Series synopsis
The Return of Superman, also known as 슈퍼맨이 돌아왔다 is a South Korean reality television series that premiered on KBS2 on November 3, 2013. It was created by Park Ji-young, 奇河正, 徐宥真, 刘智润. It stars Lee Hwi-jae, Yoshihiro Akiyama, Jang Hyun-sung and Lee Dong-gook.
An up-close look at celebrity dads who have to take care of their kids for the next 48 hours without any help. Will it be a dad-tastrophe, or can they finish their wives' to-do lists while having fun with their kids?
Premise
An up-close look at celebrity dads who have to take care of their kids for the next 48 hours without any help. Will it be a dad-tastrophe, or can they finish their wives' to-do lists while having fun with their kids?
Cast and characters
Leading cast
- Lee Hwi-jae as Self
- Yoshihiro Akiyama as Self (as Choo Sung-hoon)
- Jang Hyun-sung as Self
- Lee Dong-gook as Self
- Ki Tae-young as Self
- Tablo as Self
- Lee Beom-soo as Self
- In Gyo-jin as Self
Supporting cast
- Yang Dong-geun as Self
- Oh Ji-ho as Self
- Uhm Tae-woong as Self
- Song Il-gook as Self
- Shin Ae-ra as Narrator (voice)
- Chae Shi-ra as Narrator (voice)
- Jeong Hye-young as Narrator (voice)
- Do Kyung-wan as Self
- Park Joo-ho
- Kim Jun-ho
- Park Ji-young
- Park Na-eun
Guest cast
- Jung Eun-pyo as Self
- Mithra Jin as Self
- DJ Tukutz as Self
- Jeong Hyeong-don as Self
- Sunny
- Taeyeon
- Tiffany Young
- Sooyoung Choi
- Yoona
- G-DRAGON
- Lee Keun-ho
- Yoon Jung-soo
Episodes
This series spans 20 seasons with 606 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 0 | 4 | September 19, 2013 | April 15, 2022 |
| Season 1 | 9 | November 3, 2013 | December 29, 2013 |
| Season 2 | 49 | January 5, 2014 | December 28, 2014 |
| Season 3 | 52 | January 4, 2015 | December 27, 2015 |
| Season 4 | 52 | January 3, 2016 | December 25, 2016 |
| Season 5 | 45 | January 1, 2017 | October 29, 2017 |
| Season 6 | 51 | January 7, 2018 | December 30, 2018 |
| Season 7 | 52 | January 6, 2019 | December 29, 2019 |
| Season 8 | 52 | January 5, 2020 | December 27, 2020 |
| Season 9 | 50 | January 3, 2021 | December 19, 2021 |
| Season 10 | 47 | January 2, 2022 | December 30, 2022 |
| Season 11 | 48 | January 7, 2023 | December 20, 2023 |
| Season 12 | 47 | January 3, 2024 | December 25, 2024 |
| Season 13 | 46 | January 1, 2025 | November 26, 2025 |
| Season 14 | 2 | January 7, 2026 | January 14, 2026 |
| Season 2013 | 0 | November 3, 2013 | December 29, 2013 |
| Season 2014 | 0 | January 5, 2014 | December 28, 2014 |
| Season 2015 | 0 | January 4, 2015 | December 27, 2015 |
| Season 2016 | 0 | January 3, 2016 | December 25, 2016 |
| Season 2017 | 0 | January 1, 2017 | December 31, 2017 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
A Man Became A Dad The four celebrity dads are introduced along with their children. Lee Hyunwoo takes his sons to the market. Lee Hwijae has to struggle to take care of his 8 month old twin boys alone for the first time. Choo Sunghoon takes his 1 year old daughter out for an hair cut. Jang Hyunsung learns to cook and do housework for the first time in his life. |
September 19, 2013 |
| 2 |
The Dads Are In Crisis Lee Hwijae takes his twin boys out to a friends party, on their way back home Seojun does not stop crying which gives Hwijae a scare and he takes him to the emergency room to have him checked out. Jang Hyunsung has a nice long chat with his sons about his wife (their mother) and he takes Junu out for a hike. After breakfast Lee Hyunwoo weighs his sons to see how much they weigh. Choo Sunghoon takes Sarang to the doctors to get her immunization shots. He also takes her to a gym where he tries to get a workout. |
September 20, 2013 |
| 3 |
In The Name of Father... Lee Hwijae's father pays a visit to his home to play with the twins. Later Hwijae takes his twins out to the park for a walk. Choo Sunghoon tries to teach Sarang meaning and pronunciation of words in Korean. Jang Hyunsung and his sons arrange a photo album together. Lee Hyunwoo reads to his sons when they accidentally spills water allover the living room floor. The four dads gather together at the end of the show to reflect their time spent alone with their kids. |
September 21, 2013 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
1. Things You Only Realize Once You Raise Them Choo Sunghoon and Sarang are going to Osaka to meet Sunghoon's parents. Tablo is recovering from shoulder surgery, will he be able to look after his daughter Haru? Lee Hwi-jae has become the god of child care, now that he's familiar with taking care of his twins, Seoeon and Seojun. He goes to see an eye doctor to check the twin's eyes. The charismatic actor Jang Hyunsung is actually a very clumsy person at home. He's very friendly with his two sons, Junu and Junseo. He teaches Junseo how to ride a bicycle without training wheels. |
November 3, 2013 |
| 2 |
2. They're Just Like Me Sunghoon and Sarang have so much fun in Osaka, Sarang spends her birthday at her grandparents house and experiences various things she had never done before. Meanwhile, Tablo and Haru goes to the aquarium to see fishes which is Haru favorite thing in the world. Hwijae, worried about the twin's eyes, takes them to an eye doctor. They get their eyes checked up and Hwijae gets so scared by the sound of their crying. Also he takes them to a baseball park with him. Hyunsung goes to Junu's parent-teacher conference and gets surprised by Junu's letter and his performance in school. |
November 10, 2013 |
| 3 |
3. I Can't Live Without You Sunghoon and his dad wants to teach Sarang judo. Sarang is now getting along well with her grandparents and Sarang's mom, Shiho Yano arrives in Osaka. Haru wants to treat her dad's arm. Tablo starves for two days and realizes how hard it was for his wife Hyejung to look after Haru. It's Haru's first time spending two days without her mom. Hwijae's wife told Hwijae to go to culture center. Will he be able to take care of the twins? Hyunsung tries to cook curry but he doesn't even know how to peel carrots, also Hyunsung and his boys prepare a surprise for their mom for their wedding anniversary. |
November 17, 2013 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
10. Tell Me Your Wish! Sunghoon and Sarang decide to go to Okinawa to get away from snowy Tokyo. Tablo wants to help Haru find what she wants to do in the future, so they visit a martial arts school. Hwijae wants his twins to be professional athletes so he starts teaching them sports, he takes them to a basketball court and calls a professional baseball player to his house. On a snowing day, Hyunsung takes his two son's to their grandpa's grave. Hyunsung cries in grief as he misses his father so much. Junseo waits for the tooth fairy and makes a wish. |
January 5, 2014 |
| 2 |
11. My Children's Private Life The Choovely family begin their trip in Okinawa as they go to see dolphins, horses and the 2nd largest aquarium in the world. Haru continues her search for a career path with ballet. Junu and Junseo get a treat to a theme park from their dad and they learn to overcome some fears. The twins get their first ever haircut and professional photo shoot. They arrive all dressed up at Grandma's house to celebrate her birthday. |
January 12, 2014 |
| 3 |
12. If We Hadn't Met Then... The Choovely family spend their last day in Okinawa. Junseo and Junu get caught up in their father's enthusiasm for cooking. Hyunsung attempts his very first pasta dish. Hwijae ends up having a great but also terrible time at his parent's house when he and the twins pay a visit to celebrate his mother's birthday. He's worried to death about what his wife will think about what his mother has done. Seojun gets complements from his grandparents for his happy and open personality, while Seoeon is criticized for being a brat and crybaby. Haru continues her search for an early look at a career path which leads her to cooking class. |
January 19, 2014 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
59. In Between Fear and Excitement The Uhm family move into their new home but it is not quite ready as there is a lot fixing up that needs to be done. The Song's have left the Choo home, but Sarang seems to miss the chaos the triplets created at her home. She also tells her dad that Manse is now her favorite Song triplet. Later father and daughter go to a pottery shop to make a gift for mom Shiho. Meanwhile the Song's are still in Japan enjoying a day at the aquarium where Daehan shows a lot of interest in the attractions. Ilgook treats the triplets to gyozas and breaks his vegetarian diet when Daehan feeds him a dumpling. Later the Song's go to stay at a hotspring inn where Ilgook ask the triplets if they could try getting off using diapers for the new year. Hwijae brings the twins to an observation deck to look at Seoul's nightlight, but both Seojun and Seoeon show more interest in the automatic candy machines. Later, the Lees write their New Year's resolution and have a fun day at the park. |
January 4, 2015 |
| 2 |
60. Look Forward To It Taewoong's 48 hours of child care duty begins. He takes Jion to the local park where he has trouble changing her diaper. Later when he is feeding dinner to Jion he is touched and surprised that she is able to mimic his actions while he was cooking. Sarang plays dress up with her mom. Her friend Yuto comes over to help take her of the newborn puppies and participate in Sarang's Korean lessons. Hwijae shows the twins how to dry laundry. Later he takes them out for a restaurant to have a Korean feast. Major League Baseball player Hyun-jin Ryu visit the Song home. |
January 11, 2015 |
| 3 |
61. Growing Up Fast Taewoong potty trains Jion, later the two go grocery shopping and he child proofs the home while Jion is taking a nap. Sarang visits her older cousin Yume in Kyoto, Japan. While there she also meets up with her other maternal relatives (her great-great grandmother, grandmother, and uncle). The two have fun wearing hanboks, also her cousin Yume gets to see Sarang's huge eating appetite. Hwijae brings the twins to a bakery where they let you decorate your own cake. Hwijae wants to decorate a cake for his friend Yoon Hyung Bin's son 100th day but the twins won't stop eating the icing cream on the cake. The Song's are still enjoying their time with Hyun-jin Ryu. Later Ilgook takes the triplets skiing. |
January 18, 2015 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
111. Every Wish Comes True The twins go to a bathhouse to welcome the new year! The dance performance heats up the sauna and the twins break into the stage! The triplets try grocery shopping. Daehan leads his brothers, Minguk checks the sketchbook and Manse holds the heavy bags! It's the day of Seola and Sua's picnic and Donggook tries making rice rolls for the first time in his life. But then he suddenly starts cutting seaweed and pasting it onto children's faces. Sunghoon has a lot of memories in Busan before Sarang was born so they travel to Busan. They visit Sunghoon's old dorm, a famous market and Sunghoon's favorite restaurant! |
January 3, 2016 |
| 2 |
112. Kids Are Like Clay Seola, Sua and Daebak were scared by a laughing puppy doll. So Donggook takes them to a theme park of dogs. It has snowed a lot and Seojun wishes for something after looking at the snow. It's to meet Elsa of "Frozen!" And the real Elsa appears in front of the twins! It's the second morning at the Buddhist temple and the twins try picking cotton for the first time. Sunghoon and Sarang dress up in hanbok and make a wish at Yongungsa, Busan. They also meet Uncle Donghyun and have delicious dinner. |
January 10, 2016 |
| 3 |
113. I'll Watch Over and Protect You Sunghoon has cut his hair short and has transformed into a movie actor! Sarang visits the movie set with her dad. The triplets have mastered the tricycle. Now they try riding bicycles. Will they be able to master bicycles as well? Donggook tries making egg soup for 2-year-old Daebak. But it's too hard for Donggook who's just a beginner in cooking. The twins have come to watch a performance! They have important tasks to do here! |
January 17, 2016 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Present is a Present | January 1, 2017 |
| 2 | You Can't Have a Rainbow Without Rain | January 8, 2017 |
| 3 | The Moments Shine Brighter When We Are Together | January 15, 2017 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
We'd Choose Ourselves Again in Another Life Donggook has a quality time with the three children by going to a restaurant in his memory as well as making a promotional video for Pyeongchang Olympics. Meanwhile, Sam stays in a maternity ward with his wife, Yumi, and William for the delivery of his second child. You get to see the special story of them including the tough yet beautiful process of childbirth and welcoming the new member of their family with moving tears. |
January 7, 2018 |
| 2 |
I'm Glad to Have You Donggook prepares a special fourth birthday for Sian who is transformed into a superhero. Sam and William visit the famous fastidious star, Jiwoong's house and finds a new generous side of him as an uncle. Meanwhile, Jiyong is surprised by how brave and confident Seungjae is in front of a crowd as well as in the nature. |
January 14, 2018 |
| 3 |
For You, Who Always Shine Donggook has a special and awkward day with his father and Sian while wearing matching outfits. Sam takes a business trip to Japan and meets Sayuri to ask for babysitting as well as interviewing his idol. Meanwhile, as a farewell, Taeyoung's family opens Ki Cafe to repay the love they have received so far. |
January 21, 2018 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Every Moment Was for You The families get ready for the KBS Entertainment Awards ceremony and the dads prepare a surprise to farewell Bong Tae-gyu and Si-ha. |
January 6, 2019 |
| 2 |
I Can Hear Your Heart Ji-yong tries to slow down his rushed life but Seung-jae and him meet the hulk instead. An idol uncle goes all the way to Ulsan to take care of the Park kids and take them to a dentist. Sam teaches the kids how to fish. |
January 13, 2019 |
| 3 |
Our Winter Story The Lee family does winter sports training with the Ko duo. Sam tries to get William to cherish his old toys, then they visit a greenhouse. The Park family visit Busan. |
January 20, 2019 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Even in the New Year, We're Pretty, Cute and Lovely It's already another year, and Ra-im is walking and talking now. Joo-ho shows the kids around his alma mater. The Hammingtons move over to the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi. The Do siblings get a tour of their dad's workplace. |
January 5, 2020 |
| 2 |
For All Supermen in the World It's the KBS end of the year awards, and the kids get together to claim their wins and meet famous aunts and uncles. Plus, Will and Ben meet Pengsoo. Guest star(s): Pengsoo, Jang Dong-yoon, Jung Il-woo |
January 12, 2020 |
| 3 |
Love Is Beautiful, Childrearing Is Wonderful Jam Jam feels bittersweet during her first day of daycare. The Park siblings wake up in Seoul then attend their dad's soccer game. Will and Ben's snow day with Pengsoo resumes. Yeon-woo runs his first errand on his own without the help of the cameramen uncles. |
January 19, 2020 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nice to Meet You, Be Happy | January 3, 2021 |
| 2 | You Are My Ocean, Overflowing Love | January 10, 2021 |
| 3 | I'm Grateful I Met You | January 17, 2021 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Can You Remember it for Me | January 2, 2022 |
| 2 | Here Comes the Tiger with Child-rearing Spirits | January 9, 2022 |
| 3 | You are the Biggest Prize of My Life | January 16, 2022 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Our Shining End of the Year | January 7, 2023 |
| 2 | Children Who Grow With Love | January 14, 2023 |
| 3 | Bed of Roses for the New Year | January 21, 2023 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Our Happy Time Families shown in the episode: Kim Jun-ho (Kim Eun-woo); Jasson (Yeon Jun-beom); Park Joo-ho (Park Na-eun, Park Gun-hoo, & Park Jin-woo); Kang Kyung-joon (Kang Jung-an, Kang Jung-woo); Lee Pil-mo (Lee Dam-ho, Lee Do-ho); Jung Sung-ho (Jung Soo-ah, Jung Soo-ae, Jung Soo-hyun, Jung Jae-bum, Jung Ha-neul)// Guest star(s): Choo Sung-hoon, Lee Jae-ah, Lee Jae-si, Lee Si-an, Kim Ho-young, Lee Eun-ji// Special appearance(s): Cha Jun-hwan (via short video); Lee Seung-woo (via short video); TVXQ Changmin (via short video); Hwang Kwang-hee (via short video); Enhypen Sunghoon (via short video); The Boyz Juyeon & Younghoon (via short video); Hwang Je-seong (via short video); Kim Jae-joon (via short video) |
January 3, 2024 |
| 2 |
Let's Rise Up Again In the New Year Families shown in the episode: Jasson (Yeon Jun-beom); Lee Pil-mo (Lee Dam-ho, Lee Do-ho)// Guest star(s): Park Seul-gi, Gong Moon-sung, Bae Yoon-jung, Hyerim, Shin Min-chul, The One, Lee Jung |
January 9, 2024 |
| 3 |
Look Closely. This Is How A Super Mom Parents Families shown in the episode: Kim Jun-ho (Kim Eun-woo & Kim Jung-woo); Honey J (Jung Love)// Guest star(s): — |
January 16, 2024 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Year of the Blue Snake, Full of Joy, Full of Love" | January 1, 2025 |
| 2 | Our Meeting Doubles the Joy | January 8, 2025 |
| 3 | Welcome to the Earth | January 15, 2025 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Episode 1 | January 7, 2026 |
| 2 | Episode 2 | January 14, 2026 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Things You Only Realize Once You Raise Them Choo Sunghoon and Sarang are going to Osaka to meet Sunghoon's parents. Tablo is recovering from shoulder surgery, will he be able to look after his daughter Haru? Lee Hwi-jae has become the god of child care, now that he's familiar with taking care of his twins, Seoeon and Seojun. He goes to see an eye doctor to check the twin's eyes. The charismatic actor Jang Hyunsung is actually a very clumsy person at home. He's very friendly with his two sons, Junu and Junseo. He teaches Junseo how to ride a bicycle without training wheels. |
November 3, 2013 |
| 2 |
They're Just Like Me Sunghoon and Sarang have so much fun in Osaka, Sarang spends her birthday at her grandparents' house and experiences various things she had never done before. Meanwhile, Tablo and Haru go to the aquarium to see fish, which are Haru's favorite thing in the world. Hwijae, worried about the twin's eyes, takes them to an eye doctor. They get their eyes checked up and Hwijae gets so scared by the sound of their crying. Also he takes them to a baseball park with him. Hyunsung goes to Junu's parent-teacher conference and gets surprised by Junu's letter and his performance in school. |
November 10, 2013 |
| 3 | I Can't Live Without You | November 17, 2013 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tell Me Your Wish! | January 5, 2014 |
| 2 | My Children's Private Life | January 12, 2014 |
| 3 | If We Hadn't Met Then... | January 19, 2014 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | In Between Fear and Excitement | January 4, 2015 |
| 2 | Look Forward To It | January 11, 2015 |
| 3 | Growing Up Fast | January 18, 2015 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Every Wish Comes True | January 3, 2016 |
| 2 | Kids Are Like Clay | January 10, 2016 |
| 3 | I'll Watch Over and Protect You | January 17, 2016 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Present Is a Present | January 1, 2017 |
| 2 | You Can't Have A Rainbow Without The Rain | January 8, 2017 |
| 3 | We Shine More Together | January 15, 2017 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | KBS2 |
|---|---|
| First aired | November 3, 2013 |
| Last aired | January 14, 2026 |
| Runtime | 100 minutes |
| Status | Returning Series |
| Schedule | Sunday at 18:25:00 |