On March 15, 2026, the celebrated JTBC variety show Please Take Care of My Refrigerator (often affectionately called '냉부') delivered an episode that had both sports and entertainment fans buzzing. The spotlight was on South Korea’s short track speed skating sensations, Choi Min-jung and Kim Gilli—dubbed the 'golden sisters' after their electrifying performances at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. What unfolded was a delightful blend of Olympic nostalgia, behind-the-scenes laughter, and culinary chaos that charmed viewers nationwide.
It’s not every day that Olympic heroes open their refrigerators to the world, but this episode did just that. Choi Min-jung, who’s become a household name with seven Olympic medals from Pyeongchang, Beijing, and now Milan-Cortina, kicked off the show with a confession that instantly set the mood. According to bnt News, she revealed, “I’ve been a fan of this show for 10 years. I even mentioned during a JTBC Newsroom interview that appearing on Please Take Care of My Refrigerator was on my bucket list. I won medals at Pyeongchang and Beijing, but I never got invited. That’s why I had to win seven medals—to finally get here!” Her playful jab drew roars of laughter from the studio, setting the tone for an episode brimming with candid moments.
Choi’s enthusiasm wasn’t just for show. She admitted she’d longed to appear since fellow skaters Kwak Yoon-gi and Kim A-rang graced the program, but the invitation never came. This time, she took matters into her own hands, directly contacting the production team to make her dream appearance a reality. The hosts and chefs, including the ever-witty Kim Poong, responded with playful banter, and Choi confessed she was especially curious about Kim Poong’s cooking.
The emotional heart of the episode came as the show revisited the 2026 Olympics. With cameras rolling, viewers were treated to the contrasting reactions of the two athletes on the medal podium: Choi Min-jung, moved to tears after her final Olympic race, and Kim Gilli, beaming with a bright smile and launching into an exuberant jump celebration. As the footage played, Choi quipped, “Honestly, this is the first time I’ve seen Gilli’s jump!” sparking laughter from everyone present.
Then came the main event: a 15-minute cooking showdown using ingredients from the athletes’ own fridges. According to Newsen, this contest pitted chefs Kim Poong and Park Eun-young against each other, with Kim Gilli’s refrigerator as the source of inspiration. The challenge? Create a dish worthy of Olympic champions—no pressure, right?
Kim Poong, never one to shy away from bold ideas, declared he would attempt a pizza inspired by the Taegeukgi, South Korea’s national flag, as a tribute to Choi Min-jung’s Olympic retirement. He dubbed it the 'Lee Jae-myung Pizza' 2nd version, referencing a previous creation. But as anyone who’s watched the show knows, things rarely go as planned in a 15-minute kitchen sprint.
His ambitious plan to craft a scorched rice (nurungji) crust quickly unraveled. The first attempt burned, and the second stuck hopelessly to kitchen paper, forcing him to throw out the entire batch. The kitchen filled with laughter and groans as Kim Poong, ever the showman, wore a look of resigned defeat. With time ticking away, he pivoted, using instant rice and skipping the crust altogether. The final pizza, assembled with only sauce and toppings, had a color combination—thanks to cheese and cucumber—that left much to be desired. “Poor Gilli, what did she do to deserve this?” exclaimed judge Son Jong-won, as the pizza was presented in a less-than-glamorous state.
Yet, as Newsen reported, the magic of Kim Poong’s cooking shone through. Kim Gilli took a bite and, to everyone’s surprise, exclaimed, “Oh?” She elaborated, “The combination with rice is crazy. It tastes like cheese dak-galbi, but with an aftertaste of seafood. It’s amazing!” Even the odd cucumber cheese, she said, “feels like eating it wrapped in lettuce.” Her praise stunned the chefs, who had all but written off the dish as a legendary anticlimax. Host Kim Sung-joo commented, “If the scorched rice had worked, it would have been a landslide win!”
Still, the competition’s winner was Park Eun-young, whose dish edged out Kim Poong’s unconventional creation. Kim Gilli graciously explained her choice: “If the scorched rice crust had succeeded, Chef Kim Poong might have won. The scorched rice was really a shame.”
Meanwhile, the show didn’t forget to celebrate Choi Min-jung’s storied career. The chef team prepared a special tribute dish to honor her retirement and her dazzling 'last dance' at the Olympics. When it was time to eat, both athletes lived up to their 'golden sisters' moniker—not just as champions on the ice, but as champions of the table. According to bnt News, Choi Min-jung revealed, “Gilli’s future dream is to become a mini Jjuyang,” referencing a famed eating personality. True to form, both women polished off their plates, scraping up every last morsel and showering the chefs with praise.
Throughout the episode, viewers were treated not just to stories of Olympic glory, but to the genuine camaraderie and humor that defines both the athletes and the show. The kitchen mishaps, the emotional Olympic flashbacks, and the playful jabs between friends and chefs all combined for a warm, memorable broadcast. For fans of sports, food, or just good television, it was a reminder of why Please Take Care of My Refrigerator has remained a staple for over a decade.
Sometimes, the most enduring Olympic moments aren’t just about medals and records—they’re about laughter, friendship, and the joy of sharing a meal. As Choi Min-jung and Kim Gilli showed, that’s a gold-medal recipe every time.