Master Chef Ahn Yu-seong Recalls Childhood Nickname 'Ttol-i' and a Teenage Theft on 'My Little Old Boy'

Master Chef Ahn Yu-seong reminisced about his early days learning to cook and revealed the story behind his childhood nickname, 'Ttol-i,' on the latest episode of 'My Little Old Boy' (KBS2).

On the broadcast aired on the 14th, Ahn Yu-seong visited his older sister, Ahn Seon-yeong, who runs a pension in his hometown of Naju. He brought along his first disciple and Manager Hwang, explaining that he wanted his slow-learning disciple to gain diverse experiences.

Ahn Seon-yeong affectionately called her younger brother 'Ttol-i,' which Ahn Yu-seong explained meant he was 'bright' or 'smart' as a child, much to the teasing amusement of the studio panel.

Ahn Yu-seong stated his purpose for visiting was to help with chores at the pension, and his sister requested they hang laundry. Afterward, Ahn Yu-seong decided to make kimchi with his disciples. He confidently declared he would pass on his "Ahn-gane kimchi recipe" but playfully withheld the seasoning ingredients, drawing laughter.

Later, Ahn Yu-seong prepared Naju Gomtang while his sister prepared an impressive nine-dish banquet, including boiled octopus, potato pancakes, and zucchini pancakes. Jeon Hyun-moo commented that the food tasted better than at Ahn's own restaurant, a sentiment Ahn Yu-seong echoed, calling it a "true hidden gem."

Ahn Seon-yeong elaborated on the origin of the 'Ttol-i' nickname, attributing it to their parents. She also shared a story of a young Ahn Yu-seong narrowly preventing a house fire by alerting his mother to their father's smoldering cigarette.

Adding a surprising twist, Ahn Seon-yeong revealed, "When you went to Seoul, you stole 10,000 won from my wallet." Ahn Yu-seong confessed, "I was leaving home to learn to cook, and your wallet was right there. I only took 10,000 won." He explained his difficult circumstances. His sister expressed pride in his hard work and eventual success.

Ahn Yu-seong recalled his ambitious move to Seoul after failing college entrance exams, determined to succeed in the culinary world with only 50 won to his name upon arrival. His sister mentioned how her husband repeatedly co-signed loans for Ahn Yu-seong during his challenging early years. Ahn Yu-seong expressed his gratitude, revealing he had repaid all the debts, which took approximately 25 years. Ahn Seon-yeong concluded by affectionately asking him to "keep helping me a lot in the future."

Chef Ahn Yu-seong was nicknamed 'Ttol-i' due to his perceived intelligence from a young age. He moved to Seoul with only 50 won to pursue his culinary dreams. He began his business with loans co-signed by his brother-in-law and spent about 25 years repaying the debts, expressing deep gratitude to his family.