South Korean actress Lee Young-ae has returned to the small screen with a special documentary program dedicated to traditional Korean food and dining culture.

Lee, who became a pan-Asia star after appearing in the hit drama “Daejanggeum,” is hosting the SBS documentary “Lee Young-ae’s Dinner” to explore the identity of the Korean people through their diverse food traditions and dishes such as the royal cuisine of the Joseon Dynasty.

In the first episode, which aired on Sunday, the 43-year-old actress held a traditional Korean dinner for foreign diplomats and officials of the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea featuring cuisine she learned about from prominent food experts.

In the program, Lee also talked about her daily life as an ordinary housewife and mother of twins for the first time since a nine-year hiatus following her last film, “Sympathy for Lady Vengeance,” in 2005. 

Buoyed by the popularity of SBS’ historical drama “Daejanggeum,” which tells the tale of a kitchen assistant who went on to become the first female physician for the king, the actress solidified her status as an icon of classical Korean beauty.

Last year, she appeared in the New York Times as a model advertising bibimbap to promote Korean food overseas.

“Lee Young-ae’s Dinner” consists of two episodes, with the second part set to air on Feb. 9.


(khnews@heraldcorp.com)