'Salim Men' has captured the heartwarming story of Park Seo-jin's family and the twist-filled daily life of 'NEW Salim Man' Jinu, ranking first in overall entertainment ratings for five consecutive weeks on Saturdays.
The episode aired on the 28th on KBS 2TV 'Salim Men Season 2' (hereafter 'Salim Men'), featuring Park Seo-jin planning a birthday celebration for his father's 70th birthday and the episode of Jinu, who made his first appearance as 'NEW Salim Man'. The ratings recorded 6.4% based on Nielsen Korea's nationwide aggregate, peaking at 7.4% during the scene where Park Seo-jin and his two brothers listen to their father's knee examination results.
That day, special guest Baek Ji-hyun of the girl group fromis_9 appeared, and a video featuring the story of Park Seo-jin's family was released. Park Seo-jin prepared a surprise 70th birthday party for his father, who turned 70 this year, discussing plans with his older brother Hyo-young and younger sister Hyo-jung.
The three siblings, worried about their father, who showed signs of depression due to his declining health, recalled when their father was happiest and remembered what he used to say. Earlier, Park Seo-jin's father had noted, "I was happiest when I lived in Shindo. All my sons were alive, and I lived abundantly without worries," leading the three siblings to decide to host a luxurious 70th birthday celebration for him in Shindo.
Determined to ensure their father's successful 70th birthday celebration, the three siblings joined hands and shouted encouragement as they headed to their parents' house. While their parents were worried about Park Seo-jin, who had injured his ankle, he instead expressed concern for his father's health, who had been complaining of severe knee pain, and went to the hospital with his brother.
On the way, Park Seo-jin urged his brother to hold their father's hand and support him, and his brother bravely approached. The father expressed his satisfaction, saying, "It feels good to have my sons beside me. It feels as if the pain is escaping," and added, "I held Hyo-young's hand for the first time in my life. It was reassuring. It made me feel content to have both my sons by my side. I wonder when I will have such days again."
Especially, Park Seo-jin's father said, "It felt really heartwarming to walk hand in hand. I felt pleased, as if my pain was escaping. I held Hyo-young's hand for the first time in my life. It was reassuring. No matter what others say, having both my sons beside me made me feel pleased and happy. I wonder when I will have such days again."
Upon arriving at the hospital, the father elaborated on his symptoms, which he had not confessed before his children. The diagnosis revealed that his knee condition was serious enough that he might need to consider knee replacement surgery in the worst-case scenario. Shocked, Park Seo-jin could not speak, and his father shared, "My head felt foggy. Once I turned seventy, I learned to let go of many things. The feelings are indescribable. I ended up in tears."
Park Seo-jin worked to uplift his father's spirits, and the father, expressing a wish, took his two sons to a photo studio. Though the three felt awkward during the first father-son photo shoot, at Park Seo-jin's insistence, his brother mustered the courage to kiss their father's cheek. The father expressed his joy, saying, "It felt wonderful to take a photo together for the first time. I realized that I could have such a day. How great is it to be able to take a picture with both my sons?"
While the cheerful atmosphere continued, the father suddenly announced he wanted to take a portrait. He explained, "My father passed away at 53, and my mother at 64. Neither left a portrait during their lifetimes, so my mother had to enlarge an existing photo, and my father painted a portrait instead. Therefore, today, feeling happy, I wanted to take a portrait while I am still young."
At the unexpected words of his father, Park Seo-jin ultimately shed tears. He revealed, "The meaning is good, but a longevity portrait is ultimately a memorial portrait, and it felt like Dad was preparing for the end. I also thought, is he trying to take a photo before he becomes more ill?" and added, "Seeing Dad calmly preparing made me very sad." The upcoming filming for the longevity portrait and the 70th birthday celebration was announced, stirring deep emotions and raising expectations for the next episode.
Following this, the daily life of new 'Salim Man' Jinu was revealed. Prior to Jinu's appearance, his stunning wife, reminiscent of Han Go-eun, caught attention. Particularly, his wife is an IT industry CEO and lawyer, boasting one of the highest qualifications among all past participants of 'Salim Men', eliciting admiration. Despite coming from a difficult family background, she achieved her dream of becoming a lawyer and shared, "I split my time into 30-minute intervals" as she disclosed her daily routine, drawing attention with her ability to juggle being a wife, mother, lawyer, and entrepreneur.
Then, Jinu, the 'original hip-hop warrior' who reigned in the 1990s and the new main character of 'Salim Men', made his appearance. Unlike his member Sean, who rarely showed up on broadcasts, Jinu captured fans' curiosity by revealing, "Right now, I'm fully focused on raising my 4-year-old son and staying busy."
In reality, the couple's day showcased an entirely different flow. While his wife worked passionately amid a busy schedule, Jinu appeared relaxed, spending his leisure time. His wife worried about their broadcast share and provided various advice, but Jinu maintained his signature calm demeanor.
Jinu's wife shared, "My husband has been nicknamed the 'hip-hop sloth.' Last year, during the 'Gayo Daechukje,' he initially declined to perform with Jang Won-young, saying it was too cumbersome. So, I told him, 'It's with Jang Won-young, so how can you say no? You should be thankful and accept it.'" She went on to explain the behind-the-scenes story of the stage, stating, "You should work hard when you can. Later on, you might want to do it but be unable to, and you might regret it," confessing that she actively encouraged Jinu to appear on 'Salim Men'.
Meanwhile, Jinu transformed into the dedicated 'Salim Man' when he was with his son, showcasing a different charm. Having had a late child at 51, he shared, "I thought I would never have kids, but my child has been the ultimate twist and the greatest gift of my life," publicly introducing his 4-year-old son, Sio, for the first time on broadcast. Jinu expressed, "It feels as if my heart has been walking around. Before I had my son, I was my priority, but now Sio comes first. He is the greatest gift in the world."
Jinu showcased his multifaceted charm by taking on not only parenting and household tasks but also nurturing plants. He showed great dedication by personally tending to plants and catching flies for his son, who showed interest in Venus flytraps. Jinu remarked, "Until my child turns 13, Mom and Dad will be the best. After that, friends, girlfriends, and wives will come first. Therefore, I want to be closely attached to my child for those more than ten years. Since I had him later, he is precious, and I want to be together all the time."
Afterward, Jinu spent time alone with his wife. His wife, concerned about her husband's health due to a family history of diabetes, suggested exercising together with Sean. Additionally, she inquired about Sean's recent situation and expressed her hopes for Jinu to resume external activities, saying, "Let's set Sio aside for a while and let's put down the housework now."
However, Jinu reacted somewhat uncomfortably to his wife's affectionate nagging. He said, "I have a deep desire to always be with my precious child as I had him later. If I get busy, I will have to leave my son with somebody else, and I don't like that," hesitating. At this, MC Eun Ji-won expressed, "I completely understand Jinu's feelings," while Baek Ji-young added, "From the wife's perspective, she might regret letting her husband's talents go to waste." Yet Jinu later listened positively to his wife's sincere feelings, raising hopes for future activities.
This episode of 'Salim Men' conveyed a heartwarming love from Park Seo-jin's family towards their father, while the new Salim Man Jinu's twist-filled daily life added entertainment.
[Photo] KBS 2TV 'Salim Men' broadcast capture
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