On the evening of February 18, 2026, viewers tuning in to tvN STORY’s 설 (Lunar New Year) special, 남겨서 뭐하게, were treated to more than just a festive meal. The episode, set in a traditional Korean house in Yangpyeong, brought together a star-studded cast—actor Lee Yu-ri, former baseball player Lee Dae-ho, chef Jung Ho-young, and singer Hwang Chi-yeol—for a celebration that quickly turned into a showcase of entrepreneurial grit and heartfelt perseverance.
Lee Yu-ri, often hailed as the “Queen of Ratings” and “Queen of Home Shopping,” didn’t just bring her trademark energy to the table—she brought a story that stunned both her fellow cast members and the audience at home. As Lee Young-ja, the show’s host, praised Lee Yu-ri for her dual reign over television ratings and home shopping sales, Lee Yu-ri responded with candor, sharing a tale that seemed almost too good to be true.
“When I started, it was just a small cosmetics company,” Lee Yu-ri recalled, her voice carrying both pride and a hint of disbelief. “But after I became their model and began appearing on home shopping broadcasts, the company grew so much that it eventually built a building.” According to OSEN, the other cast members were left speechless by the scale of her achievement—a testament to the rare power of celebrity-driven sales in South Korea’s booming home shopping industry.
It wasn’t just about selling out products or boosting a brand. Lee Yu-ri’s story, as reported by NEWSIS, was about starting small and dreaming big. She emphasized that her sincere approach to home shopping—treating every broadcast as a genuine opportunity rather than a mere performance—was the key to her success. “Whatever she does, she gives it her all. She never fakes it,” Lee Young-ja remarked, capturing the admiration that Lee Yu-ri’s work ethic inspires both on- and off-screen.
But Lee Yu-ri wasn’t the only one with a tale of resilience and unexpected triumph. Chef Jung Ho-young, another guest on the special, revealed his own home shopping odyssey. Facing the harsh realities of the COVID-19 pandemic—a time when the restaurant industry ground to a near halt—Jung turned to home shopping as a lifeline. “Wasn’t it tough during COVID-19?” he mused. “I had to do something, so I got connected to home shopping. With those sales, I was able to pay my employees’ salaries on time.”
The numbers were jaw-dropping. Jung Ho-young’s cumulative home shopping sales had reached a staggering 40 billion KRW (about $30 million USD), a figure that, as EPN엔피나우 noted, spoke not only to his culinary prowess but to his resourcefulness in the face of adversity. Behind the glitz of televised sales and the thrill of sold-out products, there was a deeper narrative of responsibility and care—a chef determined to protect his staff during the industry’s darkest days.
The episode’s festive atmosphere was matched by acts of generosity. Lee Yu-ri prepared 40 servings of garaetteok, a traditional rice cake, for her fellow cast members, reinforcing her reputation as one of the entertainment industry’s most generous “big spenders.” As reported by MHN, these gestures went beyond mere hospitality; they were symbols of the warmth and community spirit that have defined Lee Yu-ri’s career since her 2001 debut in the KBS drama School 4.
Lee Yu-ri’s journey from actress to home shopping powerhouse is a case study in versatility. After making a name for herself in dramas like Mom Has Grown Horns, Twinkle Twinkle, and Yellow Boots, she reached new heights in 2014 with her villainous turn as Yeon Min-jung in Jang Bo-ri Is Here!, earning the coveted Grand Prize at the MBC Drama Awards. Yet, as MHN and NEWSIS both underscore, it was her willingness to embrace new challenges—like stepping into the role of a home shopping host—that set her apart.
During the special, Lee Yu-ri reflected on her initial foray into home shopping. “The company was small when I started,” she said, “but after I became their model, the brand grew so much that they built a building.” Her words, echoed across multiple media outlets, have become something of a legend in the Korean entertainment and business worlds. It’s not every day that an actor’s sideline gig transforms a modest business into a real estate success story.
Chef Jung Ho-young’s story, while rooted in hardship, was equally inspiring. As the pandemic shuttered restaurants and upended lives, Jung’s pivot to home shopping was born of necessity, not ambition. Yet, the results were undeniable: 40 billion KRW in sales and, more importantly, the ability to keep his team afloat. “Thanks to home shopping, I was able to pay my employees without delay,” he revealed, a statement that resonated with viewers and fellow cast members alike.
The episode didn’t just celebrate individual achievements—it highlighted the transformative power of adaptability. In a world where celebrity endorsements are often dismissed as superficial, Lee Yu-ri’s and Jung Ho-young’s stories offered a counter-narrative: that authenticity, hard work, and a willingness to try something new can change lives and even reshape industries.
It’s worth noting that these successes didn’t happen in a vacuum. South Korea’s home shopping sector, already robust before the pandemic, became a vital economic engine as consumers shifted to online and televised retail. For many small and medium-sized businesses, celebrity partnerships provided a crucial boost, turning struggling brands into household names. The stories shared on 남겨서 뭐하게 serve as vivid reminders of how the right mix of timing, talent, and sincerity can turn the tide—even in the toughest of times.
As the episode drew to a close, the cast’s camaraderie and mutual respect were palpable. Lee Yu-ri, praised for “achieving both high ratings and sales,” and Jung Ho-young, lauded for his “warm sense of responsibility,” stood as examples of what’s possible when passion meets perseverance. Their journeys, broadcast on one of Korea’s most-watched holiday specials, have already inspired countless viewers to rethink what it means to succeed.
In the end, the 설 special of 남겨서 뭐하게 wasn’t just about food or fame—it was about the courage to start small, the creativity to adapt, and the heart to lift others up along the way. That’s a recipe for success worth celebrating, no matter the season.