'Salim Man' recorded the highest ratings among all variety shows on Saturdays for six consecutive weeks.
On the broadcast of KBS 2TV's 'Salim Man Season 2' (hereafter 'Salim Man') aired on the 22nd, the everyday life of Park Seo-jin and the second episode of the first main character of 'Memory Salim Man', 1TYM's Song Baek-kyung, were revealed. The rating recorded 6.2% based on the nationwide data from Nielsen Korea, and the scene of Song Min-jun and Choi Soo-ho touring Park Seo-jin's house attained the highest rating of 7.9%.
On this day, special guest Haewon from NMIXX appeared. Haewon noted that Park Seo-jin is from Incheon and commented on Park Seo-jin's opening stage by saying, 'I felt like I was watching my neighbor's older brother.' She also unveiled the stage for her new song 'KNOW ABOUT ME,' igniting the atmosphere from the start.
In the following VCR, Park Seo-jin prepared to fulfill his busking promise for achieving a 7% rating for 'Salim Man.' To invite the guest singer Lee Chan-won, who won the grand award at the 2024 KBS Entertainment Awards, Park Seo-jin made a phone call, during which Lee Chan-won certified himself as a loyal viewer of 'Salim Man' and promised, 'If the rating exceeds 8%, I will appear,' building anticipation. Additionally, Lee Chan-won revealed a warm story about Park Seo-jin, stating, 'My grandmother really likes him. She even prepared red ginseng for him, and I was really grateful,' showcasing their close relationship as brothers.
Following that, Park Seo-jin invited 'Trot Prince' Song Min-jun and 'Trot Milk Male' Choi Soo-ho to his home for busking. His younger sister Hyo-jeong went into Park Seo-jin's room, saying, 'I think it would be uncomfortable if I'm here,' and Song Min-jun and Choi Soo-ho, who were looking forward to meeting Hyo-jeong, were surprised to find her hiding in a tanning bed while exploring Park Seo-jin's house.
Later, Park Seo-jin set out to cook for his two guests. Song Min-jun and Choi Soo-ho expressed strong ambitions for the fixed role on 'Salim Man,' stating, 'He can’t do household chores at all,' to Park Seo-jin's unexpected household skills, while Park Seo-jin felt a sense of crisis and tried to control the two, eliciting laughter. Ultimately, Park Seo-jin engaged in an arm-wrestling match with Choi Soo-ho, betting on the pride of being a fixed cast member of 'Salim Man,' but he lost miserably. The three 'in-demand trot stars' who showed great chemistry right from the start hinted at an enthusiastic busking stage next week, raising expectations.
Song Baek-kyung, who previously transformed into a voice actor and restaurant owner and stirred up significant attention, opened up about his past in a fierce pursuit of becoming a singer. Since his debut in 1998 with 1TYM, Song Baek-kyung garnered much love from the public for his overflowing talent and exceptional skills, stating, 'I really wanted to be a singer, but there was no one who recognized me. I even ran away from home.' He shared his struggle of putting academics aside to deliver newspapers and work at gas stations while practicing composition in his spare time.
During this time, he coincidentally met Yang Hyun-seok, known as 'the father of first-generation hip hop idols', but it wasn't easy to become a singer from the start. Song Baek-kyung remarked, 'I think I was not favored. (Yang Hyun-seok) kept dropping me from auditions. But I didn’t want to miss my chance with him. I cleaned the practice room and made tracks in the hip hop genre that Yang Hyun-seok liked to keep challenging myself. That’s how I seized the opportunity and debuted,' reflecting on his past as a 'genius at effort.'
Now, Song Baek-kyung is running a restaurant with his mother, showing their chemistry while bustling and bickering over her thriftiness. His mother, who lost her husband at age 36, has been working in the restaurant business for over 30 years to raise her two children, recalling tough times that instilled the spirit of frugality in her, touching the hearts of viewers.
As a father, head of the household, voice actor, and restaurant owner, Song Baek-kyung mentioned that he regrets the tattoo he got in the past. Working in long-sleeved clothes while enduring the heat in front of a gas stove, he confessed, 'There’s a past I want to hide on my left arm. After becoming a father, I don't want to reveal it anymore. When I didn’t have a family, I thought I would live as a singer for life.' MC Eun Ji-won, who was watching, agreed, saying, 'I also have tattoos on my body that I regret.'
Additionally, Song Baek-kyung revealed a beloved item he has used for about 20 years since his 1TYM days for the first time. He showcased his feet wearing toe socks, saying, 'I am an apostle of toe socks. Once you wear them, you can't wear regular socks anymore,' demonstrating his special affection.
As the day drew to a close, while organizing the restaurant, Song Baek-kyung's mother sent her son home first. She smiled and said, 'As a mother, I want to send my son home early so he can rest a bit. It’s tough closing alone, but when I work with my son, I forget about it.' Then, she left a video message for her son, saying, 'I don’t know how long I can help you, but let’s work hard together. I love you.' Song Baek-kyung also vowed, 'I will live my remaining life hard for our family.'
[Photo] 'Salim Man 2' broadcast capture.
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