'I Am Solo' PD: "The Most Watchable Part Is the Love Triangle, Including the Ending"

'I Am Solo' Producer Nam Gyu-hong
"Only Those Who Can Endure Emotional Pain Appear"
"If You Tell Them to Focus Only on Love, Such Things Happen"

[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Jeong-min] "Anyway, the most watchable thing is the love triangle. The ending is also dramatic..."

Nam Gyu-hong PD, who is in charge of producing and directing the dating program 'I am Solo,' said in an interview with CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' on the 27th, when asked about the most memorable contestants, "I remember all of them individually. Guk-i, Gwang-su, Bok-sun, Young-su, those three and their dramatic story..."

Nam PD explained the popularity of the love triangle by saying, "First of all, I think they were the most honest on the program. And in terms of the story, somehow a story was created that you can't really write as a drama."

The contestants are set to fall in love during a short one-week retreat. Considering the broadcast format, one might think some acting was involved, but the participants are serious.

Nam PD said, "At first, I was skeptical. We create a certain environment and immerse them in it, and then we actually remove everything else. When we tell them to just focus on love, such things happen." He explained that the contestants approach each other's love seriously, get hurt in the process, and that's how it goes.

Because of this characteristic of the show, there is a preference for certain types of contestants. Nam PD said, "We do not prefer people who come for promotional or somewhat impure reasons at the first stage," and explained, "Those who have a hard time with emotions related to the opposite sex but actually have some strength to endure the emotional wounds are the ones who primarily appear."

The emotions with the opposite sex form the foundation of the story in the broadcast. It is easy to hurt and be hurt. Those who can endure such wounds are preferred as contestants on broadcast dating programs.

Regarding the secret to the success of broadcast dating programs, Nam PD said, "When something works in the market, many similar products come out, and then there is a bit of an upgrade. As programs diversify, some very well-made programs emerge, and the audience who enjoys them keeps expanding."

On the reason for using pseudonyms on the show, Nam PD said, "When you professionally pursue a format, you create a certain framework to help people remember it, so the program's unique identity is revealed. Programs where familiar elder names like Young-su, Young-cheol, Young-sook are repeatedly mentioned are easier to remember, I think."

When asked if he is an expert in dating, Nam PD said, "No, I am not good at it. I really am not good at that. I just made it thinking that if we do it this way programmatically, many people will watch."