Actress Lee Min-jung recently shared a surprising confession about her lifelong “cucumber phobia”, shedding light on how it has even influenced her household dynamics including her husband, actor Lee Byung-hun. Despite Lee Byung-hun’s fondness for cucumbers, he hasn’t had a single bite since they got married, all because of Lee Min-jung’s intense aversion to the vegetable. But as fans quickly pointed out, with Min-jung’s incredible cooking skills, sacrificing one ingredient hardly seems like a loss.
On August 4, a video titled “MJ’s Childhood Favorite Mom’s Homemade Sandwich Recipe” was uploaded to Lee Min-jung’s official YouTube channel “Lee Min-jung MJ”. First released on July 29, the video has garnered over 180,000 views. In it, she shared her go-to tuna mayo apple sandwich recipe a childhood favorite inspired by her mother’s clever substitution of apples for cucumbers and onions.
“I have a cucumber phobia,” Min-jung said. “When I ate sandwiches with onions at school, the smell lingered for hours. So my mom started making them with apples instead.” She also introduced her second sandwich—smoked salmon with granola—explaining the granola adds both crunch and subtle flavor.
During the video, the production team asked when her dislike for cucumbers began. Min-jung replied, “Since birth. I can’t even stand the smell. I can’t use cucumber-scented soap either.” She added, “But I’ve met quite a few people like me. I feel an instant connection with them.”
Min-jung then shared a funny story about her husband: “Byung-hun said he likes cucumbers, but he hasn’t had any since we got married. He once asked, ‘Are you really not going to make them just because you don’t eat them?’ I just didn’t answer.”
Lee Byung-hun has no reason to be disappointed, though. Lee Min-jung’s culinary skills are already widely admired. On the July 4 episode of KBS2’s variety show “Heart on Wheels”, she impressed viewers and fellow cast members by whipping up a flawless kimchi stew, even after discovering the kimchi provided wasn’t ideal for stew-making. Instead of complaining, she created a custom sauce to salvage the dish—earning compliments and second helpings from everyone at the table.
Actor Ahn Jae-hyun described it as a cross between stew and hot pot, while entertainer Boom joked, “Now I understand why Byung-hun prefers eating at home. Congrats, bro!” Even notoriously picky eater DinDin was won over by her hanwoo (Korean beef) soybean paste stew in another episode, polishing off his bowl in disbelief.
Born in 1982, Lee Min-jung married actor Lee Byung-hun—12 years her senior—after a year of public dating. The couple welcomed their first son Joon-hoo in 2015, and in 2023, they became parents again to a daughter.
Whether it’s her hilarious food quirks or her kitchen genius, Lee Min-jung continues to charm the public—not only with her talent, but with her authenticity. And as for Lee Byung-hun? He may have lost cucumbers, but he gained a household full of love, laughter, and five-star meals.
Sources: Nate
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