Kim Jong Kook Unexpectedly Apologizes To BIGBANG’s Daesung

SBS Plus variety show The Way of the Manly Man in Kyushu is an adventurous travel diary of macho men enjoying life instinctively.

In the second episode aired on the 28th, after suggesting the need for protein post-workout, they visit a conveyor belt sushi restaurant and stack plates at 5G speeds, provoking a moment of reality shock. Especially after seeing the order pace at the next table, BIGBANG‘s Daesung says, “A man can’t lose in a competition,” and keeps eating swiftly, eventually surprising himself by eating 73 plates, equivalent to 13 bowls of rice, which draws laughter.

Later, Choo Sung Hoon, Kim Jong Kook, and Daesung stop by a long-standing local hormone meat restaurant in Kagoshima, where they continuously order without pause. Even after finishing 20 servings of meat, they’re still hungry, and when the crew tries to wrap up filming, the trio insists on continuing, prompting the staff to actually leave with only two cameras rolling, which amuses viewers. The show sparks curiosity about the astonishing cost of this “record-breaking eating show” by the trio.

Choo Sung Hoon, who represents the “wild” among the manly men, exudes supreme macho energy and earns the nickname “strange hyung.” He nonchalantly stirs hot matcha tea with his fingers, and flips meat cooking on a charcoal grill using fingers instead of tongs, shocking Kim Jong Kook and Daesung.

Watching Choo Sung Hoon, Kim Jong Kook and Daesung, who try to imitate him, jump back startled by the heat, ask, “Does this hyung have no feeling in his fingers?”

Meanwhile, witnessing the flood of fans and photo requests wherever they go, Kim Jong Kook acknowledges Daesung’s world-class appeal and suddenly apologizes to him. One fan shows off limited edition merchandise for Daesung, another displays Big Bang concert posters in a shop, and a fan even breaks down in tears upon seeing Daesung while wearing them.

Seeing Daesung’s global popularity firsthand after 18 years since their days on Family Outing, Kim Jong Kook sincerely says to Daesung, “I’m really sorry. I think I underestimated you.” Interest grows in how popular Daesung’s influence has become in Japan.

The production team stated, “The explosive chemistry between Choo Sung Hoon and Kim Jong Kook, and Daesung’s efforts to support these two older brothers, highlight the unique masculine charms of the three men.”

The Way of the Manly Man in Kyushu airs every Tuesday at 8:40 p.m.