MONSTA X member Kihyun successfully opened the first episode of 'Study Abroad Student Anam's Line' with exceptional passion.
On the 17th, Kihyun appeared as a special maknae on the first broadcast of 'Study Abroad Student Anam's Line' (hereinafter referred to as 'Study Abroad Student Anam') aired on E Channel, showcasing a variety of activities.
'Study Abroad Student Anam's Line' is a variety show where participants experience various local dishes from abroad, learn local recipes, and complete their own 'study abroad recipes' with their unique kick. The first study abroad destination is Porto, Portugal, where the 'food-loving three brothers' (Ryu Soo-young, Yoon Kyung-ho, and Kihyun) discover the taste of Korean food locally, capturing attention with their journey for the 'study abroad recipe.'
On this day, Kihyun officially met actors Ryu Soo-young and Yoon Kyung-ho, who would accompany him on his study abroad journey. As it is his first fixed variety show after military service, Kihyun appeared with a disciplined demeanor, showcasing his exceptional passion by suddenly doing push-ups in response to Ryu Soo-young's comment that 'cooking is about stamina,' and he showed great enthusiasm by meticulously filling out the 'study abroad application.' Kihyun's thorough preparation for studying abroad stood out. He practiced knife skills, wok techniques, and even language skills, raising expectations for the activities of the well-prepared maknae.
On the first morning of studying abroad, Kihyun enjoyed a moment of relaxation with a cup of coffee, adapting to the local environment. He quickly became friends with Ryu Soo-young and Yoon Kyung-ho, even recreating a scene from a commercial, raising the atmosphere with his playful charm. Kihyun then went out to enjoy local dishes in Porto, greeting the master of local cuisine in his learned local language and expressing his gratitude by saying, 'Thank you for inviting me to your home,' demonstrating his readiness as a talented individual.
While sampling representative dishes of Porto, such as seafood rice and cataplana, at the master of local cuisine's home, Kihyun commented, 'This tastes like well-cooked crab soup. It's incredibly rich in flavor and so familiar that it feels unbelievable to be tasting it on the other side of the globe,' and 'It has the flavor lying between soy-braised beef and pork jerky,' stimulating viewers' appetites with his detailed evaluations.
When Ryu Soo-young completed the first 'study abroad recipe' of pork and clam strong bean paste using ingredients available at the master chef's home, Kihyun proactively participated in tasting and praised the cooking with an impromptu dance, showcasing his charming 'maknae spirit.' He also recommended kohlrabi pickles to the master of local cuisine who wanted to taste the dish, introducing a 'perfect combination' and demonstrating his knowledge of food.
On the way to the next location, Kihyun admired the acrobatics being performed on the street. Following a suggestion from an acrobat, Kihyun took on the challenge of acrobatics. He seemed tense with the difficult moves but succeeded in high-level stunts in perfect harmony with the acrobat, earning cheers and applause from the audience.
Finally, the three searched for 'bacalhau,' the salted cod known as Portugal's 'national ingredient.' At a bacalhau specialty store, Kihyun tasted everything from appetizers to main courses, displaying his passion by analyzing the ingredients and aromas of the food, even taking notes, and demonstrated his sincerity in finding the 'study abroad recipe' by directly asking the staff about the identity of a uniquely flavored ingredient.
Meanwhile, 'Study Abroad Student Anam's Line,' featuring Kihyun, is broadcast every Saturday at 5:20 p.m. on E Channel and is also available on WAVVE. MONSTA X, to which Kihyun belongs, celebrated its 10th debut anniversary on the 14th and is set to hold a complete performance, '2025 MONSTA X CONNECT X,' at the KSPO Dome (formerly the Gymnastics Arena) in Olympic Park, Seoul, from July 18 to 20.
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