Tina Choi

Choi Eun-seo, professionally known as Tina Choi and online as Doobydobap, is a South Korean video creator and culinary figure. Born on December 13, 1997, she gained widespread recognition for producing digital content focused on introducing and sharing traditional and modern Korean food recipes with a global audience.

Choi was born in South Jeolla Province, South Korea. During her childhood, she spent several years living in Calgary, Alberta, spanning from the second to fifth grades. She subsequently attended an international school located on Jeju Island before moving to the United States at age fourteen to attend a boarding school in Connecticut. Her interest in culinary arts developed during her time at boarding school, where a lack of nearby Korean dining options led her to teach herself how to prepare Korean dishes. She went on to attend Cornell University, graduating in May 2020 with a degree in food science, having shifted her career aspirations away from pharmacy toward recipe development.

Following her university graduation during the COVID-19 pandemic, Choi relocated to London. Faced with difficulty securing employment, she began launching her digital media presence as a means to build a professional portfolio for potential employers. She launched her YouTube channel in 2020 and published her inaugural video, featuring a chicken wing bento box, in February 2021. The handle Doobydobap was derived from a childhood nickname combined with the Korean word for cooked rice. After living in London, Choi returned to South Korea around July or August 2021.

In addition to her online presence, Choi expanded into the restaurant industry. In May 2023, she launched Mija Seoul, an establishment centered on farm-to-table Korean cuisine situated in Seoul. She founded the restaurant alongside her partner, Danish chef Kevin Kroløkke, who had previously spent ten years working at the Michelin-starred restaurant Relæ. The establishment ultimately ceased operations in February 2024.