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The Korea Times

What happens when Korea’s top foodie meets Japan’s ultimate solo diner?
In K-Foodie Meets J-Foodie, now streaming on Netflix, beloved Korean ballad singer Sung Si-kyung teams up with Japanese actor Yutaka Matsushige of Solitary Gourmet fame for a cross-cultural culinary tour.
Hopping between Korea’s hidden gems and Japan’s nostalgic restaurants, the pair share more than just meals – they serve up memories, flavours and laughter.
Since its February premiere, the show has been winning over viewers in both countries, with Season 2 currently airing.


In the latest episodes, Matsushige introduced tonkotsu ramen, a rich pork bone broth noodle dish from Japan’s Fukuoka prefecture, while Sung spotlighted Korea’s own comfort classic – sundae gukbap, a hearty soup made with blood sausage and rice in a savoury pork bone broth.
“Most food shows stimulate some kind of instinctive desire,” says Kim In-sik, the producer behind K-Foodie Meets J-Foodie. “They show delicious food and intentionally highlight the sounds to make viewers crave food. But I always hoped it could be something more than that.
“Both of [the hosts] know quite a lot about the different food cultures of Korea and Japan, and they have no hesitation in introducing these to each other. I think the fact that the show shares these cultural aspects is why it’s being recognised as something different from just a regular eating show.”
Matsushige has a huge fan base in Korea thanks to his character Goro, who confidently enjoys eating and drinking alone in the long-running series Solitary Gourmet.
The drama sparked the quiet spread of “eating alone” culture in Korea, where it had previously often been stigmatised as awkward.
Rather than a “taste battle”, K-Foodie Meets J-Foodie aims for a “taste exchange project”, taking a warm look at two neighbouring yet distinct cultures through their food.
The goal is not to win, like a competitive sports match, but to let each other enjoy even more delicious food by comparing and introducing dishes in a friendly manner.

The natural camaraderie between the two friends shines through in the show.
Cross-cultural exclamations such as Sung’s “yabai” (meaning “insane” in Japanese) and Matsushige’s “michyeotda” (meaning “crazy” in Korean) bring a warm, genuine tone to each episode.
Kim found it fascinating how similar yet different Korean and Japanese food cultures are. In Korea, it is normal to drink all the soup, but in Japan, people typically dip their noodles in the broth rather than drinking it.
“I always drank all the soup whenever I went to Japan because it was so delicious – I would just gulp it down,” he says.
“But I heard that in Japan, the culture is more about dipping the noodles in the broth. If you drink all the broth in Japan, there’s an expression that people will look at you with – just the whites of their eyes … like, ‘What is that person doing?’ It made me realise that this is truly a significant difference in food culture.”

Another difference Kim notes is that Japan has a certain delicacy and attention to detail, while Korea, in contrast, has a more generous approach with a tendency to enjoy things more abundantly.
“In Korea, generosity is shown by serving more food, while in Japan, people order exactly what they want and make a point of finishing everything as a sign of respect. After learning that leaving food uneaten could offend Japanese restaurant owners, I tried not to leave food on my plate during my visits,” he says.
In the same context, there are many dishes in Korea that must be ordered in portions for two or more people, like samgyeopsal (grilled pork belly) or braised dishes, whereas in Japan, it is common to order small portions of various items.
“Even beer sizes differ, with Korea typically serving a standard 500ml [1.1 US liquid pints], while Japan offers multiple sizes. These differences highlight the unique aspects of each country’s dining culture,” Kim adds.

As Korean-Japanese co-productions become more common across broadcast and streaming platforms, K-Foodie Meets J-Foodie stands out as a project planned and produced in Korea while featuring Japanese cast members and local Japanese staff, offering a respectful representation of both cultures.
Kim credits Netflix’s global platform for enabling this kind of content.
“Netflix definitely plays the critical role. Traditional broadcasters didn’t need to consider overseas viewers because their shows weren’t broadcast internationally,” he says.
“Of course, our main target is still Korean viewers, but just having the mindset that our content can reach out and expand globally, even if it starts with Korean audiences, makes a huge difference.”
Read the full story at The Korea Times.


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In Netflix’s K-Foodie Meets J-Foodie, Yutaka Masushige, Sung Si-kyung share meals and more

Netflix reality show “K-foodie meets J-foodie” follows South Korean YouTuber Sung Si-kyung and Japanese actor Yutaka Matsushige as they share meals in their respective countries.  Photo:  Netflix

Sung Si-kyung (left) and Yutaka Matsushige in a still from Netflix’s K-Foodie Meets J-Foodie. The show has “cultural aspects” that set it apart. Photo:  Netflix

Sung (left) and Matsushige star in K-Foodie Meets J-Foodie. Photo: Netflix

Scenes from K-Foodie Meets J-Foodie. Photo: Netflix

A still from K-Foodie Meets J-Foodie. Photo: Netflix

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Lifestyle

Entertainment

Food & Drink

Sung Si-kyung and Yutaka Masushige explore Korean and Japanese cuisine in a Netflix series that’s as much about cultural exchange as food


Sung Si-kyung and Yutaka Masushige explore Korean and Japanese cuisine in a Netflix series that’s as much about cultural exchange as food.


Netflix

South Korea

Japan

Korea Times

In Netflix’s K-Foodie Meets J-Foodie, Yutaka Masushige, Sung Si-kyung share meals and more

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Sung Si-kyung and Yutaka Masushige explore Korean and Japanese cuisine in a Netflix series that’s as much about cultural exchange as food

Sung Si-kyung and Yutaka Masushige explore Korean and Japanese cuisine in a Netflix series that’s as much about cultural exchange as food