phone screen protectors with a daily quota of 2,500, he exceeded it by doing 5,000 daily. Instead of praise, he was told to "do it in moderation," leading to severe ostracism. The chef also shared the shocking experience at age 21, when as a single mother facing financial instability, he was abruptly fired, a situation he only learned about later.

Viewers reacted with sympathy and support, commenting, "Chef Kim Ryang-jin is truly amazing. He overcame difficult times," "It's heartbreaking to hear about the discrimination he faced after defecting," and "I hope he continues to appear on the show."