S.Korean actor Jung Il Woo falls in love with Vietnam’s sour fish soup

The video featured a conversation with Jung during his visit to Vietnam to promote the film 'Mang Me Di Bo' (Take Mom Away), a Vietnam–South Korea co-production in which he plays a supporting role.

Jung has long held a fondness for Vietnam, having visited the country multiple times and enjoyed various Vietnamese dishes.

The actor shared that Vietnamese cuisine suits his palate well. He enjoys trying new foods and believes he will like most of them.

Although he filmed all his scenes for 'Mang Me Di Bo' in South Korea and was unable to shoot in Vietnam, he traveled to the country for the film's promotional tour.

He plans to stay for an extended period to meet fans, explore the nation, and participate in media interviews.

YouTuber Choi Jong Rak, who runs the HanQuocBros channel and lives in Ho Chi Minh City, is often jokingly referred to by fans as the 'sour soup ambassador' due to his deep love for the dish and frequent efforts to introduce it to his guests.

Jung was no exception as Choi prepared a traditional Vietnamese meal that included sour fish soup for him.

Jung was surprised by the ingredients in the soup, including fish, tomatoes, and pineapples, which are quite different from those in typical South Korean soups. 

After his first taste, he exclaimed, “So delicious! This dish has a sour flavor.”

Choi was pleased with Jung's reaction and added, “It’s so good, right? This is my favorite dish.”

The two enjoyed a full Vietnamese meal together, including fried tofu with scallions and braised pork with eggs.

In addition to the warm reception from Vietnamese fans, Jung also expressed his deep affection for Vietnamese cuisine. 

He noted that while beef pho is common in South Korea, other dishes like banh xeo (Vietnamese sizzling cake) are harder to find.

He enjoys cooking Vietnamese food himself and once made pho at home by simmering beef bones for several hours to prepare the broth, then shredding brisket by hand.

During his visit to Vietnam, he was particularly excited to enjoy dishes made with local ingredients like chili, mint, coriander, and stir-fried morning glory with garlic.

Jung remarked that Vietnamese food is well-suited to South Korean tastes. He also hopes to return to Vietnam with his family to learn more about the culture.

His friendly and open attitude toward Vietnamese culture has earned him nicknames from local fans such as 'Vietnamese son' and 'Vietnamese son-in-law.'

Choi noted that he had seen a banner from fans that read, “Jung Il Woo is not a guest in Vietnam—he is family.” The actor was visibly touched and placed both hands over his heart.