The long-awaited variety show The Village Barber has finally begun, and from the very first preview, it was impossible not to feel excited. The teaser showed Park Bo Gum sitting down for a heartfelt conversation with Lee Sang Yi and Kwak Dong Yeon, and it instantly evoked the same warm anticipation many felt when tvN’s Unexpected Business first aired back in 2021. There was that familiar sense of sincerity of people wanting to give something meaningful, not just entertain themselves on camera.
Back then, viewers were deeply moved by Jo In Sung and Cha Tae Hyun’s words about wanting to gift someone a special day, even if it meant personal hardship. That genuine intent made the show resonate. Watching The Village Barber, it feels clear that Park Bo Gum and his fellow cast members share that same mindset. With a confirmed 10-episode run, it is the kind of program that makes you want to tune in every week without fail. Its appeal even crosses generations one scene described a grandmother and her elementary-school-aged granddaughter sitting side by side, watching together and chatting naturally. Few shows manage that kind of shared emotional space.
What truly sets The Village Barber apart is its sense of purpose. The program originated from Park Bo Gum’s real-life barber license, which he earned during his military service. Wanting to use that skill to genuinely help others, he began planning the show with the production team nearly a year in advance. As preparations intensified last summer, he even attempted to earn a hairstylist license to offer perms only to narrowly fail the practical exam despite passing the written test. Even that detail adds to the show’s charm: the effort was real, the intention sincere.
The supporting cast reinforces that authenticity. Lee Sang Yi successfully obtained a national nail art license, proudly displaying it alongside the salon’s business registration. Kwak Dong Yeon, the youngest member, took on the role of snack master, practicing diligently with a fish-shaped pastry machine. Their temporary barbershop is set in a small village in Muju, North Jeolla Province a place with limited bus service and few shops for daily necessities. For elderly residents with limited mobility, the show aims to provide something almost magical: access to personal care, warmth, and human connection.
This sincerity throws other programs into sharp contrast. While The Village Barber shares superficial similarities with KBS’s Let’s Live Together such as a small cast and rural setting the difference in intent is stark. Celebrity-centered shows that rely on fame alone, repetitive emotional confessions, or formulaic regional promotion struggle to justify their existence. Viewers are no longer satisfied with stars simply “hanging out” on screen without a meaningful goal or tangible contribution.
Looking ahead, anticipation continues to build as actors Park Hae Joon and Choi Dae Hoon from Netflix’s When Life Gives You Tangerines are set to join as helpers. Their involvement only heightens expectations. More than just another variety show, The Village Barber represents a hopeful shift one where sincerity, preparation, and service become the new standard.
If this spirit catches on, perhaps it will finally signal the end of empty, aimless celebrity travel programs. And if so, that would truly be Park Bo Gum’s magic at work.
Sources: Daum