Choi Ji-woo Ready to Share Her Parenting Experience as New MC for 'The Return of Superman'

Choi Ji-woo Ready to Share Her Parenting Experience as New MC for 'The Return of Superman'

▲ The MC panel of KBS' parenting relaity show "The Return of Superman" appear on this photo provided by the broadcaster on June 14, 2024. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

SEOUL, June 14 (Yonhap) -- "It's meaningful to be part of a show that has been loved for 11 years. I think I can share my own parenting experiences and stories with the viewers."

The show, which will celebrate its 11th anniversary, is undergoing a renewal starting from the broadcast on the 16th. This includes a new studio setup and the addition of Choi Ji-woo and comedian Ahn Young-mi as MCs.

At the press conference held at KBS Art Hall in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 14th, Choi Ji-woo stated, "After having my child, I started watching the show with a warmer perspective and found many relatable aspects. That's why I decided to join."

"The Return of Superman" first aired in November 2013 and is a parenting reality show. Previously, the program featured narration by actress So Yoo-jin over scenes of celebrities and their children. With the new format, Choi Ji-woo and Ahn Young-mi will watch and discuss the parenting scenes from the studio, while the fathers featured in the show will also share behind-the-scenes stories.

PD Kim Young-min, who is directing the show, explained the changes: "I thought it would be good for the fathers to share their experiences in the studio rather than just being on screen." He added that they chose MCs who are currently raising children happily, noting that Choi Ji-woo had her child in 2020 and Ahn Young-mi in 2023.

The press conference was also attended by fencing gold medalist Kim Jun-ho and broadcaster Jason, who are currently featured on the show. Kim Jun-ho said, "When I was only appearing in the footage, I couldn't explain my feelings, but now I can elaborate on those parts in the studio, which is the best part of the change."

Despite reaching a peak viewership of over 20% in 2014, "The Return of Superman" has recently seen ratings drop to the 2-3% range. PD Kim expressed concern about the declining interest in parenting, saying, "Liking children seems to have become a niche interest for a small group of fans."

He hopes that the show can inspire more interest in childbirth and parenting during these times of low birth rates. "Creating 'The Return of Superman' made me want to have a second child," he added. "It's a program that makes you think, 'You can be this happy when you have a child.'"

For further details, you can refer to the original article or news release from KBS.