‘Salim Nam’ Tops Ratings with Park Seo-jin and Lee Min-woo's New Year Episodes
The KBS 2TV show Salim Nam (살림하는 남자들 시즌2) kicked off the new year by securing the top spot in Saturday entertainment ratings. The episode aired on January 4, 2025, featuring the daily lives of Park Seo-jin (박서진) and Lee Min-woo (이민우), achieving a nationwide rating of 6.8% according to Nielsen Korea. A particularly humorous moment where Park Seo-jin delivered dad jokes peaked at 9.1%.
As the show welcomed the new year, it experienced a significant ratings boost, marking a positive start for 2025. Guest star Sieun (시은) from STAYC shared insights about her father, veteran entertainer Park Nam-jung (박남정), noting that he rarely nags her and often asks for her help in monitoring events.
The episode also highlighted the trending 'Teddy Bear' challenge, which originated from a dance with her father. Sieun explained, "I really pushed for it because I thought many would be curious about the father-daughter duo. My dad struggled with facial expressions during the girl group choreography, so he wore a mask."
The show then shifted focus to Park Seo-jin's family, who took him to a lively fish market to lift his spirits. While helping his parents, Park Seo-jin gradually regained his energy. His father advised him, "Remember the old days? Everyone is determined to live hard. No matter what anyone says, stay strong and work hard."
Later, back at their home in Samcheok, Park Seo-jin and his sister Hyo-jung (효정) engaged in playful banter, with Hyo-jung teasing him about being voted as the second most likely to be submissive if confronted by a bully. She also joked about his nickname 'Trot Buck Teeth,' saying, "You fixed your buck teeth and remodeled yourself successfully!" Park Seo-jin humorously acknowledged Hyo-jung's unique talent for turning her gloomy feelings into annoyance, which lightened his mood.
Meanwhile, Lee Min-woo expressed concern for his ailing mother, who had recently found joy in supporting Park Seo-jin's fan activities but appeared to be losing strength. During a meal with his father, Lee Min-woo was visibly upset when his father advised him to focus on his own life rather than worry about them as they age.
Lee Min-woo confessed, "I can't even imagine losing my parents. I don't think I could handle that."
He also revealed that his mother wanted a beautiful photo for her memorial after being diagnosed with lung cancer, expressing her wish to capture a younger version of herself. This revelation added an emotional weight to the episode, as Lee Min-woo reflected on the health struggles faced by his parents, including his mother's early-stage lung cancer and dementia, and his father's heart condition.
When Lee Min-woo suggested a health check-up for his parents, his mother refused, stating, "Everyone gets sick as they age. I’m at the point where I’m ready to go, so let those who will live long go instead." This led to rising tensions within the family, leaving viewers curious about their next steps amidst the serious atmosphere.
