Can’t get enough of Pinoy food? Ji Chang Wook to return for ‘Kumusta’ Season 2
Barely just two weeks on our screens and on free TV via TV5, here’s the news you didn’t know you needed. Hallyu fans, ‘Kumusta’ is coming back for Season 2. Yes, you read that right. The first-ever Filipino-Korean collaboration variety show — the one that had us glued to our screens watching K superstar Ji Chang Wook navigate the beautiful chaos of running a Filipino restaurant in the heart of Gangnam, Seoul, with our beloved Filipino actresses — is officially set for renewal.
This time, TV5 is stepping up as a co-producer. Big boss Crystal Jacinto confirmed it herself during her Jell Life by Crystal launch at BGC just recently. Frankly, it’s a major announcement that matters right now if you’re riding the big K-wave.
“Season 2 — we (have been in) talks with TV5, and TV5 will co-produce this time, and we’re very happy with ‘Kumusta,’” Jacinto shared, barely able to contain her excitement.
And if that isn’t enough to send you into a full spiral of joy, she had one more thing to say: “Magugulat kayo sa ending. So, you really need to see the 10 episodes.”
Let’s rewind for a moment, because ‘Kumusta’ isn’t just another variety show. It’s a cultural milestone — a love letter to Filipino food, Filipino warmth and the kind of genuine human connection that transcends language, geography and yes, even the most impossible restaurant service hours.
The concept is deceptively simple but wildly ambitious: take one of South Korea’s biggest A-list stars, Ji Chang Wook — yes, that Ji Chang Wook, the one your K-drama-loving heart has been devoted to for years and with a top movie right now in Asia, including ours — and put him to work in a Filipino restaurant right smack in the middle of Gangnam’s posh district in Seoul, South Korea.
Alongside him? A dream team of some of the country’s most beloved celebrities: Award-winning actress Jodi Sta. Maria, Janella Salvador, Francine Diaz, Arci Muñoz and the culinary genius of Chef JP Anglo, who made sure the menu was proudly, unapologetically Pinoy.
Think of palabok, sisig, sinigang, gising-gising and inasal — the kind of food that makes homesick Filipinos tear up and makes curious Koreans reach for a second helping. The show doesn’t just showcase our cuisine; it also showcases our soul and the realities and pressure inside the service industry. And that, more than anything, is why it works.
“Kumusta” airs on the Kapatid network every Sunday, and it’s a statement show in every sense of the word. It tells the world — and specifically, the Korean audience — that Filipino food belongs on the global stage. That our flavors are bold and complex and worth celebrating. And when Filipinos and Koreans get together, the result is nothing short of magical.
For context: Chang Wook is one of South Korea’s biggest talents. His film “Colony” just had a seven-minute standing ovation in Cannes, and the film had the biggest opening-day box office in the Philippines.
The A-list Korean superstar has a fanbase that spans continents, and the fact that he chose to spend his time running a Filipino restaurant with our local stars is both a testament to his adventurous spirit and love for his Filipino fans.
Here’s the best part: he’s not just doing it for the cameras. According to producer Crystal, Wookie is genuinely thrilled about the whole thing, especially with the prospect of Season 2.
“He’s very in-demand, but we were just in touch with him, and he’s excited because he knows Filipinos love K-pop, food, and we go all in,” Crystal revealed.
We go all in. Three words that perfectly sum up the Filipino spirit, and clearly, Chang Wook gets it. The show features high-profile guests as well, including “Boyfriend on Demand” star Seo In Guk and other celebrities, who reportedly couldn’t stop raving about the flavors of Filipino cuisine.
Here’s the detail that makes Season 2 even more exciting. The next chapter of “Kumusta” won’t be set in Seoul. It’s coming home. Season 2 will be held right here in the Philippines in one of our islands, and the significance of that shift cannot be overstated. If Season 1 was about bringing Filipino food and Filipino warmth to Korea, Season 2 is about bringing the world to us. It’s a homecoming for the show, but more than that, it’s a spotlight moment yet again for the Philippines on an international stage.
Now, let’s talk about one of the show’s most compelling cast members, the one and only Jodi Sta. Maria. The award-winning actress is the most dedicated hall manager in all of Gangnam.
Jodi plays the restaurant’s hall manager, and if you think that sounds like a glamorous gig, she has news for you. Real, slightly alarming, absolutely hilarious news.
“Hindi madali — my gosh, tatayo ka doon parang 12 hours. Sa totoo lang, namatay-matay yung kuko ko, eh, sa paa! Totoo ’yan, ah!” she said.
Twelve hours on her feet. A toenail that nearly gave up the ghost. This is the dedication of Jodi, people. Not everyone would sacrifice a toenail for a television show, but Jodi? She committed fully and completely — without hesitation. And the results speak for themselves because if you’ve watched her on ‘Kumusta,’ you know she brings an energy and warmth to the show that makes every scene feel alive.
But beyond the physical toll — dead toenail and all — Jodi walked away from the ‘Kumusta’ experience with something far more meaningful than a great show credit. She walked away with a profound new appreciation for the people who work in the service industry every single day.
“May mga moments na gusto mo na mag-closing, may darating pa!!! Sobrang laki na ng appreciation ko for people working in the service industry,” she admitted.
It’s a sentiment that hits differently when you think about it. Here is one of the Philippines’ most beloved actresses, standing in a restaurant in Seoul, experiencing firsthand the relentlessness of service work and choosing to let it change her.
“Kumusta” is doing something genuinely important. It’s showing the world the human side of Filipino stars and Chang Wook — not just their talent, but their humor, their resilience, their capacity for hard work, and their ability to connect with people across cultural lines.
Watch “Kumusta” on TV5 every Sunday night at 7 and on Viu.
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