In the first half of 2023, TVING viewers were treated to a culinary adventure like no other. Jinny’s Kitchen, run by Korean actor Lee Seo-jin, quickly became the most-watched show on the platform. The show also featured BTS’s V, Choi Wooshik, Park Seo-Joon, and Jung Yu-mi. It captivated audiences with its unique concept and of course, Kim Taehyung’s presence added a whole new appeal.
So what made Jinny’s Kitchen such a hit with viewers? It is believed that adding V of BTS to the cast led the show to be a blockbuster. Kim Taehyung’s hilarious antics and warm, relatable personality also helped to draw in viewers and keep them coming back for more.
The unscripted travel variety show ruled all popularity rankings of TVING, Korea’s #1 OTT platform. Recently, the said OTT platform announced its annual and semi-annual popularity ranking and Jinny’s Kitchen came on top. It surpassed popular variety shows like I Live Alone and You Quiz on the Block.
The show maintained its top position throughout the three-month airing period. Hilarious bickering between the interns, the display of culinary skills by Park Seo-joon and Jung Yumi, and Lee Seojin’s relatable personality was the secret to success.
Congratulations to Taehyung, his Wooga besties and Seojin’s team! Borahae!#V #KimTaehyung #JinnysKitchen #WoogaSquad pic.twitter.com/hNLa0Toz74
— BorahaeTae Crew¹¹⁹ ?? (@TaeVanteKTH1) July 15, 2023
Recently in an interview, PD Na Yeong-seok praised V for his excellent performance on the show. He shared that Kim Taehyung was never the ‘permanent member’ of the show, however, he got the hang of the flow within a couple of days or so. Moreover, the variety show producer admitted he worked really hard and made the show fun to watch.
Without Kim Taehyung, it probably would have been hard to get such high ratings. Moreover, Park Seo-Joon also admired BTS’s V hard work. He shared that the show would not have been the same without his ‘outstanding contributions.’
During the airing period, the show also topped the Brand Reputation Rankings. As per Good Data Corporation, Taehyung also grabbed the top position in the Non-Drama Search Issue Keyword. He also topped the popularity charts for RACOI. It would not be wrong to say that Kim Taehyung kept the viewers hooked on Jinny’s Kitchen
All in all, Jinny’s Kitchen was the perfect recipe for success on TVING with Taehyung on board. It was also aired on Amazon Prime for overseas audiences. It is not yet confirmed whether or not we’d see Kim Taehyung in the next season, however, fans would love for him to return.