South Korean actress Lee Young-ae, who is also popular in other Asian countries for her lead role in the smash-hit epic series “Daejanggeum,” threw a traditional Korean food dinner for foreign diplomats in Seoul, a local TV network said Friday.

The event was taped Wednesday for “Lee Young-ae’s Dinner,” a SBS documentary hosted by the actress and set to air on New Year’s Day on the lunar calendar, SBS said.

Couples of foreign diplomats in Korea, officials of the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea and well-known Korean artists such as fashion designer Lie Sang-bong and cellist Chung Myung-hwa attended the dinner at the Samcheonggak restaurant in central Seoul, it said.

During the dinner, Lee showed her affection toward Korean food by explaining in detail the meaning of the name of each dish served to the guests, the TV network said.

Also known as “Jewel in the Palace,” the 2003-2004 SBS drama series tells the tale of an orphaned kitchen help who went on to become the first female physician for the king. (Yonhap News)