Olympic Swimmer Park Tae-hwan Stuns with His Impressive Physique and Eating Skills on 'New Release Pyeonstorang'

Former Olympic swimmer Park Tae-hwan showcased his remarkable physique and impressive eating abilities.

On the October 6th episode of KBS 2TV's 'New Release Pyeonstorang', Park Tae-hwan made his debut as a 'Pyeon Chef'. His extraordinary eating skills, coupled with his perfect physique, left viewers in awe. The episode achieved a nationwide rating of 4.3% according to Nielsen Korea, marking an increase from the previous week and securing the top spot in its time slot.

As Park Tae-hwan entered the 'Pyeonstorang' studio, he was met with enthusiastic applause. Fellow cast member Hanhae cautiously asked if he could touch Park's broad shoulders, while Lee Si-an revealed he was a swimmer in elementary school and considered himself a 'Park Tae-hwan kid'. Park expressed his determination to win as a 'Pyeon Chef', although he modestly denied being a 'pro eater', stating he simply enjoys eating.

To support Park's challenge as a 'Pyeon Chef', Choo Sung-hoon, Kim Jae-joong, and Kim Dong-hyun vouched for his incredible appetite. Choo Sung-hoon remarked, "He eats much more than I do," playfully dubbing him "Bread Tae-hwan".

In the morning, Park Tae-hwan, wearing his signature headphones from his competitive swimming days, stepped into the living room. His broad shoulders caught everyone's attention as he stepped onto the scale, a habit from his athlete days. Despite being retired for five years, Park's body fat percentage was an impressive 8.2%, showcasing his continued dedication to self-care.

Park Tae-hwan's eating showcase began with bread. He devoured plain slices before spreading various jams on them. Known for his love of bread, Park even has a list of favorite bakeries. His refrigerator was stocked with an assortment of jams and butter, which he creatively combined on his bread, once again highlighting his impressive physique.

After consuming nine slices of bread in just 30 minutes, Park headed to the kitchen for more. His breakfast was far from over. Using the remaining bread, he crafted a sausage bomb hot dog with three sausages, a calorie-laden Philly cheese sandwich, and an upside-down pizza that was mouthwatering just to look at. In total, Park consumed an entire loaf of bread, amounting to 17 slices for breakfast.

Park's passion for food was evident as he expertly paired ingredients and even had stainless steel pans on hand, demonstrating his genuine love for eating. His happiness was palpable when enjoying bread. Park reflected, "During my competitive days, I had a time-related occupational hazard. Every day of the year felt the same. Now, I don't have to worry about that. I feel happiest when I can eat delicious food without time constraints."

KBS 2TV's 'New Release Pyeonstorang' airs every Friday at 8:30 PM.

Kim Ji-won, TenAsia Reporter one@tenasia.co.kr