If you had to pick the hottest baby in Korea right now, wouldn't it be Haru, the son of Shim Hyung-tak and Saya. Shim Hyung-tak appeared on KBS2 variety show The Return of SUPERMAN (hereinafter The Return of SUPERMAN) with his 164-day-old son Haru, achieving astonishing ratings from the first broadcast and instantly being crowned the nation's "healing baby."
The Return of SUPERMAN has attracted viewers' attention steadily for 13 years since it first aired in 2013. On Jul. 14, it received the presidential citation in commemoration of "Population Day," showing the dignity of a "national parenting variety show." Shim Hyung-tak and his son Haru recently simultaneously entered the top 10 in the TV-OTT non-drama cast popularity category, proving high interest. (Based on Good Data Corporation)
At the center of that popularity is the "baby angel" Haru. Shim Hyung-tak married his Japanese wife Saya in 2023, and Haru was born in Jan. this year. With disheveled hair that looks like it popped out of a comic, doll-like visuals, and a constantly bright smile, "ratings fairy" Haru has been loved, recording up to millions of views on YouTube.
Since joining The Return of SUPERMAN, Shim Hyung-tak recently conducted his first interview with OSEN and, holding Haru at home where the actual show is recorded, shared various stories.
When asked, "Do you feel Haru's popularity these days?" he said, "Actually, I'm at home with Haru almost all the time, so I don't go out much. Still, when we do go out briefly, people recognize Haru so much," and added, "My wife and I couldn't take a honeymoon, so we went to Hawaii as a prenatal trip. This time we went to Hawaii again as a honeymoon and prenatal trip, and I took Haru to the same places. Even in Hawaii people recognized Haru. What was more surprising was that there are many Japanese people in Hawaii, and they all recognized Haru and asked, 'Can we take just one photo?' We were thankful that so many people liked our family."
He went on, "These days I'm being called 'Haru's dad' rather than Shim Hyung-tak. When Saya and I used to go out together people would say 'That's Shim Hyung-tak' or 'That's Saya,' but now even if they know who the dad or mom is, they look for and recognize Haru first. They don't talk to me first; everyone just stares at Haru," mentioning his son's tremendous popularity.
Earlier on The Return of SUPERMAN, Shim Hyung-tak said, "We plan to have up to three children. Saya wanted four, but I reduced it by one," surprising viewers.
About that he said, "It's possible. That's why I'm anxious. Because of my age. You have to have them while you have strength. (Laughs) You need to be together when the children are young. To be with them during their growing years, we have to quickly have up to three, so I think we should have them within about four years," and added, "I'm trying to plan how to raise a second child while raising Haru."
Shim Hyung-tak also said, "Saya has an older sister who was born in '93. She is currently raising three children, and her eldest has entered elementary school. My sister-in-law works late and handles childcare alone; she's a real supermom. Seeing that, Saya seems to have thought she could do it too," and expressed hope, "In Japan families tend to have many children. They don't have just one; they have two to three. I want to have many children to make a lively household, and I especially hope for a daughter."
Saya, who was beside him, laughed and said, "Seeing my older sister raising three, instead of being scared I thought, 'I think I can do it too.' We're the same siblings, so I felt I could do it." Shim Hyung-tak said, "Watching her sister's parenting, Saya didn't think it would be hard but rather, 'Ah, I can do it,'" revealing they are made for each other. (Continued in interview ②)<
[Photo] Provided by The Return of SUPERMAN, SNS
[OSEN]