Netflix's Culinary Class Wars Season 2 winner Choi Kang-rok revealed that a short line he once received by chance from Shin Dong-yeob ended up changing his life.
In the web variety show Jjanhanhyung released on the 26th, Choi opened up about a special connection with Shin that he had treasured for years, moving viewers.
According to Choi, their story began on a cooking program. "I'm not the type to ask for autographs, and I wasn't even sure why I wanted one," he recalled. But that day, he felt compelled to ask Shin Dong-yeob for his signature. In one corner of the autograph, five characters were written: "신나게 살아." ("Live joyfully.")
"That line changed the course of my life," Choi said. "As a chef, I felt pressured to be perfect, to keep up appearances. That sentence from senior Shin became a way for me to breathe." He added that even ten years later, he still keeps that line as a guiding principle.
Choi also shared that when people ask him to leave them a message, he writes, "신나게 살아보아요" — "Let's live joyfully." It's his way of passing on the encouragement he once received from Shin.
Shin Dong-yeob was visibly moved by Choi's heartfelt confession. "That phrase is one of my core values, too," he said. "The fact that such a small sentence stayed with you for over ten years makes me grateful instead." He continued, "I'm happy we met again today and got to see the fruit of it. Let's keep in touch."