Park Soo-hong, who greatly contributed to the regular programming of 'Our Baby is Born Again', expressed his confidence in the show.
In the regular season of TV CHOSUN's 'Our Baby is Born Again' (directed by Lee Seung-hoon and Kim Joon/written by Jang Joo-yeon, hereafter referred to as 'Our Baby'), Park Soo-hong, who has been active as a 'smooth delivery fairy' since the pilot, took on the role of the head of the 'birth correspondents'.
Having joined the 'birth correspondents' team with Kim Jong-min, Jang Seo-hee, Kim Chan-woo, Sayuri, and Son Min-soo, Park Soo-hong shared, “As a father of a 10-month-old daughter, I understand how precious and miraculous the moment of birth is,” expressing his joy in being part of the journey to witness childbirth.
When he witnessed the birth of his precious daughter 'Jae-i', Park Soo-hong shed tears as he shared in his wife's pain, mentioning, “My wife brought up the topic of a second child,” referring to their plans for a second baby.
However, he also expressed caution, saying, “Right now, I am more concerned about my wife.” Although Park Soo-hong is an 'experienced father', he mentioned that he is still learning new things through 'Our Baby'. Below is a Q&A with Park Soo-hong, who is happily spending his days as 'Jae-i's dad' and is at the 'parenting max level'.
1. Please share your thoughts on being part of 'Our Baby'.
As a father of a 10-month-old daughter, I know how precious and miraculous the moment of birth is, so I am happier and prouder than anyone to be part of a program that vividly conveys that moment.
2. As someone who has experienced childbirth, can you share your experiences? I’m curious about your feelings during that time.
Watching my wife give birth, I felt a lot of guilt beyond just sympathy. Everyone has their own story, but my wife underwent IVF because of me. I had a pet named 'Dahong' before, and I wrote in my diary that I wanted to meet 'Dahong' again as a person and hoped for a sibling for Dahong. After reading that, my wife chose IVF, wanting to give me hope in life.
Watching her give birth made me grateful to my wife and made me think that I must treat her well for life. I have respect and admiration not only for my wife but for all mothers in South Korea and women around the world who go through hardships. At that time, I was so overwhelmed that I only realized my feelings after watching the video. I remember being so happy that I couldn't control my tears.
3. You visited other people's childbirth scenes instead of your own; did you have any episodes that differed from your experience or changed your perspective?
I met my daughter 'Jae-i' through a cesarean section. At that time, my wife had gestational diabetes and was not in good health, having gained about 40 kg. The baby was also 3.76 kg, so we had no choice but to opt for a cesarean. However, I realized that there are various methods of childbirth as I visited different birth scenes.
There are underwater births and various methods even within natural childbirth. I saw many different approaches, including traditional methods, and it made me rethink. I thought, 'It wouldn't be bad to explore childbirth methods that suit me,' and 'If I have the opportunity again, I would discuss with my wife and consider trying different methods of childbirth, including giving birth at home.'
4. Since childbirth doesn't happen at a set time, it seems like you have to stay tense; how do you prepare for filming?
In the case of a cesarean, the schedule is given a few days in advance, but natural childbirth is completely unpredictable, so I wait in a '5-minute standby' mode. I have run out of bed, thinking, 'It's not happening now,' and turned the car around to go back to meet the baby... It seems like a program that gives many experiences.
For filming preparation, I make sure to be fully ready for immediate response and keep my phone close to me at all times.
5. This season of 'Our Baby' covers a wider variety of mothers, families, and situations; is there a particular aspect you are most excited or looking forward to?
Different mothers bring many variables to the situation, and it feels different when meeting multiple births. I hope they come out safely and healthily, and I feel excitement and tension about whether the baby is breathing well after birth... Those moments are the most tense yet fulfilling. I was there when triplets and quadruplets were born on our show, and that was the most exciting, worrying, and anticipated moment.
6. The process of new life being born is never light or easy, so there may be fears about childbirth; as an 'experienced father', what thoughts have you had about a second child while being part of 'Our Baby'?
My wife suffered a lot when giving birth to our first child, Jae-i. I remember her crying because she couldn't feed colostrum alone at the postpartum care center, and I was thinking about her health. However, recently, my wife brought up the topic of a second child.
We still have a healthy embryo frozen, so the future is uncertain, but I am still more concerned about my wife, so I don't know if we will meet Jae-i's sibling. However, if we think deeply and live diligently, who knows what will happen? Right now, I am more worried about my wife, so I have no thoughts about it.
7. If you were to introduce 'Our Baby' in one sentence, how would you express it? You can also highlight key points.
“There’s no need to be afraid or scared,” “a program that conveys the vivid scene as it is,” “we all were born this way.” I think it can be expressed like that. It’s the most alive and vivid program in the history of South Korea. I can confidently say that it will provide more alive information than 'Alive Information' for those who are about to give birth or meet a child.
8. What is something you would like the viewers of 'Our Baby' to know about childbirth or this program?
While viewers encounter various programs, there aren't many that encompass entertainment, education, emotion, and information all at once. Watching this program, you can feel the joys and sorrows of life, the importance of family, the meaning a child brings, the mindset and preparation of being a parent, the mystery of life, and the support for parents giving birth in a low birth rate country. I think it’s a program that reflects the meaning of the lives we face as we increasingly become nuclear families.
The first domestic childbirth relay variety show, TV CHOSUN's 'Our Baby is Born Again', goes to the scene of childbirth to cheer and celebrate the birth of new life, airing every Tuesday at 10 PM.
[Kim Mi-ji, Star Today Reporter]
