[MyDaily = Reporter Moon Ji-hyun] Actor Kim Seung-hyun highlighted budget-friendly restaurants in Mapo District.
On his YouTube channel "Gwangsan Kim Family," Kim and his wife toured a handful of local spots. His wife, Jang Jeong-yun, noted, "The economy is really tough these days. As you can see, many places here are leased spaces, and prices are high. So we want to show some great-value restaurants in Mapo."
The first stop was a Korean buffet in Hongdae. At the kiosk, the card price read 10,800 KRW—800 KRW more than paying in cash (approximately $8.10 and $0.60, respectively). They marveled at the endless spread of banchan—kimchi, seasoned black soybeans, spicy pork stir-fry, various namul, and donggeurangttaeng—making both them and viewers hungry.
Next, Kim popped into a jjajangmyeon shop by himself. "I'm having a solo lunch today," he explained. "Riyun just moved to a new daycare and is still adjusting, so I came alone." The black-bean noodles cost 5,000 KRW per bowl (approximately $3.75) and drew a steady crowd. Despite the shop's worn interior, the steaming bowl featured thin noodles perfectly coated in sauce. Kim gave it a thumbs-up as he dug in.
Finally, Kim, Jang and their daughter Riyun went for sushi, where each piece was just 1,500 KRW—an easy, affordable treat (approximately $1.13 each). Their little girl, who hasn't started eating sushi yet, ate rice in soup while Kim and Jang playfully fed each other, showing off their affection.
Viewers responded with a mix of comments: "Cheaper than ordering a full set here," "Their daughter is so well-behaved," "Look how polite—she wants Mom and Dad to eat," "What a loving family," "Do celebrities usually worry about things like this?" "They eat out a lot," and "With high prices, home-cooked meals are still best."
