Park Seo-jin's candid revelation about his insomnia and the deep concern for his family resonated with viewers, delivering a heartfelt connection on screen.
On the October 7th episode of KBS 2TV's 'Salimnam', special guest singer Chuu appeared as Park Seo-jin's family embarked on a project to help him overcome his insomnia. The episode garnered a nationwide viewership rating of 5.0% according to Nielsen Korea, with a peak rating of 6.5% during the touching moment when Park Seo-jin's father helped him sleep.
The episode began with a VCR showing Park Seo-jin's sister, Hyo-jung, in tears at a bus stop. It then flashed back to 10 hours earlier, revealing Park Seo-jin's 12-year struggle with insomnia, exacerbated by his deep worries for his family.
Park Seo-jin shared, "One day, my mom's voice started to sound hoarse, like metal. She had a lump in her throat, and the doctor suggested a biopsy suspecting thyroid cancer. It felt like a blow to the head," expressing his shock. With his father's cerebrovascular disease, Hyo-jung's health issues, and his mother's recent cervical cancer recovery, his anxiety and fears deepened.
These emotional burdens eventually led to a conflict between the siblings. Words meant to express concern were misunderstood, escalating into a heated argument. Hyo-jung declared she would leave home, intensifying the tension.
The next day, Hyo-jung was found wiping her tears at the bus stop, where their parents, who had rushed from Samcheonpo, appeared to reconcile the siblings. Park Seo-jin, who was secretly worried about his sister, was relieved to see her return with their parents. Hyo-jung admitted, "Seeing him unable to sleep, he looked so tired and it worried me," revealing her true feelings.
To lighten the mood, their father removed his newly fitted wig, bringing laughter and easing the tension. Park Seo-jin and Hyo-jung apologized to each other, sharing a moment of reconciliation.
Later, their father comforted Park Seo-jin like a child, trying to help him sleep. He expressed, "I'm sorry, son. It pains me to see you lose sleep over us. Let go of the family worries and live for yourself," conveying his deep love. Park Seo-jin reflected, "No matter how old I get, I'm still a child to my dad," revealing his emotional state. Meanwhile, his mother and Hyo-jung prepared a meal rich in lettuce, known to aid sleep, to help him rest.
The family then visited a water park to promote physical activity for better sleep. Park Seo-jin, experiencing a water park for the first time, shared, "It's the first time I've gone swimming with my family since kindergarten," while their father smiled warmly, recalling the siblings' dedication to helping with the family business from a young age.
During the outing, Hyo-jung humorously displayed her 'falling in love quickly' trait, showing enthusiasm for a handsome lifeguard by repeatedly going down the slide. Tired of waiting, Park Seo-jin returned to the car to rest, finally achieving a deep sleep he longed for, bringing a touching sense of family love.
'Salimnam' airs every Saturday at 10:35 PM, with a new time slot of 9:20 PM starting October 28th.
Kim Ji-won, TenAsia Reporter one@tenasia.co.kr