TV CHOSUN's historical culinary entertainment show "What Did the King Eat?" shed light on the extraordinary food culture of Joseon's King Yeonsan.

Rare ingredients to which King Yeonsan was particularly obsessed were revealed on the broadcast. These included deer tail and tongue, various insects, and braised calf. Food columnist Park Jun-woo explained, "King Yeonsan placed greater significance on rarity than on taste itself."

Chef Lee Yeon-ju presented a modern reinterpretation of deer tail soup based on historical records. After tasting it, Lee Gwang-gi remarked, "I can understand its sufficient value as a nourishing dish," while Shin Gi-ru described the mild flavor of the deer tail.

Insects were also a staple at King Yeonsan's table. He even established a government office called the Hoedongseupyeokso to have children collect insects. Crickets, katydids, dragonflies, and other insects were gathered. After tasting the insect dishes, Shin Gi-ru said, "It tastes like dried shrimp and is similar to ramen broth," and Yang Sang-guk acknowledged the savory flavor of fried grasshoppers.

Choi Tae-sung noted that King Yeonsan showed interest in hard-to-find ingredients, including lizards, frogs, and earthworms, as well as the reproductive organs and internal organs of livestock.

Luxurious beef dishes enjoyed with Jang Nok-su were also revealed. When high-end dishes such as beef tartare and steamed suckling calf appeared, the cast could not hide their surprise. In particular, Ji Ye-eun was deeply shocked to learn that King Yeonsan plundered cattle — vital to the livelihood of the common people — down to young calves, and even coveted calves still in their mothers' wombs.

The cast expressed outrage at King Yeonsan's bizarre eating habits and the sacrifice of the common people that lay beneath them. Shin Gi-ru lightened the mood by sharing tips on cooking insect dishes, while Choi Tae-sung indicated that he could partly understand King Yeonsan's food culture.

The next episode will cover a dining table filled with King Jeongjo's filial devotion.