Robert Kelly, an expert on Korea, gets a surprise visit from his children when being interviewed live on the BBC
The academic whose unruly children made him one of the viral hits of the year has shared a Christmas message with his fans.
Professor Robert Kelly captured the imagination of the world when his 4-year-old daughter Marion, son James and wife Jung-a appeared like a "comedy of errors" as he spoke on live news about politics in South Korea, reports the Daily Mail.
He wrote on Twitter today: "Merry Christmas. To all the people who follow me because of the video or my children, thank you. We are flattered by your kindness."
Merry Christmas. To all the people who follow me because of the video or my children, thank you. We are flattered by your kindness. pic.twitter.com/NmmqzozRWg
The message was welcomed by Professor Kelly's fans including Katie Mack, who wrote: "I follow for the political insight but the video is how I found you. I hope you & your family have a lovely holiday!"
Another said: "Came because of the video but stayed because of your expertise and stellar commentary. Happy holidays to you and family."
And Leila Couceiro commented: "Thank you so much for one of the best internet moments of the year. Much happiness to you and your family."
The hilarious footage went viral in March after Professor Robert Kelly, questioned about South Korea's president, Park Geun-hye, being ousted from power was eclipsed by little Marion, who performed a comical dance in the background.
She was followed by baby brother James, aged just 9 months, who swept in to the study in a fast-moving baby walker. Moments later a stressed-out Jung-a skidded into the room and grappled the children out of shot.
Shortly after the clip, Professor Kelly held a press conference to "clear up rumours" sparked by it.
He said: "My wife Jung-a did not use too much force in removing the children from the room. People asked this."
"Our children were not hurt ... we normally do not treat our children the way you saw in the clip."
He added: 'We would like to clear up some of the rumours and controversies around the video. Yes, the woman in the video is my wife, not my nanny.'
Asked about becoming a "poster child" for working fathers trying to balance office commitments with family life, he said: "You have to be flexible. For example, this was my home office space and normally I hope that my children don't come in; I can get more work done.
"But we want our children to feel comfortable coming into the room and being able to approach their father. And that means you can't keep that strict boundary where some rooms are off limits."
The video has been viewed 84 million times on the BBC's Facebook page, the hashtag #BBCDad was trending on Twitter. Photo / Youtube
Addressing rumours he didn't stand up because he was wearing pyjamas or pants he said: "Yes, I was wearing pants! Someone at lunch recognised me today and asked me if I was wearing pants.
"Strangers ask me if I was wearing pants. I chose not to stand, this is why people were asking me if I was wearing pants because I did not stand. I chose not to stand because I was trying to save the interview."
Asked if he worries that the "blooper" would have any effect on his credibility as a "scholar", he said: "I am a little bit wary of the fallout for my academic credentials. We didn't want this. I guess this is now the first line of my obituary right? I'm BBC dad for a while now I suppose. I would hope that people would read my work.
"But ... I think there's just a general sense it just sort of happened, right? So I guess not. If we were still talking about this in six months, I guess I would be genuinely uncomfortable. I'm surprised, actually, that this is still rolling along. It's day five and we still can't answer our phone.
"Finally, we have no serious comment about the many social analyses about the video. We see this simply as a very public family blooper, we do not see this in some political or social way or as a metaphor for anything. We have no real comment on that sort of stuff."
He had earlier told the Wall Street Journal: "As soon as she opened the door I saw her image on my screen. She was in a hippity-hoppity mood that day because of the school party."
Kelly, 44, said he gamely tried to continue with the interview until little James tottered into the room. "Then I knew it was over," he said.
To complete the farce, his wife Jung-a Kim then came skidding through the door.
She grabbed the two youngsters and tried to drag them out of the door, but one of them could be heard wailing and the baby's walker got stuck in the door.
The video has been viewed 84 million times on the BBC's Facebook page, the hashtag #BBCDad was trending on Twitter and the story has been covered by media from Uruguay to Australia.
