‘Living Report’ MC Kim Sung-joo is showing interest in entering the Cambodian restaurant business, where Korean food is gaining attention as a high-end food.

In the 4th episode of ‘Living Report’ on the 16th, baseball’s living legend Kim Byung-hyun appears as a ‘client to live with’ and asks for a ‘customized guide’ to succeed in overseas business.

On this day, Kim Byung-hyun dreams of going overseas with a new business following hamburgers and requests a market survey with the condition of “a place close to Korea and with fewer restrictions on foreign business such as visa regulations.” In response, Jay Sean confidently recommends Cambodia, which is showing a high growth rate with a 22% increase in foreign tourists in just one year.Hwang Hu-in, who has lived there for 12 years and is active as a singer, takes on the role of a “living guide” and thoroughly explores the Cambodian restaurant industry.

The first batter is a 17-year-old handmade burger restaurant located next to the Mekong River, targeting the tastes of ‘burger restaurant owner’ Kim Byung-hyun.When told that the restaurant’s secret to popularity is its eye-catching Western-style interior and strong seasoning that suits the local palate, Kim Seong-ju asks, “Can you satisfy the local palate?” and Kim Byung-hyun answers bluntly, “I have the know-how I’ve accumulated over the past five years running a burger restaurant.”

Next, let’s head to the Cambodian hot spot, Conorea Night Market, where the sight of tteokbokki being sold catches the eye.After tasting it herself, Hwang Hu-in is surprised and says, “The smell and taste are similar to Korean tteokbokki,” certifying the spiciness of Korea that is popular even among locals.

Next, the empress visits Korean CEOs who started businesses in Cambodia to learn their know-how for success.The CEO, who runs a Korean-Chinese restaurant with monthly sales of 40 million won, says, “I work with local employees who have been trained for 3-4 years.I started with a monthly salary of 30 dollars(40,000 won)and now it’s around 200 dollars(290,000 won),” and cites competitive labor costs as an advantage.Despite the low labor costs, the food prices are similar to those in Korea, with jajangmyeon at 8,000 won and samseon jjambbong at 11,000 won, surprising everyone.Jay Sean says, “Korean food is considered high-end food there, so if you maintain the taste, you can set a price higher than the cost of living,” and adds, “There are many people who buy it even at a high price because of the Korean Wave.” Upon hearing this, Kim Seong-ju shows keen interest, saying, “The labor and material costs are cheap, but the(food)price range is more expensive, so you’ll make a lot more money than in Korea.”

Lee Ji-hye, along with her ‘Guide Ho Woo-young’ who has lived in Taiwan for 8 years, will reveal the success strategies of the Taiwanese restaurant market.She will introduce the success stories of various restaurants, such as a kimbap cafe that boasts a 90% local customer ratio through a strategy of selling various Korean dishes, a meat restaurant with an average monthly salary similar to that of a manager at a large company, and a pig soup restaurant that opened two months ago and has an average daily sales of 450,000 won, shaking Kim Byung-hyun’s heart.

In addition, they captivate the studio MCs by giving a glimpse into the real life abroad in both countries.First, Hou Ying shows off a small but spacious 40-square-foot studio apartment, saying, “(In Taiwan)there are many houses that don’t even have a kitchen, “and Hwang Hu-in touches the hearts of viewers with her story of her parents supporting their employees during the COVID-19 pandemic, saying,” Providing food and lodging is a basic necessity for employees who come to Phnom Penh to work.”

MBN MBC Dramanet’s ‘Living Report’ Episode 4, which raises curiosity about where Kim Byung-hyun’s ambition for the global restaurant market will be directed between Taiwan and Cambodia, will air on the 16th(today)at 10:20 PM.

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

This article is automatically translated using Google AI. If you notice any inaccuracies, please let us know at allkstar@donga.com.