Shim Hyeong-tak's Son Haru Becomes National 'Healing Baby' on 'The Return of Superman,' Actor Copes with False Rumors

Actor Shim Hyeong-tak's son, Haru, has rapidly risen to fame as the nation's beloved 'healing baby' after his appearance on the KBS2 variety show 'The Return of Superman' (Superman Returns). The infant, just 164 days old at the time of the show's premiere, has captivated viewers and achieved impressive ratings.

'Superman Returns,' a staple in Korean family entertainment since 2013, recently received a Presidential Commendation on the 14th 'Population Day,' underscoring its status as a 'national parenting variety show.' Shim Hyeong-tak and his son Haru have demonstrated their immense popularity by simultaneously ranking in the top 10 for cast buzzworthy individuals in the drama category across TV and OTT platforms, according to Good Data Corporation.

At the heart of this phenomenon is the 'angelic baby' Haru. Born in January to Shim Hyeong-tak and his Japanese wife, Saaya, Haru boasts a unique, 'Son Goku'-like messy hairstyle, doll-like visuals, and a perpetually cheerful disposition. He has earned the nickname 'ratings fairy' and garners millions of views on YouTube.

In a recent interview with OSEN, Shim Hyeong-tak spoke candidly about Haru's unexpected stardom. "We barely go out because I'm constantly looking after Haru at home, but even when we step out for a moment, people recognize him so much," he shared. He recounted being approached for photos even while vacationing in Hawaii, a place he visited for his honeymoon and babymoon.

"These days, I'm often called 'Haru's dad' instead of Shim Hyeong-tak," he admitted. "Even if people know who Saaya and I are, they look for Haru first. They don't talk to me directly; everyone's eyes are on him."

However, this burgeoning fame has also brought challenges in the form of false rumors and misunderstandings. Shim Hyeong-tak expressed distress over reports claiming Haru earned 500 million KRW from advertisements. "That's a distorted story, far from the truth," he clarified.

He elaborated on the bewildering nature of these rumors: "Just yesterday, an older acquaintance who isn't even married contacted me, saying he watches Haru from morning till night because he's a fan. Many people send similar messages. While I'm grateful for the attention, I was shocked when acquaintances started believing baseless claims like 'Director Bong Joon-ho is looking for Haru' or 'Prime Minister Ishiba said something about Haru's photo.' Because Haru appears so often on TV and YouTube, even people close to us seem to take these fabricated news items as fact. It's frustrating because I have to clarify that it's not true, but I can't possibly address every single rumor."

Shim Hyeong-tak further stated, "There was a recent article saying Haru earned 500 million KRW from six ad deals. I wish I had earned that much! (laughs) We are truly grateful and happy for the love he receives, but the amount of fake news is also significant." He added, "While we are genuinely thankful for the love and interest shown to Haru and our family, it's upsetting to deal with excessive, untrue rumors."

The couple has reportedly set up a separate savings account for Haru's earnings. "This is our first interview since introducing Haru to the world on 'Superman Returns.' This is our truth. We sincerely hope there will be no more fake news about our child and family," he pleaded.

Shim Hyeong-tak also revealed plans for more children, mentioning their initial discussion of having up to four. "It's possible, so I feel a sense of urgency due to my age. We need to have children while I still have the energy," he said. "I believe we should aim to have three children within the next four years to be present during their growth." He noted that his wife Saaya was inspired by her older sister, who is raising three children.

Haru is currently in the babbling stage and can stand on his own. The couple anticipates his first steps soon. Shim Hyeong-tak also expressed his happiness at the thought of Haru becoming bilingual, with him teaching Korean and Saaya teaching Japanese.

Reflecting on his wife's dedication, Shim Hyeong-tak said, "I'm grateful she gave birth to our child and for how diligently she raises him in her unique style. She makes all his baby food herself; she's a super mom." He playfully added, "People tell me, 'Be grateful, Mr. Shim,' and 'Be good to Saaya, Mr. Shim.' But I'm not doing too badly myself (laughs). If I hadn't put in the effort, Haru wouldn't be loved by the entire nation."

Regarding Haru's future, Shim Hyeong-tak expressed a desire for him to enter the entertainment industry. "In Japan, it's common to inherit a family business. Similarly, I personally hope Haru grows up to be an actor or work in entertainment. Saaya tells me, 'That's for the child to decide,' and I agree, but I do hold that hope in my heart."

He further elaborated, "If he becomes an actor, I'd want to teach him acting. When I was young, I couldn't pursue the things I truly wanted. I wanted to be an actor appearing on screen since the second grade of elementary school, but my path to arts high school was blocked. Later, I worked as a model. I loved Doraemon, but I couldn't talk about it because I knew I'd be ridiculed. My friends all liked Slam Dunk and Dragon Ball, so liking Doraemon meant being mocked. I grew up never being able to do what I wanted."

"That's why I want to be a father who lets Haru do whatever he wants," he vowed. "I want to be a dad who plays with him using toys and spends a lot of time with him."

Shim Hyeong-tak finds Haru's current popularity more fulfilling than his own past fame. "After appearing on 'Infinite Challenge,' I woke up the next day and the whole nation knew me. But I was scared. I had never received that kind of attention, so I avoided going out because hearing people shout 'Shim Hyeong-tak! Shim Hyeong-tak!' made me uncomfortable. I couldn't enjoy that popularity," he recalled.

"In contrast, Haru's current popularity feels different. It's not the same psychological reaction as when I was hiding. I want to show our family's happiness to the viewers because they tell us they feel warmth from watching us. They say it makes them feel good, and some have even said their depression has been treated by watching Haru."

He concluded, "If our family can share even a little bit of happiness with people, I would be grateful. Just as Doraemon helped me overcome difficult times when I was younger, perhaps our family can be like Doraemon for those going through hardships now. I hope we can become a presence, like a character, that spreads happiness, not just Haru, but our entire family."

Netizens are flooding social media with supportive comments, such as, "Haru is just the cutest! Shim Hyeong-tak seems like such a dedicated dad," "Isn't Haru more popular than Shim Hyeong-tak now? lol," and "How upsetting to deal with fake news... stay strong!"