Edward Lee on 'My Little Old Boy': From Judge to Star Chef

Chef Edward Lee recently appeared as a special MC on the SBS show 'My Little Old Boy' ('MiUsae'), captivating viewers not only with his culinary skills but also with behind-the-scenes stories.

Lee, who recently gained attention for being selected as the head chef for the APEC summit, prepared a homemade bean curd dish for the show.

When asked about his feelings on the APEC selection, Lee expressed, "It was a great honor. I wanted to showcase Korean food at such an important global event. I believe traditional Korean cuisine is perfect as it is. Therefore, I wanted to present menus that were half traditional Korean food and half innovative Korean food, using Korean ingredients on a global scale."

Lee, who became known as the 'Black and White Chef,' initially received a proposal to appear as a judge. Seo Jang-hoon inquired, "Were you disappointed when they later asked you to appear as a contestant?"

Lee revealed, "A little." He explained, "I was in contact via email. The production team asked, 'Chef, do you speak Korean well?' I said yes. Later, during a video call, I said I didn't speak Korean very well." He added, "It turned out well in the end. After 'Black and White Chef,' my life changed. I am so grateful, it's a wonderful life." Seo Jang-hoon agreed, saying, "Appearing as a contestant turned out much better than appearing as a judge," to which Lee responded, "That's right."

Korean netizens reacted positively, with comments like "Edward Lee is so charming and talented!" and "His journey from judge to contestant is truly inspiring." Many expressed pride in him representing Korean cuisine on a global stage.