Description: The October 24, 2026, Korean variety episode revived a famous 2012 shrimp-poem routine. Understand the fish pun, the dramatic performance and why “ten years later” is only approximate.
Jung Jun-ha delivered a heartfelt poem to a fish on MBC’s Hangout with Yoo (놀면 뭐하니?). The comedy came from three things: treating dinner like a romantic hero, forcing a Korean pun into an emotional speech, and reviving a character from Infinite Challenge in 2012.
What happened on October 24?
Episode 349 aired at 6:30 p.m. Korean time. Yoo Jae-suk, Haha, Heo Kyung-hwan, Joo Woo-jae, Jung Jun-ha and Kwak Beom played exaggerated female characters at an “Eat and Gain” gathering. After eating their way through the day, they held a mock cultural session featuring portraits and poetry. The leap from snacks to high art was the first joke.
Jung chose jeoneo, a fish called gizzard shad in English and associated with autumn food in Korea. Instead of discussing how it tastes, he addressed it as though it were someone he deeply loved.
How does the Korean wordplay work?
전어 (jeoneo) names the fish. 쩔어 (jjeoreo) is colloquial Korean for something like “amazing.” Jung uses their similar sounds to insert the fish’s name where a description of his feelings should be. The voice promises a moving poem; the line delivers an intentionally awkward fish pun.
He also alludes to a Korean saying that grilled autumn fish smells so tempting that even a daughter-in-law who left home would return. That is culinary exaggeration, not an account of a real family dispute. His poem turns an ordinary meal into a force capable of changing lives.
Why did viewers remember shrimp from 2012?
On November 3, 2012, Jung performed as a female character on Infinite Challenge. He solemnly addressed shrimp he had eaten earlier, imagining their ordeal on hot salt and their journey into his mouth as a noble tragedy. A ridiculous subject received a funeral-level performance.
Yoo called the new fish poem a second installment after roughly ten years. The actual gap from 2012 to 2026 is nearly 14 years. Jung also performed a polar-bear-themed poem in 2016, so “part two” is a nostalgic callback rather than a literal catalogue of every poem.
Why are there two layers of laughter?
New viewers can enjoy the contrast between a food outing and an overwrought love poem. Longtime fans recognize the old shrimp-poem delivery and the return of a familiar comedic persona. MBC described the scene on October 25; this establishes discussion around a Korean broadcast, not a worldwide viral phenomenon. The account relies on official listings and published reports, not a claimed viewing of the complete episode.
Conclusion
In 2012, shrimp were tragic heroes. In 2026, a fish received a serenade. The ingredient changed; Jung’s gloriously excessive seriousness did not.
References (6)
- [1] https://m.imbc.com/program/1004711100000100000
- [2] https://enews.imbc.com/News/ViewAmp/522377
- [3] https://www.xportsnews.com/article/270235
- [4] https://enews.imbc.com/News/RetrieveNewsInfo/194665
- [5] https://www.mk.co.kr/en/broadcasting-service/12184880
- [6] https://tvreport.co.kr/broadcast/article/1085662/
