South Korean President's Variety Show Appearance Gains Renewed Attention

SBS's 'Same Bed, Different Dreams 2' recently highlighted the past appearance of South Korean President Lee Jae-myung on the show, drawing renewed attention.

On the 11th, the show aired a special 400th episode, revealing the most-watched clips. President Lee and his wife, Kim Hye-kyung, were credited as the stars of the most-viewed clip, with 2.4 billion views. The couple appeared on the show in 2017 when Lee was the mayor of Seongnam, showcasing their everyday life and love.

The show's producers noted that the clip has gained popularity again following Lee's recent election as president.

Netizens reacted enthusiastically, leaving comments such as "The first president to appear on a variety show," "Who would have thought they'd become the presidential couple back then," and "This makes us feel closer to the president."

Comedian Kim Sook humorously remarked, "Where else can you see a sitting president on a variety show? We're unique," adding, "The president has really embraced these events, which he wasn't known for before."

Other couples contributing to the show's 2.43 billion views were also revealed. Among the 91 couples featured, the global couple Choo Ja-hyun and Yu Xiaoguang topped the list with 180 million views.

Lee Ji-hye expressed her sentiments, saying, "We've shared everything from the couple's pregnancy to their son Bada's growth." The show featured Bada, now 8 years old, prompting the cast to comment on how much he's grown.

The most-watched single video was the wedding of Kangnam and Lee Sang-hwa, where Kangnam performed a dance and skating routine reminiscent of his idol days, moving the audience. Kim Gura humorously noted, "Kangnam is full of surprises," eliciting laughter.

Lastly, the couple Jung Eun-hye and Jo Young-nam, featured in the 400th episode special, garnered nearly 6 million views within a week of airing.

By Eun Kim, TenAsia Reporter eun@tenasia.co.kr