For the past seven years, Friday evenings for food lovers and culture enthusiasts in South Korea and beyond meant one thing: tuning into TV Chosun to watch the legendary cartoonist and food connoisseur, Huh Young Man, explore the hidden culinary corners of the country.
But a profound era in television food travel has reached an unexpected, beautiful pause.
His agency, Huh Young Man Co., Ltd., announced that the beloved 78-year-old icon has temporarily halted all public activities. Following an accidental fall that required hospitalization and intensive medical care, his team and physicians have prioritized his stabilization, treatment, and long-term recovery.
In light of this, TV Chosun and the show’s producers reached a mutual decision to conclude Season 1 of the deeply popular program, Huh Young Man’s Food Travel (also known as Baekban Journey).
“With Huh’s health as our top priority after years of working without pause, we have decided to bring the season to a graceful close and take a break.”
— The Production Team of TV Chosun
A Historic Seven-Year Journey by the Numbers
Since its premiere in 2019, Huh Young Man’s Food Travel has been much more than a typical food review program. Rooted in the humble concept of Baekban (a traditional Korean everyday meal featuring rice, soup, and small side dishes), the show highlighted the immense cultural value of modest local meals and provided exposure and hope to small business owners nationwide.
The impact of Huh’s journey over the last seven years is staggering:
- 7 Years of continuous traveling across every province.
- 2,131 Local Meals personally sought out, tasted, and documented by Huh.
- 365 Special Guests—including iconic actors, K-pop stars like Psy, and high-profile public figures—who joined him at the table.
Celebrating “A Wonderful Journey”
On his social media channels, Huh shared a collection of photographs taken with guests and restaurant owners over the years, accompanied by a simple, heartwarming message: “It has been a wonderful journey.”
Faced with the news of his hiatus, thousands of fans and long-time viewers flooded his platforms with messages wishing him a full and speedy recovery, noting that the show had become an essential mealtime companion in their households.
To honor his vast contributions and comfort disappointed viewers, TV Chosun aired a special finale episode titled “The Baekban We Loved, Korean Set Meal, 7 Years of Delicious Memories”. The broadcast didn’t just highlight the best culinary moments; it featured surprise letters and emotional updates from the small restaurant owners whose lives were changed by Huh’s visits.
While Season 1 has come to a formal close, the production team explicitly noted they look forward to a potential next season when Huh has fully regained his strength. For now, the entire community is sending warm wishes to the ultimate foodie as he takes a much-deserved, restorative rest.
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