[Edaily Reporter Son Eui-Yeon ] tvN’s variety show “Street Restaurant Fighter” kicks off the fourth-round semifinals—the final hurdle before the championship round.

In the ninth episode of tvN’s “Street Restaurant Fighter,” the intense camaraderie among the contestants that blossomed during the “Death Match: Team Battle” deeply moved viewers at home. In the Round 3 team competition, the teams of Choi Sang-hyun and Kim Hoon, and Jeong Ho-young and Hong Seok-cheon sold out all 100 bowls and advanced directly to the semifinals, while the eight contestants who failed to sell out faced off in a grueling individual competition where survival was on the line. Despite this, Kim Min-sung, Kim Kwan-hoon, and Ko Seok-hyun showed beautiful support by helping out competitors who had once been their teammates. Thanks to their dedicated support, Lee Yeon-bok, Kim Ho-yoon, and Lee Seong-hoon dramatically advanced to the semifinals, while Edward Kwon, Kim Mi-ryeong, Kim Min-sung, Kim Kwan-hoon, and Ko Seok-hyun—who gave it their all until the very end—faced the bittersweet reality of closing their shops, having gained valuable lessons along the way.

In Episode 10, airing on the 23rd, the semifinals—which will determine the fate of the surviving teams—get underway in earnest. The stage for this fourth-round mission is Incheon International Airport, a massive special commercial district that attracts an average of 200,000 visitors per day. The contestants will compete in the “Morning at the Airport” business challenge, setting up shop in the food court inside the departure lounge during the morning—the busiest time of day—to captivate travelers preparing to depart.

This competition begins with a bidding war for store locations and promotional materials—even before cooking or selling begins. Whether to bid high to secure a prime spot with high foot traffic and favorable cooking conditions—even at the cost of financial loss—or to save money by bidding low for a less visible, out-of-the-way location, a fierce battle of wits and strategic maneuvering unfolds from the very start. A prime example is Choi Sang-hyun’s “Disruption Strategy,” which secured him a spot in Rounds 1 through 3 with top scores, as revealed in the teaser video.

The bidding was merely the prelude to the war. Even veterans are left speechless by the “kitchen war,” where contestants must race to secure the limited cooking equipment available in the airport’s communal kitchen. Lee Yeon-bok, who was scrambling back and forth after his preferred spot was snatched by another team, was even caught losing his composure, remarking, “At this rate, I’ll end up becoming a marathon runner.”

Amid a barrage of orders, the contestants face an unprecedented, extreme situation that tests their physical endurance, remarking, “This might be the edge of a cliff.” All eyes are on who will ultimately secure a ticket to the finals by satisfying both the demanding tastes and tight schedules of domestic and international travelers facing tight flight departure times.

Episode 10 of tvN’s “Street Restaurant Fighter” will air on Sunday, the 23rd, at 7:35 p.m.