In the second episode of TV CHOSUN's variety program 'What Did the King Eat?', the diverse royal banquet tables of King Sukjong, the 19th monarch of Joseon, and the historical stories behind them were revealed.

Actor Im Ho, who played the role of King Sukjong in the 1995 drama 'Jang Hee-bin,' appeared as a special guest on this broadcast. Upon Im Ho's entrance, Yang Sang-guk greeted him with 'His Majesty has arrived,' and Im Ho introduced himself as 'Sukjong, a king of great love.' Yang Sang-guk mentioned 'New York Jang-geum' chef Lee Yeon-joo to Im Ho, who is familiar to audiences for his role as a king in 'Dae Jang Geum' and his catchphrases, expressing anticipation for their variety show chemistry.

Foods that determined King Sukjong's life and death were also highlighted. When Sukjong contracted smallpox, the 'tarakjuk' (milk porridge) personally prepared by his mother, Queen Myeongseong, was discussed as the first dish. Interestingly, upon hearing the name 'Queen Myeongseong,' Ji Ye-eun thought of the late Joseon-era Queen Consort of King Gojong, while Shin Gi-ru associated it with actress Choi Myung-gil, drawing laughter. Next, the secret of 'jemigo,' served to Sukjong by the royal physician Yu Sang in defiance of fierce opposition from the court and royal family, was revealed. When it was disclosed that the main ingredient of jemigo was blood drawn from a pig's tail, Shin Gi-ru was greatly surprised and honestly reacted, 'I can't eat that.'

The love story between King Sukjong and Jang Hee-bin, the program's core theme, also captured viewers' interest. When King Sukjong bestowed the separate pavilion 'Chwiseondang' upon Jang Hee-bin, she prepared a so-called 'table of temptation' consisting of silkie chicken soup and boiled black goat to win his heart. Shin Gi-ru exclaimed in admiration, 'So this is how she seduced him with a food table,' and traditional Korean medicine doctor So Jae-young explained that black goat (yang energy) and silkie chicken (yin energy) make an excellent culinary pairing. Historical commentator Choi Tae-sung explained that the eldest son born between King Sukjong and Jang Hee-bin was King Gyeongjong, and Yang Sang-guk lightheartedly expressed his desire for an heir, saying, 'I, too, wish to serve the nation.'

In relation to this, Choi Tae-sung also recounted the brutal atrocities of Jang Hee-bin as depicted in the novel 'The Tale of Queen Inhyeon.' When he mentioned the scene where Jang Hee-bin, on her deathbed, pleaded to see her son and then grabbed and tore at his vital spot in order to take revenge on King Sukjong, the studio was engulfed in shock, and Shin Gi-ru and Yang Sang-guk could not hide their astonishment. An additional analysis noted that the historical fact that King Gyeongjong had no children further reinforced Jang Hee-bin's image as a villainess.

On this day's broadcast, Ji Ye-eun dressed up as Jang Hee-bin and engaged in a talk with Im Ho, asking him why he drove out Queen Inhyeon only to summon her back. Im Ho showed an awkward demeanor, saying, 'Why did I do that back then?' and Choi Tae-sung pointed out King Sukjong's capricious nature. When Yang Sang-guk demanded an apology, Im Ho said, 'It was my oversight. I apologize,' drawing laughter from the set.

Lastly, 'Hwangjagyehondun,' a Joseon-era mandu soup, was introduced as a dish that recreated the tastes of King Sukjong's later years. Shin Gi-ru gave it high praise, saying, 'It has a bland broth like Pyeongyang cold noodles, but the seasoning is just right.' Next week's broadcast will reveal the longevity diet of King Yeongjo, the longest-reigning monarch of Joseon. 'What Did the King Eat?' airs every Wednesday at 10 p.m.