Daniel Dae Kim's Journey to Understanding the Term 'Zaddy' Through His Sons

Daniel Dae Kim Reveals He Finally Learned From 2 Sons What Zaddy Means

Daniel Dae Kim. JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images

Daniel Dae Kim has recently been referred to as a "zaddy" on social media, a term he now understands as a compliment thanks to his sons.

At 55 years old, Kim learned that "zaddy" is defined as an attractive man who is stylish, charming, and self-confident. Initially, he mistook the term for a misspelling of "daddy."

On the Thursday, March 7 episode of The Jennifer Hudson Show, he shared his surprise upon seeing a 'z' in front of a word. He initially thought it was a typo and was puzzled by it. It was his first time hearing about it on the internet.

He then mentioned how his kids explained the meaning behind the 'z' to him, which made him understand it better.

Kim has been married to his wife, Mia Kim, for almost 30 years, and they have two sons together, Zander who is 27, and Jackson who is 22.

Throughout the years, Kim has been seen as a “sex symbol”. In 2005, he was honored as one of People’s Sexiest Men Alive during his time on the TV show Lost. He was also featured on the magazine’s sexy list in 2021.

Daniel Dae Kim Reveals He Finally Learned From 2 Sons What Zaddy Means

Daniel Dae Kim. Amanda Edwards/Getty Images

Despite being admired by many, the actor's sons remain unaffected by his celebrity status. He emphasizes that to them, he will always just be their dad.

Kim also mentioned that his sons are pleased that he still maintains a youthful appearance, as it allows him to be included in lists without looking old.

Kim was born in South Korea and moved to New York City with his family when he was a baby. Even though he has lived in the United States his whole life, he still holds onto his Korean heritage.

He fondly remembers the importance of being acknowledged by People in 2005 because of his background.

Kim explained that back in 2004 and 2005, there weren't many men who looked like him on lists like that. With the rise of K-pop and K-drama, there is now more awareness of Korea, but it was a different story in the early 2000s.

Despite being recognized as one of the sexiest men in the world, Kim did not let it go to his head.

"It didn't really make a big difference in my daily routine. I still had to do chores like taking out the garbage," he laughed. "But I appreciated what it symbolized."

Kim has always been proud to be a representative for Asians in his thirty years as an actor. In a recent interview with ABC Salt Lake City, Utah affiliate KTVX, he expressed his satisfaction in witnessing more Asian Americans making their mark in the entertainment industry.

“We’ve always had the talent. We’ve always had the desire,” he said during the January interview. “And now we have the opportunity.”

Editor's P/S:

Daniel Dae Kim's journey from being mistaken about the term "zaddy" to embracing it as a compliment is a testament to his humility and his close relationship with his sons. His reaction highlights the importance of staying connected with younger generations and understanding their perspectives. Kim's sons' explanation of the term