Poker player Im Yo-hwan revealed an episode involving his former rival Hong Jin-ho.
The MBC entertainment program 'Radio Star', aired on the 29th, featured a special Lunar New Year episode with guests Im Yo-hwan, Jo Hyun-jae, Lee Eun-gyeol, Gweedo, and Park Young-jin in a segment called 'Strong Story Squad'.
According to Nielsen Korea, the viewership rating for 'Radio Star', which aired the previous day, recorded 3.2% based on households in the metropolitan area. The highlight of the episode was when science communicator Gweedo scientifically explained why men's military stories are not relatable, which resonated with viewers.
Gweedo humorously stated that men's military stories are personal experiences and testimonies, making them scientifically unrelatable, comparing it to Greek mythology, which made everyone laugh. This segment saw the ratings soar to 4.5%.
Im Yo-hwan, a key figure in establishing the e-sports framework that flourished in the 2000s, shared that he even enlisted in the military as an e-sports soldier, leading to the formation of a gaming team. He recounted his experiences competing with the Air Force gaming team and mentioned that he had a rich military life due to various events with fans. Notably, he revealed that he first met his current wife, Kim Ga-yeon, at a military event, drawing attention.
He expressed envy towards his former rival Hong Jin-ho, who is now thriving as a poker player, saying that Hong is literally "flying high," which elicited laughter.
Im Yo-hwan humorously shared that he almost got cut off for giving 1 million won as a wedding gift to Hong Jin-ho, who was his groomsman, revealing that he had not received any gift from Hong. It turned out that Hong had also given 1 million won as a gift. He remarked, "I couldn't reflect the market price," but fortunately, the amounts matched. Im Yo-hwan also self-deprecatedly confessed to his past as a magician, reminiscent of Jang Soo-won, which added to the humor as related videos were shown.
Actor Jo Hyun-jae caught attention by revealing that he enlisted as an active-duty soldier instead of as an entertainment soldier. He expressed his desire to serve honorably in the military, mentioning that he had grown up with a pet dog and was selected as a military dog handler due to his above-average physique.
He patrolled the ammunition depot with military dogs, training, educating, and managing two dogs. He also expressed gratitude for the support he received during his military service from top stars he worked with, including Lee Bo-young, Han Chae-young, and Goo Hye-sun, who visited him, causing a stir in the unit.
Jo Hyun-jae particularly wanted to report to Gweedo, bringing a photo he took that he suspected was a UFO, capturing everyone's attention. Gweedo confirmed that the photo was indeed a UFO, as it referred to an unidentified flying object, but explained that it was likely a satellite due to the circumstances, leading to a moment where Jo Hyun-jae's expression fluctuated between joy and disappointment, making everyone laugh.
Lee Eun-gyeol, who served as a naval magician, humorously shared that he faced a harsh reality after believing the promise of the publicity officer to convert a gym into a practice room. He ended up performing numerous shows and shared a story where he almost caused a 'diplomatic incident.'
Lee Eun-gyeol performed a magic trick in front of the Chinese Prime Minister, making a dove disappear, and when the Prime Minister inquired about the secret, he humorously responded that it was a 'state secret' after two questions, which made everyone laugh.
Gweedo's story about wanting to study science even in the military by choosing to be a meteorological soldier also drew attention. As a science communicator and YouTuber, he shared that as a 'meteorological soldier,' he used four computers to systematically monitor satellite images. He still checks satellite images on the Korea Meteorological Administration's website to make his own weather predictions, surprising everyone.
Lee Eun-gyeol showcased a fantastic magic show on 'Radio Star,' capturing attention. Gweedo was designated as the participant in the magic show, tasked with writing something on paper, and after confirming that the paper came from a small plastic frame, he humorously claimed, "This is indeed what I just wrote," using a deliberately bold part as a trick, which made everyone laugh.
Comedian Park Young-jin clarified misunderstandings and truths about PX soldiers. He, being from the White Skull unit, claimed to have properly managed soldiers' welfare, impressively recalling the prices of various items at the time. He mentioned that if you collect plastic bottles, you can exchange them for designated garbage bags at the community center and that he frequently uses donation boxes, drawing interest. He also shared a tip about successfully quitting smoking after discovering a small nodule in his lung during a health check-up, stating that the government provides significant support.
Meanwhile, next week's 'Radio Star' is set to feature a special 900th episode with Kim Jong-min, Moon Se-yoon, Park Na-rae, and Code Kunst, raising anticipation.
[Kim So-yeon, Star Today Reporter]
