'Morning Yard' Bae Yeon-jeong "Gukbap Restaurants Struggling Due to COVID-19... I Didn't Avoid Them Either"

KBS 1TV 'Achim Madang' Comedian Bae Yeon-jeong / Photo by KBS 1TV

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Lim Joo-hyung] Comedian-turned-entrepreneur Bae Yeon-jeong confessed that she is facing difficulties in the restaurant business due to the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

On the 21st, Bae Yeon-jeong appeared on the Tuesday Invitation segment of KBS 1TV's 'Morning Yard.' On this day, Bae revealed that after transitioning from comedy to the restaurant business, she has been struggling since the outbreak of COVID-19.

She expressed her feelings, saying, "Even I was not spared from COVID-19," and "COVID is killing Korea."

Nevertheless, she encouraged, "No matter how hard it is, when time passes, we will say 'It has passed.' I like the saying 'This too shall pass' the most. I hope everyone lives like that."

Regarding the reason she started the restaurant, she explained, "The year before the IMF crisis, the broadcasting station was in turmoil, and I was so-called 'myeongtoe (early retirement).' Taking that opportunity, I went to Seoraksan with my family," adding, "We went to a nearby restaurant, and the owner suggested I try running a gukbap (soup with rice) restaurant. That's how I started the restaurant."

She continued, "Since I ran 'Bae Yeon-jeong's Sogogi Gukbap (Ox Head Soup with Rice),' other celebrities also began to enter the food industry using their own names," adding, "Looking back, it was brave."

Meanwhile, Bae Yeon-jeong debuted as an MBC public recruitment comedian in 1971. She became known to the public by appearing in dramas such as 'Single Ne Beongle Ne' and movies like 'I Don't Know' and 'I Like Women More.'