The Return of Superman

Celebrity fathers are left as their children’s primary caretakers for forty-eight hours. They face the challenges of being a single parent, experiencing the difficult, touching and enlightening moments inherent to raising a child − quite a novel concept in South Korea, where gender equality has only recently developed. Antiquated cultural norms still place a disproportionate burden of childcare responsibilities on women. The Return of Superman challenges that cultural norm and embraces the view that fathers are responsible and active caregivers. The results are surprising. In many cases, the fathers are unaware of how dependent they are on their spouse until they are left to solve problems independently. They develop a greater appreciation for the role their spouse plays in managing and responding to the many demands of children. The filming was an especially challenging task. Filming occurred at numerous locations, including inside the home, to allow for real-world interactions. Hidden cameras are used to preserve a natural and realistic viewing experience for the audience.