Jinny's Kitchen
Korean street food franchise spin-off distributed globally by Amazon Prime.
Jinny's Kitchen (also called Seojin's or Seojin's Korean Street Food) is a South Korean reality show that first aired on tvN and TVING on February 24, 2023, and internationally on Prime Video. It holds the distinction of being the first Korean entertainment program distributed globally by Amazon Prime. Each of its two seasons has eleven episodes. The series is the second spin-off of Youn's Kitchen (2017), following Youn's Stay (2021), and is intended to build a franchise. A two-episode spin-off special, titled Jinny's Kitchen: Team Building, later came out on Amazon Prime.
The show follows Lee Seo-jin, who previously worked as a manager under Youn in the original series, as he becomes a restaurant owner. He opens Jinny's Kitchen in Bacalar, a small town in southeastern Mexico, to introduce Korean street food to locals and tourists. In season two, the cast travels to Reykjavík, Iceland’s capital, to serve warm and spicy Korean dishes. The restaurant sign changes to "Seojin Ttukbaegi" (Jinny's Kitchen hot pot). Seo-jin adopts a customer-first attitude, and the head chef rotates daily.
On November 9, 2022, tvN announced the project, describing it as more intense and fun than the healing, laughter-filled Youn's Kitchen. The menu would feature Korean street food. The original cast of Youn's Stay returned, except for Youn Yuh-jung, who chose other projects. Lee Seo-jin, an NYU business graduate, is promoted to restaurant owner, while Jung Yu-mi becomes the executive. This shift is key to the new season, as the owner’s philosophy centers on revenue. Youn's Stay cast members Choi Woo-shik and Park Seo-joon also joined. BTS singer V, part of the "Wooga Squad" friend group with Park Seo-joon, Choi Woo-shik, Park Hyung-sik, and rapper Peakboy, was announced on December 7, 2022, after being spotted at the filming location by locals. On February 20, 2024, SPOTV News reported that actress Go Min-si was offered to replace V, who was absent due to mandatory military service, though CJ ENM declined to confirm. On March 18, Go Min-si was seen filming with the cast. It was revealed that she had worked various jobs—including as a wedding planner and at a barbecue restaurant and cafe—before becoming an actress, which reassured producer Na PD in his decision to cast her. She also appeared in *The Witch: Part 1. The Subversion* alongside Woo-shik and in the drama *Live* with Yu-
- field
- Television reality show
- nationality
- South Korean
- known_for
- Spin-off of Youn's Kitchen; first Korean entertainment show distributed worldwide by Amazon Prime; introduces Korean street food to international locations
- premiered
- February 24, 2023
- seasons
- 2 (11 episodes each)
Lore & Background
The show is a spin-off of Youn's Kitchen, in which Lee Seo-jin becomes a restaurant owner after having worked as a manager under Youn in the initial series. He opens Jinny's Kitchen in the small town of Bacalar, in southeastern Mexico, to introduce Korean street food to customers. In season 2, the cast flies to Reykjavík, Iceland, to serve warm and spicy Korean dishes; the store sign changes to 'Seojin Ttukbaegi' (Jinny's Kitchen hot pot). The original cast of Youn's Stay, minus Youn Yuh-jung, returned. Lee Seo-jin, a business graduate from NYU, is promoted as restaurant owner; Jung Yu-mi becomes the executive. Singer V of BTS joined the cast, and actress Go Min-si replaced V in season 2 due to his mandatory military service. Filming for season 1 took place in Bacalar, Mexico; season 2 began filming on March 18, 2024 in Reykjavík, Iceland, despite volcanic eruptions in the Reykjanes peninsula.
Reader's Guide
Jinny's Kitchen represents a significant step in the global distribution of Korean entertainment, being the first Korean show distributed worldwide by Amazon Prime. Its international reach was underscored by ranking 15th in 'Most Watched TV Shows' on Amazon Prime Video worldwide on March 26, 2023, and entering the top 10 in multiple countries. The show's success led to a second season and influenced scheduling of competing programs, such as JTBC's My Name Is Gabriel, which moved its time slot to avoid competition. Critically, the show was praised for its wholesome and unpretentious nature, with an IMDb rating of 8.9 based on 3,800 critics. The inclusion of BTS V, described by a critic as 'a leading figure in K-culture,' helped generate anticipation for international success, combining K-food and K-culture with producer Na Young-seok's entertainment style. The show also demonstrated practical challenges, such as needing to prove credibility to a house owner in Iceland by mentioning BTS V and Amazon Prime.
Did You Know?
- Jinny's Kitchen is the first Korean entertainment show distributed worldwide by Amazon Prime.
- A stray dog named Pero that appeared during filming was adopted by a crew member living in Mexico.
- Season 2 filming in Reykjavík, Iceland was not affected by the ongoing series of volcanic eruptions in the Reykjanes peninsula.
- The show's season 1 success led to the restaurant being fully booked in less than half an hour after opening in season 2.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Jinny's Kitchen?
Jinny's Kitchen (sometimes referred to as Seojin's or Seojin's Korean Street Food) is a South Korean reality television series that debuted on tvN and TVING on February 24, 2023. It was also made available internationally through Amazon Prime Video, where it became the first Korean entertainment program to receive a worldwide distribution deal.
How does Jinny's Kitchen relate to Youn's Kitchen?
It is the second spin-off in the Youn's Kitchen franchise, coming after Youn's Stay (2021) and following the original 2017 series. The show is designed to expand and build out that franchise further.
How many seasons and episodes does Jinny's Kitchen have?
The series runs for two seasons, with each season consisting of eleven episodes.
What is Jinny's Kitchen's main focus or premise?
The program centers on Korean street food, taking that culinary tradition to international settings and introducing it to global audiences through the reality-show format.
Is there any bonus or additional content beyond the main two seasons?
Yes. A two-episode spin-off special titled Jinny's Kitchen: Team Building was released on Amazon Prime, offering extra material outside the standard season structure.
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