Diver Park Tae-hwan Opens Up His Childhood Home, a 'Park Tae-hwan Museum'

Swimmer Park Tae-hwan is set to reveal his family's home, which he purchased for his parents when he was in his final year of high school, on the upcoming episode of 'New Release: Restaurant That Serves You' (hereafter 'Restaurant That Serves You').

The episode, airing on September 19th, will be the first part of the 'Mom's Hand' special, celebrating the Korean harvest festival Chuseok. The show will feature singer Kim Jae-joong, Park Tae-hwan, and a mystery chef cooking alongside their mothers.

In a pre-recorded segment, Park Tae-hwan appears in an unfamiliar kitchen, which is revealed to be his parents' home. He shared, 'We moved here and lived with my parents when I was in the 12th grade in 2007,' adding, 'I feel proud that I was able to buy this house for my parents.'

At the young age of 19, Park Tae-hwan became a world champion swimmer. He was flooded with advertising offers during his peak popularity. Looking back, he humorously remarked, 'I don't remember exactly how many commercials I filmed,' and 'I regret turning down some of them,' much to the amusement of the studio audience.

The revealed home is aptly nicknamed the 'Park Tae-hwan Museum' due to its extensive collection of memorabilia. From the entrance to various spots inside, photos of Park Tae-hwan are displayed, alongside medals chronicling his 30-year swimming career, newspaper clippings meticulously saved by his parents, and even old videotapes.

The episode promises a delightful mix of Park Tae-hwan and his mother's cooking interactions and a nostalgic look back at the swimmer's teenage years as a national sports icon and advertising star. 'Restaurant That Serves You' airs every Friday at 8:30 PM on KBS 2TV.

Park Tae-hwan, dubbed the 'Marine Boy', won a gold medal in the freestyle at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, becoming a beloved national hero. After retiring from professional swimming, he has expanded his career into broadcasting and entrepreneurship. He is also actively involved in nurturing young talent through his own swimming academy.