Actor Lee Jang-woo kicks off his first variety outing since getting married with MBC’s Sigolmaeul Lee Jang-woo 3. With his wife Cho Hye-won backing him up on screen, anticipation for the new season is soaring.
Premiering today (29th), Sigolmaeul Lee Jang-woo 3 follows Lee as he settles into a countryside village in Buan, North Jeolla Province, meets hidden masters known for their homestyle “sonmat” (that unmistakable home-cooked touch), and learns the region’s signature table. After steady praise cemented the series as one of MBC’s flagship seasonal variety shows, Lee is making a swift return just five months after Season 2 ended.
Producing director Park So-hee explained the rush to Season 3: “The heartfelt bond Lee Jang-woo shared with village elders — and the overwhelming requests from regions across the country — were huge.” Park added, “Lee’s easygoing charm and cooking touch fit perfectly with the show’s mission of regional revitalization. It’s a program that only Lee Jang-woo can lead.”
This season is set in Buan, North Jeolla. In the premiere, Lee scours the area to find the ultimate “rice thief” side dish — the kind that keeps you refilling your bowl. The cozy village scenery, larger-than-life locals, and ingredients drawn from both mountains and sea come together as a new chapter of rural living begins.
The biggest scene-stealer to watch for is his wife, Cho Hye-won. Married to Lee last year, Cho makes her first-ever variety appearance alongside her husband this season. The production team teased, “The moment Cho Hye-won arrived in Buan, the energy shifted,” adding, “She showed unfiltered, irresistible charm at the most unexpected moments.”
Showcasing Lee Jang-woo’s grounded post-marriage daily life, the warmth of Buan’s villagers, and newlywed chemistry with Cho Hye-won, Sigolmaeul Lee Jang-woo 3 premieres on the 29th at 9 p.m.