Yoon Eun-hye Reflects on ‘Coffee Prince’ and Her Unforgettable Chemistry with Gong Yoo

In a recent episode of MBC’s beloved variety show Omniscient Interfering View (Episode 346), Yoon Eun-hye—singer, actress, and icon of early 2000s Korean entertainment—invited viewers into a heartwarming day of meaningful gestures and nostalgic reflection.

The episode featured Yoon bustling in her kitchen early in the morning, cheerfully announcing, “This is my first time making braised short ribs.” Clad in apron and gloves, she enlisted the help of her manager Moon Sang-min and her vocal trainer to also prepare traditional Korean rice cakes. Veteran emcee Lee Young-ja, observing the scene, quipped in admiration, “She looks like someone who has mastered every dish imaginable.”

This culinary effort had a deeply personal motivation. Yoon shared that she wanted to cook for her manager’s grandmother, explaining, “My own grandmother passed away early, so I’ve grown really close to his.” Recently recovering from knee surgery, the grandmother couldn’t travel far, so Yoon crafted “flower-shaped rice cakes” instead of planning a typical spring outing. “Since she couldn’t go flower viewing, I brought flowers to her,” she said tenderly, leaving co-hosts visibly touched.

Yoon’s appreciation for DIY gifting extended beyond food. “I’ve always liked giving hand-made presents. I once made hundreds of milk, green tea, and red bean jellies—so tiring,” she laughed. Comedienne Lee Young-ja chimed in, revealing she still owns a handmade bracelet from Yoon, playfully adding, “I wore it while making kimchi.”

Later in the episode, Yoon traveled with her manager to Taean to visit the grandmother. Along the drive, she fondly reminisced about her past works. When asked about her life’s ultimate soundtrack, she named “White Love Story” by As One, a pivotal track from the hit drama The 1st Shop of Coffee Prince. “It plays in the scene where Gong Yoo’s character embraces mine—finally accepting his feelings despite his belief she was a boy. The whole cast watching the monitor screamed,” she recalled with a wistful gaze.

Yoon’s co-host, Jeon Hyun-moo, brought up a hot debate among fans: “Which co-star had better chemistry with you—Ju Ji-hoon in Goong or Gong Yoo in Coffee Prince?” Without hesitation, Yoon replied, “Definitely Coffee Prince. I won so many awards for that drama, and I still can’t forget the atmosphere on set… it took me a month to emotionally detach from that filming.”

Even years later, Yoon Eun-hye’s legacy as a leading lady in K-dramas continues to charm fans, new and old alike, showing that some bonds—onscreen and off—are timeless.