MBC's variety show "I Live Alone" (나 혼자 산다) has once again been embroiled in a fabrication controversy. Actor Kim Min (김민) recently appeared on the program, revealing his distinctive life in a house over 90 years old. After the broadcast, however, some viewers questioned the authenticity of the content. As the controversy escalated, local residents of Dongducheon (동두천) spoke out, stating they have known Kim Min for years and affirming that the show accurately portrayed his real life. They urged the public to stop making baseless speculations.
Recently, the YouTube channel "Mdduru Mdduru" uploaded a clip of Kim Min's appearance on "I Live Alone." In the comment section, a netizen claiming to live in Dongducheon wrote, "As a citizen of Dongducheon, there are some things I want to tell everyone. I also know Kim Min's parents." They emphasized that they have known about Kim Min's living situation since childhood, asserting that their defense of him was not without basis.
The resident further revealed that the motorcycle left by Kim Min's deceased father had indeed been stored for several years until it was repaired last year. As for the old house's garden shown in the program, while it was tidied up slightly for filming, Kim Min genuinely lives there, and it was not a set specially constructed for the show. They also stated that although Kim Min owns an old apartment, the lifestyle depicted on the program is authentic.
This netizen also shared their first impression of Kim Min at their own shop, jokingly saying, "He was a customer at our store, but the first time I saw him, I thought he was a homeless person." At the time, they simply found Kim Min's attire very unique and his personality very introverted. It wasn't until later, when they saw him in "King of Savvy" (카지노), that they realized he was an actor.
They couldn't help but express their frustration on Kim Min's behalf, stating, "Please stop spreading rumors and deliberately stirring up fabrication controversies!" They emphasized that Kim Min is a native of Dongducheon and still commutes daily between his home and filming locations, adding that local residents know him to be a diligent and kind person.
Interestingly, the resident concluded by directly addressing Kim Min, playfully asking him, "But, Mr. Kim Min, when did you ever work with your dad? I remember you were quite lazy as a child." This half-joking remark added a touch of familiarity between acquaintances to the comments. They reiterated that the program's content was not fabricated and urged everyone to show Kim Min more support.
In fact, in the "I Live Alone" episode aired on November 2, Kim Min showcased a lifestyle distinctly different from that of most celebrities. He lives in a house over 90 years old, relies on a generator for electricity, tears baguettes by hand, and even personally repairs damaged floors with cement. These unpretentious daily routines astonished viewers and quickly sparked discussion.
However, after the broadcast, some netizens began to question the authenticity of the content. Some compared street view images, noting that the garden shown in July of this year had a different atmosphere from what was presented in the program. Others argued that despite nearby utility poles, Kim Min still used a generator for power, questioning whether these scenes were deliberately staged.
In response to the skepticism, other netizens offered different perspectives. One user, claiming to be a field worker for Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO), analyzed that the absence of an electricity meter in the program's footage suggests the house might have had its meter removed and power supply disconnected, thus necessitating a generator. Additionally, some pointed out that street view images are not frequently updated, and discrepancies between images from different times are insufficient to prove program fabrication.
MBC's production team responded to the controversy via Korean media outlet NewsEn, emphasizing that the house featured in the program is indeed Kim Min's actual residence. The production team did not specifically tidy up the house or deliberately arrange any scenes for filming. Regarding the use of a generator, the production team explained, "That house was originally not connected to electricity. The program simply captured his actual use of electricity as it is, without any additional setup or arrangement." They hoped this explanation would alleviate public concerns.
However, "I Live Alone" had previously faced a fabrication scandal involving Jun Hyun-moo's (전현무) impromptu travel segment. The renewed questioning of Kim Min's appearance has led some viewers to doubt the program's trustworthiness.
Kim Min has been active in domestic and international film and television productions in recent years, gaining significant attention for his role as "John" in the Disney+ series "King of Savvy." He has since appeared in films such as "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." With his distinctive appearance and strong character portrayals, he has left a lasting impression in various works.
