Model Yano Shiho, known as Korea’s beloved foreign daughter-in-law and wife of a baseball player, opened up about a deeply personal family tragedy during a recent episode of KBS 2TV’s Pyeonstarang. The episode featured a heated soup-based cooking showdown among contestants, blending culinary creativity with heartfelt stories.
Market Magic and Public Adoration
Yano Shiho turned heads at Namdaemun Market with her striking top-model presence. Shoppers quickly recognized her, showering her with compliments as the “national foreign daughter-in-law.” She selected premium ingredients, including red ginseng touted for boosting stamina, as a thoughtful gift for her husband, injecting humor into the outing.
Heart-Wrenching Family Loss
In a poignant moment, Yano reflected on the sudden death of her father-in-law from a heart attack in April 2023. “The love was overwhelming; I cried endlessly,” she shared. “Even after two full years, the trauma lingers. It hit my husband hard too. After he passed, our family direction shifted dramatically from despair in the room to renewed brightness.”
Tears welled up as she recalled her husband’s sincere words: “I’m happy, thank you.” This vulnerability highlighted the profound changes her family embraced post-loss, marking a new chapter in their lives.
Cooking Showdown Delivers Surprises
The episode’s main event pitted three teams in a tang (soup) competition:
- Sanji direct-delivery duo Moon Gil-dong and Moon Jeong-hee
- Yano Shiho
- Byungari sides specialist Kim Young-bin
Kim Young-bin clinched victory with his upgraded “Daechang Chicken Bokkeum Tang,” a family recipe from his late grandmother enhanced with curry powder and bean flour. Revisiting his middle school with friend Chu Hyeok-jin, he shared nostalgic records—including a stunning long-haired photo from age 16 and his volunteer police station visit—adding emotional depth.
“This is the best dish I’ve ever made,” Kim boasted, echoing his close friend’s praise. In Round 1, his creation outshone Yano’s cashew nut samgyetang. Round 2 saw it triumph over Moon Jeong-hee’s deulkkai chicken gomtang.
Overjoyed, Kim reflected: “Unbelievable. Grandma always made this for me; I just ate it. Knowing that flavor makes me so grateful. In my life, nothing tops Grandma’s masterpiece.” As a first-time challenger, he emerged as a promising dark horse.
Winning Dish Goes Nationwide
Kim’s champion recipe is now available as a ready-to-eat meal via online platforms and select group dining facilities across the country. Viewers eagerly await future appearances, including teases of Yano’s husband alongside Kim Jae-joong.
Pyeonstarang airs weekly after Friday night baseball broadcasts, captivating audiences with innovative menus and raw personal tales.
