Son Tae-jin Serves Family Recipe to Music Legends on KBS2s Fun-Staurant
On September 10, 2026, KBS2’s variety program Fun‑Staurant opened its doors to a culinary and cultural journey that highlighted trot singer Son Tae‑jin’s family legacy. The show, known for blending cooking with celebrity interviews, saw Son whisking up a traditional Korean dish for a group of senior musicians, including Yang Hee‑eun, Yoon Sang and Lee Moon‑se.
The episode began with Son revealing that the recipe he was preparing had survived through three generations of his family. He described his mother’s cookbook as “so thorough that even those inexperienced in cooking could follow it,” noting that the pages were peppered with English annotations. By sharing this heritage, Son aimed to honor his elders while showcasing a family tradition that spans decades.
“I will be serving legends like Yang Hee‑eun and Yoon Sang,” Son said, adding that he had cooked the meal early in the day so he could personally treat the senior musicians. When Lee Moon‑se—a well‑known ballad singer—stopped by, she quipped, “I heard you cook too?” The exchange underscored the mutual respect between generations.
The program also delved into Son’s family background. He recalled his grandmother’s multilingual talents, explaining that she had self‑studied English and worked as an interpreter at the U.S. Embassy. According to Son, she served as a war correspondent, translator, interpreter and announcer during a period of conflict. He described how she risked her life to broadcast English radio from an underground bunker for UN forces—a detail that surprised viewers.
Son’s own language skills received praise from the cast, who noted that his “extraordinary foreign language skills must also be inherited from his family.” He described his grandmother’s academic passion as that of an “overpowered character” in modern terms and highlighted her versatility in cooking, saying she could prepare any dish his grandfather desired. The episode also showcased love letters and notes exchanged between the grandparents in English, adding depth to the family narrative.
Musical heritage ran parallel to the culinary story. Son explained that his family has long been involved in traditional Korean music. His great‑grandfather was connected to pansori, and his great‑aunt, singer Sim Soo‑bong, is a well‑known figure in the genre. The cast compared the family to the “Bach family of Korean traditional music.” Son, who majored in vocal music at Seoul National University and now performs trot, said, “As a musician, I’m proud. There must be something in the genes.”
The conversation took a lighthearted turn when Yoon Sang asked Son about marriage. Son replied, “Do you have any thoughts about marriage?” and encouraged him, “Someone like you should marry and have children. I hope you pass on your good DNA.” Yoon also praised Son’s cooking, remarking that it was surprising he could handle such difficult dishes. He joked that Son’s wife was in the U.S. for family matters, making the meal “precious sustenance” for him.
As the episode drew to a close, Son added his final touch to the family recipe, underscoring his commitment to both culinary and musical traditions. The show’s focus on intergenerational respect and cultural heritage resonated with viewers, highlighting a broader trend of Korean celebrities engaging with their roots on mainstream platforms.
The broadcast of Fun‑Staurant on September 10, 2026, therefore served as a showcase of Son Tae‑jin’s multifaceted identity: a singer, a chef, a multilingual communicator, and a custodian of a family legacy that spans music, language and history.
