Anchor Lee Geum-hee, who dreamed of a serene healing journey to a mountain temple, embarked on a special trip to spend a day at the temple with Monk Muyeo.

In the second part of the special 4,000th episode of Korean Journey aired on the 27th, Anchor Lee Geum-hee and her long-time fan Monk Muyeo enjoyed a trip where they experienced the beautiful scenery of the temple and tasted delicious temple food.

Monk Muyeo, who has been traveling to temples across the country and conveying the beauty of our mountain temples, has continuously granted appearances on Korean Journey since 2020, showcasing the daily lives filled with human warmth at the temples.

Anchor Lee Geum-hee, who met Monk Muyeo, noted, "One reason I wanted to meet is that I love temple food. I felt that meeting Monk Muyeo would allow me to visit a great temple and enjoy delicious temple food."

First, the two visited the beautiful Baekwang Temple on Taehaek Mountain in Cheonan. Standing in front of the 'Podae Hwasang,' known for granting wishes when you touch its belly, Anchor Lee Geum-hee remarked, "Korean Journey has reached its 4,000th episode. I want to thank the viewers who have supported us, and hope we can continue for another 4,000 episodes."

Afterward, the two visited the cave temple of Baekwang Temple. After passing through a steep and narrow path that can only be ascended with a humble attitude, Lee Geum-hee, upon seeing the carved stone Buddha, revealed, "Just climbing up seems to purify the heart."

Leaving Baekwang Temple behind, Anchor Lee Geum-hee and Monk Muyeo headed to Wollyeong Temple in Cheongju, where the master of temple food, Monk Jikyeon, is located, to taste the temple food.

Monk Jikyeon, who is both a master of temple food and noted that 'sharing a delicious bowl of temple rice with visitors is practice and joy,' has granted appearances on Korean Journey in 2020 and 2024, sharing the taste and charm of temple food with viewers.

To prepare ingredients for the temple food, Anchor Lee Geum-hee experienced picking spring herbs for the first time. She joyfully displayed her excitement, saying, "I was so into snapping them that I lost track of time."

Additionally, Monk Jikyeon showed Anchor Lee Geum-hee the 50-year-old soy sauce, a treasure No. 1, and well-aged, sun-dried gochujang. After tasting the gochujang and soy sauce, Lee Geum-hee expressed her astonishment, saying, "What is making this so appealing? It’s a taste that makes me want to try it again," and "The soy sauce is really rich. It’s like a medicine."

After watching the cooking process with the prepared ingredients, Anchor Lee Geum-hee shared, "Having only seen it on screen, experiencing it in person while hearing the sizzling sounds and smelling delicious aromas feels so good. I feel a bit excited."

The three set a table in the temple garden with various dishes such as dashima jeon and blanched spring herbs, enjoying a meal in a friendly atmosphere.

On the night of the 28th at 9:35 p.m., the third part of 'Dazzlingly Beautiful' featuring 'Grandma' will air, where 19-year-old Ko Jeong-woo, who dreamed of becoming a trot singer, finally realizes his dream and returns to appear on Korean Journey after 8 years. He visits the Ulsan sea in memory of his late grandmother and spends time with grandmothers who took care of him during his childhood.

[Photo] Provided by EBS

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