'SalimNam' revealed Park Young-kyu's wife for the first time and took first place in overall Saturday variety show viewership for three consecutive weeks.
On the broadcast aired on the 14th, KBS 2TV's 'SalimHaneun Namjadeul Season 2' (hereafter 'SalimNam') depicted the stories of Park Young-kyu, who shared a newlywed-like married life, and Lee Min-woo, who opened up about his feelings. The viewership rating recorded 6.2% according to the nationwide tally by Nielsen Korea, and the scene of the Park Young-kyu couple experiencing conflict due to entrance delays after a shopping trip showed a peak rating of 7.8%. In particular, the rise in the 2049 viewership rating proved its buzzworthiness.
That day, as special guest Tsuki from Billlie appeared, MC Eun Ji-won celebrated his birthday. Park Seo-jin showcased a performance of 'Baegse Insaeng' while wishing for Eun Ji-won's health.
Later, Park Young-kyu publicly revealed his wife, 25 years his junior and his fourth marriage, for the first time on the broadcast. Reflecting on a recent hospital visit due to illness, Park Young-kyu confessed, "Getting older means feeling pain two or three times more. So, I thought, 'Is it time for me to die?' which led me to think a lot about my wife and daughter whom I would leave behind. Therefore, I decided to reveal my wife for the first time as a final work on 'SalimNam.'"
Park Young-kyu's wife, who was filming for the first time, became so nervous that she kept him waiting while she took a long time to get ready. Park Young-kyu laughed at his wife's cute preparations, saying, "She's not an easy woman." Even when making her first appearance, Park Young-kyu's wife turned back, saying, "I think I got it wrong. I'll come out again," which made Park Young-kyu shout in laughter, "Are you in a Miss Korea contest?"
After much contemplation, Park Young-kyu's wife made her first appearance, boasting dazzling beauty. However, during her first broadcast, she caused laughter with awkward comments while making eye contact with the camera. MC Eun Ji-won and Baek Ji-young expressed their interest in the unpredictable charm of the broadcasting novice, saying, "It's completely raw" and "We've never seen a new character like this on the show before."
Park Young-kyu's wife confessed that regarding her marriage to him, "Since I'm also a remarried woman and have a child, my parents wanted me to find a kind man of a certain age." She added humorously, "But they didn't hope for a 25-year age difference."
She said, "My husband has had a lot of ups and downs in life. He's married four times, and his son has already passed away. In a way, it's very sad and pitiful," and noted, "When I see other people appearing on 'SalimNam,' it seems like they have the full support of their families." She continued, "(My husband) keeps sharing sad stories, but I told him, 'Having a 25-year-younger wife is something to be proud of. You're a capable man.' That encouraged him, which is why we could be together," and she showed tears.
Subsequently, Park Young-kyu and his wife went shopping at a supermarket. Expressing that it seems like the first time they are going to the supermarket without wearing hats and masks, Park Young-kyu revealed his complicated feelings. After entering the supermarket, he felt burdened by accompanying his wife and consciously walked separately from her, aware of the surrounding gazes.
Ultimately, Park Young-kyu's wife expressed her displeasure, saying, "Is he ignoring me? Does he not recognize me?" Afterward, a quarrel started in the car on the way home, and amidst the cold wind, Park Young-kyu's wife finally stopped the car and asked, "Am I embarrassing you?"
Flustered by his wife's question, Park Young-kyu explained that he was careful because he was worried that she would feel uncomfortable with the public's attention, but his wife's hurt feelings did not dissipate. Upon returning home, Park Young-kyu tried to reconcile with his wife, showing her affection as they cooked together, demonstrating their strong love.
Recent updates on Lee Min-woo, who has been less active lately, were also revealed. Contrary to his usual positive demeanor, he displayed lethargy, mentioning that he has not been receiving much work. "The glamor of being an idol gradually fades. As I get older, continuing to live like an office worker feels like retirement, and in terms of engines, I feel worn out," he confessed.
He stated, "I also feel somewhat outdated. I think to myself, 'I'm not done yet; I can run a bit more,' but honestly, in some aspects, I've experienced a decline in self-esteem. The company hasn't signed a contract with me yet. I've worked hard, but it feels like only my body remains, leading to an emptiness and hollowness. At one point, I attended a psychiatric clinic for about six months and received medication. I have a lot of alone time, so it feels like I'm trapped in solitude," he shared.
Seeing Lee Min-woo's powerless appearance, his parents listened attentively to his feelings. Known for his deep love for his fans, Lee Min-woo remarked, "When I met fans after a long time recently, I felt my heart race and cold sweat running, as if under a spell," revealing that he experienced a panic disorder.
'It was an ironic feeling for me too. I felt extremely suffocated and dizzy. I couldn't sit still," he shared, expressing how confused and upset he felt, just as much as his extraordinary love for his fans.
As Lee Min-woo opened up about the stress he felt in his current situation with no work and the complex feelings he experienced while facing his fans, his parents ended up wiping away tears. Afterward, they warmly encouraged him and boosted his courage, and Lee Min-woo, supported by his family's encouragement, gathered himself and reflected on the preciousness of family.
This episode of 'SalimNam' left a deep impression on viewers with Park Young-kyu and his wife's special love and Lee Min-woo's honest confession.
'SalimNam' airs every Saturday at 9:20 p.m. on KBS 2TV.
[Photo] KBS 2TV 'SalimNam' broadcast capture
[OSEN]