I’m a better parent, husband thanks to ‘Oh! My Baby’: Ricky Kim
Korean-American actor Ricky Kim, whose family now appear on the variety show ‘Oh! My Baby’. (Photo: Elizabeth Tong/Yahoo Newsroom)
Korean-American actor and variety show star Ricky Kim confessed that the popularity of his children far eclipses his own, thanks to the hit parenting variety show “Oh! My Baby”.
Speaking to the media at South Beach Hotel on Thursday (5 May) shortly after landing in Singapore, Kim answered questions about being a parent, husband and how he would react to his daughter dating.
Since Kim and his family appeared on the South Korean variety show, he has been known as “Tae Oh and Tae Rin’s dad”, a job that he clearly enjoys.
“If people enjoy watching them and love them, then it’s very encouraging for the people that stand behind that,” said the 34-year-old father.
“Dancers and singers are amazing but the people that write and produce the music are just as amazing. In a way, the music and dancing that comes from our children is written and produced by my wife and I,” he added.
Though he shares parenting responsibilities with his wife, he also confessed that she is the real conductor who runs the show, dubbing himself “a supporter”.
Midway through the interview, Kim answered a phone call from his wife. “When my wife calls and it’s about the family, I pick up the phone. It’s my first and most important job,” he said.
Behind the cameras
On how the show has affected his family, Kim said: “This show has given my wife and I a great opportunity to step back and watch how we are like as parents, so we can talk about what we should work on together. If anything, it has made us better parents and made me a better husband.”
When asked about how the children take to being around cameras, he said that they have been around them since they were born and so are not afraid.
“I try to educate and help my children to understand what’s going on. Whether there are cameras there or not, we are still disciplining and educating them and creating memories. The camera is just a tool used to show our lives to people,” he added.
Still, Kim professed that he is not keen on letting his children follow in his footsteps by entering the entertainment industry too soon. He wants them to “enjoy other aspects of being a kid” first but, should the day come, he said he would be supportive of their decision.
As for his thoughts on his daughter Tae Rin dating in the future, he jokingly asked: “Does she have to?”
“I want her to date, experience love and figure it out on her own. But it’s difficult for me as a father because this is my little girl, you know. I hope when that day comes, I’ll be comfortable with it,” he added.
Ricky Kim and his children Tae Oh and Tae Rin will have a fan meet-and-greet on Saturday, 7 May 2016, at Waterway Point at 7.30pm.
‘Oh! My Baby’ is currently airing every Saturday at 8.30pm on ONE.