In the latest episode of MBN’s celebrity cooking survival show Cheonhajepang, aired on January 1, intense competitions led to dramatic eliminations. Lee Hye-seong, known from past challenges, faced off against rivals in the third round, ultimately falling short despite a passionate defense of his dish.
Third Round Showdown and Team Advances
The episode featured top celebrity contenders divided into teams. The first round saw Haui-gwon’s ‘Moody Day’ team—Jang Kyung-joo, Jo Sang-min, Choi Jung-hoon, and Kim Si-yeop—dominate with a bold flavor explosion, securing 473 points and toppling the second-round leaders.
Second-round ‘Bread Lovers’ team, including Lee Kyung-moo, Sung Min-soo, Lee Hong-gyu, and Lee Hye-seong, mounted a strong comeback with 472 points in a high-stakes clash, showcasing their ‘essential flavor’ approach.
Teams from third to seventh place aggressively challenged for survival: ‘Flirty Day’ (Kim Dam-hyeon, Hwang Ji-oh, Kwak Dong-uk, Kim Myeong-jun), ‘Picnic Day’ (Jo Song-a, Im Dong-seok, Kwon Soon-seung, Kim Ji-ho), ‘Cheating Day’ (Ko Je-uk, Kim Jin-seo, Jeong Jeong-hoon, Ju Yeong-seok), ‘Dopamine Cravers’ (Eun Hwa-yeong, Alessio Galli, Jein-yeong, Jeong Min), and ‘Sunday Morning’ (Eun Yeon-joong, Seo Yoong-seok, Kim Jeong-eun, Oh Seong-geun).
High-Stakes 1 vs. 1 Death Matches
The bottom eight teams entered nail-biting ‘1 vs. 1 Death Match’ rounds. Kim Nara Robot’s ‘Running Day’ team—Jeong Nam-mi, Koba Yassi Sussumu, Kim Gyu-rin, and Kim In-seok—earned advancement after host feedback emphasized endurance.
Jo Song-a, Kim Jin-seo, Eun Hwa-yeong, Oh Seong-geun, Hwang Ji-oh, Kwak Dong-uk, Ju Yeong-seok, and Im Dong-seok formed a powerhouse group, clinching the third-round spots for the top 16 celebrities.
Survivors then split into life-or-death 1 vs. 1 battles, where semi-finalist ‘Elephant Smash’ pitted massive portions against creative twists. Judges evaluated techniques like leveraging large cuts for bold impacts while balancing flavors.
Lee Hye-seong’s Passionate Final Stand
During judging, Lee Hong-gyu targeted Lee Hye-seong’s entry as underwhelming. Lee Hye-seong fired back, stating, “Don’t assume it’s just sticky porridge for fullness. Even without being a pro home baker, I baked it meticulously many times. The judges simply couldn’t taste it properly.”
With 20 years of experience, Lee Kyung-moo praised Jo Sang-min, saying, “Third place means you’re caught in a dilemma.” Jo Sang-min replied, “Follow your instincts and head home confidently.”
Jang Kyung-joo targeted Oh Seong-geun, Hwang Ji-oh aimed at Kim Si-yeop, and Kim Jin-seo clashed with Sung Min-soo. Sung Min-soo vented frustration at Kim Jin-seo’s betrayal: “Don’t drag me into something regrettable.”
Choi Jung-hoon confronted Eun Hwa-yeong boldly: “If you’re that confident, why not go classic?” Eun Hwa-yeong countered, “I hold back on intense flavors with others but can push limits here—it’s the thrill.”
Culinary Twists and Celebrity Insights
Third-round stars recreated national tastes using domestic rice for innovative ‘leek pancakes’ and elevated creams, earning ‘classic evolution’ nods. Hwang Ji-oh and Kim Si-yeop matched in a ‘newcomer showdown,’ highlighting unique seafood pairings—Hwang’s creamy ‘first-time fresh fish’ cake and Kim’s bold shellfish fusion.
Judges noted the honest vibe: “We were impressed until the end.” In double death matches, fresh pairings like Hwang Ji-oh and Kim Si-yeop shone with standout seafood delights.
Lee Hong-gyu innovated with caramel creams and chocolate coatings for ‘sober loss’ desserts, while Lee Hye-seong flipped burgers into gourmet monticristos with ham, cheese, and twists.
Masters agreed: Lee Hong-gyu said, “This has real potential.” Lee Hye-seong added, “I crave sincere impact.” The episode drew a peak 1.6% rating in its time slot, hosted by Jo Ji-young.
