Imagine walking into a tiny barbershop in a quiet, snowy village and seeing Park Bo-gum waiting for you with a pair of scissors.

After starring in hits like When Life Gives You Tangerines, Bo-gum has traded his scripts for a barber’s apron in the new variety show, The Village Barber. Fun fact: Bo-gum earned his official barber license back in 2021 while serving in the Navy.

The show is a cozy, “slow-life” journey that took a whole year to prepare. Bo-gum was there from the start, even visiting the shop while it was under construction. He is joined by Lee Sang-yi, who learned how to do nails and got a licence for it. Kwak Dong-yeon, the chef who keeps everyone warm with toasted Bungeo-ppang, the famous fish-shaped pastries.

What makes the show so special is Bo-gum’s genuine attention and sincerity. You can really feel his heart as he carefully cuts the hair of elderly residents, listens to their stories, and makes them feel like stars. It is definitely a comforting show to watch in my free time.

The Village Barber is now streaming on HBO Max.