Jang Sung-kyu & Kang Ji-young Pick 'World's Best Dopamine Food Festivals' TOP 3: Australia Tuna Festival Takes Crown

The dynamic duo of Jang Sung-kyu and Kang Ji-young, hosts of 'From One to Ten,' have unveiled their top 3 picks for the 'Ultimate Dopamine World Food Festival.'

In a recent broadcast of E채널's 'From One to Ten' on the 17th, hosts Jang Sung-kyu and Kang Ji-young dove deep into a theme of 'Ultimate Dopamine World Food Festivals,' revealing the origins, duration, and attractions of various global culinary celebrations.

Securing the coveted first place was the 'Australian Tuna Festival.' Held annually in January in the small fishing town of Port Lincoln, South Australia, this unique festival features an unusual competition where participants hurl tuna like shot puts. The town, with a population of just 15,000, boasts the highest millionaire-per-capita ratio, with one tuna farming family reportedly amassing a fortune of approximately $60 million USD (about 85 billion KRW), astonishing the hosts. The festival, which began in 1962, saw actual frozen tuna being thrown starting in 1980, and since 2008, rubber tuna replicas have been used. The record for the longest throw, set by Australian hammer thrower Sean Carlin at 37.23 meters in 1998, has remained unbroken for 27 years. Adding to its appeal, the festival offers a chance to savor every part of the tuna prepared in various dishes, along with kid-friendly events like sack races and boat building, earning it a strong recommendation from the MCs.

Claiming the second spot was the 'Oktoberfest' in Germany, recognized as the world's largest festival. This iconic beer celebration, held annually from late September to early October, attracted an astounding 6.5 million participants this year alone. Attendees, dressed in traditional Bavarian attire, created a lively scene by rushing to secure spots in their preferred beer tents. Originating from the wedding celebration of King Ludwig I of Bavaria, the festival's highlight is the communal singing session on the final day, where everyone joins in joyfully. While German tunes dominate, the inclusion of globally recognized hits like 'Bohemian Rhapsody' and 'Macarena' captivates international audiences. Host Jang Sung-kyu, visibly drawn to the golden beer, humorously expressed his desire to attend, even citing a rather unusual childhood memory involving his father.

Rounding out the top three was the 'Festival of the Giant Omelette' in Bessières, France. This traditional festival involves locals gathering up to 15,000 eggs to cook a massive omelette in a specially constructed hearth and enormous pan, which is then shared among the community. The festival's origins trace back to Napoleon's army, which rested in the village on their way to war. Impressed by the taste of an omelette served by a local innkeeper, Napoleon reportedly ordered all the eggs in the village to be gathered to make a giant omelette for his soldiers, thus beginning the tradition. Jang Sung-kyu playfully reenacted the innkeeper's plea, adding a comedic touch.

Other notable festivals featured included the 'Lobster Festival' in America, which started with $1 lobster and has continued for 80 years; the 'Fête du Citron' (Lemon Festival) in France, famous for its parades filled with lemons and flowers; the 'White Truffle Festival' in Italy, which gained attention when a 1.5kg white truffle sold for 370 million KRW at auction; the 'Monkey Buffet Festival' in Thailand, initiated to feed approximately 10,000 monkeys; the 'World Pea Shooting Championship' in England, born from a headmaster's idea; the 'Gilroy Garlic Festival' in America, held in the 'Garlic Capital of the World'; and the 'Cooper's Hill Cheese-Rolling' event in England, where participants chase a wheel of cheese down a steep hill at speeds up to 110 km/h. The MCs also playfully challenged each other to participate in the Pea Shooting Championship, only to find elaborate excuses.

Netizens reacted enthusiastically, with comments like 'This is truly the ultimate dopamine rush!', 'The Australian Tuna Festival sounds so unique!', and 'I really want to visit Oktoberfest in Germany someday!'