Viewers will be craving for midnight snacks with their stomachs growling, as the popular “Let’s Eat” series is soon to make its return.

The third installment of the series, “Let’s Eat 3: Begins,” returns to the air following a three-year break. Set in 2004, when lead character Goo Dae-young was a freshman, the story describes how Goo has learned to truly appreciate food under the guidance of a food connoisseur friend.

 

“As I have directed the second season as well, this season means a lot to me,” producer Choi Gyu-sik said at a press event held Tuesday at Times Square mall in western Seoul. “As the main story is set in 2004, it will be fun for the viewers to see what college life was like back in the day.”

“The third season will showcase summer cuisine, bringing back the appetite lost due to the hot weather,” the producer said.

Yoon Doo-joon of K-pop act Highlight, who plays the lead role of Goo for a third season, has become a symbol of the series.

“I somehow, from the start, knew that there would be a third season,” he joked. “I’d like to continue the series for a long time. There aren’t many multiseason TV series in Korea. But this one is already in its third season. It’s an honor for me to be involved.”

 

The Monday-Tuesday series is likely to be Yoon’s final project before he enlists in the Army. The date hasn’t been set yet, but he is likely to join sometime this year to fulfill his mandatory duties. The producer revealed his willingness to wait for Yoon to film for the next season.

“This show is now unimaginable without Yoon. If the third season gets a good response, the fourth season is likely to come. We will wait for Yoon,” Choi said, referring to the conscription period of about two years.

While Yoon is a fixture for the show, the female lead role has seen different actresses. For season three, Baek Jin-hee stars as Yoon‘s “meal mate” and food connoisseur friend, succeeding Lee Soo-kyung and Seo Hyun-jin.

“I was happy to feature in a series that I liked so much. Seeing Yoon eat in front of me was like watching TV at first,” Baek said.

The series, which aired its first season in 2013, reflects the single-person household trend and the popularity of food-related videos. It has been well received by viewers for introducing delicious dishes and the stories behind them.

The first episode of the 16-part series will air Monday at 9:30 p.m.

By Im Eun-byel (silverstar@heraldcorp.com)