'44-Year-Old' Ha Seok-jin "I Don't Have a Girlfriend Right Now" Confession [Pension Restaurant]

*This content was translated by AI.

On 'Shin Sangchulshi Pension Restaurant,' actor Ha Seok-jin (44) confessed that he is currently single.

In the episode aired on the night of the 23rd, KBS 2TV's 'Shin Sangchulshi Pension Restaurant' (hereinafter 'Pension Restaurant') featured Ha Seok-jin as the second client for its new segment 'Lee Yeon-bok Deokbang.' While promoting itself as Korea's only cooking matchmaking service, the newly launched 'Lee Yeon-bok Deokbang' segment invited not only top actor Namgung Min but also the intellectual and accomplished Ha Seok-jin, once again showcasing the show's remarkable casting prowess.

Ha Seok-jin, who will return to television screens with the KBS 2TV weekend drama 'Love Is Coming,' premiering on the 25th, is a leading actor known for his solid acting skills, having debuted like a comet in 2004 and remained active without interruption for 23 years. Additionally, as a graduate of Hanyang University's College of Engineering, he won Season 1 of the OTT Netflix brain survival program 'Devil's Plan,' cementing his status as a representative 'brain sexy man' (a man whose intellect is sexy). With this background, all eyes turned to whether Ha Seok-jin would also qualify as a 'yosek-nam' (a sexy man who cooks well).

On the day, Ha Seok-jin visited 'Lee Yeon-bok Deokbang' and prepared sea urchin butter pasta using ingredients he brought himself. Having learned and practiced the recipe specifically for 'Lee Yeon-bok Deokbang,' Ha demonstrated his intellectual side by mentally simulating each step while cooking. Most impressively, his delicate yet smooth knife skills and precise seasoning—so accurate that even Chef Lee Yeon-bok was surprised—earned him the title of 'seasoning master.'

Chef Lee Yeon-bok and assistant matchmaker Eom Ji-yoon were unable to hide their surprise at Ha Seok-jin's unexpected cooking skills. At one point, they even requested a 15-minute cold dish on the spot. Ha quickly scanned the refrigerator contents and promptly completed 'Pad Krapow Moo,' a Thai stir-fry dish. Having mastered everything from pasta to Thai cuisine, he truly embodied the 'yosek-nam.' In response, Chef Lee Yeon-bok even shared his trade-secret hangover jjamppong recipe with Ha.

Ha Seok-jin's charm extended beyond his cooking skills. Comedian Eom Ji-yoon, upon seeing him in person, exclaimed, "He's the most handsome man in the world." When asked how long it had been since he last had a girlfriend, he honestly replied, "Not several years... I don't have one right now." He also wittily responded to questions about his parents' pressure to marry by saying, "I try not to talk to my mother for more than three minutes," drawing laughter from the audience.

Moreover, he instantly mastered Eom Ji-yoon's alter ego 'Eom Ji-hoon' and its charming skills, captivating everyone's attention. While cooking, he casually flirted, making not only Eom Ji-yoon but also the female staff members and cast of 'Pension Restaurant' sparkle with hearts in their eyes. Most notably, he fearlessly took on challenges like fire cooking, burning with passion for culinary arts and creating a heartwarming atmosphere. Expectations for Ha Seok-jin's role as a chef in 'Love Is Coming' soared vertically.

On the day, regarding his impressions of visiting 'Lee Yeon-bok Deokbang,' Ha said, "I left feeling amazed and confident." He also pledged, "While filming the drama (playing a chef in 'Love Is Coming'), I'll further build my cooking skills and come back to challenge as Chef Pension." With Namgung Min followed by Ha Seok-jin, truly charming men have visited 'Lee Yeon-bok Deokbang.' It remains to be seen which other charismatic stars will visit the segment next.

'Pension Restaurant' airs every Thursday at 8:30 p.m.

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.