Actor Kim Kwang-kyu eyes opening small noodle shop after buying Seoul home

Actor Kim Kwang-kyu revealed on the October 31 broadcast of "Hangout with Yoo" that he has purchased an apartment in Yeonhui-dong using a loan after 28 years. Following this milestone, he expressed interest in opening a small noodle shop to socialize with others rather than pursuing a franchise.

Actor Kim Kwang-kyu reflected on the 28 years it took to secure his own home in Seoul after revealing he has purchased an apartment in Yeonhui-dong using a loan. Having fulfilled the long-held desire of homeownership, he has now set his sights on a modest next goal: opening a small noodle shop. He shared his dream of running a small establishment to alleviate loneliness and share warmth with people, rather than pursuing a flashy franchise.

During the 350th episode of the MBC variety program "Hangout with Yoo," which aired on October 31, Yoo Jae-suk, Haha, Heo Kyung-hwan, and Joo Woo-jae served as Kim Kwang-kyu's one-day managers. The four members, tasked by the production team to host a VIP, were met by Kim Kwang-kyu, who requested their help in finding a specific banquet noodle (janchi-guksu) restaurant he has been searching for.

Kim explained that he loves banquet noodles and recalled a "life-changing" restaurant located by a cliff on the way to Namgajwa-dong. He noted that the restaurant likely disappeared due to redevelopment and expressed his desire to rediscover that specific taste. The outing was not merely a search for a meal, but a journey to find a special flavor preserved in his long-term memory.

During this process, Kim also revealed unexpected business plans. When Yoo Jae-suk mentioned his own wish to play park golf and suggested it is good to live with small dreams, Kim revealed that he has been considering opening a small noodle shop for a year because noodle ingredients are inexpensive. He explained that he has even considered learning the recipes to operate the shop himself.

When Heo Kyung-hwan asked if he was considering a franchise business, Kim waved the idea away. "I don't want a franchise; I want to do something small," he said, adding, "It's lonely being home alone, so it would be good to talk with people." Rather than starting a business to make significant money, he expressed a desire to create a space to add vitality to his daily life and socialize with others, contemplating a new way of life separate from his acting career.

The broadcast also revealed news of Kim's recent move. "I moved to Yeonhui-dong. I bought a house. I took out a loan," he said, describing it as an "entirely old" apartment. He further shared, "It took 28 years to buy a house in Seoul," receiving congratulations from the members. Having worked in Seoul for a long time, his calm confession carried deep emotion as it took many years to achieve the goal of homeownership.

Yoo Jae-suk noted the commuting difficulties Kim must have faced traveling from his previous residence in Songdo to Seoul. While Songdo itself is a good place to live, Yoo empathized that traveling to Seoul to fulfill broadcasting schedules would not have been easy. Kim drew viewers' interest by sharing his current status of finally securing a home in Seoul despite the realistic burden of a loan.

The core mission of the day, finding the banquet noodles, was unfortunately not successful. Kim and the members visited two noodle shops, but Kim shook his head, stating, "This is not the taste of the banquet noodles I was looking for." Although he could not remember the restaurant's name, he provided a specific location: it was situated on the right side of a cliff on the way from Yeonhui Interchange toward Moraenae Market. Yoo Jae-suk suggested they search for it again, and the members comforted Kim, suggesting that viewers watching the broadcast might report the restaurant to him.

Kim's quirky yet diligent preparation also brought laughter. While looking at commercial properties, he purchased thermal underwear, saying, "I might need it in case I film a historical drama in the winter." Despite not having any casting offers yet, he appeared to be preparing in advance for filming. "You always have to be prepared," Kim joked, adding, "I thought a historical drama would come in, so I even yielded my fixed position on 'Hangout with Yoo' to Heo Kyung-hwan, but it hasn't come in yet."

For Kim Kwang-kyu, who purchased a Seoul home with a loan after 28 years, the Yeonhui-dong apartment has become a foundation for his life after a long wait. To this, he has added the new dream of a small noodle shop. Interest is now focused on whether his search for the lost taste of his "life noodles" will lead to an actual business venture.

Read the original (Korean)