Handsome Guys Delivers Hilarious Rivalry Between Kim Dong-hyun and Choi Daniel

tvN’s hit variety show Handsome Guys once again delivers laughter and entertainment as actor Choi Daniel joins the regular cast on a culinary adventure in Jamsil. The 22nd episode, aired on the 8th, features Cha Tae-hyun, Kim Dong-hyun, Lee Yi-kyung, and Shin Seung-ho teaming up with Choi Daniel, who replaces Oh Seung-wook for the episode. This week, the group explores iconic lunch and dinner spots, resulting in a legendary ‘self-reliance’ showdown between Kim and Choi.

The episode garnered a strong viewership, peaking at 2.7% in Seoul metropolitan households and securing the #1 spot in the 2049 demographic across all cable channels nationwide.

Choi Daniel made a memorable entrance, sharing a heartwarming backstory about letting Lee Yi-kyung live in his apartment rent-free during his early days. His quirky charm quickly came out as he proclaimed his IQ to be between 135 and 140. This sparked an unexpected IQ rivalry with Kim Dong-hyun, who claimed his own IQ to be at least 140 — triggering a hilarious exchange of humorous bravado.

As the team visited a Thai-style pork leg rice bowl eatery, Choi Daniel enthusiastically participated in their signature “earn-your-bite” games. In a burst of comedic improvisation, he performed uncanny impersonations inspired by Thai film icon Ong-bak, echoing requests from the cast that had him acting in the street like a martial arts hero — much to the amusement of the viewers.

Later, at a beloved Gamja-tang (pork backbone stew) restaurant, Choi staged a payback moment for Kim, demanding that he perform Ong-bak antics in return for a bite — starting a duel that merged comedy with camaraderie. The rivalry only intensified when the group visited a King Crab hotspot in Garak Market. In a gripping game for a piece of the prized crab, Choi narrowly bested Kim, teasing him with a piece of crab just before accidentally dropping it on the floor, much to everyone’s disbelief. Kim retaliated by mock-choking Choi, adding even more hilarity to the moment.

Notably, Choi kept ending up as the bill-payer for nearly every meal, prompting him to wail, “Am I in The Truman Show?!” His growing suspicion added a layer of playful despair to his antics. Tackling his final challenge at a So Gopchang (beef intestines) restaurant, Choi finally managed to pass the check-paying baton to Kim by winning the decisive quiz game, ending the episode on a feel-good note.

Following the broadcast, the internet exploded with praise: “Choi Daniel and Kim Dong-hyun — comedy gold,” “That Ong-bak act in the street was legendary,” and “Points for stamina and IQ — Handsome Guys just keeps getting better.”

Handsome Guys airs every Thursday at 8:40 PM KST on tvN.