In the latest episode of ‘I Live Alone’, Ki-an 84 once again brought heartfelt emotions to viewers. His sincerity shown while volunteering for a mural project at an orphanage with his junior colleagues from his alma mater, along with the purity contained in the ‘four-leaf clover’ gifted by the children, warmed the hearts of the audience.
The episode aired on the 23rd featured Ki-an 84 participating in mural volunteer work at an orphanage with his juniors, while SHINee's Key enjoyed healing moments in his ‘hometown of the heart’, Gangwon-do.
According to Nielsen Korea, the household rating for the episode of ‘I Live Alone’ that aired the previous day was 6.2% in the metropolitan area, ranking first in its time slot and among Friday entertainment programs. The key 2049 rating, which is a major indicator for advertisers and a measure of channel competitiveness, was 3.0% (metropolitan area), also ranking first in its time slot and overall on Friday.
The highest-rated moment was when Ki-an 84 received the ‘four-leaf clover’ gift from the children at the orphanage (23:56). The moment the children willingly presented the treasure-like ‘four-leaf clover’ they found, their pure hearts were conveyed, warming the hearts of viewers. As a result, the ratings soared to a peak of 7.7%.
Ki-an 84 visited the orphanage about seven years ago with a younger acquaintance for donations and volunteer work. He mentioned that it was a place he connected with during a busy time of webtoon serialization, and this time he returned for mural volunteer work for the children. Viewers were amazed by the consistent charitable and volunteer efforts of ‘Mida 84’ Ki-an 84, saying, “The more you see him, the more genuine he is.” Ki-an 84 added meaning to the experience by working on the mural with juniors he met during a lecture at his alma mater last year. Unlike his juniors, who quickly filled the walls in a cheerful atmosphere, Ki-an 84 became so absorbed in sketching that he even lay down on the ground.
After sweating alongside his juniors, Ki-an 84 treated them to lunch and drew attention by mentioning popular younger artists GD and BTS Jin in a talk about the lineup of invited singers for his alma mater's festival. However, he humorously confessed, “I don’t even know GD’s phone number,” eliciting laughter. After sending his juniors off due to class schedules, Ki-an 84 focused on the mural work with the help of the orphanage teacher, thinking of the happy children.
The children who saw Ki-an 84's mural exclaimed, “You painted it well!” and couldn’t take their eyes off it. Ki-an 84 filled the empty spaces of the mural with drawings of bananas, blueberries, and other things the children liked, all of which made everyone smile, reflecting his heartfelt intentions towards the children. In return, the children presented gifts to ‘Uncle 84’ Ki-an 84, creating a touching moment.
After completing the mural work that lasted a full 8 hours, Ki-an 84 expressed, “I’m disappointed with the painting itself. I wanted to add a moon if there was a sun, but I felt regret due to time constraints,” and added, “Since a mural is something that gets layered and built upon, I think it would be meaningful if new paintings are added later.” He also expressed his hope that the children would create new drawings in the future, which brought warmth to the scene.
Meanwhile, Key was shown enjoying his ‘hometown of the heart’, Gangwon-do, where he made many memories with his family during his childhood. The first place Key headed to was his favorite restaurant he had been visiting for over 10 years, describing it as “a place that fills both body and soul.” Upon entering the restaurant, he was warmly welcomed by the owner, and a delicious spread of seasonal spring vegetable side dishes like acorn jelly salad and a hearty chicken soup was served.
Key exclaimed, “This is the taste that can’t be found anywhere else,” as he continuously moved his chopsticks, indulging in the food. After tasting all the side dishes and showcasing a chicken soup deboning show, Key’s actions made viewers laugh as they commented, “This is the most envious I’ve seen him so far.” Key packed the remaining chicken soup and cleverly organized the side dishes into a zip bag he prepared himself, drawing attention.
Next, Key headed to the beautiful scenic Hwaam Temple in Goseong. As Key, who attends church, awkwardly bowed and offered a prayer, Jeon Hyun-moo humorously remarked, “It feels like greeting a senior I haven’t seen in a while,” causing laughter. Key was touched by the temple staff's saying, “Church is love, and Buddhism is compassion,” and when he received a refreshing pear and a beautiful jade bracelet presented on a silver tray, he smiled and said, “This kind of thing happens every time I come to Gangwon-do~.”
Additionally, Key showcased his skills in taking self-photos during his solo trip and revealed a ‘makhoe’ recipe that blends styles from Gyeongsang-do and Gangwon-do, capturing attention. He enjoyed a feast made with ‘ppagaejang’ (a sauce made from fermented soybean) he brought along and market-sourced sesame oil, recharging his energy. He expressed, “It gives me the strength to move forward,” feeling satisfied.
Next week, a glimpse of Yook Sung-jae's black-filled single life after 8 years of living alone and Kim Dae-ho's journey to find childhood memories is anticipated, raising expectations.
