Appearing on the July 21 episode of the YouTube show Alttaldalhan Chamgyeon, Jung Il Woo revisited memorable moments from his variety show career, including his time on KBS2’s Stars’ Top Recipe at Fun-Staurant.

During the conversation, actor Ahn Jae Hyun reminded viewers of Jung Il Woo’s role in popularizing the now-famous whipped coffee drink. “During the COVID-19 pandemic, Jung Il Woo created a coffee recipe on Fun-Staurant. It was dalgona coffee—the one you whisk over and over,” Ahn Jae Hyun said.

When the other hosts expressed surprise, Ahn Jae Hyun added: “He was the first person to introduce it on television.” Jung Il Woo recalled how quickly the recipe spread across the world after it aired. “Because of that, I was interviewed by The New York Times and the BBC,” he said. “I heard it even became the No. 1 trending search term on Google worldwide at the time.”

Ahn Jae Hyun jokingly responded that while dalgona coffee became globally famous, Jung Il Woo’s name did not receive the same recognition. “Only ‘dalgona’ became famous Jung Il Woo’s name disappeared.” Comedian Heo Kyung Hwan then quipped: “You should’ve patented it.” Laughing, Jung Il Woo replied: “That thought never even crossed my mind.”

Dalgona coffee is made by vigorously whisking instant coffee, sugar, and hot water until the mixture becomes thick and creamy before spooning it over a glass of milk.

Jung Il Woo first introduced the recipe on Fun-Staurant in 2020 after recreating a coffee drink he had tasted at a café in Macau. The beverage quickly became known as “dalgona coffee,” and millions of people around the world recreated it during COVID-19 lockdowns, sharing their results across YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and other social media platforms.

Jung Il Woo also shared the recipe on his personal social media during the pandemic. His version called for: 2 tablespoons instant coffee, 2 tablespoons sugar and hot water. The ingredients are whisked hundreds of times until they form a thick foam, which is then poured over a glass of iced milk.

Because it required only a few pantry staples and could easily be made at home, the drink became one of the defining viral food trends of the pandemic.

Sources: Daum | 헤럴드경제