Kim Jun-hyun moved by viewer who regained appetite through 'The Delicious Guys' after cancer surgery

“I regained my appetite watching ‘The Delicious Guys’ after stomach cancer surgery.” Kim Jun-hyun is moved to tears.

A touching story will be revealed about a viewer who, after undergoing stomach cancer surgery 10 years ago and enduring a grueling recovery, regained their appetite by watching the mukbang on ‘The Delicious Guys.’ The cast members expressed deep emotion upon receiving a sincere letter from a viewer who endured a difficult period of their life by watching the program.

In the episode of Comedy TV's ‘The Delicious Guys’ to be broadcast on the 28th, Kim Jun-hyun, Moon Se-yoon, Hwang Je-sung, and Kim Hae-jun visit famous restaurants in the Seongsu-dong area of Seoul for the ‘Men Who Eat a Meal in the Alley’ special.

While waiting for their meal at a charcoal-grilled hamburger steak specialty restaurant in Seongsu-dong, the members receive an unexpected letter. The sender is a nearby restaurant owner who had formed a brief connection with the cast during the filming of a previous ‘Kind Restaurant Special.’

At that time, the owner created a warm connection by personally handing agarwood tea to the members during their visit. Now, 10 years later, they have revisited those memories in a heartfelt letter.

Through the letter, the owner shared the hardships experienced after undergoing stomach cancer resection surgery in 2016. They revealed that after the surgery, even eating properly was difficult, and they endured a painful recovery so severe it made sleeping at night nearly impossible.

During that time, ‘The Delicious Guys’ provided unexpected comfort.

By watching the cast members enjoy delicious food, the owner found vicarious satisfaction for the meals they could not eat themselves. By steadily watching the program, their lost appetite gradually began to return.

Eating holds a meaning beyond a simple physiological act. Especially for those whose food intake is restricted due to illness, the sight of others eating can provide an indirect sense of vitality and the restoration of daily life. In this sense, the mukbang on ‘The Delicious Guys’ became emotional content that helped someone endure difficult times, moving beyond mere entertainment.

The owner revealed they have continued to watch the show steadily, even now, 10 years after their surgery. A broadcast they happened to encounter became a long-lasting memory in their life.

Upon receiving the unexpected letter, the members showed sincere reactions.

Hwang Je-sung expressed his gratitude, saying, “Thank you for this precious letter,” while Kim Jun-hyun wished for the owner's health, stating, “I will work even harder moving forward. Please always take care of your meals and continue to love ‘The Delicious Guys.’”

The production team also expressed being moved by the unexpected story, noting, “It is a sincere letter of thanks from a neighboring shop owner met by chance at a previous filming location.”

This is precisely why ‘The Delicious Guys’ is special. The program does not stop at evaluating or introducing food; through the cast members eating, laughing, and chatting together, it has steadily delivered the daily joy of “eating together.”

Having premiered in 2015, ‘The Delicious Guys’ has continued for over 10 years, establishing itself as one of Korea's representative long-running mukbang programs. Although there have been changes in the cast, the program's core identity of connecting with viewers through food and people remains unchanged.

Currently, Kim Jun-hyun, Moon Se-yoon, Hwang Je-sung, and Kim Hae-jun are creating a new dynamic as the ‘Ttung-chin-z.

For some, a broadcast may just be an hour of entertainment, but for others, it can be a small ritual that helps them endure a hard day. The story of a viewer who regained the joy of eating through ‘The Delicious Guys’ after stomach cancer surgery shows that the impact of content is not always measured by viewership rating or buzz.

A connection that accidentally began 10 years ago has returned as a single letter. The meeting between a viewer who crossed a major hurdle in life through the show and the cast members who received that heartfelt message is expected to leave a warm, lingering impression.