DNA test finds the brother adopted Korean competitive eater never knew. Birth parents next
- Adoptee Mary Bowers found her adoptee brother via DNA tests. Now they are trying to uncover the truth about their murky adoptions in Korea
By Lee Hyo-jin
Mary Bowers, a Korean adoptee to the United States, recently competed in the Nathan’s Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest in New York, representing Korea.
This was her ninth time taking part in the competition, held annually on July 4, and the second time representing Korea, following the restoration of her Korean citizenship in 2023.
Bowers, whose Korean name is Jung Nayoung, describes herself as a “messy eater” since childhood with an insatiable appetite – one that has led her to pursue a career as a competitive eater over the past decade.
Her impressive feats include eating 80 chicken wings in 10 minutes, 65 gyoza dumplings in 10 minutes, and 14 doughnuts in eight minutes.
She placed in the top 10 in the latest women’s hot dog eating competition by consuming seven and a quarter hot dogs in 10 minutes.