Will Choi Minjeong Receive a 'Chicken Pension' Like Hwang Daeheon... What Is the Payment Method?

Choi Min-jung, a member of the Korean short track speed skating team who won the silver medal in the women's 1000m at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, is smiling brightly while holding up her silver medal at the medal ceremony held on the afternoon of the 12th at the Medal Plaza in Beijing, China.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Hyewon] The so-called ‘chicken pension’ for national athletes who participated in the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics is becoming a hot topic day by day.

The athletes’ ‘love for chicken’ became known after Hwang Daeheon, who won the gold medal in the men’s 1500m short track on the 9th, said in an interview, “I want to go back to the dorm and eat chicken, and finally have ice cream,” adding, “My favorite menu is BBQ Chicken’s ‘Golden Olive Drumstick.’”

Later, on the 11th, Choi Minjeong, who won the silver medal in the women’s 1000m short track final at the Beijing Winter Olympics, also said in a post-match interview, “There are many things I want to eat, but I also like chicken. I like BBQ Golden Olive.”

Hwang Daeheon, a member of the Korean short track speed skating national team, is celebrating while holding the Taegeukgi after crossing the finish line first in the men's 1500m short track final at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, held on the afternoon of the 9th at the Capital Indoor Stadium in Beijing, China. Photo by Yonhap News

Regarding this, Yoon Honggeun, chairman of Genesis BBQ and head of the Korean delegation to the Beijing Winter Olympics, said, “If the remaining games yield good results so that the cheering public can have dreams and hopes, we will consider (providing the chicken pension).”

According to BBQ on the 14th, orders for Golden Olive Chicken increased by about 30% compared to usual from the 9th to the 11th. In particular, the order volume of raw materials for the Golden Olive drumsticks mentioned by Hwang Daeheon surged by about 50% compared to usual at franchise stores, temporarily affecting supply. According to an analysis by Naver ‘Data Lab,’ the search volume related to Golden Olive more than doubled after Hwang Daeheon’s remarks.

BBQ stated, “The method of providing the chicken pension will only be known after internal discussions at headquarters following the end of the Beijing Winter Olympics.” Chairman Yoon will return on the 21st of this month.

Previously, in August last year, when Kim Yeonkyung, who led the Korean women’s volleyball team to the semifinals at the Tokyo Olympics, said at a homecoming press conference, “I want to eat chicken quickly,” she was selected as an advertising model for BBQ. Attention is now focused on whether Hwang Daeheon will be chosen as the new advertising model. Kim Yeonkyung’s model contract will expire next month.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.