예능과 현실 사이, 김준호가 짊어진 2세라는 이름의 무게와 웃음의 딜레마 > K-wave Trends

The desire for the second generation that Kim Jun-ho recently showed goes beyond a simple broadcast episode. He showed determination and did not hesitate to seek medical help for the future with his lover Kim Ji-min, and recently visited the home of actor Han Da-gam, who had his first child at a late age, and expressed his earnest desire to gain that energy. This suggests that he is not vaguely waiting for the age of 2, but is actively accepting a realistic alternative called in vitro fertilization. The public may expect only an immature appearance from him, as the title of the program ‘My Little Old Boy’ suggests, but he actually shows a mature attitude in preparing for the future by mentioning specific plans such as his childbearing period. This appearance contrasts with his existing light image and delivers a refreshing shock to viewers and at the same time, a sincere resonance.

However, as an entertainer, Kim Jun-ho is still destined to constantly roll around and make people laugh. In programs such as Season 4 of ‘Dog Park Tour’ in which he appears, he still presents himself as an ‘objectionable’ character who does not hesitate to use tricks or tell trivial lies to avoid losing a bet. The scene where he suffers the humiliation of being kicked out while trying to get over the first class seat of a train in an unfamiliar environment like Sri Lanka shows that he is willing to sacrifice his reputation for the sake of entertainment. This, combined with the economic pressure of 'debt' that he has, seems like an advanced strategy to sublimate the realistic difficulties of reacting sensitively to a small amount of money of 40,000 won into laughter.

Nevertheless, the public's view of Kim Jun-ho is by no means simple. The part where Kim Ji-min confesses that she suffered from anorexia in the past and confesses her experience of being hurt by Kim Jun-ho proves that the relationship between the two is not simply maintained as a topic of entertainment. Although they have a job selling laughter under flashy lights, behind it all lies the deep agony of realistic lovers who must embrace each other's pain. In particular, Kim Jun-ho's decision to undergo medical procedures rather than simply leaving the issue of the second generation to chance can be interpreted as an expression of his sense of responsibility toward his counterpart, Kim Ji-min, and his will to further strengthen their relationship.

Kim Jun-ho's efforts to be introduced to shamans through Hangam and to gain energy for the second generation may be a reflection of his anxiety. Planning to turn two at a late age is in line with biological limitations, and this is bound to put a lot of psychological pressure on anyone. In broadcasts, this is packaged as a fun episode to make viewers laugh, but the nervousness he feels in the process is enough to empathize with the viewers. In this strange boundary where entertainment devices and real life are mixed, Kim Jun-ho repeats the process of communicating with the public and healing himself by exhibiting his life.

In the end, all of Kim Jun-ho’s activities come down to the theme of ‘family.’ The humiliations he experienced in Sri Lanka and the incidents in which he was exposed for his trickery were ultimately read as a desperate struggle to lay an economic foundation to support his future family. People criticize and support him at the same time as they watch him pay off his debts, plan for a second generation, and maintain a stable relationship with Kim Ji-min. The intersection of these complex emotions is also proof that he still exerts a strong influence as an entertainer. He brings laughter and at the same time becomes a mirror that reflects the responsibilities and hopes that middle-aged men of our time experience through his own life.