BTS V and the Exclusive Chicken Dish at 'Seojin's': A Hit or a Miss?
"Imagine the world's most famous boy band with over 300 million followers and the most viewed videos on YouTube. It's like bringing a U.S. TV show to Korea where Drake and Post Malone are working. It's on another level."
That's what a customer at "Seojin's," a Korean street food restaurant in Mexico's Bacalar, said after spotting BTS member V. The eatery, which opened its doors in February, has been a huge hit among locals, with long queues of people eager to try K-food dishes like tteokbokki, fried food, and kimbap.
The tvN show "Seojin's" is a new dining reality show by PD Na Young-seok, which captures the process of Korean celebrities running a street food restaurant in a small Mexican town. The show gained massive attention even before its broadcast, thanks to the star-studded cast, including Lee Seo-jin, Jung Yu-mi, Park Seo-joon, Choi Woo-shik, and V. The show has been sailing smoothly, with average ratings of 8%.
However, recent murmurs suggest that "Seojin's" might be failing to strike a chord with some viewers. They find the grumbling boss Lee Seo-jin and seemingly laid-back staff members uncomfortable to watch. Critics argue that such situations would be impossible in a real restaurant. Some viewers struggle to empathize with the show, especially when comparing it to Na Young-seok PD's previous shows "Kang's Kitchen" or Baek Jong-won's "Business Genius Baek Boss."
It's essential to note that the intentions behind "Business Genius Baek Boss" and "Seojin's" are entirely different. While "Business Genius Baek Boss" mainly explored whether food expert Baek Jong-won could captivate locals' taste buds in uncharted territory, 'Seojin's' focuses on 'healing.' The show's goal is to provide viewers with a sense of relaxation and enjoyment, rather than trying to create a documentary-like experience.
The proven chemistry between Lee Seo-jin, Jung Yu-mi, and Park Seo-joon from "Yoon's Kitchen," Choi Woo-shik's outstanding performance in "Yoon's Stay," and the addition of global superstar V, create a fresh and exciting dynamic.
The show's unique selling point is the opportunity to see the trio, known as "Wooga Fam" (Park Seo-joon, Choi Woo-shik, and V), working together. The fact that V personally cooks the chicken dish, Park Seo-joon prepares ramen, and Choi Woo-shik serves customers, makes "Seojin's" worth watching.
While some viewers may find it hard to understand the staff's grumbling, their growing skills provide a sense of satisfaction. Park Seo-joon, in particular, has become an indispensable part of the show. His culinary creations, from ramen to hot dogs and chicken rice, are impressive. V's promotion to kitchen assistant, Choi Woo-shik's serving, and Jung Yu-mi's kimbap rolling also showcase their dedication. The staff's grumbling adds a touch of humor to the show.
Lee Seo-jin's focus on sales has surprisingly become a fun point of the show. Amidst employees' pleas for rest or late arrival, Lee Seo-jin's firm refusal highlights his character as the boss. Without Lee Seo-jin, "Seojin's" might have struggled to escape criticism.
'Seojin's' ranked fourth in the TV-OTT Integrated Buzzworthy Non-Drama Shows and Share ratings for the second week of April, with a share of 3.55%. Despite airing its first episode in February, the show has maintained steady popularity. The ninth episode of "Seojin's" on April 21st recorded a national household rating of 8.4% (Nielsen Korea).
While "Business Genius Baek Boss" focused on "challenge," "Seojin's" aims for "healing." The show introduces K-food to a global audience while providing viewers with light-hearted laughter and vicarious satisfaction. Had the show been solely about making the staff work tirelessly or showcasing the culinary skills of other celebrities, it would have been a different story. The combination of 'Marvel Boy' Park Seo-joon, "Parasite" star Choi Woo-shik, and 'World Star' V indicates that PD Na Young-seok prioritized "healing" over "challenge."
Perhaps it's okay to enjoy the staff's amusing mix of relaxation and hard work. "Seojin's" is now approaching its final days of operation, and anticipation is high for whether the team will successfully wrap up their venture.
With not much time left, all eyes are on 'Seojin's' to see if they can end their business journey on a high note.
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