The 31st batch of ENA and SBS Plus’s ‘I Am Solo’ is sparking major outrage among viewers as participants engage in blatant ‘front-talking’ and bullying behavior.
While Ok-sun, who was the center of controversy in the previous episode, was largely edited out, Young-sook took the spotlight this time. During a running mission to win a super date ticket against Soon-ja, Young-sook fell and lost. After returning to the lodge, Ok-sun told her, “Young-sook is number one in my heart,” but Young-sook raised suspicions, showing her injury and claiming she felt like someone tripped her.
Soon-ja, who had already been the target of multiple ‘girl talk’ sessions, suffered a stomach cramp due to extreme stress. As she broke down in tears, the production team had to intervene, and she was rushed to the hospital by ambulance. However, viewers were infuriated by the reactions of others: Jung-hee simply looked surprised and avoided the situation, while Young-sook responded with comments like, “What is this, it’s scary” and “Should I wail too?”
Meanwhile, PD Kim Min-jong of ‘Betting on Fact’ expressed his amazement and high expectations for Jang Dong-min’s gameplay.
Jang Dong-min recently shared the news that he is launching a new survival show. Having won numerous survival competitions, including the Wavve original ‘Betting on Fact’, his transition from player to producer has become a hot topic.
Jang Dong-min’s approach has already evolved to a point where he can read the production’s intentions and see the big picture. PD Kim Min-jong, who watched Jang give directions and tips to other contestants on how to play the game, remarked in an interview, “I realized he truly has a producer’s mindset,” expressing great anticipation for the survival program Jang is creating.
PD Kim Min-jong also mentioned receiving various pieces of feedback from Jang Dong-min while producing ‘Betting on Fact’. “He kindly viewed our program positively, telling me it had potential and would do well, while also pointing out areas that were lacking and suggesting game-related improvements. I felt his affection for the genre through those comments. It didn’t feel like advice given because he liked me personally, but rather a genuine desire to see the survival genre expand its horizons.”
Over on the drama front, ‘Wonderfuls’ is confident in both its quality and entertainment value.
A production presentation for the Netflix series ‘Wonderfuls’ was held on May 12 at the JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square Seoul.
Director Yoo In-sik and actors Park Eun-bin, Choi Dae-hoon, Lim Sung-jae, Kim Hae-sook, Son Hyun-joo, Jung Yi-seo, Choi Yoon-ji, and Bae Na-ra attended to introduce the work. Another lead, Cha Eun-woo, was unable to attend due to his military service, and no cardboard cutout of him was present.
The project has garnered attention as the return work for Cha Eun-woo, who was embroiled in a tax evasion controversy last January. Director Yoo In-sik introduced Cha Eun-woo’s character on his behalf, stating, “He approached the role with passion, just like all the other actors. I am satisfied with the result.”
The director and lead actress Park Eun-bin expressed confidence in the ensemble and chemistry of the cast. Director Yoo calmly handled questions regarding Cha Eun-woo, explaining, “We prioritized the quality of the drama during the post-production process.”
In other news, some favorite ‘oppas’ are trading their slim looks for a more ‘comfy’ vibe. Following 2PM’s Nichkhun, former MBLAQ member Mir has also shared updates on his weight gain after marriage.
On May 12, the YouTube channel ‘Bang-ga-ne’ uploaded a video titled “First time at my in-laws after marriage… the people are strange,” showing Go Eun-ah and Mir spending the Lunar New Year holiday with family.
After a meal, the couple joked around by showing off their bellies. Go Eun-ah laughed, saying, “The side profile is exactly the same,” while Mir caught attention by confessing, “I’ve hit 80kg for the first time in my life.” He honestly admitted to gaining weight after marriage.
Similarly, Nichkhun recently shared updates via 2PM’s official YouTube channel. Instead of his sharp jawline, he showed a softer, more relaxed look, which caught the eyes of fans. Supporters reacted positively, saying things like, “He looks much more comfortable” and “He can just lose the weight during promotion periods.”
Nichkhun’s group, 2PM, held their 15th anniversary concerts at the Tokyo Dome on May 9 and 10. Following this momentum, they will hold their first full-group domestic performance in three years at the Incheon Inspire Arena in August.
Finally, actor Lee Hyo-je spoke about the intense effort he put into playing Choi Hyung-wook in the Netflix series ‘Girigo’. After joining the cast through an audition, he began a weight-gain journey at the request of Director Park Yoon-seo.
Lee Hyo-je recalled, “The director said he wanted a chubby body, so I told him I could do it. I actually expected to gain about 10kg, but he mentioned 20kg.” He added, “In just a month and a half, I gained over 20kg to reach about 81 to 82kg.”
His secret weapon was ‘Rosé’ flavored food. “I mainly ate Rosé tteokbokki, Rosé mara xiangguo, and various fried noodles. They were foods I could eat without getting tired of them even while gaining a lot of weight,” he explained. “I forced myself to finish whole containers of tteokbokki and struggled through mara xiangguo after waking up from sleep. It was like eating 5 to 6 meals a day.”
The character of Hyung-wook, created through this effort, became a turning point for Lee Hyo-je. Having debuted in 2014 and hovering between child and adult roles, ‘Girigo’ has finally put him on the right track.
“It’s amazing that so many people are recognizing me now. ‘Girigo’ gave me my first real start as an adult actor. I’m so grateful for this project.”
