By Korea.net Honorary Reporter Nadine Postigo

“Fathers may not be perfect, but that's alright if they aren't perfect! There's nothing like a father's love to boost our spirits. The dads who used to spend all their time working have returned home on 'The Return of Superman.'” -- KBS World

"The Return of Superman" (슈퍼맨이 돌아왔다) is a TV show that started out as a special program for the Chuseok holiday in 2013. The pilot episodes were happily watched by viewers at home over the holidays, and this turned it into one of the most loved and amusing family shows on broadcaster KBS.

The reality / variety program revolves around fathers being left alone with their child or children for 48 hours, without any assistance from their wives. Whether they stay home or go out for an adventure is up to them. Traditionally, women are thought to be more hands-on in terms of household chores or in terms of taking care of children, while men work outside the home. However, this show tries to challenge the fathers by forcing them to switch roles. Whether it’s cooking or going to the dentist, which is always a daunting challenge for parents, the dads have to do it by themselves. One of the dads on the show is soccer player Lee Dong-gook who has to look after all five of his children on his own.



The fathers featured on the show when it first started included singer Tablo, entertainer Lee Hwi Jae, martial artist Choo Sung Hoon, actor Jang Hyun Sung and Lee Hyun Woo in the pilot episode, along with their families. There have been numerous other artists on the show, but currently the celebrity fathers include Lee Hwi Jae, Sam Hammington, Ki Tae Young, Lee Dong-gook and Ko Ji Yong. Actor Lee Bum Soo recently left the show with his kids Da-eul and So-eul after being on the show for one year and three months. The dads that have left always stated in their final episodes that they have created beautiful memories and became closer to their children because of the show.

The quote “It takes a village to raise a child.” can definitely be seen on the show, as strangers, neighbors or staff offer to help when they see the fathers failing. There were even some episodes where some of the dads get together to share their stories, and the more experienced parents tend to give advice to the newer parents. There have also been numerous times where the fathers bring their children to work. This, then, turns into the kids' playground, often times seeing their fathers in a totally new light. The whole family, including grandparents or other relatives, also appear on the show from time to time, and viewers get a glimpse of their daily lives.

One parent, Herald, praised the TV show for highlighting the key roles that fathers play in parenting. "This is believed to be a step in changing habits in the country where women are the ones usually at home and men are the ones active in the workforce." While Public Radio International, a global non-profit media company, noted that, "'The Return of Superman' also presented an image of Korean fathers that is very different from their usual workaholic and uninvolved nature. It claimed that the show wanted to portray South Korean dads as parents who have time for their children."





The show is also a great way to invite viewers to come to Korea, as it takes the audience to many scenic spots and shows the mouth-watering food of Korean cuisine. Fans of pop music are also in for a treat whenever other celebrities have cameos on the show. Pop groups like Epik High, Big Bang, Winner, EXO, Girls Generation, Rain and Jang Geun Suk have all made cameos on the show.

I'm a big fan of the show. I saw how most dads started out awkward, not knowing how to read the body language of their toddlers, or how to appease them. However, over the months, I saw how they learned and understood more as they built a more harmonious and loving relationship. I also feel that I'm somewhat part of the family, as I get to watch the kids grow up and take their first steps or say their first words.

It was also eye-opening how the dads realized how different their relationships with their fathers were, and how they wished they could have changed those to become closer with their dads. It was common for the dads and their fathers -- grandfather of the children -- to not have an affectionate relationship because they were raised differently. In those days, most men found it odd to talk about feelings or to share emotions, and men were perceived to be somewhat cold and had to show a "strong" image.

That's what I love about "The Return of Superman." It breaks down barriers. In today’s modern age, there has been a rise in stay-at-home fathers, as well as daddy daycares. Through this TV show, it shows that it's perfectly OK to be the one taking care of the children, to be affectionate and playful with them, because it won’t take away from one's "masculinity." Instead, it creates more fun memories for the whole family. It’s a lesson for everyone, children and parents. Don't be shy or embarrassed to show your love for one another while you still can.

There has been a variety of fun episodes, as well as touching moments on the show. One of the episodes that made me cry was when Tablo brought his daughter Haru to the grave of his father. Tablo was able to reflect on the past and when he couldn’t contain his tears, Haru was able to comfort him with a warm hug. Another emotional episode was when Lee Hwi Jae could see how his father’s Alzheimer’s disease was affecting him, even being unable to recognize his grandchildren on the TV screen when they did a small tribute for him.



I had a very close relationship with my father before he passed away in 2014. I shared a lot of my problems and dreams with him. He bonded with me over Korean music and Korean TV shows, even knowing some of the artists and songs to which I listened. I used to watch KBS with him and my mom, including "Gag Concert" and "The Return of Superman," wherein they also compared the different parenting styles of Korean and Philippine parents. We both enjoyed watching the shows and reminiscing on my own childhood. My parents supported my passion for all things Korean. Although they teased me at times, they always encouraged me. It was just sad that my dad wasn’t able to witness the day when I was able to finally fly to Korea. However, I’m sure he was looking out for me, smiling, as I got the opportunity to travel to my dream country. He really was my superman, and I couldn’t have asked for a better father.

Tablo with his wife Kang Hye-jung and daughter Haru reminded me of my relationship with my parents. I also really adored the triplets Daehan, Minguk, Manse, which are the children of actor Song Il Gook. They were just too adorable. Even my friends who don't watch the show share their videos because they went viral.

"The Return of Superman" can be watched on KBS. KBS World provides English subtitles for non-Korean speaking audiences, both on their cable channel and on their official YouTube page.

If there’s one sentence that I can use to describe "The Return of Superman," I would say that it's a show full of love and cuteness. I think non-Korean TV channels or directors could take this program as an inspiration and adapt it so that more families could enjoy it and hopefully get closer to each other due to the nature of the show. There have also been talks that the popular TV format will be remade in the U.S.

Did you know that there’s actually a version of "The Return of Superman" in Thailand? The show features four fathers and started airing in March 2017. I think that just shows how other markets could see the charms and popularity of this show.

wisdom117@korea.kr