Actor Lee Sang-yi delivered a scene-stealing performance that went far beyond a cameo, instantly becoming the center of attention.
On the episode that aired on the 26th, the TVING original series The Legend of Kitchen Soldier (hereafter 'Kitchen Soldier') depicted a crisis when the field kitchen truck broke down during training. To cope, Yoon Dong-hyun (played by Lee Hong-nae) tossed in a seasoning powder called 'Mashittasi' and hastily made rice balls, but Hwang Seok-ho (Lee Sang-yi) snapped, "I thought this was food waste. People eat this? Disgusting," refusing to take a bite. He finally gave in and tried a mouthful.
Right after, the soldiers tasted crispy-outside, soft-inside arancini and, in a hilarious fantasy cut, instantly transformed into bright, refreshing idols. 'Bitter' Gwan-cheol, 'Spicy' Seung-woo, 'Sweet' Mun-ik, 'Sour' Sang-wook, and 'Salty' Ji-yong formed the five-member boy group 'Taste Boys' and brought the house down as they danced and belted out the track 'MY FLAVOR.' Hwang Seok-ho then jumped in late and delivered a flawless routine like he'd always been part of the group, stealing the spotlight.
Right after the broadcast, viewers raved: "Lee Sang-yi just raised the standard for special appearances," "I still can't believe this was only a cameo," "Thought I was watching a real idol stage," "They even put real thought into the member names," "The plot is beyond imagination," and "Please show up on music programs."
Fueled by the explosive response, it was even announced that 'MY FLAVOR,' sung in the show by the five leads as Taste Boys, will be officially released on the 27th, building even more hype.
Meanwhile, the buzzworthy 'Kitchen Soldier' airs every Monday and Tuesday at 8:50 p.m. on tvN and TVING simultaneously.