Sim Hyung-tak & Saya's Son Haru Becomes Korea's 'Healing Baby,' Crowned 'Shooting Star' of 'The Return of Superman'!

If we were to pick the hottest baby in South Korea right now, it would undoubtedly be Haru, the son of actor Sim Hyung-tak and his Japanese wife, Saya.

Upon his appearance on the KBS2 variety show 'The Return of Superman' (hereafter 'Shoong Dol'), just 164 days old, Haru instantly became the nation's 'healing baby,' achieving remarkable viewership ratings from his very first broadcast.

'Shoong Dol,' which first aired in 2013, has consistently captured viewers' attention for 13 years. In July, it even received a Presidential Commendation for the 14th 'Population Day,' solidifying its status as a 'national parenting variety show.' Recently, Sim Hyung-tak and his son Haru simultaneously entered the top 10 in topic of conversation rankings for the TV-OTT Non-Drama category, proving their immense popularity (based on Good Data Corporation).

At the heart of this popularity is the 'baby angel,' Haru. Sim Hyung-tak married Saya in 2023, and their son Haru was born in January of this year. With his messy, Son Goku-like hair that seems to have jumped out of a cartoon, doll-like visuals, and a consistently bright smile, Haru, the 'viewership fairy,' is garnering immense love, with his YouTube videos recording millions of views.

In a recent interview with OSEN, conducted at their home where the show is filmed, Sim Hyung-tak shared, "Do you feel Haru's popularity these days?" He responded, "Honestly, I'm mostly at home watching Haru, so I don't get out much. Yet, even when I step out briefly, people recognize Haru so much." He added, "My wife and I went to Hawaii for a babymoon since we couldn't go on a honeymoon. We recently revisited Hawaii for our honeymoon, and we visited the same places with Haru. Even in Hawaii, people recognized him. What was even more surprising was that, with so many Japanese people in Hawaii, they all recognized Haru and asked, 'Can we take just one picture?' We were so thankful they liked our family so much."

He continued, "These days, I'm called 'Haru's Dad' instead of 'Sim Hyung-tak.' When Saya and I used to go out, people would say, 'It's Sim Hyung-tak' or 'It's Saya,' but now, even if they know who the parents are, they look for Haru first. They don't approach me first; they just stare at Haru," he mentioned, highlighting his son's incredible fame.

Previously, Sim Hyung-tak surprised viewers on 'Shoong Dol' by stating, "We're planning for a third child. My wife Saya wanted a fourth, but I reduced it by one."

Regarding this, he explained, "It's possible, so I feel a sense of urgency. I'm getting older. I need to have them while I still have the energy (laughs). When children are young, you need to be with them. To be with them through their growth, we need to have three quickly. I think we'll need to have them within the next four years." He added, "While raising Haru, we're planning for the second child."

Furthermore, Sim Hyung-tak shared, "Saya has an older sister, born in '93. She's currently raising three children, and the eldest has started elementary school. My sister-in-law works late, so she single-handedly takes care of the childcare, and she's a real supermom. Saya saw that and thought she could do it too." He expressed his desire, saying, "In Japan, families tend to have several children; they don't just have one but two or three. I also want to have many children and create a bustling family, and I really hope for a daughter."

Saya, standing beside him, smiled and said, "Seeing my older sister raise three kids, I didn't feel scared, but rather thought, 'I think I can do it too.' Since we're siblings, that feeling of 'I can do it' arose."

Sim Hyung-tak added, "Saya saw her sister's parenting and thought not 'It looks tough,' but 'Ah, she can do it.'" showcasing their perfect match. (To be continued in Interview ②)

Netizens are flooding comments like, 'Haru is so incredibly cute,' 'Sim Hyung-tak looks even more handsome as a dad!', and 'Is Shoong Dol going to break its own ratings record?' showing support for Haru's cuteness and Sim Hyung-tak's parenting journey.