Junsu and Tony An make a splash on MBC’s “Half-star Hotel In Lost Island” with a successful fishing trip.

AKP STAFF

On September 23rd KST, Junsu, Tony An, and Youngtak struck gold during a nighttime fishing expedition on “Half-star Hotel In Lost Island.”

According to Nielsen Korea, on September 23rd KST, MBC’s variety program “Half-star Hotel In Lost Island” (hereafter referred to as “Half-star Hotel”) recorded a 5.5% nationwide household rating, maintaining its position as the number one Monday variety show. The key 2049 audience rating, a crucial indicator for channel competitiveness and buzzworthiness, reached 1.7%, showcasing its dominance on Monday.

Boom and the workers set out for octopus fishing, with the fishing ban lifted at dawn. Despite working hard under the scorching sun on the deserted island, they initially caught only fish, not octopus. To lift the spirits, Youngtak sang a work song. The turnaround began when a school of mackerel greeted them, followed by a series of octopus catches at the main fishing point. Their efforts, culminating in a full haul of octopus, thrilled the viewers.

Chef Boom decided to prepare ‘octopus salad’ and ‘boiled octopus’ for breakfast. Junsu, self-proclaimed as a ‘cooking fool,’ took charge of handling the octopus. Despite confidently stepping up based on his experience with handling crabs and vegetables the day before, Junsu mistakenly cut only the head of the octopus, which was supposed to be boiled whole. Seeing this, Boom asked, “Can you stick that back together?” Junsu’s attempt to fix the mistake brought laughter. Regaining his composure, Boom used the octopus for salad, while another octopus was prepared with strict instructions not to cut the head.

Junsu redeemed himself by properly preparing the second octopus. The luxurious breakfast was completed with Boom’s sauce and Youngtak’s neatly sliced vegetables. Tony An topped it off with a watermelon juice he made using a mortar and pestle.

Boom and the workers then provided a customer-requested kayak drop service. On the way to the kayaking spot, Youngtak treated them to a performance of his new song "Super Super". The unrivaled customer satisfaction service prompted An CEO Ahn Jung Hwan to proudly declare, “The facility might be 0.5 stars, but the service is 7 stars.”

Afterward, they went octopus hunting. Boom hinted that a top-tier chef with four cooking licenses was coming, reminding the workers of the chef’s philosophy: “It’s better not to eat than to eat too little.” With the urgent need for more ingredients, even Youngtak joined as a diver. The trio of singers, Tony An, Youngtak, and Junsu, formed the ‘Diver Idols’ and eagerly began their hunt. While Youngtak and leader Tony An successfully caught abalone, Junsu, who had performed well the previous day, remained quiet. Boom, seeing this, offered the divers a snack of abalone and sea urchin. Rejuvenated, Junsu dove back in and, like a vampire searching for blood, successfully harvested abalone, earning the nickname ‘Abalonecula.’

Finally, Chef Peng Hyun Sook, with 35 years of culinary experience and multiple cooking certifications, arrived. Peng, known for her lavish meals, scanned the ingredients on the deserted island and decided to make fish stew, seafood stew, and a sauce using gooseneck barnacles.

Under Peng’s guidance, the team worked swiftly, though there were moments of tension, such as Junsu’s slow fish cleaning and Boom accidentally seasoning the seafood stew with pepper. Nonetheless, Peng quickly finished the banquet, impressing everyone with dishes like steamed abalone and whelk, served with a sauce made from gooseneck barnacles. In addition to the main dishes, she effortlessly prepared cucumber salad and radish kimchi, leaving everyone in awe.

The meal, a traditional Korean feast different from previous island meals, delighted both the workers and customers. The sounds of appreciation from the diners undoubtedly made viewers at home hungry. With Peng Hyunsook’s grand-scale feast, Boom’s ambitious ‘Boomcation’ was brought to a successful conclusion.

MBC’s “Half-star Hotel In Lost Island” airs every Monday at 9 PM.