When I was 15 years old, I drank an entire bowl...
of cooking oil for the first time in my life.
(Sichuan, China, 1997)
You drank the entire bowl? Were you out of your mind?
I had starved for four days straight...
because our house was out of rice.
Do you remember Hwang Restaurant? It used to be really famous.
And as I passed by that restaurant, I smelled something...
savoury and crunchy.
It was the salty smell of cooking oil.
What? The cooking oil smelled salty?
Have a sniff. Doesn't it smell nice and salty?
That's when I first realized...
that I was actually craving cooking oil,
not rice.
So I asked if I could start working at Hwang Restaurant.
I begged the owner if I could have a bowl of cooking oil,
and I drank the entire bowl all at once.
Was your stomach okay after drinking all that cooking oil?
Don't even ask.
I drank three bowls in a row,
and my stomach hurt immediately.
I ended up going to the bathroom because I had diarrhoea.
It felt so relieving.
The indigestion I had for 15 years was all gone.
Call me "Honey".
Can I really call you that?
From now on, don't ever drink cooking oil even if you feel lonely.
Why not?
Because...
I'll be your cooking oil from now on.
Honey.
You taste so sweet. Is it because of the cooking oil?
Call me "Honey" one more time.
Honey.
(National Theatre, Seoul, 1999)
Sneezing!
She's mine.
Shut it.
She's my ideal type of woman.
Don't ever say that.
Am I the only one enjoying this?
Shut it, and keep doing what you were doing.
Let's not stop.
(Kitchen Staff Wanted)
Are you hiring?
Here. You don't have to pay me congratulatory money.
All of you should come to my wedding tomorrow...
and have some delicious food.
I'll kill you if you don't.
Isn't she the woman who said she'd kill us if we didn't go to her wedding?
Are you here because you got angry...
that we didn't go to your wedding?
Are you hiring kitchen staff or waiting staff?
I'm hiring both.
Where do you think you're going?
Our boss told you to leave.
We're not hiring. You can go.
You made our boss bleed that night.
You better consider yourself lucky. Please leave.
Why do you ask if he's hiring or not?
My gosh.
Are you planning to work here?
Do you want to work here?
I need 12,000 dollars every month...
so that I can pay for my monthly rent.
On top of that, I need money for living expenses.
So I'll need at least 15,000 dollars.
If I ask you for 15,000 dollars a month as my pay check,
would you call me crazy?
My gosh.
No, we'll just think you're completely insane.
Either that...
or your brain's malfunctioning because you ate something weird.
-My gosh. -Shut your mouth.
My goodness, what's wrong with you?
I know how insane it sounds. I'm sorry.
By the way,
what did yours say?
-What do you mean? -I'm curious.
What are you talking about?
Never mind.
Boss. Boss.
Aren't you the owner of the restaurant downstairs?
But how could you just stand still...
when he fired most of us?
My gosh.
Stop hitting this.
You should be hitting Poong instead.
-You. -Yes?
Go tell the realtor that we wish to sell the restaurant downstairs.
Let's just sell it.
Yes, that's a better idea.
Let's make sure Poong doesn't even get to start a business here.
Gosh, he totally deserves that. Yes, let's just sell it.
Let's stop Poong from getting his revenge.
Who cares that he got fired from the hotel?
He had no right to fire us like that.
It's not like you guys did anything right.
But we did nothing wrong.
Aside from Dong Sik embarrassing us by dislocating his shoulder,
we did nothing wrong.
Hey.
You should've showed off your skills as a cook.
Instead, you just put on a circus.
It's not that you're good at making hand-pulled noodles.
It's just that you overuse your strength to make them.
That's called foolishness, not competence.
My gosh, are you guys jealous because I'm the only one...
who got acknowledged by Poong?
-Hey. -Are you envying me?
My gosh.
Boss, all we did was do our best.
I want all five of you guys...
to think about what you want to do for a living.
It's your homework. Do you understand?
-Yes, sir. -Yes, sir.
(Hungry Frying Pan)
My gosh.
(Seongbuk-go Office, Giant Hotel, Seongbuk Cultural Institute)
Hey.
My gosh, what a coincidence.
Did you get your surgery?
I'll be getting it soon.
Just to let you know,
we're very discreet about the identity of our debtors...
and their personal reasons on borrowing money from us.
Thank you.
By the way, how much interest do I need to pay?
Did you call your husband?
What happens if I fail to pay you back?
Will I have to sell my body?
Where?
Like a bar?
Nobody will buy you.
Why not?
Because you have a parasite in your head.
Mr. Light.
-Give me your cell phone number. -Well...
Don't you know my office phone number?
Never mind then.
What's the passcode?
Why do you need my number?
You can just come to my office to pay the debt.
Why don't you ask me for my number?
Well,
didn't you leave your number...
at my office?
I put down my home phone number.
That's good enough.
Then are we only going to talk about money?
Like repayment date, interest rate,
and principal repayment date?
How can you only talk about money?
We're creditor and debtor. What else do we need to talk about?
Plus you're a married woman.
How can a crush end in an instant?
I mean,
I told you I fell head over heels for you...
a day before your wedding.
When you weren't a married woman.
So...
What do you want me to do?
I was happy when I had a crush on someone.
I fell in and out of love all by myself.
I liked it.
You feel miserable, not happy.
A crush isn't love. Forget it.
Who was it?
By the way, does he still not know that you love him?
It's Leonardo DiCaprio.
"Leonardo DiCaprio"?
Okay. Got it.
I understand.
I can't have a conversation with a woman with a parasite.
Do you know how much I loved Julia Roberts?
I'm still...
madly in love with Julia Roberts.
She's a married woman too.
You've had a crush on a married woman before then.
And you still do.
Then I...
am going to have a crush on you.
You're the one who allowed me...
to have a crush on you, all right?
That's not true.
Yes, it is.
Even if I two-time you with Julia Roberts,
don't complain.
Don't be jealous. Okay?
-What? -Or I'll raise the interest rate.
Well, you don't need permission to have a crush on someone.
Okay, then I will.
I'll have a crush on you.
(Wife)
(Poong)
-Answer it. -I don't need to.
Just answer it.
(Poong)
(Speaker)
What is it?
I'll...
make it at this restaurant.
I'll go head to head...
against the hotel.
Do as you wish.
Come back for a meal.
You can come anytime.
I'm going to open up a practice on the third floor.
I'll go down and eat there.
My wife...
Delete that nickname.
We've been going out since we were very young.
I knew we'd have a moment like this.
-Don't wait for me. -I won't.
Thanks.
I'm...
not someone you can dump...
that easily.
I'll make you regret this. I won't wait for you.
I'll live recklessly too.
If I'm going to die, I'm going to die here!
I guess the an aesthetic hasn't worn off yet.
Sae Woo looks prettier.
Buster, you've done well.
Is that all?
You're going to live another day with me,
all right?
You shouldn't hold back on showing affection.
Okay.
All right.
You're so pretty.
Good boy.
Thanks to you, the surgery was a success.
Everything's fine. Thank you.
(Thanks to you, the surgery was a success.)
I'm married. Don't have a crush on me.
You can't have a crush on me.
Never, ever.
Bye.
(I'm married. Don't have a crush on me.)
Why doesn't he text me back?
(Kitchen Staff Wanted)
(A week later)
(Hungry Frying Pan)
(The one in front of you now is your true love.)
Ma'am, are you here to eat?
Are you hiring?
Yes, we are.
How much is the monthly wage?
Have you worked in a kitchen before?
When you're sharpening a knife,
you aren't just sharpening its edge.
But also its belly.
Why?
What experience do you have?
Are you asking about my work experience?
Keep your eyes wide open and watch.
To the kitchen.
If you don't sharpen the belly of the knife,
your ingredients will rip.
If your ingredients rip,
so will a chef's heart.
What's going on?
He's disciplining the Cutting Part.
Is that all?
I could do that too. It's so easy.
What? Isn't that cooking oil?
Master Wang, aren't you warmed up now?
Show us your skills.
Master Wang!
-Master Wang! -Master Wang!
It might look like he's chopping randomly,
but you have to be perfect when you do this.
-Amazing! -Master Wang!
I chopped enough onions for 10 people...
in 3 minutes.
Even if the world comes to an end, I should be hired.
Am I hired?
-Lady. -Yes?
Don't try to show off. The real test starts now.
I never told you to perform a show.
This is all useless. Chopping well and fast?
That's the basics.
Are you looking down on me?
I'm so shocked.
Did you see her?
Do you need to be that good to become a chef?
I'm speechless.
-This is the home of Na O Jik... -And Dan Sae Woo.
-Please leave a message. -No, no!
-We'll call you back later. -We'll call you back later.
Honey?
Is that you, honey?
It's not your honey. It's your creditor.
What are you doing?
I'm waiting for my husband.
Come to the Chinese restaurant.
-I already ate dinner. -I'm not trying to buy you dinner.
-Drinks? -Are you crazy?
Why would I buy you drinks?
-You're sick. -I'm not.
-Forget it. -I'm fine.
Then come here right now.
I want to sleep.
Come.
I'm disappointed because you're not my husband!
Didn't you say...
you were looking for a job?
Me?
Are you going to hire me?
Well...
Will you pay me 15,000 dollars a month?
You're so crazy. It's charming.
I'm not going.
Fine, then. Don't come.
What is it?
Bring the contract.
Leave before I call the police.
Go ahead.
Do you think we're afraid of the police?
Is your arm okay?
I didn't fire you. Why did you miss work?
You little...
Keep going...
Hey.
-I told you to leave. -Why?
Are you scared that we might cut off your finger...
to stamp on the contract without you there?
Why are you interrupting my interview?
Who are you? Are you gangsters?
Are you bullies?
(Hungry Frying Pan)
-I thought you weren't coming. -My goodness!
(Traditional Chinese Food)
Sneezing!
Don't laugh. Don't laugh.
"Sneezing!"
Stop it.
You're the one who started it. "Sneezing!"
No one's sick anymore.
You don't have to pity me.
The tumour was removed.
He might even live longer than you.
I got it.
Come inside after five minutes.
I thought we had nothing more to discuss.
I heard you hired someone.
I'm in the process of it.
Show him.
You might be able to fire people at your will,
but you cannot hire people as you like.
Did you hear that?
Look at the third clause.
"The tenant will run Hungry Frying Pan..."
"For a year."
"He will be in charge of payroll and management costs."
"In exchange of the deposit..."
Listen carefully, okay?
"The tenant must listen to the landlord's opinions..."
"When it comes to hiring staff including the chef."
Don't be confused. You're not the one in charge.
Our boss is the one with the power.
So what?
Give my boys...
another chance.
You must be crazy.
They can get tested just like this woman.
Okay.
-Boss. -Boss.
What are you talking about?
Why are we being tested...
to work at our restaurant?
Shut your mouth.
Excuse me, what is your name?
It's Chae Seol Ja.
I thought I was almost hired for the Cutting Part.
All right.
Who wants to go against Ms. Chae Seol Ja?
Boss.
Are you not confident?
Gosh.
-Of course not. -Come on.
-Come and try it.
If the Fire Part is like the father of the kitchen,
the Cutting Part is like the mother. It is an important role.
I won't work with just anyone.
The one that wins the competition will become the Cutting Part.
If you don't think you can do it,
I'll assume no one else applied.
Come out.
-Gosh. -Come out.
Here's the mom.
Maeng Dal was the Cutting Part.
Okay. Go for it.
Are you talking about me?
Go on.
Good luck.
Are you not confident?
He told me to come in after five minutes, right?
"Remember to look up at the stars..."
"And not down at your feet."
We have orders.
1 stir-fried seafood, 1 seafood jajangmyeon,
1 shrimp fried rice, 1 chicken fried rice.
Please grab your sizzling plates. The dishes will go out in five minutes.
What's a sizzling plate?
You don't know what a sizzling plate is?
Are you seeing anyone?
There are 4 dishes, but why did you pull out 6 plates?
On the first plate,
I'll put the scallop, shrimp, and abalone,
which need to be blanched in oil, on it.
-And that means? -It means...
that they aren't fried but slightly cooked using oil.
On the second sizzling plate,
I'll put the sea cucumber, bok choy, broccoli,
shiitake, matsutake,
bamboo shoot, and dongo mushroom,
which need to be blanched in water, on it.
On the third sizzling plate I'll place...
the squid, paprika, and lettuce separately,
so they can be fried later.
I put the ingredients separately,
so they can be fried with oil for a brief moment.
Once cooked, they'll have to be fried again anyway.
So I don't take them out from the wok,
but I'll mix in...
the scallop, shrimp, abalone, and the parboiled vegetables...
to create stir-friend seafood.
All three sizzling plates are...
for making stir-fried seafood.
Where did Maeng Dal go?
On the fourth sizzling plate,
I'll place the squid, scallop, shrimp, onion, and scallions...
for making seafood jajangmyeon.
Fifth sizzling plate is for shrimp fried rice.
Sixth sizzling place is for chicken fried rice.
As for the garlic,
I'll put it on a separate plate and hand it over to the Fire Part.
Am I hired?
She still has time.
There are other dishes that require three sizzling plates.
You're so doubtful.
They're stir-fried abalone and scallop, and scorched rice soup.
Usually you only need two sizzling plates.
Whether you need three sizzling plates or not...
depends on...
this bok choy.
Bok choy can't be fried.
It must be blanched.
Are we going to do this all night?
When you're cooking seafood jajangmyeon,
you put seafood on one and vegetable on the other.
But you need three plates...
when you're passing raw shrimp to be fried.
Because shrimp needs to be parboiled first.
Fine. Let's do this all night.
You're hired.
Really?
Start working tomorrow.
Gosh.
It's so good. My gosh.
I thought you'd use 1 sizzling plate for 1 dish.
You can't just deliver ingredients to the grill,
you have to know everything.
That's why Poong said...
chopping board was a mother.
Poong received ingredients...
on the correct sizzling plates,
and then cooked them in the right order.
So the food just melts in your mouth.
How many years do you need to work at it...
in order to cook as soon as the order comes in?
By the way, is Maeng Dal still in there?
Is he going to live there?
You're the best cutting part I've ever seen.
There's a great noodle part...
that I used to work with.
We don't have a noodle part.
Will you take my recommendation?
Of course.
The sooner the better.
Yes.
Oh Maeng Dal.
Maeng Dal.
You...
can freeze to death there.
You should come right now.
No, don't tell him that.
The chef might think it's strange.
Hurry.
Can she start working tomorrow?
Okay. You'll be the cutting part.
Welcome.
Who are you?
She's here again.
-Why are you here again? -I heard you were hiring.
-Well... -Do you know how to cook?
-No. -Have you ever waited tables?
No.
Do I need to pay you 15,000 dollars a month?
-No. -Okay, you're hired.
-Boss. -What?
I know you have the right to hire people,
but why would you hire someone...
who has no experience in cooking or waiting tables?
She even says that she knows she's crazy.
I wouldn't hire her even if she was pretty.
Well, she is pretty.
So are you going to hire her for her looks?
She likes jajangmyeon. That's good enough.
Every Korean likes jajangmyeon.
Hey, go get Maeng Dal.
He's going to freeze to death!
Who has your back?
You don't seem like you can do anything to help...
with the business.
Why do I need to do business with someone who can't even...
distinguish between sky and earth?
Why would you keep her around?
Do you like her? Is that why?
-Well... -Hey,
I'm good at doing stuff too.
I can do the dishes.
I can make people order expensive dishes...
other than jajangmyeon to help with the sales.
You can order me to prepare ingredients and clean the hall.
I'll do everything.
You can be the general manager.
She'll be the general manager and get paid more than you.
-What is it? -So don't touch her.
You can't fire her. Okay.
Why would you hire me as a general manager?
Even she doesn't understand it.
Why are you doing this?
You can take a good look at the contract. I can do this.
-No, you can't. -Yes, I can.
-You can't. -I can.
-You can't. -Hey. -Hey, you jerk!
-I said, no! -Boss, please stop.
Close your mouth.
-No. -I said, close your mouth!
No!
I really can't keep watching this childish fight.
Shouldn't you have a fist fight?
Why are you fighting with your mouths?
-I can do it. -No, you can't.
Aren't you embarrassed?
All you do is move your tongues. Just go outside and fight for real.
Start working as the general manager tomorrow.
-You can't. -She can.
-She can't. -I said, she can, you jerk!
-No! -Yes!
That startled me.
You gave me a heart attack!
I'm ignorant, but you're worse than me.
Go to the intersection. There's a law firm there.
Instead of screaming, go there...
and ask.
If you don't call me when you audition for the Noodle Part,
I will kill you!
My goodness.
Why are you selling gum at this hour?
Are you open for business again?
Give me all the gum you have.
-How much is it? -It's 1,000 dollars.
By the way,
what did yours say?
Do you hate me that much?
If you were me,
would you be happy to have...
a general manager, who outranks you, come in...
because she has connections to the building owner?
I don't like this kind of process,
and I don't like you either.
I'm disgusted by it.
I hate it so much. I hate it no matter what.
Yes.
I don't like you.
I'll leave after cleaning up. I assume I'm starting tomorrow.
Move.
You can't ask for a discount. It's 1,000 dollars.
Are you two close?
Why do you always fight?
You're going to grow on each other.
Where are you going? Pay me.
You told me you would buy all of my gum as if you're rich.
You're upset...
because things didn't go your way.
When you're anxious, you should chew on gum.
Your dad did that too.
What?
-Here you go. -No.
Come on.
You really won't bend in front of Chil Seong, will you?
Poong or whatever your name is. Here.
I don't want it.
It's from a woman who will die tomorrow, so just chew it.
I'm giving it to you because you feel like my sons.
Why aren't you chewing?
-Is it sweet? -No way.
It's strawberry flavoured.
It's sweet, right?
You should go.
Aren't you leaving? We have to fight some more.
Isn't it sweet?
-It's sour. -Chew some more.
That's because you just started chewing it.
It's supposed to be sweet in the beginning.
Then your tongue must be sour.
You're just making this up.
Hey.
Try making clacking sounds with the gum.
I can't do it. I don't know how.
Me neither.
Anything is possible.
Just watch me.
Use your top and bottom molars.
Hit them against each other.
See? See that?
You guys get along just fine.
Stop fighting. There is no time for that.
Chew gum if you have time to fight.
Gosh.
Where are you going?
What would they know if they can't even make clacking sounds?
You have a long way to go before learning about life.
Gosh, my back hurts.
Gosh.
That's enough. Let's go out.
Come on. Don't be like this.
We don't have time for this.
The boss told me...
to freeze to death here.
The woman became the general manager.
Hurry up and come out.
Are you in love with me?
You didn't come out on purpose, didn't you?
You look like you would be pretty good with the knife.
Why didn't you come out?
Was it to help me get the job?
Did your lips freeze?
Shall I melt them for you?
Well?
We're thinking the same thing, right?
Don't you think boss is acting strange?
He only knows her from when she gave us the wedding invitation.
How can we let her become our manager?
On top of that, all of us were fired.
Maeng Dal got tested, but he failed again.
He betrayed us.
(Light and Shadow Loans)
-No. -No way.
It's a woman.
She's a married woman.
Even if he has a bad taste for women,
he doesn't like married women.
Well, married women are good at it.
-Good at what? -Good at what?
Making rice.
You're such a joke.
I like women that are good at making rice too.
Just get married to a rice cooker, okay?
Mr. Lawyer. Can I...
eat this?
Well, I don't care.
All right. As you were given the permission to use...
everything in the restaurant for free,
the landlord and the tenant agreed to split...
all profit in this contract.
Yes, that's right.
Poong, you're the tenant.
The gangster employees...
You fired his men without having a discussion.
Then, his trust for the tenant has been broken.
That's why the landlord cannot trust you...
about the profit you report to him.
It's right here.
It goes against clause number three.
What?
That's why Mr. Du Chil Seong has the right...
to hire someone as a general manager to supervise...
and look after the sales.
He has all the right in the world.
See?
(Hungry Frying Pan)
My gosh.
Are you hiring?
I heard you're hiring someone for the Noodle Part.
Yes, that's right. Ms. Chae told me about you.
Are you Mr. Im Ggeok Jeong?
It's not Ggeok Jeong. It's Geok Jeong. Im Geok Jeong.
But as you can see, I walk with a limp.
Is that still okay with you?
Do you make dough with your feet?
No.
Then you're hired.
Is that all?
I look forward to working with you. You can start working tomorrow.
Is that really all?
Okay. Thank you. Thank you so much.
Does he think I'm crazy?
I can't accept her as the manager.
I don't want the job just because I know the owner of the building.
I won't work as the manager.
By the way, what did yours say?
What does yours say?
What about yours?
I'm nervous.
Me too.
Do you think it'll tells us to commit suicide?
(The one in front of you now is your true love.)
(Hungry Frying Pan)
(Giant Hotel)
Hold on tight!
My gosh.
If you were me,
would you be happy to have...
a general manager, who outranks you, come in...
because she has connections to the building owner?
I don't like this kind of process, and I don't like you either.
I'm disgusted by it.
I hate it so much. I hate it no matter what.
I don't like you.
May I?
Gosh.
-Your hair. -Okay.
This way.
-Honey. -Yes?
Just a second.
There are way too many buttons.
Then can you at least lend me 15,000 dollars?
I know you have 15,000 dollars. Can you do that for me?
You talk as if 15,000 dollars is 1,500 dollars.
Why don't you just sell your handbag?
I can't sell this.
Do you want to buy me instead?
I'll do everything you tell me to.
What are you doing here?
Don't worry.
You should've told me.
You should've told me we met here on this bridge.
Why are you getting angry at me? I don't even work for you.
You can have the whole can.
I'll be off now.
Where are you going?
Let me go.
Don't go.
Let me go.
Do you know how many kilometres I had to run to get here?
I ran here like a maniac despite running out of breath...
in case I missed you.
I never told you to run all the way here.
Shouldn't you at least wait by my side...
until I finish this can of beer?
You have no manners.
Are you so well-mannered that you would take my beer?
You refused to take off your mask,
so I was worried that you actually might've died.
I'm sorry for still being alive even after I took off the mask.
I'm sorry for getting hired through connections.
I guess the world doesn't scare you that much anymore.
That's none of your business.
Where's your talkative horse?
I thought you'd be way more pretty when you were wearing the mask.
My goodness.
-I thought you'd be a lot younger. -My gosh.
You were my first customer.
I waited so much for you so that I could cook you something nice.
Weirdly enough,
I couldn't stop thinking about you.
Here.
Why don't we just go to your place...
instead of wasting money on an expensive hotel like this?
Being frugal is nice.
But I'm in a rush right now.
Gosh, this place looks really expensive.
It's our first night together.
I live with two of the guys you saw earlier.
You'll have to ask them to leave then.
How can I tell the owner to leave?
Don't you have a house?
I don't.
But that's not important.
Can't we talk inside?
-What have you done with your life? -What?
You can't cook. You have no house,
no car, no job.
All you have is a motorcycle,
and that prematurely greyed hair.
Goodness.
You can't do this to me.
You're too cruel to walk away now.
You're cold.
I can't sleep alone today.
I heard they told you to come out,
but you stayed there because I told you...
to freeze to death.
Idiot.
Maeng Dal. Do you remember what Nietzsche said?
"Was that life?"
"Well then, once more!"
That's right.
Even if today is the worst day ever,
the sun will come up...
tomorrow.
Let's go to sleep.
Let's stop being angry.
You're the one who got angry.
Using your connections to get a job is bad.
I told you I really hate that.
What did your cookie say...
that night?
It said I should look up at the stars...
instead of looking at my feet.
What about yours?
What did yours say?
I don't know.
-I threw it out. -Really?
Without looking at it?
Without looking at it.
Weren't you curious?
I threw it out because I was scared it might come true.
Because it shouldn't.
You act all tough,
but you can't even look at a piece of paper.
And you call yourself a man.