MBC's long-running variety show "I Live Alone" (나 혼자 산다) has been under considerable pressure recently, with viewership ratings steadily declining and even hitting a new low. The production team is now introducing a new segment featuring actor Kim Min (김민), who will share his 28 years of single life, hoping his unvarnished daily routine can reverse the show's fortunes.
In fact, "I Live Alone" has seen a continuous drop in ratings. On Aug. 21, it recorded 6.5%, which fell to 5.2% on Sept. 4, 4.8% on Sept. 11, and 4.2% on Sept. 18. By Sept. 25, ratings plummeted below 4% to just 3.5%, marking a new low for recent episodes.
Beyond the dismal ratings, the show also faced a production controversy over a segment featuring Jun Hyun-moo's (전현무) "spontaneous trip," with accusations that parts of the content were pre-arranged. The production team admitted in September that some scenes were indeed pre-planned.
After the news broke, some viewers were critical, leaving comments such as, "If it's going to be like this, they might as well cancel it," and "It's not the 'I Live Alone' it used to be." The combination of declining ratings and production controversies has put pressure on the 13-year-old variety show to reinvent itself.
At this critical juncture, "I Live Alone" revealed its next move: actor Kim Min. In the preview for the upcoming episode, shown at the end of the Sept. 25 broadcast, Kim Min introduced himself by saying, "I've been living alone for 28 years." This extensive experience immediately became the highlight of the preview, making viewers curious about his private life.
Most notably, his home captured significant attention. Kim Min currently resides in an old house in Dongducheon (동두천), Gyeonggi Province (경기도), which is approximately 80 to 90 years old. The house is filled with various items he brought back to Korea after living abroad, along with folding screens, antique furniture, and numerous vintage collectibles and trinkets. The overall atmosphere is a stark contrast to the luxurious homes typically showcased by celebrities on the show.
Instead of a luxurious new building or trendy high-end decor, Kim Min chose to live in an old house, personally undertaking its organization and repairs. He revealed, "I fix it little by little as I live in it." From inside to outside, he handles many tasks himself, showcasing the practical skills he has accumulated over 28 years of living alone.
Even his breakfast is remarkably simple. The preview shows Kim Min sitting in front of a folding screen, eating baguette and drinking coffee, moving freely around his home in casual loungewear. There's no deliberate attempt to portray a glamorous celebrity image; instead, it's filled with a strong sense of authentic daily life.
The true surprise, however, came later. After riding his motorcycle, Kim Min's destination was an Aikido dojo. Upon arrival, he immediately transformed from an actor into an Aikido instructor, personally teaching young students. When the children exclaimed, "I don't want to do it," he didn't put on a stern facade; instead, he played and interacted with them, showing a friendly side completely different from the powerful characters he often portrays in dramas. After the preview was released, some netizens commented, "It feels like the early days of 'I Live Alone.'"
When "I Live Alone" first aired, it focused more on presenting the most natural and authentic aspects of celebrities' single lives, rather than showcasing their luxurious homes and extravagant lifestyles. Now, with Kim Min revealing his 28 years of living alone in a nearly 90-year-old house, personally undertaking repairs, and even transforming into an Aikido instructor, many viewers are hopeful that the show can recapture that unembellished sense of life from its early days.
Kim Min has built an extensive filmography in domestic and international productions, gaining significant attention for his role as 'John' in Disney+'s "Revenge of Others." He subsequently appeared in films like "The Roundup: No Way Out" and "Smugglers," as well as Netflix's "Black Knight" and "Song of the Bandits," and Disney+'s "A Shop for Killers," leaving a strong impression with his distinctive appearance and powerful character portrayals.
Particularly in "A Shop for Killers," he played 'Pasin' (파신), Lee Dong-wook's (이동욱) companion and martial arts instructor to Kim Hye-jun (김혜준), showcasing his agile action skills and further solidifying his impression on viewers. Recently, he has continued to participate in productions such as Wavve's "Reverse" and tvN's "Four Hands."
As "I Live Alone" faces the dual pressures of ratings dropping below 4% and production controversies, all eyes are now on whether Kim Min's contrasting lifestyle — "28 years of living alone + 90-year-old house + Aikido instructor" — can generate buzz and turn the show around.
