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| 사진=MBC |
[Sports Today reporter Kim Tae-hyung] Kian84’s dream finally came true: he met Junji Ito, the horror manga master he’s idolized since childhood. In the lead-up to the meeting, Kian84’s preparation—sketching a portrait and packing a bento—made his sincerity obvious. Meanwhile, announcer Ko Gang-yong sought his first-ever loan to finance a move, and his house hunt captured the real challenges many young professionals face today.
On March 13, MBC’s I Live Alone followed Kian84 as he traveled to Japan to meet Junji Ito, and tracked Ko Gang-yong as he navigated the loan process and searched for a new place to live.
According to Nielsen Korea on the 14th, the episode recorded a 5.6% household rating in the Seoul metropolitan area, ranking first among Friday variety shows. The 20–54 demo rating—a key measure of channel competitiveness that reflects changing media habits—was 3.3%, also the highest among Friday programs.
The episode’s standout moment came when Kian84 and Junji Ito finally met. Arriving with Kangnam, Kian84 grew visibly nervous as the meeting approached. He paced and rehearsed the questions he had prepared. When his idol appeared, the room fell silent. Seeing Kian84 face the moment he’d long dreamed of left the Rainbow members speechless, and the scene pushed the episode to a peak rating of 6.4%.
Kian84 flew to Japan specifically to meet the artist who inspired him to become a cartoonist. Kangnam—who had visited Kian84’s home last summer and witnessed his devotion to Ito—kept a promise to arrange the meeting. “It feels like a dream,” Kian84 said, thrilled to meet someone he never imagined he would.
His preparation was deliberate. Kian84 told the cameras he studied Japanese as seriously as he runs and compiled a list of questions. He also brought a portrait and a homemade bento as heartfelt tokens of respect.
The portrait, completed in two and a half hours, stunned the Rainbow members with its uncanny resemblance. Kian84 explained, “Junji Ito has always felt like a cosmic figure to me. I used a space-like palette for the background and added a whirlpool effect around him to suggest a force that draws people in.”
Dressed in a suit and tie, Kian84 set out with Kangnam to meet Ito. He revealed that Kangnam had gone so far as to visit Ito’s agency in person to secure the meeting. Producer Code Kunst added that Kangnam had kept calling into the early hours to make it happen.
When Ito opened the door, Kian84 jumped to his feet, barely able to speak. The encounter left viewers eager to see what the two would discuss in next week’s episode.
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| 사진=MBC |
At the same time, the episode followed MBC announcer Ko Gang-yong as he prepared for a move and attended his first loan consultation. Living in a studio far from the office, Ko said he wanted to shorten his commute and create clearer living zones. Joking about going “all in” on borrowing, he explained he planned to use a jeonse deposit loan and other financing to make the move possible.
As a young professional, Ko found the loan process daunting from the start. A phone consultation left him bewildered by unfamiliar terms and an avalanche of required documents. The Rainbow members shared their own experiences and advised him to visit a branch in person—“the language is confusing, and it’s fastest to go in person,” they said.
Worn out after the consultation, Ko immediately dove into house hunting. He met a producer who’d recently moved to get practical tips on items like guarantee insurance and contract paperwork. Ko inspected listings carefully—from a new two-room unit to a loft studio with a large terrace to a tidy 1.5-room—checking location, layout, and included features. Excited by the search, he quickly realized how hard it is to find the right place within a tight budget.
Reflecting on the day, Ko said the responsibility felt different and the stress was on another level. “Even if I don’t ask for everything I want, I’ll be living there for at least two years, so I’ll keep looking and do my best to find the right place,” he said.
Next week’s episode teases the second installment of Kian84’s dream meeting with Junji Ito and a segment with camping expert Bae Na-ra.
[Sports Today reporter Kim Tae-hyung ent@stoo.com]
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