BTS member Jin has promised to make a return to the show ‘Half-Star Hotel in Lost Island’
On the August 26 KST broadcast of the MBC variety program ‘Half-Star Hotel in Lost Island’, Jin, along with B1A4’s Sandeul, Ahn Jung Hwan, Kim Nam Il, and chefs Lee Yeon Bok and Lee Hong Woon, embarked on a journey to explore a new island as a potential second location for the show.
According to Nielsen Korea, the episode recorded a nationwide viewership rating of 5.3%, making it the top-rated variety show in its time slot for 16 consecutive weeks. It also ranked first among all Monday variety shows.
Upon arriving on the island, the team immediately set out to test the availability of food supplies, with Jin confidently declaring his intention to catch tuna as he crafted a makeshift fishing rod. Although Ahn Jung Hwan was skeptical of Jin’s claim to have caught tuna in the ocean before, he still helped Jin prepare the fishing rod.
The group ventured out to sea on a raft, first dropping traps in designated spots before arriving at a location for gathering seafood. Jin attempted fishing from the raft but soon joined the others in their hunt for shellfish due to the shallow water. His enthusiasm paid off when he successfully caught a sea cucumber, marking the first catch of the day.
The island also had a mountain, which the team explored while the chefs set up the kitchen. An Jung Hwan, with his extensive experience in outdoor survival, was the first to find deodeok (a type of root vegetable), followed by Jin and Sandeul who also harvested some.
Chef Lee Yeon Bok welcomed the returning team with a special breakfast of abalone sujebi (hand-pulled dough soup). He also suggested that Jin, his protégé, prepare a dish of abalone and deodeok salad. Together, they skillfully whipped up a delicious meal that left everyone impressed.
Later, the team headed out for another round of shellfish hunting on the tidal flats. Jin and Sandeul quickly demonstrated their teamwork by catching a large number of crabs. However, their search for clams proved more challenging, with only empty shells remaining. Despite this, Jin persisted, eventually succeeding in catching some clams and enjoying the process.
Chef Lee then used the gathered ingredients to create new dishes. Noting Jin’s love for pizza, he proposed making a K-pizza with clams. He also prepared a Chinese-style vongole pasta and the chili crab dish that Sandeul had requested. The highlight of the cooking session was the perfect knife skills demonstrated by Jin and his mentor Lee, as they expertly prepared the ingredients side by side. Jin also managed to flip the pancake flawlessly, impressing everyone with his cooking abilities.
Jin’s first wild-caught clam pancake won over even the discerning palate of An Jung Hwan. Jin playfully suggested, “Please call me again as a chef,” hinting at his potential return to the show. He concluded by saying, “The various dishes we made with the ingredients from the tidal flats were fun to prepare, and the experience was enjoyable,” giving the new location a rating of 4.8 out of 5.
‘Half-Star Hotel in Lost Island’ airs every Monday at 9 PM KST on MBC.
