The 28th season of 'I Am SOLO' (I Am Solo) opened a 'dopamine festival' with a more intense and candid 'divorce special'.
In the episode aired on the 3rd, the real dating program 'I Am SOLO' on SBS Plus and ENA showcased the first meeting of the 28th season's divorced men and women who entered 'Solo Nara 28', along with the 'first impression selection' of the solo men. According to Nielsen Korea's ratings, the broadcast recorded an average viewership of 3.5% (based on paid broadcasting households in the metropolitan area, combined figures for SBS Plus and ENA), with a peak rating of 3.9% per minute.
Additionally, in the target viewership rating of 'I Am SOLO', 'Men and Women 2049', it maintained the top spot with 1.5%, and the 'best one minute' was occupied by Sun-ja's pre-interview about her previous marriage. Furthermore, it ranked 2nd in the 'TV-OTT Non-Drama Popularity' of the 'Fundex Chart' (announced on September 2) compiled by Good Data Corporation, showcasing overwhelming popularity and buzz.
The first to appear in 'Solo Nara 28', which announced the beginning of 'end love' in Gangwon-do, was Young-soo, who revealed in a pre-interview with the production team, "I met my ex-wife through an introduction from my father's mountain club colleagues, and we worked at the same company but divorced after 5 years due to differences in personality." He continued, "We had a mutual divorce without any grudges, and we still keep in touch," showing a cool demeanor. Next, Young-ho, who appealed as a 'steel man' who has mastered ice hockey, revealed, "I hurriedly prepared for marriage due to health issues of both mothers, but after 3 years of common-law marriage, we separated."
Following him, Young-sik entered, stating that he came here with the support of his high school daughter who is a fan of 'I Am SOLO', and confessed, "After a short romance, I got married due to premarital pregnancy, and after constantly clashing, we divorced after 7 years." He added, "I endured for the sake of my child," and shared that "after a long effort, I now get along with my daughter like friends," evoking a sense of emotion.
Young-cheol revealed, "I divorced after 10 years of marriage, and my ex-wife is raising our 11-year-old son," indicating that he is not the custodial parent. He then expressed his ideal type, saying, "I prefer older women, tall women, and those with children." Stylishly dressed in a suit, Kwang-soo stated, "My father is a former member of the National Assembly, and despite opposition from both families, I married my ex-wife at 27, but we divorced just 6 months after the birth of our daughter." Currently raising his high school daughter alone, Kwang-soo said, "I lived for my child; my priority was my daughter, and I forgot about love, but now I want to find true love."
Sang-cheol opened up, saying, "I divorced due to personality differences," and shared, "I didn't do anything after the divorce. But while watching 'I Am SOLO', I thought I wanted to be happy," explaining his reason for participating. Kyung-soo, who stands at 193cm tall, has had a 30-year professional career and is a former soccer player holding the record for the longest field goal by a goalkeeper. He revealed that he divorced after 12 years due to personality differences, stating, "Having played as a goalkeeper for a long time, I'm used to criticism. If there is criticism after participating, it's not the first time, and it won't be the last in my life," showcasing his 'steel mentality'.
After the seven solo men, the solo women made their entrance. The first to appear, Young-sook, stated, "I am raising a 9-year-old daughter and a 7-year-old son," and shared, "I ended my marriage through a lawsuit. I am good at anything done by hand, and people say I have a good impression," appealing as a 'pass for the interview'. Jeong-sook, who appeared in a black mini dress, recognized Kyung-soo, whom she met at 'Decision Agency', at first sight, and expressed her surprise, saying, "Is this fate?"
She continued, "I fell in love at first sight with a handsome man, but after a year of common-law marriage, we divorced," and added, "You might feel less attracted to me (physically), but if you get to know me, you'll be drawn in." Sun-ja confessed, "I married a man I met through a blind date with a fitness trainer while pregnant before marriage, but ended up divorcing after a lawsuit." Young-ja shared, "In my second relationship, I got married just 100 days after a blind date, but we ended up as strangers due to money issues and household chores."
Amid everyone's expectations, Ok-soon made her appearance, showcasing visuals like a 'girl group center'. Born in 1991, Ok-soon emphasized, "I became a couple with a high school friend, but we separated due to unfortunate circumstances. Even when I meet my match, the first thing I consider is the child." Hyun-sook, who is raising a 10-year-old son, a 7-year-old daughter, and a 5-year-old son, stated, "I didn't come out to find a father for my kids," and expressed, "I want to meet someone who can embrace my life."
Finally, Jeong-hee introduced herself as a dentist raising an 8-year-old daughter, revealing that she joined the 28th season after knocking on the door of 'I Am SOLO' until the day before filming. She continued, "I married after being confessed to by the representative director of the same hospital, but I felt lonely due to my husband, who only knew work," and expressed her desire to meet a man who is as witty and empathetic as Defconn.
Once all 28 members gathered, the solo men's 'first impression selection' took place. In a shocking format where the solo men put a 'gold ring' on their 'one pick' solo women, Young-soo and Young-ho chose Jeong-sook, while Young-sik went to Sun-ja and became a 'quick bot'. Young-cheol sang Jo Yong-pil's 'Bounce' passionately before giving a ring to Jeong-hee, and when Jeong-hee immediately asked, "Am I prettier than Ok-soon?" he replied, "Of course," showing his 'Jeong-hee obsession'. Kwang-soo and Kyung-soo chose Ok-soon, while Sang-cheol picked Hyun-sook. In contrast, Young-sook and Young-ja received '0 votes'.
Afterwards, when all 28 members were about to move to their accommodation, the production team's explanation that "the solo women should ride in the cars of their 'number one solo men' saved in their mobile phones" surprised the solo women. The preview released immediately after captured the moment when Young-soo and Jeong-sook held hands from the first day, along with Jeong-sook bursting into tears, foreshadowing a chaotic 'divorce war'.
[Son Jin-ah, MK Sports Reporter]
