Ji Chang-wook, Jodi Sta. Maria, and more Pinoy celebs embrace Korean kitchen challenge in 'Kumusta'

Pinoy and Korean stars are teaming up with a master chef to take on the challenge of bringing local flavors to the Land of the Morning Calm. 

Launched during a media conference, the new culinary and travel show Kumusta follows an eponymous restaurant run by celebrities in Gangnam, Seoul, as they do their best to introduce Filipino cuisine to curious Korean diners. 

Included in its star-studded cast is Korean actor and host, Ji Chang-wook, alongside Filipina stars Jodi Sta. Maria, Janella Salvador, Francine Diaz, and Arci Muñoz, helmed by Chef JP Anglo of MasterChef fame. Korean guest stars Kim Min-seok, Kim Myung-soo, and Seo In-guk will also help out in the restaurant. 

The actresses took a break from their usual routine and went on full 12-hour work shifts over seven straight days. From the dynamic Kumusta kitchen, they learned to prepare and serve Filipino faves such as chicken inasal, kare-kare, sisig, and even lechon—which Chang-wook painstakingly roasted in a 10-minute preview of the show. 

When asked about their experiences in the show, the celebrities had their share of highs and lows while filming.

"For the first time, when I was serving in the restaurant, it was difficult to collaborate and work together with other Filipino actresses and the chef,” Chang-wook admitted.

“But as time passed, the experience of having those hard jobs before helped me get along with them,” he added, referring to part-time service industry jobs he took on before becoming an actor. 

Meanwhile, Chef JP Anglo had realistic sentiments about how the show would turn out when the project was first offered to him. 

“I actually told them that it’s impossible. Imagine non-chefs or non-cooks opening a restaurant and cooking Filipino food, so the stakes were very high," he said.

“They were troopers. They embraced their roles in the same way they would embrace their characters when they act and that was astonishing to watch. The heart was really there," he added. 

Jodi underscored the reality of the language barrier and the importance of learning the Korean language.

"We really had to kind of learn at least the basic words so that magkakainitim rin," she said. "Kaya lang talagang there was one table... hindi na talaga sila nakakapag-English. So nag-end up kami nagsha-charades na lang." 

 Francine, meanwhile, feels like the baby in the group during kitchen work. 

"Pakiramdam ko talaga sobrang alagain ko nung nandito kami sa kitchen," she said. "Parang, I'm trying to do my best and give my all... 'pag patapos na yung trabaho niyo, parang, oh my gosh, hinahabol ako ng pagod," she added. 

For Arci, a big K-culture fan, said the experience was absolutely one for the books. 

"So this is for me, by far, the best experience na natalo ko niya yung mga BTS concert ko," she said. "Just to be with such talented people, not only just talented, they are all kumbaga napakabait na tao, napakabait na cast."

Kumusta is produced by E&S Partners, a subsidiary of Echolive Korea. It is set to premiere on May 24 at 6:45 p.m. on TV5 and on the Viu app.