The show's teaser trailers got a positive reception from viewers, which led to its press conference being
streamed live through web portal
Naver on June 28, 2013; although it is common for popular singers to stream their performances live, this was the first time a Korean variety show
live-streamed its press promotion event. Defying a youth-centric entertainment industry,
Grandpas Over Flowers became a surprise ratings hit. It recorded 6 to 7 percent average viewership ratings (according to AGB Nielsen Korea). This was considered remarkable as many shows on Korean cable rarely secure viewership ratings of even 1 percent. The show's audience demographic not only consisted of
senior citizens, but younger viewers in their twenties and thirties.
Lee Seo-jin's cool, intellectual celebrity image was also reinvented through the show's more approachable portrayal of him as being witty yet bumbling while he gets constantly stressed out over being the older men's tour guide and "luggage boy". According to
Korean Air and
Asiana Airlines, occupancy rates notably rose on flights to cities that appeared in the show. It also sparked a trend of programs with older celebrities in leading roles, including the 2014
sitcom Flower Grandpa Investigation Unit which again starred
Lee Soon-jae. But terrestrial broadcaster
KBS received criticism for "copying" the concept of
Grandpas Over Flowers through their new reality show
Mamado ("Mama, Too"), which featured four veteran actresses —
Kim Young-ok, Kim Yong-rim,
Kim Soo-mi and Lee Hyo-chun — who go traveling with younger actor
Lee Tae-gon. Another cable channel
TV Chosun also launched the show
Yes Yes, wherein veteran entertainers go on two-day trips with their grandchildren to the countryside all across Korea. Show creator and
PD Na Young-seok attributed the show's success to its cast and their spontaneity, saying, "It's because older people with a lot of experience, have lots of stories to tell. When you travel with people with a lot of experience who have gone through the success and failures in life, you learn a lot from them. Their stories teach us something about life."
tvN executive Lee Deok-jae added, "I think it's because the program dealt with the universal issue of declining communications between old and young generations, and suggested solutions in ways that entertain viewers. I think entertainment programs people watch only to kill time are quickly losing ground. For a program to have wide appeal and good feedback, it has to contain either a lesson or warm hearts or suggest something productive." Meanwhile, culture critic Jung Duk-hyun said, "Old people speak very frankly, but because of their experience: they have been through so much so they seem always unfazed. Programs such as
Halbae are doing a good job in making an entertaining show out of their cast members, who are shown as people the younger generation of people can sympathize and identify with. And of course, the older generation of viewers love the experience of watching shows about people closer to their age." Writer Lee Woo-jung was given a presidential commendation at the 2013 Korea Content Awards, which praised her show for its depiction of "four elderly backpackers with humor and warmth." Then in 2014,
Grandpas Over Flowers won Best Entertainment Program at the
50th Baeksang Arts Awards. ==Spin-offs==