BTS' Jin learning about makgeolli in his collaboration with Baek Jong Won (Photo: @jin/Instagram)
Cover BTS' Jin learns about makgeolli in his collaboration with chef Baek Jong Won (Photo: @jin/Instagram)

These international pop stars are talented both on the stage and in the kitchen

It's no secret that K-pop stars are a multi-talented bunch. Some are successful business owners on the side, while others are simply incredibly intelligent. With the plethora of variety shows that come out of South Korea like BTS' In the Soop and Seventeen's One Fine Day, we've gotten a good peek at the K-pop idols' off-stage skills, especially their cooking skills. 

These K-pop idols have proven themselves in the kitchen, making dishes ranging from the classic Korean bulgogi to Italian gnocchi. Read on to find out who can cook as well as they can sing and dance.

Read more: 7 recipes by popular K-pop idols to try now

BTS' Jin

While Jin is known for his striking visuals and impressive vocals, he is also known as the resident chef of BTS. In BTS' two variety shows, In the Soop and Run BTS, Jin's cooking skills have taken the spotlight numerous times in different challenges and vacation vlogs. He also owns a restaurant, Ossu Seiromushi, with his brother.

More recently, Jin, who is now serving his mandatory military service, has partnered up with famous South Korean chef Baek Jong Won on a YouTube miniseries that follows his journey to learn more about traditional Korean alcohol. He has also collaborated with another top Korean chef Lee Yeon Bok on a cooking class vlog. You can also find more of Jin's cooking journey on his Instagram. 

BTS' Suga

While Jin might sometimes steal the spotlight as the chef of the group, Suga comes in as an underdog with cooking skills that are just as masterful. The rapper had taken the lead in multiple cooking challenges on Run BTS and looked right at home in the kitchen. On In the Soop, Suga was tasked with preparing the group's meals alongside Jin, making dishes like doenjangguk (soybean paste soup) and gamasot bokkeumbap (cauldron fried rice).

See also: 6 K-pop stars who became luxury brand ambassadors in 2023

Red Velvet's Wendy

This charming member of Red Velvet is a fan of cooking and baking. She loves sharing her skills with others, including Red Velvet's fans known collectively as ReVeluv. She has been known to bake goodies for cast members of variety shows she appears in; she also cooks meals for her seniors in SM Entertainment. Wendy has shared many of her recipes including her tiramisu. In the above YouTube video, she is seen preparing an extravagant birthday meal as a tribute to her parents.

EXO's D.O.

This list wouldn't be complete without EXO's D.O., who has revealed that if he weren't an idol, he would pursue a career as a chef. As the go-to chef of the group, D.O. has been seen feeding his group members and showing off his cooking chops on variety shows such as EXO's own show, Travel the World on a Ladder.

Don't miss: 5 expensive neighbourhoods loved by Korean celebrities like IU, BTS and G-Dragon

NCT's Taeyong

Often seen in NCT's numerous cooking and variety shows, Taeyong is the member that is tasked with feeding the group. The leader of the 23-member strong NCT was also a host on popular Korean reality show Food Diary. He sometimes shows off his cooking skill on his YouTube channel.

Shinee's Key

Key loves cooking so much that he started and hosted his own cooking showCheongdam Keytchen, where he invited fellow Shinee member Minho and BoA to appear. In an episode of Home Alone, which follows celebrities who live on their own, Shinee cooked a fancy gnocchi meal for visual artist Kian84. He has also expressed his intention to obtain a certification in Western cooking.  

Read more: 9 celebrity food and cooking shows you need to watch

Seventeen's Mingyu

Seventeen's Mingyu excels at both rapping and cooking. He has displayed his knack for cooking on the group's castaway-themed One Fine Day show and even on Baek Jong Won's Three Great Emperors. On One Fine Day, he showed off his immense cooking skill by making a variety of Korean dishes from jjajangbap (black bean sauce rice) to Korean fried chicken. He is quite the domestic god as he has revealed that the group relies on him for all the cooking—and house chores. 

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