Voracious Hani new idol queen of food

Hani, second from left, with other hosts of "Baek Jong-won’s 3 Top Chefs" on SBS / Courtesy of SBS

“It would have been a real tragedy for singer Hani if she had not joined 'Baek Jong-won’s 3 Top Chefs a month ago’” online daily OSEN said on Sunday, pointing out the singer from K-pop girl band EXID’s outstanding skill as host of SBS’s TV cooking variety show.

Most of the news about Hani these days is from the show, which features her funny comments and facial expressions as she tastes food in front of an audience.

But her comedy does not damage the star’s image ― in fact, the opposite. The more the pretty foodie passionately gobbled the food, the more the public loved her.

She joined three hosts, including chef-entertainer Baek Jong-won, in late January. Hani, 23, said that as the only woman, she would “represent women’s tastes.”

She seems to bring to her role with more zeal and joy than when she performs with the band. When she made a rare scene of sucking hidden meat out of pig bones from haejangguk (a hot soup with pork bones and vegetables, also known as “hangover soup”) using a straw, it made headlines for weeks.

Often compared to co-host overweight comedian Kim Jun-hyun, Hani has been relentless in front of pork barbecues, dumplings and sundaes (cow or pig intestines stuffed with vegetables, noodles and other ingredients).

“We were looking for an A-list star who cared more about food than looking beautiful, and Hani was our final pick,” said a program staff member, according to media reports.

On the weekly show, three top chefs cook each week’s thematic menu in front of the hosts and audience.