Former Olympic swimmer and national hero Park Tae Hwan made a striking debut as a fun-chef on the June 6 episode of KBS 2TV’s 'Stars' Top Recipe at Fun-Staurant.' He surprised viewers with both his impressive physique and enormous appetite.
Known as the “Marine Boy” for his legendary achievements in Korean swimming history, Park drew attention to his post-retirement lifestyle. Even after stepping away from competitive swimming five years ago, he revealed a body fat percentage of just 8.2 percent. His ability to maintain such a strong and lean physique while enjoying food freely left viewers amazed.
The episode recorded a nationwide viewership of 4.3 percent, rising from the previous week and ranking first in its time slot, according to Nielsen Korea.
When Park entered the studio, he was greeted with loud applause. Cast member Hanhae asked if he could touch Park’s famously broad shoulders, while Lee Sian shared that he had been a swimmer as a child and proudly called himself a “Park Tae Hwan kid.”
Although Park humbly denied being a food expert and claimed he simply enjoys eating, the scenes that followed showed just how much he loves food.
To cheer on his debut as a fun-chef, celebrities Choo Sung Hoon, Kim Jae Joong, and Kim Dong Hyun appeared in a video segment to vouch for Park’s incredible appetite. Choo said Park eats even more than he does and jokingly called him “Bread Tae Hwan.”
Park began his morning with his trademark headphones and stepped onto a scale, a habit from his athlete days. The scale showed his body fat at just 8.2 percent, surprising everyone. He then began his breakfast routine, starting with slices of plain bread. As he brought out various jams and spreads from his neatly organized fridge, he began to enjoy the bread with different flavor combinations. Known for his love of bread, he even keeps a list of his favorite bakeries.
In just 30 minutes, Park ate nine slices of bread. But that was only the beginning. Heading into the kitchen, he used the remaining bread to make three hearty dishes. He created a hot dog stuffed with three sausages, a rich Philly cheesesteak sandwich, and an upside-down pizza. In total, Park consumed 17 slices of bread for breakfast.
His passion for food was evident in his choice of equipment and ingredients. He even added entertainment to his cooking by pretending to swim in the air without water, making the crew and viewers laugh. What stood out the most was the genuine joy on his face as he enjoyed his meal, a sight that made others smile too.
Reflecting on his past, Park said that during his swimming career, he often felt restricted by time. Every day felt the same throughout the year. Now that he can enjoy delicious food without a schedule, he feels the happiest.
Park Tae Hwan, a legend in Korean swimming, has always lived with intense discipline and passion behind his shining medals. This episode revealed another side of him—honest, joyful, and deeply relatable.
Only on 'Stars' Top Recipe at Fun-Staurant' could fans witness this cheerful and food-loving version of Park Tae Hwan. It was a chance for viewers to rediscover their admiration for the forever “Marine Boy.”
'Stars' Top Recipe at Fun-Staurant' airs every Friday at 8:30 PM KST on KBS 2TV.
SEE ALSO: Choo Sung Hoon mourns the loss of a beloved friend “My dear brother has gone to heaven”
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