“I think this might be the most surprising variety show I’ve ever done. When you watch it, you’ll probably wonder, ‘How did he do that?’ In the end, I felt that I made the right choice by doing this program and that I participated in something truly meaningful.”
Actor Cha Seung-won shared his thoughts on running a rural bakery during the press conference for the Coupang Play variety show “Bonjour Bakery” on the 6th in Seoul, stating that “the sense of achievement and the level of difficulty were the highest.”
Having earned nicknames like “Cha-jubu” from the “Three Meals a Day” series and “Cha-chef” from “Spanish Home Stay,” he now transforms into “Cha-tissier,” a master of desserts, in “Bonjour Bakery.”
While he has shown off his cooking skills in various variety shows, this is his first time challenging himself with baking and pastry.
“They say baking is a science, so you have to be very precise,” he recalled. “I’m actually not great at cooking precisely, so I was half-doubting myself due to the pressure. However, baking itself made me incredibly happy. There was a sense of achievement in overcoming each hurdle one by one.”
Premiering on the 8th at 4 PM, “Bonjour Bakery” is a baking variety show that follows the events at Korea’s first “Senior Dessert Cafe” opened in Gochang, Jeonbuk.
Set in a “Yes Senior Zone” cafe where only seniors aged 65 and older and their companions can enter, the bakery family—including actors Cha Seung-won, Kim Hee-ae, Kim Seon-ho, and Lee Ki-taek—shares comfort and warmth with the elderly.
Cha Seung-won and Lee Ki-taek form the “Chef Team” to create desserts using Gochang specialties like green barley and bokbunja, while Kim Hee-ae and Kim Seon-ho make up the “Hall Team” to provide drinks and service.
The program was inspired by writer Kim Ran-ju’s personal experience. She explained that she planned the “Senior Dessert Cafe” while recalling memories of her father, who suffered from a long illness while traveling between Seoul and Yeosu, enjoying a piece of cake at a Yongsan Station coffee shop on his way home.
Kim Hee-ae said, “In the past, when I went abroad, I’d say the food was ‘pretty’ or ‘delicious,’ but these days, I feel Korea is the best in the world with so many delicious treats. Unfortunately, those things are mostly open to the younger generation, and it’s even more restrictive for seniors living in non-urban areas. I wanted to give those people a sweet and moist happiness, like a dessert.”
The cast mentioned that they resonated with the program’s intention to bring happiness to local seniors.
Kim Seon-ho looked back, saying, “You can see the seniors healing at ‘Bonjour Bakery.’ I also felt healed, so I was excited and happy.”
Lee Ki-taek added, “It made me think a lot about my grandmother and grandfather. I feel like my gaze toward not only my family but also those around me has become warmer and broader.”
The four cast members agreed that the final event held at “Bonjour Bakery” is a key point that will bring a touching experience to viewers.
Kim Hee-ae noted, “It was more impressive than I expected, to the point where it will become a precious memory in my life.”
Lee Ki-taek asked for anticipation, saying he cried so much he had to wipe his tears off-camera. “The resonance at the end was huge. I still remember that moment vividly.”
Recently, “region-friendly” variety shows that coexist with areas facing extinction, such as “After School Teacher Taeri” and “Bogum Magical,” have been appearing one after another.
In the case of “Bogum Magical,” a “regional revitalization” effect was seen, with an increase in tourists visiting Apseom Village in Muju, Jeonbuk, where the barbershop is located.
Writer Kim Ran-ju said, “I hope it doesn’t end with the broadcast but that the filming location becomes a tourist resource. Gochang has plenty of food and tourist sites. I hope the local government considers ways to link the ‘Bonjour Bakery’ filming site with tourist attractions, and we would like to help if we can.”
