SANG Hyuk Kwon, a South Korean professional eater and first-time visitor to Saipan, bested his competitors at the Oh My Grill International Food Challenge in Garapan during the Taste of the Marianas on Saturday, May 11.
Kwon faced fellow competitive eating pro Sachiyo Masubuchi of Japan, who, through a translator, said she prepared for the event by training on meals of meat and ramen.
No stranger to the Marianas, she said among her favorite local foods is kadun pika.
Competing alongside the Asian pros were the local residents who won the Subway Sandwich Challenge on May 4: Jeremy Rother, Bob Liu and Michael Ma.
In the Oh My Grill International Food Challenge, the contestants were tasked with eating a Marianas-style BBQ platter, which contained two pounds of boneless chicken, two 8-ounce steaks, six pieces of pork spareribs, eight strips of pork belly, four hot sausage links, two pounds of red rice, two pounds of macaroni salad, and two pounds of papaya ko’ko’.
The winner had to complete the entire challenge in under an hour. No contestant was able to do so, but Kwon ate more food from his plate than the other competitors.
Masubuchi finished second while Rother came in third.
On stage after the event, Kwon said through an interpreter that the event was the “third most difficult challenge” for him.
He expressed disappointment in not being able to finish the entire meal, and said he felt like if he had 15 more minutes he could have continued eating.
Earlier in the day, Kwon spoke to the media and said that in preparation for the food challenge, he performed “image training” — meaning, he imagined the food he was going to eat and planned which dish to eat in sequence.
He expressed his gratitude for being invited to Saipan to compete in the challenge, and said the island is “now his second favorite country in the world” after his native South Korea.
The Oh My Grill International Food Challenge contestants in action on the mainstage during the Taste of the Marianas at American Memorial Park on Saturday, May 11, 2024.
Host Glenn Policare had a front row view of the food challenge.
Korean pro competitive eater Sang Hyuk Kwon stands as he competes in the food challenge.
Korean pro competitive eater Sang Hyuk Kwon raises his hands after he was declared the top eater in the food challenge.
Sang Hyuk Kwon of South Korea said he had never been to Saipan prior to his invitation to the Oh My Grill International Food Challenge.
Japan’s Sachiyo Musubuchi has competed and won different food eating contestants on Saipan and Tinian in the past.
In the Oh My Grill International Food Challenge, the contestants had to eat a Marianas-style BBQ platter which contained two pounds of boneless chicken, two 8oz steaks, six pieces of pork spareribs, eight strips of pork belly, four hot links sausages, two pounds of red rice, two pounds of macaroni salad and two pounds of papaya ko’ko’.
