[Dispatch=Reporter Jung Tae-yoon] Actors Kim Hee-ae, Cha Seung-won, Kim Seon-ho, and Lee Gi-taek opened a bakery cafe in a small rural village in Gochanggun, Jeollabuk-do. This bakery is the reverse concept of a "no kids zone"—a "yes seniors zone."

The concept of this bakery originated from writer Kim Ran-joo's personal experience. The memory of sharing cake with her father, who was undergoing treatment, and after losing him two years ago, that memory became her support.

Writer Kim said, "I created an age-restricted bakery because I wanted people who couldn't spend time with their parents to spend time comfortably here."

The actors were also moved by the warm concept. Cha Seung-won said, "Honestly, there are programs where after it ends, I think 'I shouldn't have done this.' This time, I felt 'I'm glad I did this.'"

Coupang Play's new variety show 'Bonjour Bakery' held a production presentation on the 6th at Masil Community House in Myeongdong, Jung-gu, Seoul. Kim Hee-ae, Cha Seung-won, Kim Seon-ho, Lee Gi-taek, PD Park Geun-hyung, and writer Kim Ran-joo attended.

'Bonjour Bakery' depicts Korea's first "senior dessert cafe" that opened in a quiet rural village. It is a healing baking variety show where seniors who know the taste of life and bakery family members who know the taste of happiness share sweet comfort and warmth.

Cha Seung-won transforms into a "patissier." He challenged French baking for the first time in his life. Lee Gi-taek plays an enthusiastic youngest member and assists Cha Seung-won. Kim Hee-ae leads the front-of-house team as an overall manager. Kim Seon-ho works as a barista and becomes the seniors' favorite grandson.

Kim Hee-ae said, "It's a bakery where only seniors aged 65 and above and their companions can enter. I believe Korean pastries and baked goods are the best, but they're only open to younger people. I wanted to provide small but modest happiness to those who couldn't access them due to limited accessibility."

The so-called "yes seniors zone," accessible only to those 65 and older, was born from writer Kim Ran-joo's experience. Kim recalled, "My father underwent long-term treatment and traveled between Yeosu and Seoul. I always saw him off at Yongsan Station, and he was curious about the cake displayed in the bakery showcase."

She continued, "That was the first time I saw my father eat cake. After that, I went to places my family frequented with my father. Two years ago, my father passed away, and those memories became my support. I created an age-restricted bakery because I wanted people who couldn't spend time with their parents to spend time comfortably here," she said, her eyes welling up.

How was the casting completed when the cast members could not meet in one place during production? Writer Kim said, "I met many chefs, but ordinary cast members couldn't do it. It had to be senior Cha Seung-won. His schedule was packed so I thought of other alternatives, but it just wouldn't work."

She continued, "For the front-of-house team, a familiar image that fits anywhere was important. So I thought of senior Kim Hee-ae. And when I thought about who could make the grandmothers comfortable like a grandson, actor Kim Seon-ho came to mind."

The actors sympathized with the warm concept and decided to appear on the show immediately. Cha Seung-won said, "The program's intent was clear. Actually, having to do pastry work myself was vague. I didn't want to do it poorly. I had a lot of pressure, but I really felt glad I did it."

Kim Hee-ae said, "There's a good intention, but I had selfish reasons too. I thought I could go to work, smell coffee, and eat delicious cake. But after it ended, I had side effects to the point of body aches. Still, it was a happy memory."

Although it's a healing variety show, the kitchen had record-breaking difficulty. Cha Seung-won said, "Pastry is called a science because measurements must be precise. But I tend to cook by eye. There were so many processes, and the production team kept pushing me so I had no choice but to do it."

In particular, Cha Seung-won has done challenging variety shows like 'Three Meals a Day' and 'Spanish Gosiwon.' About this variety show, he said, "It was the variety show with the highest sense of achievement. Making just one pastry gave me enormous satisfaction."

PD Park Geun-hyung said, "I'm editing now, and I feel sorry every time I see him. There are many bread processes, and we scheduled it so tight we didn't even have time to use the bathroom. While editing, I sent a message saying 'I'm sorry.'"

Kim Hee-ae came up with the idea of a dessert card from the seniors' perspective. She said, "I thought they would be curious about what the dessert names were and what ingredients were in them. So I made cards for them. The mothers all took them with them."

Kim Seon-ho lowered the barrier to the bakery. Writer Kim said, "When the seniors saw the unfamiliar space and hesitated saying 'Can I really go in here?', actor Kim Seon-ho approached first and created a low threshold."

There were also surprise part-time staff members: Dino, Ong Seong-wu, and Lee Joo-bin from SEVENTEEN. Kim Seon-ho said, "When I couldn't attend due to performance schedules, the part-time staff came. They did better than I did. Dino even came again when we needed an extra hand."

'Bonjour Bakery' was filmed in Gochang. Why did it have to be there? Writer Kim explained, "Gochang was where '1 Night 2 Days' did a 200-episode special. It was such a wonderful space that every time I did 'Sister's Market Direct' or 'Three Meals a Day,' I went to scout it. Every time I went, the seniors were eating their meals at that same time."

"There was an old supermarket there that closed, and the space had been empty for a long time. I thought it would be a good memory to open a bakery there. And since there are many local specialties, it seemed like a good place to make desserts using them, so I went back to that village." (Kim Ran-joo)

Menus were developed using Gochang's local specialties like green barley and strawberries. These include Bonjour Green Barley Field Tart, Bonjour Bokbunja Croissant, Bonjour Blueberry Éclair, Bonjour Camellia Tart, and Bonjour Kumquat Forsythia Tart.

PD Park said, "When people hear French desserts, they might find it unfamiliar. If we make desserts using ingredients from Gochang, it would be easier for seniors to approach. We commissioned the chef to create dessert menus using ingredients from that area."

Similar format variety shows targeting seniors already exist, like 'Bogun Magical.' What sets 'Bonjour Bakery' apart?

Writer Kim said, "While editing, I kept hearing the seniors' conversations. We talk with our parents or grandparents, but we don't know what seniors talk about among themselves. Seniors in their 70s and 80s would argue saying 'my dessert is more delicious.' Those kinds of relationships are something you can only hear on 'Bonjour Bakery,'" she emphasized.

The actors cited the final episode as the most memorable scene. Kim Hee-ae said, "There was a scene at the end that the production team didn't expect. Everyone's eyes welled up. We seem to have created precious memories in life more than we thought."

Finally, Cha Seung-won said, "Honestly, after some programs end, I think 'I shouldn't have done this.' But this time, I felt 'I'm glad I did this.' I'm confident viewers will also think 'I'm glad I watched' rather than 'I shouldn't have watched.'"

Kim Hee-ae added, "I'm with my mother, and soon I'll be a senior too. Seeing the seniors feel happiness in an oasis-like place despite how difficult it is for them to have three meals a day made me so happy. Soon it will be our story."

Meanwhile, 'Bonjour Bakery' will premiere on Coupang Play on May 8 at 4 PM, on Parents' Day.

<Photo by Seunghoon Lee>