Subtitles by OnDemandKorea
- (Narration) A place in the city full of sea-breeze.
This is Noryangjin.
- Kyung-kyu, can you smell the ocean?
Let's Eat Dinner Together, we're at Noryangjin today.
- What's that?
Is something wrong?
Isn't a sudden change of hair color a bad health signal or something?
No, Kyung-kyu.
It must be bad.
Kyung-kyu, you and I have to lead a certain fashion and culture.
The upcoming trend for this summer.
Kyung-kyu...
- Let me tell you just one thing.
- You can fake your age but you can never hide it.
This is hiding it.
- (Narration) In any way, he can't seem to hide his head size.
- But when you think of Noryangjin, it's not only famous for the fish market
but more for the test-takers' village.
This is the place of our youths' sorrow.
Some people are here for like ten years.
So Noryangjin is a complex mix of the youths and their dreams,
Kyung-kyu, what does this world require?
In Korea right now?
- Communication.
So we would like to communicate with many youths today.
- (Narration) This is where the two are meeting the youths today.
It's Noryangjin, Dongjak-gu, Seoul.
Noryangjin, named after its origin as a ferry where white herons gathered,
is now full of over 50,000 test takers preparing for the civil service examination,
and is a jungle of test takers with desperate dreams.
- The test-taker's village in Noryangjin, Seoul, where the civil service test-takers are gathered...
- Last month, 230,000 students took the grade 9 civil service exam.
- The youth unemployment rate and number has peaked...
- It is now common for students to delay
graduation, due to the tough job market.
- It is sad to see the reality of the unstable job market.
- (Narration) With the youth unemployment at a record high,
the youths flock to Noryangjin with faint hopes.
As the ones living on dreams, what would
they be eating in Noryangjin?
Let's Eat Dinner Together Episode 31, the Moon of Noryangjin.
- Is this the Noryangjin Cup-rice street?
Wow, it's cup-rice everywhere.
- (Narration) Cup-rices were created for
test-takers with light wallets.
It has become a specialty of Noryangjin, and is now popular among visitors as well.
- If, although we won't, if we fail.
- We can eat here.
- Instead of convenience stores.
- We can eat here.
- This cup-rice, that cup-rice.
We can talk over cup-rice, Kyung-kyu.
- Before the new era came, I never said
this, and that, with you.
- You never did.
Now that it's a new world.
A new era.
I'm doing it.
- So, Kyung-kyu.
Talk this, and that.
- Oh, no.
- Kyung-kyu.
- I tried too hard.
- (Narration) It was a bit too much for Kyung-kyu, it seems.
- Stir-fired pork, grilled pork, spam, and mayo.
- I want one of these.
5 dollars for sirloin steak.
That's the most expensive one.
- So you serve them with rice, in cups?
- Yes, cup-rice.
- So, you do that because
you can save money and time.
- Yes.
- Try a sample.
- This looks like a test-taker.
- Try a sample.
- How are you?
- (Narration) There is also a foreigner who runs a cup-rice street vendor.
- Please try some.
- (Narration) Poong Kim, from 'Take Care of My Refrigerator,' who excels at cartoons and one-serving meals.
- Where are you from?
- Bulgaria.
- Bulgaria and Poland. Mixed.
- Poland.
- You're from both Bulgaria and Poland?
- Dad Bulgarian, mom Polish.
- They don't recognize each other right now.
I don't think Michael knows Kyung-kyu.
Kyung-kyu doesn't know Michael.
- Hello.
- Here.
- Nice to see you here.
We...
- Mr. Poong Kim.
- Yes, Let's Eat Dinner Together.
- I didn't know.
- Why else would he be here?
- I'm so sorry.
I was like, what is he doing here.
- Be honest, you don't really know him, do you?
- The cook. Chef.
- No.
- Yes, that's how most people know me by.
I'm a webtoon artist.
- Webtoon?
Cartoons?
I'm sorry.
- But, but...
He's good at cooking.
But do you think Poong here would come to our show alone?
- No.
There are probably other Poongs.
Not just Kim Poong.
- I guess, yes.
- So I thought maybe he was in the show.
You know, the show from JTBC.
Abnormal Summit.
- Oh, Abnormal Summit.
- I thought maybe he was from that show, as a guest today.
- Dinner buddy.
Mr. Poong Kim is here.
- Lets go then. Kyung-kyu.
- What about this?
- The producing team can pay.
- Okay, take care.
- Going, going.
- To eat.
- You can't just go.
- Shall we. Kyung-kyu.
- You thought he was from the Abnormal Summit.
- Since he's a foreigner.
- Oh, yes, Michael.
- He is...
- How do I know his name though?
I just said Michael.
- Wait a minute.
So I thought...
- Kyung-kyu!
You've never seen him?
- I know, wait.
Wait.
This is confusing.
- Michael.
- (Narration) The next dinner buddy today.
Is Michael, a professional Bulgarian Chef.
- I knew it.
I'm sorry.
For not recognizing you.
- Wait, but Michael.
Do you know who this is?
- Be honest.
- I don't know.
He's good.
He's really good.
- Michael, do you know my name?
- Oh...
Kangwon-do.
- Kang?
- Kang, Ho-dong.
- Bingo.
- Let's go.
- Wow, this is the first time the host and guest didn't know each other.
- Mr. Yeon-bok Lee and Hyun-suk Choi,
the two chefs were in our show.
- I saw that episode.
I saw Chef Hyun-suk eat with a dog at a convenience store.
- Jang-gun.
- Yes, I've seen him eat with Jang-gun.
- How does the chefs have any connection with the test-taker's village?
- I'm sorry?
- He doesn't know what a test-taker's village is.
- Do you know?
- Yes, I do.
I know.
- You do?
- Students in Korea, when they don't have enough money,
they live in such housings.
- He does have some things right.
- If famous chefs come, we can make them something.
- Oh, when we visit someone's place?
- Yes. Test-takers.
- Chef Yeon-bok opened their fridges and cooked for them.
- Yes, he did.
- So it's season 2 then?
- You know how tired the test-takers must be.
So if we can give them gourmet dishes.
- But do student's here cook?
- Usually...
- They eat out.
- They must, right?
- In Kimbab places.
- He's just throwing anything.
Here's a real estate agency.
Let's go inside.
Let's ask.
Hello.
- Are you buying a house?
- We're shooting Let's Eat Dinner Together here.
- Dinner, yes.
- Nice to meet you.
- Ma'am, these two are the chefs from
Take Care of My Refrigerator.
- I know both. - Kyung-kyu, these two are famous.
- They are.
- Thank you.
- So, in Noryangjin, what are the residencies like,
individual houses or apartments?
- There are a lot of studio apartments for students.
- So, there's the test-taker's village here.
How big are those studio apartments?
- Studio apartments are 13 square meters, and test-taker's housing 7.
- 7 square meters.
- Just big enough for one person to lie?
- Just enough space for that.
- What's the monthly rent?
- Around $450 to $500.
- Wow, 450 dollars?
- Per month?
No security deposits?
450 dollars.
Are test-taker's housing and test-taker's flats different?
- They are.
- How?
- The flats are the upgraded versions of the housings.
- Oh, upgraded versions.
How?
- The housings did not have individual bathrooms.
- Oh, right.
- But in test-taker's flats are bathrooms.
- Individual ones.
So, we've never been inside the test-taker's village yet.
How do they usually take care of their meals?
- There are separate kitchens.
If you take a look.
- There it is.
- A common area?
- Do you think we can share dinners
with test-takers tonight?
- It wouldn't be easy.
Because in test-taker's housings, you need to use the common kitchen area,
so you should go to a test-taker's flat, to eat dinner.
- Oh, the flats?
- The best chefs are here.
- Even the best needs something to work with.
- They have rice and ramen.
- If that's all they have, we can rock it.
- Don't say that, they'll really make us do it. - If you're going to cook...
- So we should have a plan.
This is tough.
- (Narration) Even with the chefs, the dinner
in the test-taker's housings does not seem easy.
- Goodbye. - Take care.
- Goodbye.
- What's this?
This is the supermarket, with price deals.
The master of cheapest prices.
It must be a very inexpensive supermarket.
- Wait.
This is 40 cents?
- It really is.
It's impossible.
- How much are these cheaper than in other places?
- For imported goods, about half the price.
- Half...
Half.
- It is definitely cheaper here.
- (Narration) For test-takers without much income,
this supermarket can be an Oasis.
With cheaper prices with distribution profits excluded,
it's also called the Noryangjin bargain malls.
- Then let's do this.
Test-taker's homes don't have much cooking ingredients.
So, with our money, since it's cheap here,
- That's a good idea.
- Let's cook for them.
- If that's possible.
- Since they have a shared kitchen.
Wait, this...
This is a physical fitness test prep place for
police officers and firefighters.
Physical fitness testing for civil officers.
So they take both written exams and this test.
- Fitness test.
- Policeman?
- Yes, policeman and firefighters.
The test-taker's village starts here.
- The entrance sign.
- (Narration) A place of youths and their dreams,
the four spoons are entering the village.
- I used to have a lot of test-taker friends.
And I came here often to hang out.
- Did anyone pass the exam?
- About half did.
The other half didn't.
- Then are half of your friends judges, prosecutors, or lawyers?
- No, it's more for police officers,
or civil officers.
I think the last five years were the toughest.
The last 3-5 years.
- And then?
They do their best.
- They give up, if things' don't work out.
This is a test-taker's housing.
This must be the test-taker's flat.
- So you can't use your phones here.
You may not...;
- It's not the phones. It's you.
- You are really loud.
- So why are phones banned here?
- Because there are rooms right next to here.
They can hear.
- You have to be quiet.
Be quiet.
- (Narration) Today our ears can take a break from Ho-dong's loud voice.
- Are you a test-taker?
Are you studying?
I can tell from your look.
The typical test-taker.
He's in sweat pants.
- Ho-dong.
They really are wearing gym-clothes.
- You're a test-taker, aren't you?
- The pants, and the flip-flops. - Can I ask a question?
Why do you wear sweatsuits?
- For comfort.
- For comfort?
- Is this a uniform?
- (Narration) Yes. The uniform for them are sweatpants and slippers.
The journey for success has to come with comfy uniforms.
- Ladies-only is quite interesting.
This is male or female only.
- Maybe, since some things could be uncomfortable.
- Look , Ho-dong.
That study room.
- There's a study room?
- I've never seen it before.
- (Narration) Many different types of rooms are available in the test-taker's village.
- We can't look inside, but the dreams of Korean youths
are all here.
- But not now. - In each room.
- (Narration) Dreaming big dreams in small rooms
are the youths of this generation.
- Test-taker?
- Yes.
- You are.
How long have you studied here?
- Two years.
So you live in a studio apartment?
- No, in a housing.
- In a housing.
What are you studying for?
- Grade 9 civil officer.
- Grade 9.
- Grade 9 must be difficult.
- Then, how do you eat usually?
- I usually eat out.
- Then, is there a space inside where you can cook...
- Yes.
- There is?
- Where did you live before?
- In Yongin, but now you're alone here?
- Yes.
- For two years?
How many times did you fail?
- Once, no, wait, yes, once.
- Once? - Yes
How often is the test in a year?
- 3 times a year for grade 9.
National, Local, and for Seoul are the three.
That's three times.
I failed one year.
I have the test coming up this June, and I want to make it.
- Our energies.
Take it from us.
Let's give her our energy.
Our energy.
One, two, three.
Pass!
- Oh, thank you.
- Go!
- Thank you.
- Look at the newspaper on the windows.
Newspaper.
- To avoid light.
- Yes, sun light.
- The sun could be disturbing.
Wait.
This is a test-taker housing and there's someone here.
- The manager.
Manager, sir?
- Yes.
- What time do you usually eat dinner here?
- Around 5 to 7.
- From 5 to 7.
Is everyone studying here right now
or are they at education institutes?
- People mostly study at institutes.
The class ends at 6, so.
- The class ends at 6?
- Yes, usually.
- Then don't they eat cup-rice?
- Yes, and also in housing cafeterias.
- Are the restaurants good here?
- Honestly, no, not for me.
- Why not?
- Salty and spicy.
- I'm from Jeonju, and...
- The food's awesome there.
- Jeonju Bibimbap is the best.
- Really good.
- The best.
Why do you work as a manager?
- Working as a manager takes care of rent problems, so.
- Oh, like a part time job.
- Yes, since I can't live off of my parent's money any more.
- What's your main duty then?
- I show people around.
- Show rooms to them?
How large are the rooms?
- Less than 7 square meters.
- The room you're living in?
- Yes.
What do you study for?
- To become a police officer.
- Oh, policeman.
How long have you been studying?
- About an year.
- One year.
Why a policeman?
- I served in the army as a conscripted policeman.
I used to work with police officers.
- So you wanted to be one.
- I felt it would fit me.
- When's the most difficult?
- When I fail one test and have to study for the next one.
- Right.
May I ask how many times you failed?
- Twice.
- What do you think was the reason?
- English.
- English?
What are you studying?
- English.
- Studying English?
- English, my third language.
- Three languages?
Cheer up.
Yes.
Thank you, Mr. Manager.
Bye-bye.
- Take care.
- I really knew nothing about this place, and now I'm learning.
- I don't think this is normal.
They are young people should be employed in private firms,
But they're all headed for the public sector due to the instability.
I think this is sad, in a way.
- (Narration) Hence the neologism, Public-test-takers.
It means test-takers who prepare for jobs in the public sector.
- Starting again after you fail a test once is really hard.
- Really...
I took the college exam 3 times.
- For college entrance.
So I used to come here for education institutes.
So, I kind of know how that must feel.
- I took a baking license test for a show.
Written exam.
You pass the written test if you score 60 or higher.
I took the test, and got a 59.
So I failed the exam.
- That's so close.
Doesn't that make you want to try again?
- I took the test again, and scored 40.
And again, and this time 28.
- It's weird how grades go down like that.
- So I quit.
- That was so close.
- Here...
- So many books...
- What are you studying?
I'm moving to a new study room.
- Oh, you're moving.
Is this all you have?
- No. I have more.
- May I ask what you're studying?
- The teacher certificate.
- Sorry? - Teacher exam.
- To become a teacher?
- Elementary school teacher?
- Middle school.
How many years did you prepare?
- About an year.
- Oh, about an year.
Okay, alright.
Say a few words to the students, as a potential teacher.
- Wait just some more.
I'm coming for you guys.
- Okay.
Cheer up.
- Even if it's difficult.
I feel kind of sad.
- Everyone's really...
- Studying...
What is it?
- Hello.
- Are you studying? - Are you students here?
- For firefighters.
- Firefighters?
- How about you?
Firefighter?
- Me too.
- All three of you.
So did you become friends here?
While studying together?
- Yes, while hanging out.
- Oh, at the same institute.
- How long have you studied?
- For an year.
- Actually.
- Our results are about to come out.
- You took the test?
- Yes.
- We did on April 8th, and the results come out tomorrow.
- You're waiting for the results?
Wow, that's...
- There's nothing we can do.
- So that's why you were here,
talking.
How confident are you?
- I really hope I pass this time.
- How's the competition?
- About eleven to one...
- Eleven to one?
Wow, then...
- Eleven to one.
So if you pass this time, you enter the school.
- Yes, I go to school...
- If not, are you going for another try?
- Oh, that I don't know.
- Alright.
I hope the best for you.
- Thank you.
- Okay, come here.
Give him energy.
For the best.
Pass!
- Thank you.
- Teacher...
- Becoming a teacher.
- I'm preparing for a policeman.
- Policeman.
- Firefighter.
- Firefighting.
- I hope I can make it.
- I want to pass.
- It's my dream.
- About an year.
- Two years.
- One more year.
- Twice.
- Three times.
- (Narration) The heavy sighs of the youths who have to overcome failures
fill the alleys of Noryangjin,
- Michael. - Yes?
- Are there exams like ours...
In Bulgaria?
- In Europe, if you study too much, your parents get worried.
Because you have to make girlfriends, and handle relationships,
and you have to learn to communicate at a young age.
Because it's the most important thing.
- Yes, it's not all about studying.
- No, it's not.
- You should go out and play.
- Yes, when you're young.
That's what's normal.
- (Narration) The exploration of the test-taker's village ends with mixed feelings,
and now is the time for the dinner challenge.
- So, Kyung-kyu, there are more people in the streets now.
The test-takers.
It's because the institutes ended at 6.
And now they're out for dinners.
- Yes.
- Dinners must be very important for the test-takers.
- Everyone's carrying books.
Let's try here.
- This place.
You need this.
- You can press this.
Show your face.
Just give it a try.
There's the camera.
Smile.
- Hello.
- It's difficult in test-taker housings.
- You can't even make it inside.
- Nobody's inside.
- No one.
Across from here.
- That one?
The housing?
I'm the manager here...
- Oh, you are?
- Are there student's inside?
We'll have to go in and see.
- Then, if it's alright, can we
have conversations with the test-takers?
- Then, what is it that you need for shooting?
- We just need to talk with the students.
- It's a program where we eat dinner together.
- Wait.
Mister.
- What's that.
- What are you doing.
- Where did you learn to do that.
No way.
You shouldn't.
- Kyung-kyu.
I didn't know.
- That's a shock.
That's for dinner.
- I'm sorry. I apologize.
- This is...
- If we knew in advance...
- No, this is how our show is.
- So if a student accepts our offer,
we can go in and have dinner.
- Then, would you come with me?
- Okay.
Together.
- This might work.
- (Narration) After a long persuasion, they are finally setting foot
in one of the signature test-taker's housings.
- Hello.
- The manager is here.
Hello.
Sir,
- Are you the manager?
- Is this where I can call the individual rooms?
- For each room...
- For each room.
- Is there a doorbell?
- No, but you can knock.
- Oh, we should knock.
- Let's do that.
- If the manager can guide us inside...
- I know.
- I can guide you...
- Mr. Manager?
Even the cafeteria is named 'Pass cafeteria.'
Are the test-takers inside?
- Some are, some aren't.
- What are you studying?
- For policeman.
- Police.
- Hello.
- Don't.
Oh, here.
This is how it looks.
- So.
- Only the gentlemen.
- We have to be quite.
I don't think all the staff should go in either.
- Go back downstairs.
- Nobody's here.
- No, no.
- Come this way.
- Next doors.
- I wonder what it looks like inside.
How they study and all that.
- Such a big mouth, Ho-dong.
- Be quiet.
- Quiet.
You're...
Michael, do it quick.
- No one's here.
Hello.
Do you know the show, 'Take Care of My Refrigerator?'
- No.
- You don't? - No.
- You don't?
Have you seen JTBC's Let's Eat Dinner Together?
- No.
- Have you eaten yet?
- Yes.
- You did.
- Hi.
- Oh, hello.
What test are you studying for?
- Civil service exam.
- Best wishes for you.
- Do you have to be quiet here?
- Yes.
- You don't want to disturb others.
Thank you.
Have a good day.
- There is someone.
- This is the quietest episode of Let's Eat Dinner Together.
- No, no.
- Bummer.
- Michael succeeded, but...
- Kyung-kyu.
Be quiet.
- Okay.
Knock, knock.
It's different from flat sharing.
- Be quiet, please.
- Who is it?
- Excuse me.
Hello.
Have you watched 'Take Care of My Refrigerator'?
- He doesn't know.
- Do you read webtoon?
- No.
- Oh, okay.
Do you happen to know Poong Kim?
- No, I don't.
- Have you eaten yet?
- Yes.
- Hello, hi.
I'm Kyung-kyu Lee.
We are here for JTBC's Let's Eat Dinner Together.
Have you seen it?
- No.
- Are you studying?
- Okay, thank you.
- Pray.
Pray, pray.
- Hello.
- Yes.
- Do you watch TV?
- I think I do.
- Do you know 'Take Care of My Refrigerator'?
- Yes.
- You know who I am?
- Yes, I do.
- Nice to meet you.
Did you have dinner yet?
- Yes, I have.
- I ate.
Come take a look here.
I brought all my friends.
- Hello.
I'm Ho-dong, Kang.
- I'm quite busy, so...
- Yes.
Thank you.
- Someone's bringing dinner.
Hello.
Which floor?
- 6...
- Is that your dinner?
- Ask him.
- Do you now the show, Let's Eat Dinner Together?
- Yes.
- Oh, then, what is your name?
- I'm Jung-hyun, Jang.
- Where are you from?
- Iksan, Jeon-buk.
- There is a shared kitchen are here, right?
- Yes. Downstairs.
- This, is Mr. Poong, Kim, and he's a cook.
So we would like to buy some groceries and bring them to the shared kitchen area.
And cook there...
- Together.
- Would you like to eat with us and talk about this and that?
- (Narration) Would they succeed dinner at Noryangjin just like this?
- Would you like to eat with us and talk about this and that?
- (Narration) Just the entrance itself is difficult in test-taker's housing.
What would be his answer?
- Yes.
- Yes I would like to.
- Would you be okay appearing on TV?
- That's fine.
- Congratulations.
Have a great time.
- Which house?
- Kyung-kyu.
- We're leaving now, Kyung-kyu.
See you next week.
Thank you.
- Cheers!
- Let's leave now.
The hallway here, Michael.
Let's stand like this.
We can't even walk side to side like this.
Too narrow.
Very narrow.
- (Narration) A tough dinner is expected, just like the narrow hallway.
- Let's go.
- You are like a treasure chest to us.
- He had a take-out in his hands.
So if he just ate it on his own, we couldn't have made it.
Mr. Jung-hyun.
- Yes.
- Where is the kitchen area?
- So we'll go up and talk for a while,
and come back down to cook dinner.
Right? - Yes.
Do you always walk up to the sixth floor?
- Yes.
But, my room's really small...
- It's alright. - It's fine.
I used to live here.
I know how difficult it could be.
- Wait.
- This is too much.
- Excuse me, sir.
Can you wait for us?
- Sixth floor.
- We've been walking around all day.
Here's another one.
Should I open it?
Hello.
I'm Kyung-kyu Lee.
- I was brushing my teeth.
Have you eaten yet?
- Yes, I have.
- Oh, okay.
We're Let's Eat Dinner Together.
So we're dining with a test-taker here.
- What are you studying?
- Tax accounting.
For how long?
- It's been six months here.
- Don't you get lonely?
- Not, at all.
- Not at all.
Where are you from?
- Changwon...
- Changwon, Kyung-nam.
- Cheers to you.
- Thank you.
- Go!
- Alright.
Mr. Jung-hyun.
- Mr. Jung-hyun?
Is it this way?
- (Narration) Sixth floor at a test-taker's housing.
In a space smaller than 7 square meters,
here is a young man studying for his dreams.
- I think only set-up cameras will work.
- We can't go in?
- It's really small.
- Wow, this is.
- Look at his clothes.
- Hello.
Excuse me, I'm going in.
- Please sit.
- Yes.
- Can we move this hanger?
- Yes.
- Jung-hyun.
- Please sit here.
- How many years have you been here?
- It's been two years since I lived here.
- Two years?
What are you studying for?
- I'm studying for an admin position.
- Administration.
- May I ask how old you are?
- I'm 34.
- What did you do before you got into this?
I was in a private company...
- In an office.
- And then you decided to quit. - Yes.
- And this, now? - Yes.
- To become a civil servant? - Yes.
- What made you change your career?
- The future was too dim.
- Of course.
- So I wanted to try something more stable.
That's how I started.
- People say, challenge yourselves, but in reality,
it's never that easy.
- No.
- It's a different world now. In my days, reckless challenges
did have a chance, but not any more.
- No.
- No more reckless challenges.
Are you back from the institute?
- I'm working for now, so I went to work,
and came back with a take-out dinner.
- You work? - What do you do?
- At Yeouido, for just a little.
- Part time?
- To make money.
- You're working and preparing for the exam.
- Yes, both.
- Working by day and studying by night.
How many hours do you work for?
- About 9 hours.
- At Yeouido? - Yes.
- You work 9 hours and then come here to study?
- Yes.
- Is this a take-out meal?
What kind is it?
- It's a side-dish store for test-takers in Noryangjin.
- Side-menu store.
- And they give you a combination of the side dishes.
So that students can eat it.
- This is how they do it.
- This is how you eat.
- Multi-grain rice.
- How about hot soup?
- You have to buy it separately.
- How much are all of these?
- This is about $4.
- This is $4?
- With all these and the rice?
Do you have anything else?
Isn't that a refrigerator?
- This is the refrigerator.
But nothing else is there.
- Here it is. - Can I take a peek?
- This is the smallest one I've seen.
- Can I take a look?
- Yes, but there's not much.
- No, nothing.
- Medicine, and.
- Try cooking with those pills.
- These are all medication.
There's black garlic concentrate.
I can make you garlic soup.
There's some syrup here.
- Mr. Poong Kim is a chef here.
- I'm a webtoon artist.
- But he doesn't have the permit.
- No, the certificate.
- He's a cook without a permit.
This wouldn't be enough for us...
- Right...
- So should we buy rice?
- We can buy rice.
Some rice.
- That should do it.
Wait. How much did we have?
- I have...
Wait.
- $3.
- I have $3.
- $2 for the rice.
- And I can.
Find something to buy. - Something to work with.
- I might need the concentrate so I'll take it.
- You have to come up here.
- I have to come back here?
Can't I just call you from downstairs?
- Because we're on 6th floor without an elevator?
- It was tough.
Okay.
I'll come back up here.
- What is that, Poong.
You have to earn it.
- Coming up the stairs...
Alright.
I'll come back up.
- Then, call us.
- Okay.
- We'll come down.
- Yes, alright.
I'll take a look at the kitchen.
This must be the kitchen.
Oh, this is how it looks like.
Everything with name tags.
This is ramen, dried seaweed.
Oh, there's rice.
Okay, this would be...
We can save on rice.
I only need to buy the other ingredients.
Wait.
Was there sugar here?
Salt, yes.
Sugar...
Should I buy sugar...
Oh, wait.
There was syrup.
I can use syrup.
- Why do you have so many caps?
- I'm a test-taker, so I when I don't shower.
Or when I'm tired I can wear it.
- Can I see one?
Oh, for when you don't shower.
No showers.
- And I don't have time to do my hair.
- So you can just leave like this.
- Yes.
It hides it.
- Yes, yes.
So here's a mirror but it's covered by clothes.
You wouldn't look at the mirror much, if you're here?
- Just once, when I shower.
In the bathroom.
If I look too often, I see myself looking really tired...
But when you take a shower you look better.
- Yes, of course.
- That's when I look.
- You take a look at yourself.
Or else you don't even want to look.
Isn't it a bit stuffy in here?
- It is small.
But not passing the exam is worse, so.
- So since the reality is worse, you can stand the small space?
- Yes.
My future is more painful to think of.
- How many hours of sleep?
- About five hours a day?
- How does your day go like?
When do you wake up?
- I wake up at around 5 or 6 in the morning.
And I shower, and study a bit, and then go to work.
- To Yeouido?
- And I buy the take-out for dinner.
- You buy it on your way home, and you study.
- Yes.
- For how many hours?
- About 4 hours.
- 4 hours.
- Yes, and then.
- You go to bed at around midnight to 1am?
- Yes.
- May I ask how many times you failed?
- Many times.
So that's kind of a sensitive question for test-takers like me.
- Of course.
A forbidden question.
But I interviewed a few people walking around outside.
And I heard that the toughest part was
having to start studying again after a failure.
- You have to get back on your feet quickly in order to
pass the exam next time, but that's really hard.
You have to do it all again.
- Right.
Isn't it difficult to study, when you're not as young?
- It is tough.
It's tough, but when I think of the future.
- You have to pull through.
- Yes.
- It's a dumbbell?
What's this?
- I bought it for doing weights, but I never use it anymore.
- Right.
Gym equipment is like that.
Once or twice a year is more than enough.
Can you even lift it?
- No, I can't.
I don't think you can.
Give this one a try.
Wait.
- This.
Wait.
You bought this to use it in here? - Yes.
- Wow, this.
- You might get...
- I could lift it at least 20 times when I exercised regularly.
- When was the last time...
You exercised?
- I think about one year ago.
- One year ago?
Do this?
Don't.
Maybe with both hands, yes.
Even this is hard.
Do you lie with your head this way?
- Yes.
- This way.
So it's called a 'dinner cinema,' where you can act as if no one was around,
maybe like sleeping here.
- Sleeping?
- Lying down, how you lie.
- Oh, just like this.
Usually, like this.
- With the blanket?
- Yes, with the blanket, like this.
- Why is this covered?
- The light wakes me up, so.
It doesn't matter in wintertime, but in summer.
- The sun sets early...
Like this?
- Yes, yes.
During then there's light in early dawn too, so.
- You all have ways of living in this tiny place.
- Yes.
- (Narration) Meanwhile, Poong was trying his best
to make the best meal with $6.
- I don't think you can buy meat with this.
I have a budget, right?
What should I make.
With $6?
This is harsh.
This, $3...
This seems slightly better.
Okay.
I'll just get these.
I think this will do.
- Do you need a bag?
- Do I have to pay for it?
- Yes, 5 cents.
- Then it's alright.
I'll just carry it.
How much is this?
- It's $3.3.
- $3.3?
You can't give me a discount for $3, can you?
- I'm sorry.
- Okay.
Here you go.
- Thank you. - Yes.
- Thank you.
- I'll give you this bag for free.
- Thank you so much.
Thank you.
- Goodbye.
- Thank you. - Goodbye.
- Thank you.
This cabbage is $1.5.
Are onions pricey these days?
- Onions are over here.
- Oh, okay.
Do you sell these by ones?
- No, by the package.
- No, okay.
I don't have enough money, so.
Okay.
- I'll just give you one.
- Oh, really?
Thank you.
Thank you so much.
- Would this do?
- Yes, thank you.
- Not too small?
- No, it's fine, thank you very much.
So much love here.
Maybe it's the Noryangjin love.
Thank you so much.
Then I should buy the cabbage.
Thank you.
The cabbage...
This is a big one.
Two of these.
This is $2.5?
- Just give be $2.
- Oh, thank you so much.
One, two.
I'll just buy five of these.
Thank you.
Wow, the first time in my life, buying 70 cents worth of hot peppers.
In my life. Wow...
- (Narration) The quick-fix meal at the test-taker's housing
made with a $6-budget, will soon be revealed.
- What time is it?
- It was...
- We've got time. We have time.
Michael, do you think we can join a dinner?
Or do you think we'll fail?
- I think we can.
- We can?
- If you expect more.
- Stop.
- Here?
Hello.
Do you recognize me?
- Michael.
- Nice to meet you.
Nice to meet you.
Have you seen our show, Let's Eat Dinner Together?
- Yes, I have.
- We are here at Noryangjin today, and would like to have dinner.
- But here, in the room.
There's no kitchen.
- That's alright.
That's fine.
- How do you eat? - We can, just.
- How do we eat?
- Oh, my god.
Handshake please.
- Hello.
- Were you studying? - You were studying?
- Yes.
- For policeman?
- No, not for policeman but for a general civil servant.
- What's your name?
- I am Se-hoon, Jung.
- I can tell if he saw our programs or not.
You and I can talk about this... - And that.
- He's good.
- You've seen our show?
- Yes.
- You even have a cooking-burner.
You can use this to cook.
Make ramen.
So the important thing is, did you or did you not have dinner today?
- Dinner, not yet.
- Perfect.
- But I usually eat at test-taker's cafeterias
where you can have a Korean buffet.
That's where I was about to go.
- It was so close.
Really.
- (Narration) Test-takers usually take care of meals in cafeterias.
Which makes eating dinner together even more difficult.
- The time now...
- We don't have time? - Yes, it's almost past seven.
What should we do.
- Here's someone, up here.
Hello.
Is this a house?
- No.
- Hello.
- It's a study room.
- What's a study room?
- It's originally a house, but it's renovated into several rooms.
It's where you sleep like in housings.
- It's like a test-taker's housing?
- Yes.
- Where are you having dinner today?
- I was about to go to the test-taker's cafeteria.
- Oh, the cafeteria.
- Thank you. - It's like he said.
- I know, right?
- Thank you.
Let's go.
- Here, here.
There are lights on.
- Who is this?
- Hello.
I'm Michael from JTBC's 'Take Care of My Refrigerator,'
- I don't know that.
- You don't know?
Anybody there?
- Sir.
Sir.
- Hello.
- I'm sorry but I'm a bit busy.
- Busy? - You're busy?
Thank you sir.
- It's Michael from JTBC's 'Take Care of My Refrigerator.'
- Do you happen to know who I am?
- Yes.
- Did you have dinner yet?
- No, not yet.
- Not yet?
- No.
- Sir.
We're a show where we visit your house
and talk about this, and that.
- Yes.
But I have some work to do right now.
Okay.
- I'm sorry.
- Goodbye.
- Yes, take care.
- Goodbye.
- (Narration) Tonight somehow reminds us of Jang-gun.
The Bulgarian chef is worried.
- What now, Michael?
- Is anybody home?
- Excuse me.
Why so many umbrellas?
- Let's go, go.
- Excuse me.
Hello.
Is this a test-takers housing?
- Here?
It's not a housing, it's a study room.
- You are using this place as a study room?
- Hello.
- Would you shake my hand?
It's a room.
Study rooms are rooms for living.
- Yes.
Three of us live here.
- The other two rooms are empty?
What's your name?
- I'm Woo-hyun, Lee.
- Mr. Woo-hyun.
It's a coincidence we met.
In Noryangjin.
Have you seen Michael from 'Take Care of My Refrigerator'?
- Hello.
- Yes, hi.
- Where were you planning on having dinner?
- I usually eat inside.
- Then let's all go inside.
So...
- It's really small.
- It's Woo-hyun, Ho-dong, and Michael, and it's fate that brought us together...
It's going to be fun.
- Then...
Thing's aren't very nice here.
Then I'll tidy my room up a bit.
- (Narration) Wait.
Tidying the room up, what would that mean?
- Then, would you like to be our dinner buddies tonight?
- Yes, I can do that.
But there's nothing nice.
- That's alright.
- But you have to be really quiet.
- There are others too.
- And we shouldn't disturb them.
- They're studying.
Timing's awesome.
- I'm not sure who's inside.
- But if there's no one we can talk comfortably.
We'll give you some time for you to clean up.
See, Michael.
This is a miracle.
- Yes.
Of course.
- Then, let's get inside.
Wow.
This is the bathroom you share.
- Look, look.
- Why?
Be careful, that's blood.
Blood.
- Blood?
- Someone must have hit their head
climbing up the stairs.
I have to say these are blood marks from someone.
So, which room are you in?
I'm in this room...
- That's yours, and others?
- These are all rooms.
- (Narration) Study rooms in Noryangjin are made up of five rooms and a bathroom.
- One, two, three, four, five.
There are six rooms.
- This is Woo-hyun's bedroom.
- (Narration) Woo-hyun's room is small but neat and organized.
- How long have you lived here Woo-hyun?
- About 6 months now.
I worked at a company in Seoul for 3 months...
- So you had a job.
- Yes, but I wanted to become a police officer.
So I quit and came here.
- Even when you were lucky enough to get a job, you wanted something more.
- Yes, so.
Your face just says "policeman."
Your impressions, strong, and.
- Oh, thank you.
- When's the exam?
- The exam is in September 2nd.
- You do have time.
- I have 129 days left.
But I don't feel like I have much time.
- Where are you from?
- I'm from Gunsan, Jeon-buk.
- Jeollabuk-do? - Yes.
- Gunsan's famous for spicy seafood noodles.
- Yes, it is.
- Please sit, it's your bed.
- Why do you have these?
- To block the distraction.
- Oh, when your girlfriend is here?
- Sorry?
No, no.
- Makes sense. - No, here...
How should I put this.
- Do you have a girlfriend or not?
- I do have a girlfriend, but.
- Ah, okay.
- That was sharp.
- Oh, my eyes...
- But I wouldn't want to bring her to a place like this.
- Why, it's nice.
- Let's sit.
I heard test-taker's flats are nicely equipped.
- There are a lot around here too.
But his room is comparatively very nice.
- It is nice.
- It was quite affordable too.
- How much...
- The monthly rent is $300.
- Without deposits?
- $300, without deposits.
- No. If you go to other places,
some nicer places are for $400 or more.
- Is there enough light during the day?
- No, not at all. - I didn't think so.
- There's a wall here.
But you can see light when the sun rises.
- Although it doesn't get in the room...
- I can at least look at it.
- (Narration) The positive minded young man who finds light in the dark.
- What were you planning on having for dinner?
- Here we have Kimchi stew.
It's a pot for 1 serving.
So you can cook kimchi with tuna here.
- Cook instant rice in the microwave.
- Yes, instant rice, and dried seaweed.
- I was worried today because I heard that most people
eat in cafeterias or other places outside.
- The cafeterias here seemed good.
- You know, the famous $4 buffet.
- Korean buffets and all.
Why do you cook for yourself, when others mostly don't?
- I got tired of those kind of food.
They don't taste very healthy.
And so.
- So this is healthy?
- No, not that.
That's...
Not that one.
- It has to be your mom's Kimchi for the stew to work.
- Of course.
It's so much better.
- So you prepare what you can and
eat with instant rice and all that.
- Yes...
- I saw there was a refrigerator and a microwave outside.
If there's kimchi in the fridge,
do other people eat it without asking first?
- Ah...
That did happen one time.
- So were you upset?
- Yes...
- Without asking?
- Yes, because it was my grandma's kimchi, with lots of
salted seafood, and with oyster, and I really like oyster.
It didn't smell good yet, because it wasn't ripe.
So I left it in the fridge for it to ferment for a few weeks.
- You were saving it.
- Yes, but it all disappeared.
- So did you find who did it?
- I didn't.
He must have craved for it.
He probably just tried it once.
And then liked it, and ate more.
It was in a big container. Really big.
So it must have taken a few weeks to eat it all.
I think he even made kimchi stew with it.
- Because it was so good.
- It really is that good.
But I have more.
- What things are in the kitchen?
- This whole place,
- This is the kitchen, too?
- This is the kitchen, study room...
You can just eat.
- Here's the world's best chef.
- Yes, of course.
- If you can apply this...
- With these?
- (Narration) It's a tough environment for the chef to work in.
Michael, try to think.
And we have $6.
- Do you have a frying pan?
- That's all I have.
- Let us look in the fridge and the kitchen first.
Let's go there first.
Let's go.
- Oh, it's the same fridge as mine.
Completely the same.
- That's not mine.
- Put it back.
- It's not mine.
- (Narration) There seemed to be a lot in the fridge,
but they all belonged to someone else.
Woo-hyun's was just eggs and kimchi.
And the cooking utensil is just a pot for one serving.
What would chef Michael make in this tough situation.
- A chopping board and a knife?
- No chopping board, but a knife, yes.
- You have a knife.
Do you have vinegar?
- Vinegar?
No, I don't.
There's not even salt.
- No salt?
- No.
- Wow...
- What do you expect?
Michael, think hard. Create.
Imagination.
- You like to work out.
- Yes.
- Then fried eggs...
Do you like poached eggs, without oil?
Do you like eggs?
- I like poached eggs.
- We can put poached eggs in the kimchi stew.
- I would like that.
- I can show you tips for making nicely poached eggs.
- Yes.
- It's very simple.
You need vinegar.
- If you put it in pure water, its doesn't form well.
But with vinegar, the egg goes, kkk...
- I'll go buy some then.
Vinegar, and what else?
Only vinegar. - Just the vinegar? - Yes.
- I'll go get it.
- (Narration) Ho-dong heads to the supermarket
to buy Michael's secret ingredient.
Hello.
Are you a test-taker?
- Yes.
- Is this your dinner?
Did something happen?
This is what you picked?
What do you study?
- For a police officer.
- Exam's in September?
- Yes.
- I know all about it.
I just spoke with your competitor.
He's very serious, so you have to be prepared.
- Yes, okay.
- How long have you studied?
- It's only been a month here.
- It's not very long.
So before that?
- I was in Daegu, but I came to Seoul to study again...
- Okay, you can wash this.
Watch your head.
- Wait.
- Dish washing liquid?
- Yes.
- This is it.
Boil hot water.
Do you have a table?
- I don't have a table...
- Or, we can...
- Michael.
Chef.
- Fantastic.
- Apple.
- Apple, double apple?
- I bought this so that Woo-hyun can be more energized.
- And this is for making kimchi stew next time.
Maybe later if you cook on your own.
You can have that at any time.
You made a table?
- Yes.
- Oh, fantastic.
- I made the table.
- You're poaching eggs there?
- I'll show you how I cook.
- What are you making Michael?
- Sorry?
- What are you making? - Look here.
The water's boiling.
- Teach us.
- Pour some vinegar.
You have to season it.
- Michael, then it's just boiled water.
And just a few drops of vinegar.
- Yes, vinegar, and no oil.
Healthy way of cooking eggs.
- Poached eggs.
- Really?
It's really cool.
What does the vinegar do?
- It makes the egg cook nice and clean.
The electricity is too low.
- Real chefs don't blame the equipment.
No.
- There's another tip.
This was tip 1.
The second, is, you just put the egg in.
Go, one, two, three, four.
Till ten.
Second tip.
Because, look here,
Pooosh~.
It's all messy here, but with this next to it.
- Is it any different?
- It is.
It makes the egg cook cleaner.
- (Narration) The Bulgarian chef is doing his best in the worst conditions.
- It's so under-equipped, and thank you so much for trying hard.
- Where do we put it?
Here?
In the stew?
- Oh, in the stew.
- Leave it nice and pretty.
Here.
- I'm not sure if the kimchi stew will be good.
- Oh, this is really different.
Pre-cooking it makes it cook better.
It's rounder.
- I have this every morning.
- It's really healthier, without any oil.
Right?
- Right.
And compared to hard-boiled eggs
it's more tasty too.
- Okay.
- And if you eat it with...
This is the dinner at a test-taker's room in Noryangjin.
- (Narration) This is a dinner at test-taker Woo-hyun Lee's room,
and is a special meal with Bulgarian Chef Michael's poached eggs.
- Thank you for the meal.
- Please enjoy.
- This is proper poached eggs.
The half-cooked inside.
Right?
- Yes.
- Let's try it.
Wow.
I'm the only one who can do this.
- (Narration) Ho-dong met a new world of kimchi egg Benedict today.
The collaboration of spicy kimchi stew and softly poached eggs.
All of this, is thanks to the young man who gave us his valuable time.
- This is good.
I think this is a good combination.
I should try cooking it the way you did.
- I should too. It's easier than I thought.
- Yes, the vinegar was the trick.
- A little bit of vinegar.
- So, in Korea, people think that poached eggs
are super difficult to make.
But it only takes five minutes to make it.
- It does.
- (Narration) Chef Poong Kim, on the other hand, was preparing his own dishes.
- Oh, it was tough.
What I bought isn't something you can buy with $6.
- What did you get?
- Rolled crab meat.
Onions.
Onions were...
This is precious.
I bought these for 70 cents.
Winter mushrooms and cabbage.
- Here's a study hall.
You study upstairs and study down here too?
In the study hall.
Are you studying?
Hello.
Nice to meet you.
Wow, you were studying.
Have you eaten?
- Yes, I have.
- You have?
You could join us if you haven't.
- No, I'm good. - You sure?
Which exam?
- Police officer.
- Policeman?
I can tell from your frame.
You have the charisma of a policeman.
It would be nice if you can join us.
We'll keep it quiet while we eat.
Good luck.
Alright, yes.
- Do you like spicy food?
- Oh, yes.
- Alright then.
Take a seat.
Please sit.
I wanted to make something you would like.
I was about to make a rice bowl with some toppings.
A little on the Chinese side.
- You're being too loud.
A student's here.
- I'm sorry.
- That noise...
- Ah... - My apologies.
- These doors are very strong .
I'm sorry.
- What are you making?
- What am I making?
I think may be rice topped with something, kind of soup-based.
Kind of like Chinese.
- Sounds good.
- Yes, so the crab meat is quite savory.
And crab is quite expensive.
But rolled crab meat can taste very similar to an actual crab.
- Can you keep it down...
Quite, please.
It does sound good.
- The fire's too weak.
- It smells so good already.
- This is several shows in one,
in Let's Eat Dinner Together today.
Let's Eat Dinner Together, Take Care of My Refrigerator, VJ Special Forces...
- Three-days-documentary.
- Yes, and 'Individual Theater.'
- Law of Jungle.
- It really is a jungle.
- How much did this all cost?
6 dollars.
- How much is the take-out?
- $4.
- Should have just bought one.
Eat the take-out and have a ramen with the remaining $2.
And that would have ended in $4.
This...
Ten minute's up.
- (Narration) Cinderella Poong's rice topping have been finished in just ten minutes.
Kyung-kyu carefully plates Jung-hyun's take-out.
The dinner at the test-taker's housing is being prepared by the three men.
This is the dinner of a Mr. Sung-hyun Jang, a test-taker in Noryangjin,
and is made with six side dishes and Poong Kim's quick dish,
all in beautiful collaboration.
- Give it a try.
I didn't make it too salty, so that
you can eat a lot of vegetables.
- It's alright?
- Wow, the savory taste. - Right?
It's nice.
- It is?
- It's really spicy and nice.
Like a home-cooked meal.
- The ingredients are just the crab rolls, onions, and cabbage.
It has a depth to the taste.
- Wow.
Poong, you live up to your name.
- Thank you.
- Wow, this is good.
- Thank you.
- Let's just bring Poong and a few others for every episode.
So when we ring up doorbells,
they could just cook something and leave.
This is nutritious too.
- Yes, of course.
- It's healthy.
It's all cabbage...
- Mushrooms and cabbage.
Onions...
- It's good.
I think this is perfect for test-takers.
- Easy on the stomach.
- (Narration) Jung-hyun is enjoying the carefully planned dish
with the test-taker's nutrition taken into consideration.
This is a special dinner for someone who is used to the take-outs in Noryangjin.
- It's nice.
Um, nice.
Mm...
- (Narration) Kyung-kyu stopped being mean
to Cinderella Poong for once, and devours the crab meat.
Cinderella Poong is now finally enjoying his own meal.
- This the good luck crab meat cabbage dish.
- Yes.
Good luck on your exams.
- I know.
Put a little rice on top of this.
Because there was a student studying here.
Would you like some?
Bring a spoon.
Try it.
He's so well-built too.
Studies for the policeman position.
- Take a seat.
- He's strong like a policeman.
- It's good. - Sorry?
- It's really good. - It is, right?
It tastes like home.
Is it alright?
- Yes.
- Eating while studying is fine.
- Of course.
- You haven't eaten?
You're eating well.
- It's really good.
- Good luck.
- Thank you.
- You had the good luck crab meat.
- So it kind of feels like a holiday too.
- Holiday?
Thank you.
- (Narration) A dinner like a holiday for the test-taker.
- Are there a lot of take-out stores nearby?
- Not so much. More cafeterias.
Cafeterias for students.
Test-taker's cafeterias, in fact.
You pay $4.5 per meal, and it's kind of like a buffet,
where you can eat as much as of what you like.
- And that's $4.5?
- How much do you spend a month here?
In a month.
I expect around $400 to $500.
- That's only for the rent.
- You have to add a bit.
- Meals, and transportation costs, would make about $1000.
- Yes, even more than that actually.
- Right?
So you have to save on $1 and $2.
- Yes, right.
- I understand it.
- How much do you spend a month usually?
- Staying here?
The rent is $300, and $120 for the study room.
- Electricity, and...
- Yes.
I don't pay for electricity though.
- Oh, no?
- It's all covered with the $300.
- It's all included?
- Yes.
- That's a deal.
- Even if you have lights on for the entire day.
- Yes, and also the air-conditioning too.
- Yes, it's alright.
- And then other costs of living.
- I get to spend quite a lot on eating.
- What's the study room?
- It's because studying in just one place
can get a bit boring.
So I move to the study room to study, too.
- So you have your own desk there? - Yes.
- Then, how does your day go?
- I wake up at 6:30 in the morning.
I wash my face, have a glass of water.
And I sit on the desk, right away.
- You sit down, take online lessons, and then?
- How many times to the institute a week?
- Five times a week.
- On every weekday.
- Yes.
- What time to you come back home?
- At eight, and you study on your own again...
I go to the study room if I get tired of it.
And then if I feel too tired
I lean back and surf the internet too.
- That's the only fun part. - Yes.
10 to 20 minutes rest, and then back to studying.
And I also have group studying in the evening.
So I go there too.
- So if we weren't here today you'd have studied?
- That's all I could do here.
- Did we take too much of your time...
- No, I really liked it. Really.
I still feel this is unreal.
It's like I'm dreaming.
- So you've been with your girlfriend for what, one year?
- Not yet. It's been about 230 days.
240 days.
- You count every day.
- I saw a special clock on the computer.
- Oh, that's for studying time.
- Oh, okay.
To measure the time I spend studying in a day.
- You have to check that too?
- Yes.
The goal could be 10 hours a day.
Or maybe 12 hours a day.
- Sitting in front of the desk.
- You seem to like chatting
but you don't have anyone to talk to most of the time.
- You have to spend 12 hours studying.
Buried in books.
- I think you're right.
I have to try my best, as long as I am here.
When I think of my parents and all.
And even when I rest, it doesn't feel very good.
Probably everyone here feels the same way.
Passing the exam and getting out of here
makes you a real person, in a sense.
So we just try not to think of anything else.
- Do you call your parents a lot?
- Yes, often.
- Then, how about you call your parents today
that we've visited, and that you'll visit them.
- Okay. Yes.
- Hello.
- Mom.
- Yes.
- Ma'am.
- Yes, yes.
Ma'am,
I'm Ho-dong Kang, from TV shows.
- Yes, yes.
- Let's Eat Dinner Together visited Noryangjin today.
- Oh, you did.
- Yes.
Say hello to her.
- Hello, ma'am.
This is Michael.
Oh, thank you.
- It's an honor.
- The Kimchi was so delicious.
- It was?
Very nice to meet you Mr. Ho-dong.
I used to see you a lot in the TV.
But you appear less these days.
- Yes, I will try harder.
- Yes, yes.
Great.
- Ma'am, your son studies more than 12 hours a day here.
- Yes, yes.
- And he's doing his best
to be the best son.
So if you have a few words you'd like to say
to your loving son, please go ahead.
- Woo-hyun.
- Yes.
- You know how much I love you, right?
- Yes.
Please work hard just as you have done so far,
and good days will come, so don't think of yourself in pain,
and move forward like the great son you are.
Cheer up!
- Yes.
- Can you tell her what kind of son you would like to be?
- I know I'm not perfect, but I'll try hard...
- You are perfect.
You've done so well, and you just need to be that way.
- I'll try my best for the best results.
- Yes. We'll meet soon, and thank you for meeting Woo-hyun
it's such a nice day for him.
- Thank you mom.
- Please say thank you to everyone there.
- I'll do that.
- Have a happy day.
- Thank you ma'am.
- Thank you.
- Yes, have a good day.
- Ma'am.
- Mom, I love you.
- Yes...
Yes.
- Take care.
- Her love and belief in you...
- So I really feel I shouldn't let her down.
- So what other hopes do you have other than passing the exam?
- Hopes would be, for my parents,
I would like a stable job, so that I can be with them,
until they grow older.
- Nice reaction.
- Food waste can go to a plastic bag.
And we should throw it out like that.
- (Narration) With the simplest clean-up in the history of the show.
- Michael can give him the good luck energy for the exam in September.
- Pass!
- Arghh.
- (Narration) Michael and Ho-dong gave
all their energy for Woo-hyun's exam.
Poong asked the fridge to take care of the unused ingredients.
And hoped that anyone who would eat these can
receive the good luck energy too.
- TV shows are tough.
- It's not easy.
But not as much as studying.
Wow, this is awesome.
Wow, nice view.
But this feels really strange.
Looking into the city from here, the test-taker's village,
it's so near but feels so far away.
- Yes, the jungle of the city.
Having to think that you will have to survive that jungle.
- That you have to move from here to there.
- We have to go from here to there.
- You have to cross to Yeouido.
- But for us, it's like a mirage.
- Yes.
- The city? - We can see it, but we can't live it.
It makes me sad.
- Do you have a dream?
- I would like to pass the exam, and live happily with my parents,
and try Mr. Poong Kim's recipe some day.
- I will make it for you.
- We'll come back.
- I wish there are less test-takers like we've seen today
in our country.
- Yes.
- One, two, three!
- One, two, three.
- (Narration) In a small room in Noryangjin,
the two young men shared dinners with their dreams.
- I always ate alone, and when you came to eat dinner with me
it was really warm to the heart.
And it gave me strength too.
Thank you for making such good memories for me.
And I hope you all achieve your dreams.
Go!
- I'll pass the exam with your energy.
Thank you.
Go, Let's Eat Dinner Together!
- This is the Children's Park.
- Is our dinner buddy children?
What?
- Hey, Ji-won Eun.
He's a kid. - He is.
It is Ji-won.
Why didn't you tell us you were coming.
- Nice to see you.
- He's the robot.
The education hub of Kang-buk.
Education institutes everywhere.
- This place is big with institutes. Education institutes everywhere.
- This place is big with institutes.
- I heard you were a top student.
Do you have evidence?
100 punches if you don't.
- 2000 if I do.
- You didn't attend.
- I quit high school.
- You quit?
- He's...
- Elementary graduate.
- It's middle school.
- There's a high chance we might fail today.
- Everyone goes out.
- I don't think there's anyone.
- We're eating out.
- Have you eaten?
- Yes.
- People travel and eat out a lot.
You're not the lucky type, are you?
- Everything's been my luck up until now.
Hello, I'm Su-won, Jang.
- Who's that?
- Have you eaten?
- This is a first.
It's not this bad.
- We already ate.
- Can we use the toilet...
- Just for one second.
Sorry, sir.
We have to run.
- I think we have to go to the Convenience store.
- This is a first recently.
- Are all of us failing today?
- This is the words.
- Are you alright?
- They say studying is the easiest for some people,
but no, it's the hardest.
- It is.
- Let's have hope, like you did today Michael.
I got a lot of energy from you today.
Thank you Michael.
- Thank you.
- Thank you Michael. - Thank you.
- (Narration) Passing the exam is so big and longed for in Noryangjin.
But the youth here live with their dreams
that goes beyond the exams, but for life.
In a society where you dream dreams that can come true.
Would you like to eat dinner with us?
Subtitles by OnDemandKorea