(The CEN News / Reporter Yang Hyeong-ju) MBC's Oneul N serves up fresh slices of everyday life and touching stories from communities across the country.
On the April 28 episode, Oneul N rolls out a mix of segments—Great Workplace, Suspicious Family, Village Home Renaissance, and Spotlight—highlighting comforting family meals, space makeovers, and spring getaway ideas.
A Hearty Meal! An Octopus Feast
In Eulwang-ri, Jung-gu, Incheon, a powerhouse octopus meal is making waves. Chewy octopus stir-fried in bold seasonings gets rounded out by a subtle sweetness from fruit and pumpkin, building deep, savory layers. Their scallion pancake, which folds in a whole octopus, goes through an aging step that delivers both a chewy interior and a crisp edge.
Owner Baek Jin says she spent three years perfecting these octopus dishes. After closing her snack bar during redevelopment and starting over in Eulwang-ri, she endured more than a year of losses and even lost her sense of smell for a time. Still, her persistence paid off—her addictive flavors keep customers coming back.
Resilient Deok-su and Gentle Kyung-hee
In Jeongseon, Gangwon Province, one couple lives on very different rhythms. Kang Kyung-hee returned to her hometown after 32 years and is finally enjoying a relaxed, slower pace of life she vowed to reclaim. Her husband, Jeong Deok-su, runs a nonstop restaurant serving baeksuk (whole chicken soup), cheonggukjang (fermented soybean stew) and mandu-guk (dumpling soup), leaving him little time to rest.
He often hikes into the mountains to gather medicinal herbs, and the physical toll of their routine sometimes weighs on her. Still, she stays in the hope that the calm of home will help heal the wounds in his heart.
Why She Bought a Crumbling Abandoned House
In a small village in Damyang County, an abandoned house has been lovingly transformed into a cozy retreat. Hye-young, who once worked at a resort, dreamed of having her own hideaway and found an affordable, run-down property. Though weeds had taken over and an outbuilding had collapsed, she felt a warm charm the moment she first saw it.
She preserved the main beams and pillars, and finished the ceiling, floors, and sink area in wood to keep the space warm and inviting. Indirect lighting creates a gentle glow throughout. With meticulous attention—even to the smallest gaps—the former ruin was reborn as a welcoming new space.
A One-Day, Five-Senses Treat: Spring Outing in Ansan
Ansan, in Gyeonggi Province, is drawing attention for a perfect one-day spring itinerary. A city tour offers sweeping views across Siwha Lake and continues on to Daebu-do. At an eco-friendly smart farm, visitors can pick strawberries grown on suspended beds and join a hands-on strawberry cake-making experience.
At Tando Port, low tide reveals a sea path that lets you walk out to the Nuesseom observatory for a rare coastal stroll. Ansan also brings lively performances to the streets during the Ansan International Street Arts Festival, turning plazas and avenues into stages.
Meanwhile, Oneul N continues to shine a light on everyday lives and places, delivering rich, human stories to viewers.
Photo=MBC
(The CEN News) Yang Hyeong-ju, reporter press@mhns.co.kr
