[Interview] "In an Era Where Single-Person Households Are Not Special, I Am Drawn to Budding Solo Dwellers"

MBC 'I Live Alone' Producer Heo Hang Interview
'13-Year-Long' Original Reality Show
Changes Reflecting Increase in Single-Person Households
Apologies for Various Controversies
Promise of Flexible Communication

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Isul] "Stories of the world they live in" is a recent reaction from some viewers of MBC’s variety show I Live Alone. In a house with marble floors and dazzling lights, an actor wakes up wearing smooth pajamas as if they had just finished ironing them. The broadcast begins with a morning scene of leisurely brewing a cup of coffee while looking at the Han River. Somehow, it feels bittersweet. The show, which first aired in 2013, was quite different back then. It was impressive to see Yuk Joong-wan diligently nurturing his dreams in a rooftop room, shopping at the local market and cooking meals, or Kim Kwang-gyu relieving his daily fatigue by cooking ramen.

Eight years have passed. I Live Alone, which has established itself as the original observational variety show, has matured through trials and errors. As the show grew, social attitudes also changed. The number of single-person households and singles increased. Following this changing atmosphere, the show also evolved. It no longer adds pitying or caricaturing perspectives. Living alone is no longer a spectacle but has become our story.

Producer Heo Hang, who created MBC shows such as If You’re Jealous, You Lose, Music Core, The Capable Ones, We Got Married, and Real Men 2, took over from Producer Hwang Ji-young in November 2016. Since February, Heo has been the main director of I Live Alone, and he said eight months have flown by without much time to adjust. This is because various controversies and criticisms erupted as soon as he took the new position.

In an interview on the 21st, Producer Heo Hang said, “I know viewers want a new I Live Alone. Please watch how we develop and move forward.”

Heo said, “A few years ago, many people viewed married families as the default and single generations as special. Now, there are many people living alone. The format itself has strong power, as viewers gain tips on know-how and human relationships through the show.”

He said that taking over the megaphone brought more pressure than joy. Heo Hang said, “I Live Alone is one of the popular programs with high buzz and ratings. In the early days of directing, I worried a lot about whether to maintain the status quo or create a new program. Ratings are important, but on the other hand, we are going through a process of renewing and improving.”

Heo Hang started as an assistant director at the beginning of the program in 2013. The first thing he did after becoming the main director was to send a love call to the rainbow chairman Jeon Hyun-moo. “When I was assistant director in the early days, Chairman Jeon was symbolic. Although he left due to personal circumstances, I always thought from the viewers’ perspective that he should come back someday. As soon as I became PD, I contacted Jeon Hyun-moo first to ask him to return. I don’t think he could say ‘OK’ to the comeback immediately. After returning, he changed a lot and is now giving 120% of his role.”

Producer Heo Hang clearly stated that, in principle, I Live Alone has no fixed members. “People think that members who appear in the studio are fixed members and those who don’t appear are not fixed, but that’s not true. Sometimes people share stories, and some come back after a long time through special episodes like ‘Oh My, Welcome Back.’ It’s open to people living alone,” he emphasized.

Recently, I Live Alone has been plagued by various controversies. The issue of cast verification has been raised consistently over the past few years, with various big and small controversies emerging. When this was mentioned, Producer Heo carefully explained the casting process and promised to try not to make mistakes.

“The casting process is long. We first get information by calling the agency, then conduct a serious interview for nearly an hour at MBC or outside to understand their lifestyle. After that, the main PD conducts a second interview at the person’s home. We film all day and edit for a week. During several filtering stages, we carefully block even a 0.1% chance of problems. If any issues are expected during casting, we cut immediately. However, there are parts beyond our control that happen externally. We will try to prevent discomfort to viewers through delicate filtering within the possible range.”

Of course, it is not easy for the production team to fully verify private matters. The problem lies in the response. Recently, I Live Alone has taken a conservative stance on controversies. Some have expressed disappointment with the communication method. Producer Heo Hang said, “Ultimately, it’s a human issue, so it’s difficult for the production team to quickly release a statement. Internal review and verification are necessary, and the process of asking the parties involved takes place. No matter how fast we move, it still takes some time. I understand the criticism that it’s disappointing,” and added, “We will improve the system to respond more quickly in the future.”

Producer Heo Hang promised that there will be no devil editing or manipulation in his directing career. He said, “I Live Alone is a sensitive program. Since the situations of viewers and cast members are closely connected, they immediately sense directing or setups. That damages the show’s vitality.” He continued, “Filming time is really long. We keep filming while respecting the cast’s movements as much as possible. The broadcast time is less than an hour, but we keep filming. The on-site principle is not to interfere with the cast, and we have conservatively upheld this. If we hadn’t, we wouldn’t have come this far.”

He named actor Kim Kyung-nam as the most memorable cast member. He explained that the episode recorded the lowest ratings because it aired at the same time as SBS drama Penthouse during the Olympic Games broadcast. Regardless of ratings, viewer reactions were enthusiastic. Producer Heo said, “It was the episode closest to the direction we want to take. Kim Kyung-nam didn’t talk to himself or have any entertainment elements. He lived in an officetel, woke up in the morning, read scripts, drank coffee, lived a faithful day, and wrote a diary at night. It was good to show the image of an ordinary but hardworking actor.”

Recently, Producer Heo Hang has been focusing on young people living alone for the first time. He said, “I want to consistently show the lives of young people who have just become independent.” “I want to tell the single life stories of people like Lee Eun-ji and Park Jae-jung, who are clumsy but managing their lives in their own way. I want to highlight young sprouts and youth who are building their lives as they face their first independence.”

He also didn’t forget to promote. Producer Heo hinted that the rainbow members of I Live Alone recently took photos for the 2022 calendar. “The members gathered to take pictures and handcraft the calendar, which will be broadcast soon,” he said. “It will be an episode that brings laughter. Please look forward to it.”

Photo = MBC