On the July 5 episode of JTBC’s Please Take Care of My Refrigerator, aespa members Karina and Winter appeared as special guests, allowing the hosts and chefs to explore the contents of their dorm refrigerator.
Viewers were surprised to find an assortment of alcoholic beverages inside, including wine, makgeolli (traditional Korean rice wine), soju, and champagne.
Explaining her drinking habits, Winter said, “I’m not actually a heavy drinker, but I really enjoy having a little alcohol with my meals.”
However, the cast quickly noticed a partially finished bottle of soju sitting in the refrigerator. Feeling a bit embarrassed, Winter joked, “The staff promised they’d replace it with a new bottle before filming.”
When asked how many days it took her to finish that amount, she pointed to the missing portion and confessed, “That’s actually what I drank in just one day.” Hearing this, Karina looked genuinely concerned and turned to her fellow member to ask, “Are you okay?” Chef Choi Hyun Seok playfully added that what stood out to him the most was the fact that she had been drinking completely alone while eating dinner.
Earlier in the episode, Winter also showcased what she described as her “grandma palate.” After the hosts discovered pumpkin leaves in the fridge, she shared her love for traditional Korean comfort foods. “I boil pumpkin leaves and eat them with rice and thick soybean paste,” she shared. “I definitely have an older person’s taste in food. I love doenjang (soybean paste), cheonggukjang (fermented soybean paste), ground soybeans, and kongguksu (cold soybean noodles). If I wrap my rice in soybean leaves, I can easily finish an entire bowl.” Her confession thoroughly amused everyone in the studio, as it hilariously contrasted with her youthful idol image.
The conversation naturally turned back to her solo drinking habits. When asked what kind of side dishes she usually pairs with her alcohol when drinking alone, Winter casually answered, “Kimchi…”
Her unexpected answer immediately caught everyone off guard. Webtoon writer and television personality Kim Poong reacted in pure disbelief, saying, “Soju with just kimchi? That’s what a real, hardcore drinker does.” Chef Choi Hyun Seok then asked a follow-up question that nobody anticipated: “But do you actually pour your soju into a glass?” Host Kim Sung Joo quickly teased him, saying, “She’s a top idol! Do you really think she’d drink straight from the bottle?”
However, Winter completely shocked the studio with her response. Instead of denying it, she candidly asked, “When you’re drinking alone, do you guys actually bother pouring it first?” Her unfiltered honesty left the cast momentarily speechless before the entire studio burst into laughter. The unexpected confession became one of the episode’s biggest highlights, showing fans a refreshingly down-to-earth and relatable side of the aespa singer.
Winter’s relaxed attitude toward food and her straightforward stories quickly became a major talking point among viewers. From her deep love of traditional Korean dishes to her admission that soju and kimchi make the perfect pairing, the idol showcased a charming personality that delightfully contrasts with her polished stage image.
Her appearance also highlighted the easy chemistry between the aespa members and the show’s hosts, giving fans another memorable variety show moment.
JTBC’s Please Take Care of My Refrigerator (which first premiered in 2014) airs every Sunday at 8:50 p.m. KST.
