Some of our favorite Filipino celebrities are cooking up a new collaboration in Seoul, South Korea. The project? An upcoming reality cooking show called Kumusta, together with award-winning actor and leading man Ji Chang-wook.
Over the past few months, we’ve gotten hints and sneak peeks of the upcoming series from Jodi Sta. Maria, Janella Salvador, Arci Muñoz, and Francine Diaz, who chronicled their adventures in Seoul on social media.
They’ll be joining Ji Chang-wook in bringing Filipino culture and South Korean lifestyle together through food, with the help of talented chefs from both countries.
Photo: Arci Muñoz, Jodi Sta. Maria/Instagram
Globally renowned Filipino chefs JP Anglo and Kim Yumol will also take part in this gathering of stars.
We don’t know all the details about Kumusta yet, but from the previews we’ve seen so far, it’s safe to say we’ll be witnessing a diverse showcase of Asian cuisine in every episode. The reality show’s star-studded lineup is eager to share their unforgettable learning experiences, and we’re just as stoked for the series’s imminent premiere.
An Eventful Overseas Trip
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On October 28, 2025, Chef Anglo gave us a glimpse into the reality show and its premise. He shared on Instagram that he and his fellow Filipino representatives “accomplished the impossible” in Seoul—running a Filipino restaurant for seven consecutive days.
He also commended his team’s positive energy, which helped them power through “countless challenges” during their 12- to 16-hour shifts.
For Chef JP, the upcoming series can be summed up as a “South Korean and Filipino exchange” in one kitchen. Everyone may have exhausted their energy into the meals they cooked and served, but it was worth the fulfillment of seeing their customers smile and sharing the comfort of Filipino food with the world. He couldn’t have said it better: “We made a lot of people happy, and that’s what matters.”
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In a separate post, Chef JP revealed that he and his celebrity friends cooked Filipino dishes for Chef Choi Hyun-seok, an esteemed South Korean restaurant owner, TV personality, and entrepreneur whom you might recognize from Culinary Class Wars. Chef Hyun-seok gave them valuable insights into Filipino cuisine, making all their struggles and hard work worth it.
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Filipino Celebrities’ Heartfelt Sentiments
The Filipina artists of Kumusta couldn’t contain their joy during their life-changing adventures in Seoul. Besides teaming up with Ji Chang-wook, one of the most in-demand actors in the Korean drama (K-drama) scene, it was a major honor for them to represent the Philippines and its vibrant culture through cooking.
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For Jodi, cooking Filipino dishes in South Korea with her castmates and chef mentors was “such a blessing.” She fondly remembers the “quiet moments” they shared, in which they gave each other strength to fulfill their responsibilities and end each day on a high note.
Arci also felt blessed to have experienced a jam-packed schedule abroad with the local and international cast and crew of the reality show.
Close Ties Between South Korean Media and Philippine Entertainment
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Over the years, Filipinos have contributed to the massive global success of South Korean movies, TV shows, music, and lifestyle trends. For instance, when a fan-favorite K-drama gets a Filipino adaptation, we can’t help but tune in and hope that everyone involved does justice to the source material.
This year, K-drama enthusiasts applauded the Filipino cast of It’s Okay to Not Be Okay for successfully paying homage to the 2020 series. We can expect fans to do the same for Angela Muji and Rabin Angeles, who will star opposite each other next year in the local adaptation of the 2012 film, A Werewolf Boy.
Kumusta doesn’t directly draw inspiration from existing shows and movies. Still, the project’s passionate cast and producers strive to equally champion the vibrant culture and history of the Philippines and South Korea through their fruitful collaborations.
As we await the premiere of Kumusta, the reality cooking show’s featured celebrities and award-winning chefs are here to remind us that representation will always matter, especially in food.
What do you think of this exciting collaboration so far? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!
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