During the press conference for the new Coupang Play variety show 'Bonjour Bakery,' held at the Community House Masil in Myeong-dong, Seoul, on the morning of the 6th, Kim Hee-ae shared her reasons for joining the program. "I wanted to participate because it had a great purpose, but to be honest, I also had a little ulterior motive," she admitted. "I thought I’d be able to smell coffee and eat delicious cakes while working."
In response to her comment, Cha Seung-won jokingly retorted, "In reality, Kim Hee-ae was the one who ate the most desserts. She ate significantly more than any of the other members," drawing laughter from the crowd.
Kim Hee-ae playfully countered, "That was me holding back and trying to be mindful," adding with a laugh, "I wanted to eat more than one, but they wouldn't give them to me. I only got to have one once the business closed for the day."
'Bonjour Bakery' is a healing baking variety show where seniors who know the taste of life and the bakery staff who know the taste of happiness share sweet comfort and warmth. Set in a quiet rural village, the show features Korea’s first "Yes Senior Zone" cafe, which is exclusively for seniors aged 65 and older and their companions. The cast includes actors Cha Seung-won and Lee Ki-taek as the "Kitchen Team," while Kim Hee-ae and Kim Seon-ho serve as the "Hall Team."
As the "owner" of 'Bonjour Bakery,' Kim Hee-ae charmed customers with her signature elegance and down-to-earth personality, taking orders and chatting with the seniors. "At my age, when I go anywhere else, I'm just a 'mom' or an 'ajumma,' but there, I became a daughter. I was so happy," she said, reflecting on the experience. "The seniors recognized me and were so happy to see me. It was rewarding to feel like I was bringing a little bit of happiness to them."
She continued, "I actually came down with a bit of body aches after we finished. I was so nervous, excited, and having so much fun that there was a bit of an aftereffect. It was such a happy memory, and I was so sad that it had to end."
The desserts at 'Bonjour Bakery,' created by Cha Seung-won and Lee Ki-taek using local specialties from Gochang, North Jeolla Province, were not only beautiful and delicious but also affordably priced. Kim Hee-ae was so immersed in the project that she even came up with the idea to create "dessert cards" to introduce the treats to customers.
"As the saying goes, you see what you know; now when I go to a department store, I find myself comparing their desserts to ours," Kim Hee-ae said, showing great affection for the 'Bonjour Bakery' menu. "They are so pretty and delicious, and because they use local ingredients from Gochang, they are fresh and not too sweet. Plus, they are even more special because we priced them so affordably."
'Bonjour Bakery' was created to bring small but sweet moments of happiness to rural seniors who may not have easy access to the trendy, high-quality K-desserts that have gained global recognition. "It was wonderful to see the seniors come in and feel such happiness," Kim Hee-ae explained. "I’ll be a senior myself soon, so I think this is a story about our mothers, and ultimately, a story that isn't so far from our own."
'Bonjour Bakery' will premiere on Friday the 8th at 4:00 PM.
[Photo=Coupang Play]
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Sun-ae)