'Salimnam' delivered both laughter and lingering emotion with the moving story of Park Seojin's father's dream being revived and the ambition of the "trot trio" fighting over a regular spot. Ji Sang-ryeol revealed his affectionate side after acknowledging a public relationship, saying "my first love is Shin Bo-ram."
The episode of KBS 2TV 'Salimnam' that aired on the 27th featured Ye-won as a special guest, and presented conflict and reconciliation over the father and son's boat work, along with a battle among Shin Seong, Shin Seung-tae and Yoon Jun-hyup for a regular spot on 'Salimnam'. The broadcast recorded a nationwide rating of 4.8 percent according to Nielsen Korea, and the scene of Park Seojin's father, who lost his boat and fell into despair, hit a peak rating of 5.6 percent.
In the episode, Park Seojin's father, who had recently experienced health problems and was recovering through a regular diet and exercise, was shown. But the father, who still continued his boat work, secretly prepared a new fish trap line without his son's knowledge because of his health, and that fact was eventually discovered by Park Seojin. Even so, the family became even more cautious at Park Seojin's unusually restrained reaction, as he did not get angry like he normally would.
Surprised by his son's reaction, the father admitted, "Inside I was angry, but I was also holding it in; I was glad but also very anxious whether it was because he was considering my health," and in the end he took out all the fish trap lines and voluntarily reported himself. However, Park Seojin still did not get angry, and the father, seemingly relieved, headed to the sea with a much lighter heart.
But the father's boat, which should always have been at sea, was nowhere to be seen. The boat that had been docked in the same spot every time disappeared without a trace, leaving the father unable to hide his bewilderment. He searched the Samcheonpo area for a long time looking for the boat, but no matter how much he looked it could not be found, and as time passed his worry and anxiety only grew.
When the father did not return home for a long time, a worried Park Seojin set out to find him. Despite repeated pleas to go home, the father, insisting he had to find the boat, became restless, and Seojin, unable to bear it, said, "You won't find the boat. I sold the boat," which shocked the father. Park Seojin was even shown meeting a broker, surprising the studio panel as well.
The conflict between father and son over the boat reached a peak. The usually kind father consistently answered "no" to Park Seojin's proposal and even firmly refused to walk alongside him. Park Seojin said he was surprised by his father's intense reaction, saying, "I thought he would accept it reluctantly, but I didn't expect him to get that angry."
Even the daughter Hyo-jeong, who had always been affectionate, was deeply shocked by the father's yelling. Hyo-jeong said, "In 27 years of living I haven't heard my father raise his voice much; seeing him shout for the first time since puberty was so shocking," she confessed. The father refused to eat and, overwhelmed by the loss of the boat, chain-smoked in bitter sadness.
Watching this, Park Seojin recognized the seriousness of the situation and took special measures. Park Seojin said, "I was worried that actions taken for my father's health might actually be harming his health," and he headed to the fishing spot to ease his father's mind. But despite Seojin's efforts, the father's heart was not easily softened.
Later, Park Seojin heard the story of his father who had spent his life with the boat. The father recalled the days when he borrowed others' boats to make a living while paying for treatment for his two sick sons and his wife, and confessed, "The boat was my dream, and I felt very sorrowful when I didn't have one." The father's boat was the first boat Park Seojin had bought for him and was entirely his father's first boat. Park Seojin said, "When I was a child, riding the boat with my father wasn't purely happy. It was hard and exhausting," and added, "I think I treated the boat work lightly, as 'just a job.'" He continued, "Hearing the words 'the boat was my father's dream,' I felt I had sold my father's dream and felt sorry. I didn't know he was so attached," and expressed his honest feelings.
Moved by his father's loss, Park Seojin, unable to stand seeing him devastated, drove the boat he had sold back to his father in person. He said, "I couldn't sell a dream, so I brought it back," and added, "I did consider selling it, but I couldn't actually do it and hid it. After hearing what the boat meant to my father, I decided to return it." When the father who had the boat returned could not hide his joy, Park Seojin said, "Seeing how happy my father was made me secretly glad."
Meanwhile, Ji Sang-ryeol invited the trending trot singers Shin Seong, Shin Seung-tae and Yoon Jun-hyup, who dream of becoming regulars on 'Salimnam', to his home. Ji Sang-ryeol explained the reason for holding an on-the-spot audition, saying, "The producers had a meeting. They said there are some good guys and asked if I could take a look, so I decided to see them in person."
Shin Seung-tae, who appeared on 'Salimnam' for two consecutive weeks, showed his ambition for a regular spot and drew attention with flashy outfits. He said, "If I'm aiming for a regular spot I can't just come casually," making eye contact with the camera as he stated his aspirations, and Ji Sang-ryeol, watching, emphasized the nature of observational entertainment by saying, "You should talk to us. Why do you keep eating the camera?" When Shin Seung-tae said, "Wouldn't it be great if everyone has fun?" Ji Sang-ryeol drew the line with "Then you're not a fit for (Salimnam)," prompting laughter.
Ji Sang-ryeol and Yoon Jun-hyup noted the 30-year age gap between them, and Ji Sang-ryeol's sister-in-law teased, "If you hadn't failed your first love, you would have had a son like this." Ji Sang-ryeol responded, "My first love is Shin Bo-ram," revealing his affectionate side. Because he had mentioned Shin Bo-ram at the 2025 KBS Entertainment Awards, it hinted that the two still maintain a warm connection.
Shin Seong also did not hide his desire for a regular spot on 'Salimnam'. He showed extraordinary passion, preparing an item paper outlining why he should become a regular. When Yoon Jun-hyup displayed his entertainment skills with a boxing demonstration, Shin Seong immediately performed b-boying to seize the initiative. Lee Yo-won and Ye-won laughed repeatedly at the passionate trot trio's performance, and watching them, Park Seojin jokingly, with a hint of jealousy, said, "Isn't your energy so different from when you watch my videos?"
Ji Sang-ryeol gave sharp evaluations of the three's entertainment sense and appeal points. In response, Shin Seung-tae questioned the internal hierarchy on 'Salimnam', saying, "You've been here one year, Seojin two years, so aren't you more influential?" and immediately tried to video call Park Seojin. But Park Seojin humorously "cut off" the trio's active appeals for a regular spot, adding laughter to the scene.
Afterward, Ji Sang-ryeol cited stamina as a virtue for being a regular and began tests. In response to Shin Seong's question, "Did Seojin also have a stamina test?" Ji Sang-ryeol recalled, "Park Seojin didn't have that. Seojin was initially a subject of study," and added, "The Seojin who used to be like a carp bread has now become a shark." He encouraged the trot trio, saying, "You too could become a second Park Seojin."
In the hanging bar endurance contest held for a studio appearance spot, Shin Seung-tae won first place. But Ji Sang-ryeol suddenly changed his words, calling him "the likely candidate to appear in the studio," which flustered Shin Seung-tae and drew laughter.
Because family is important on the observational show 'Salimnam', Ji Sang-ryeol attempted impromptu phone connections with the families of the trot trio. Shin Seung-tae's sister and Yoon Jun-hyup's father turned the scene into a sea of laughter with their chic reactions, and Shin Seong's father added warmth by conveying encouraging words. Until the end, the trot trio showed a strong will to become regulars.
In this episode of 'Salimnam', Park Seojin showed the true qualities of a dutiful son by returning his father's long-held dream and everything that meant life to him—the boat—delivering deep emotion. At the same time, the fierce competition among Shin Seong, Shin Seung-tae and Yoon Jun-hyup at Ji Sang-ryeol's house for a regular spot on 'Salimnam' brought cheerful laughter to living rooms.
'Salimnam' airs every Saturday at 10:35 p.m.
[Photo] OSEN DB, SNS, 'Salimnam' broadcast capture
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