An academic who rose to internet fame when his two children interrupted his live interview with the BBC has shared an adorable new family photo to mark the sixth anniversary of the viral moment.
In March 2017, Professor Robert Kelly appeared on BBC News via video link to offer his expert insights on South Korean politics.
However, the interview became an instant internet sensation when her daughter Marion, then four, stormed into her father’s office with her little brother James hot on her heels in his walker.
The stolid father, who is a professor of political science at Pusan National University in South Korea, managed to ignore the chaos behind him as his wife Jung-a ran into the room to get their excited children out.
Six years later, the father of two, who became known online as ‘BBC Dad’, marked the anniversary of the viral video, which racked up more than 52 million views on YouTube, by sharing a new family photo on Twitter.
Proud father Robert Kelly posted a new family photo taken at his daughter Marion’s recent singing recital to mark the sixth anniversary of the viral video.
Robert tweeted: “Some BBC Dad content from the 6th anniversary of the original video was last Friday.
“Marion had a singing performance last weekend, so we got some nice family photos.”
The picture shows proud parents Robert and Jung, one hugging 10-year-old Marion and six-year-old James, following their daughter’s performance.
The couple’s daughter wore a bright pink dress for the occasion and clutched a bouquet of yellow flowers as she smiled for the camera.
Meanwhile, his little brother looked suitably smart in a white shirt and sweater.
The professor added: ‘Thanks again to everyone who follows me (for) the video. My family and I are flattered by your kindness.
Robert’s tweet has racked up nearly 40,000 likes in the past 24 hours, prompting fans to remember “the best thing the internet has ever produced.”
One responded: ‘The moment was pure gold! I loved the way the girl entered her office.
The video of Marion and James breaking into Robert’s office has amassed more than 52 million views on YouTube in the past six years.
Robert’s followers called the father of two a “pioneer”, while others said it was one of the “greatest viral moments of all time”.
Another added: “I love your story because it gave everyone a chance to laugh at the craziness of family life.”
Meanwhile, a third said: ‘I watched the video again the other day and laughed until I cried!
‘Thank you for being in such a good mood and showing the world how to accept vulnerability on the world stage. What grace! Enjoy these moments with little humans, they grow up so fast!!’
A fourth added: ‘I was a mum on maternity leave when BBC Dad hit. I saw it after a late night feeding, and it was one of the funniest things I’ve ever seen.
“And now our babies are so big, and BBC Dad is still one of the greatest viral moments of all time.”
Robert and Jung-a gave a follow-up interview to the BBC after the clip went viral in 2017. The sweet siblings even became the stars of their own cartoon show.
After the interview became an internet sensation, Marion and James even became the stars of a cartoon show.
Marion became Mina, James became Jack, and their father is a UN official, but the family is instantly recognizable and their mother is a yoga teacher, just like in real life.
But the series creator has fleshed out the Marion/Mina character and has her solving crimes and following her father to North Africa on the trail of a gold thief.
In 2018, Robert explained on Twitter how the “strange” experience made the family “happier,” helped him empathize with other parents, and made his and his wife’s bond with their children “even closer.”
Kelly had forgotten to lock her office door during the interview, which meant the kids could get in.
The parents did not punish the children for interrupting the interview because they were too young to understand that they had done something wrong.
