Kim Byung-hyun, a former baseball player and broadcaster who played in Major League Baseball, won six gold medals at an international culinary competition.
Kim Byung-hyun recently announced through his social media that he participated in the International Meat Exhibition (IFFA) held in Frankfurt, Germany, from the 3rd to the 8th (local time) and won six gold medals and one silver medal.
Held every three years since 1949, the IFFA is the world's premier meat exhibition. Various exhibits related to slaughtering equipment and meat processing are showcased, and competitions using meat are also conducted. Additionally, 70 German meat processing masters judge the products. Only those that incorporate traditional German techniques can receive high scores.
Kim Byung-hyun said, "I feel like I tasted the thrill I experienced when I won my first championship in Major League Baseball again after 24 years," adding, "Winning six gold medals in Germany, the land of ham and sausages, gives it even greater significance."
To launch his products, Kim Byung-hyun completed a six-month course at the domestic meat processing technical school "Fleischermeisterschule" to acquire skills. He presented a total of seven products at the exhibition, including budae jjigae and hamburger steak, and all products won medals, yielding a total of seven.
Local officials in Germany were also surprised by Kim Byung-hyun's achievements and appointed him as an ambassador for the German Federal Association of Meat. Kim Byung-hyun stated, "As an ambassador, I will promote the excellence of ham and sausages. I will focus on making processed meat products that many can enjoy healthily."