The Return of Superman (3)
When G-Dragon and his daughter, Kwon Min-seo, appeared on the variety show "The Return of Superman," the resulting buzz surpassed even his album releases and world tours. This wasn't just about the exposure of a top star's private life; it was a heartwarming reinterpretation of the roles of "idol," "father," and "male character." Within hours of the broadcast, the internet seemed to have been bombarded with a wave of warmth, the ripples spreading and overwhelming all platforms.
As soon as the show ended, G-Dragon's personal Instagram account was flooded with blessings and exclamations in various languages at an astonishing speed.
[Ahhh, I'm crying so hard! How can Brother Long be so gentle!]
[Min-seo is so cute! Her eyes are exactly the same as Yuzu unnie's!]
[Turns out GD is a doting father offstage! This unexpected contrast is absolutely adorable!]
Seeing him clumsily preparing formula, and laughing even after spitting it out, is so relatable!
That impromptu lullaby! I've listened to it on repeat a hundred times! Please provide the audio!
Not only G-Dragon's account, but Su You's private account, which was originally only followed by close friends and family, was instantly taken over by a "tourism group," with the screen filled with blessings such as "Unnie is so happy!" and "Textbook-level love and family!" Even Kwon Min-seo's name (which was carefully revealed as "Min-seo" on the show) topped the real-time trending list, with hashtags like #KwonMinSeo#, #GD'sDaughter#, and #TheReturnOfSupermanGD# all followed by the bright red "hot" mark.
Fans became "detail-obsessed," frantically capturing touching moments from the show and creating various memes and GIFs:
A GIF showing G-Dragon's momentary surprise after being hit by spit-up milk, quickly followed by a doting smile, captioned: "Daddy's medal tastes like milk!"
A picture of him holding his daughter late at night, softly humming an impromptu melody under dim light, was captioned, "The world's most expensive concert, with only one audience member."
A shot of him secretly rubbing his aching lower back from holding his child for so long, but instantly breaking into a bright smile when he met his daughter's gaze, captioned: "A sweet burden."
These scenes, full of life and human warmth, completely shattered the public's preconceived notions about G-Dragon, showcasing a more three-dimensional, vivid, and moving G-Dragon.
Not only entertainment media, but also some mainstream news portals and cultural commentary columns have given this program a rare amount of attention and positive reviews.
The Seoul News published a commentary titled "From Stage King to 'Daughter-Doting': G-Dragon's Gentle Transformation and the Diversification of Social Idols," which stated: "...G-Dragon's performance on 'The Return of Superman' is not just a celebrity parent-child show, but also a reflection of social sentiment. He demonstrates the gentleness, patience, and responsibility that contemporary men, especially the younger generation, are willing and able to shoulder in their family roles. This image breaks down the narrow traditional definitions of 'cool' and 'masculinity,' providing the public, especially young fans, with a positive example of love, family, and growth."
The Cultural Daily focused on family values, publishing an article titled "In Baby Bottles and Diapers, We See the Most Solid Form of Love," praising the interactions between G-Dragon and Su You: "...Although the program focuses on the father and daughter, the subtle details—G-Dragon's tender gaze when mentioning his wife, Su You's hand occasionally appearing off-camera to offer warm water—silently speak to the deep emotional foundation of this family. They exemplify that the best family education is when parents love each other."
Bigbang's group chat exploded the night the show aired.
Seungri: [Brother! You kept this from us for so long! Min-seo is so cute! I want to be her godfather! Number one!]
Loudly: [G-Dragon's posture while holding the baby is more perfect than his dancing! I'm so moved I cried!]
Taeyang: [(Shares a photo of her son) Hyorin says, "Finally found a playmate! Let's hang out!"]
TOP: [(Link to baby sneakers again) This time it's a limited edition women's style.]
Not only her teammates, but almost half of her friends in the entertainment industry sent their congratulations through various channels. CL directly reposted G-Dragon's video of putting her to sleep on Instagram, with the caption: "My brother, so proud of you! The little princess is so cute!" Many actors, models, and junior idols who had worked with her also expressed their feelings about watching the show and their love for Xiao Minshu on their respective SNS.
This large-scale and sincere blessing from his peers further confirms G-Dragon's good relationships within the industry and makes the warm atmosphere even stronger.
For the "The Return of Superman" production team, the episodes featuring G-Dragon were undoubtedly a phenomenal success. The show's ratings broke its highest record since its inception, and its online viewership and discussion volume surged ahead of the competition. The show's official social media accounts saw a dramatic increase in followers, flooded with comments urging for more episodes and updates.
During the interview, the show's PD couldn't hide his smile: "When we first invited G-Dragon, we were worried about whether he could adapt to the show's pace. But as it turns out, he showed his most authentic and touching side. His interactions with Min-seo and her father, and that clumsy yet loving learning process, touched the hearts of countless viewers. We are very grateful for G-Dragon and Su-you's trust in sharing this precious family warmth with everyone."
Even at the think tank where Su You works, this episode caused a minor stir. Of course, the atmosphere was more reserved and respectful. Colleagues wouldn't discuss it openly, but when they encountered Su You in the break room, they would offer a knowing, warm smile, or quietly say, "Dr. Su, the program was very heartwarming, and the baby was adorable."
Some friends in academia also sent messages to Su You privately, expressing their blessings and saying, "Seeing you so focused in your respective fields and managing such a warm family life is truly inspiring." This made her realize that their choices were subtly influencing the views of those around them on the balance between career and family.
Faced with this overwhelming wave of heartwarming feedback, G-Dragon was initially surprised, but was mostly moved. He carefully read the long messages from his fans, looking at those tender moments that he himself hadn't even noticed, and his heart was filled with indescribable emotions.
“I used to think that I should show everyone my most perfect and coolest side.” One night, he whispered to Su You, who was already fast asleep, “But now I realize that people also like me when I’m clumsy and busy with my child.”
Su You leaned against him, looking at his sleeping face, which resembled her daughter's, and smiled, "Because this is the most authentic you. And this version of you has given warmth and strength to many people."
G-Dragon knew that Su You had endured more exposure and pressure to support his participation in the show. He held her hand tightly: "Thank you, Youzi. And thank you for your hard work."
The impact of this program has even transcended individual families and the realm of entertainment, sparking a broader social discussion on the "father role." Many young fathers left messages online, saying that G-Dragon's performance resonated with them and encouraged them to be more actively involved in parenting. Some parenting-related public accounts used this opportunity to explore the social progress and the increased emotional value of men in the family reflected in the "celebrity dad" phenomenon.
G-Dragon, a name that once represented cutting-edge fashion, musical rebellion, and cultural icon status, is now closely associated with terms like "gentle father" and "family responsibility." This enrichment and transformation of his image has not diminished his star power; on the contrary, it has made his personal charm more complete, winning him favor from a wider range of age groups and demographics.
As the noise gradually subsided, the warm afterglow still lingered in this little family. G-Dragon's phone was filled with congratulatory messages and various cute "memes" sent by friends after the show aired; on Su You's desk, there was a screenshot from the show—G-Dragon was bending down to kiss his daughter's forehead, the sunlight shining on them, a picture of peaceful bliss.
For them, participating in "The Return of Superman" was more than just completing a show; it was a gentle declaration of their happiness to the world. The warm feedback from all sides was the highest affirmation of their chosen lifestyle. This experience, like a particularly warm and bright interlude added to the symphony of their lives, will continue to nourish their future path. And young Kwon Min-seo, unaware of the countless seeds of warmth her innocent actions have sown in her parents' world and beyond, in the wider society, is simply unaware.
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