Choi Bul-am, who returned to the show ‘Korean Table’ after a three-month hiatus, deeply sympathized with the maternal love contained in a bowl of squid soup.

Today (the 2nd), KBS 1TV‘s New Year’s special ‘Korean Table’ will air the heartbreaking story of a young fisherman from Pohang and his mother that touched Choi Bul-am‘s heart.

The broadcast that day will depict the story of a young fisherman from Pohang who braves the pitch-black darkness to go on the first squid catch of the new year 2025 and a mother who cannot sleep while waiting for her son’s safe return at the port at dawn.

The mother‘s meal prepared for her son, who is frozen from working in the bitter wind, is filled with warm squid soup that warms you from the inside out, as well as mackerel and radish stew, stir-fried dried squid, and steamed whole squid, all of which contain the warm maternal love for her son who endured the difficult times with his whole body.

The heart of a son who went on an ocean-going fishing boat at the young age of 19 to provide for his family and his mother who feels simple happiness by saying, “I feel like I’ve gained the world just by being able to cook for my son” will touch the hearts of those who watch.

Choi Bul-am, who was touched by the story of the young fisherman and mother from Pohang, said, “I hope that the new year will be a year in which those who work hard become the main characters,” and gave warm words of comfort and encouragement to those who are doing their best to live vigorously.

In particular, Choi Bul-am, who drew eyes on the black tortoise in the Goguryeo mural that combines a turtle and a snake to celebrate the Year of the Blue Snake, the Year of the Eulsa, left a message of hope for all viewers to have a hopeful new year, saying, “I hope that ‘Koreans’ Table’ will be a program that can embrace, comfort, and purify everyone’s hearts during these difficult times.”

The bitter cold of the winter sea The New Year’s meal table filled with the mother‘s warm maternal love can be seen today (the 2nd) at 7:40 PM on KBS 1TV’s ‘Korean‘s Table’.

Jeon Hyo-jin, Donga.com Reporter jhj@donga.com