Singer Kim Jae-joong welcomed mukbang YouTuber Hibab to his home on KBS2's variety show Shinsang Chulsi Pyeonstorang (often styled in English as New Product Launch — Convenient Restaurant).
On the April 10 episode, Kim invited a woman friend to his house for the first time on the program.
That evening he greeted his guest and cooked what he called a \"Heartbeat Hambak Steak.\" With a soft smile he told her, \"You push yourself a lot on broadcasts and videos. Wait a bit—I’ll make sure you enjoy this,\" a warm line that heightened expectations.
The guest was mukbang YouTuber Hibab. Kim said they grew close while working together and joked, \"She eats so well I just had to ask her to come eat with me.\"
When he brought her to his parents' home, they welcomed her warmly. Earlier, Kim’s parents had playfully listed their ideal daughter-in-law traits as eating heartily, getting along with eight sisters-in-law, and being good at saving money.
When Kim revealed Hibab is 10 years his junior, his mother laughed, teasing, \"That would be a loss for the woman.\" Feeling the slightly awkward moment, Kim admitted, \"I'm nervous,\" while Hibab smiled and said she already felt like family.
Kim’s parents even mistook Hibab for a member of Girls’ Generation, prompting laughter. Kim’s father secretly filmed their meal together, a prank that had everyone in stitches.
Kim referred to Hibab by her given name, Hee-jae, which drew attention. His father praised her appetite, saying, \"She really eats heartily. That’s good—she’s lovely because she enjoys her food,\" then launched into a mock vetting. He added, \"One thing worries me: Jae-joong has eight older sisters. How would you feel about having so many sisters-in-law?\"
Hibab said it wouldn't bother her and that she believed she could get along with everyone. Kim quipped that he actually opposed a wife being too close with his eight sisters, joking, \"They’d know our couple’s secrets and even how much is in our bank account,\" which drew laughs.
When Hibab named beef small intestines as her favorite dish, Kim’s mother laughed, \"She’ll have to earn a lot of money.\" Kim observed, \"Sometimes she even makes more than I do,\" and Hibab revealed there was a period when she earned 100 million KRW (approximately $75,000) a month from YouTube views alone, prompting astonished reactions.
Kim’s parents were impressed by a capable prospective daughter-in-law, but their surprise returned when Hibab said she once ate 22 servings of beef small intestines in one sitting and that her monthly food expenses can reach 10 million KRW (approximately $7,500). Kim’s mother joked, \"We just met her today. She’s not an automatic yes,\" teasing a playful, mild objection that left everyone laughing.
By Eun-jung Kim, TenAsia reporter
