In the latest episode of 'I Am SOLO', the 30th season contestant Young-ho put his date through a 'Cheonggukjang test'. This comes after Young-chul from the 29th season faced backlash for testing the women.
The episode aired on the 11th on ENA and SBS Plus, showcasing a dramatic turn of events where 'first impression popular guy' Young-soo became the 'zero-vote guy', while Young-chul, previously a 'zero-vote guy', turned into the 'first date popular guy'.
After the 'self-introduction time', the 30th season singles shared their changed feelings in their rooms. Soon-ja decided to give up on Young-soo after he expressed a preference for 'cat-like' features, saying, "I don't think it'll work since I'm more of a 'bread-like' face." Young-sook speculated that Young-ho chose her not out of interest but because of her 'horse dance', and shifted her interest to Kwang-soo, an engineering graduate. Hyun-sook expressed interest in getting to know Young-chul and Sang-chul, who are also business owners like her. Meanwhile, Sang-chul revealed to the other men that he wanted to talk to all six women, and Young-sik pondered over Young-ja's job, which requires frequent relocations.
At the same time, Young-soo approached Young-ja for a walk, admitting, "Honestly, I'm not okay with your job's relocations, but I felt it wasn't right to sort it out alone." He confessed, "To be honest, my number one choice is you, Young-ja." Other single men also flocked to the women's quarters to find their 'crushes'. Sang-chul asked Hyun-sook about her future residence plans, but she didn't give a clear answer, leading him to confess to the production team, "Living abroad for a long time is tough for me."
Young-ho called Young-sook and expressed, "Even though you didn't choose me at first sight, you caught my eye from the beginning." Young-sook then realized Young-ho's interest in her and said, "If women get to choose the date, I'll pick you." Young-ho responded, "Me too~."
The two continued their pleasant conversation, even choosing their date menu in advance. Young-sook mentioned her close-knit family, saying, "I want to meet someone who can accept a tight family bond." Young-ho, who grew up in a contrasting family environment, said, "Hearing about your harmonious family increased my interest," with a smile.
Kwang-soo complimented Ok-soon, saying her 'easy-going nature' is his charm point and that her smile is beautiful, which is his ideal type. Young-soo and Young-ja had a lengthy conversation, with Young-soo expressing his growing interest, saying, "This is fun. I want to stay longer."
The first date selection was made by the single women. Young-soo, who boldly declared "I'm lonely~", surprisingly received no votes. Young-ho was chosen by Young-sook, and Young-sik was picked by Young-ja, leaving Young-soo disappointed. Despite their long conversation, Young-ja told the production team, "After talking earlier, my feelings became ambiguous. I don't think Young-soo will surpass Young-sik in terms of excitement, so I might have to reject him later."
Young-chul, previously a 'zero-vote guy', became a 'popular guy' with choices from Soon-ja and Ok-soon. Kwang-soo received no votes but declared, "I'm more determined now," while Sang-chul became the '2-to-1 date' protagonist with choices from Jung-sook and Hyun-sook.
During the '2-to-1 date', Sang-chul gave hot packs and vitamins to the women and wore glasses for night driving, showcasing a 'smart look' to increase his appeal. However, the pleasant atmosphere was short-lived as Sang-chul and Hyun-sook engaged in a debate over a 'realistic question' during dinner. When Hyun-sook said she wanted to focus on childcare for five years after having a child, Sang-chul countered, "Then I'll also do childcare for five years."
Unlike the tense exchange, Jung-sook agreed with Sang-chul, saying, "I don't want to break my career. I'm grateful for my parents working together, even though having a mom who packs lunch is nice."
During a '1-on-1 conversation' with Jung-sook, Sang-chul felt uncomfortable as she kept checking the time. Jung-sook explained, "I'm worried Hyun-sook might be waiting," but after the conversation, she told the production team, "I think it's time to stop getting to know him," indicating her loss of interest in Sang-chul. In contrast, Hyun-sook was impressed by Sang-chul's determination to try his best until the last day, even if there's no perfect match, and expressed her growing interest in him. However, Sang-chul told the production team, "I think I'll get to know Jung-sook more, but I don't feel the need to make time to talk to Hyun-sook."
Young-ho took Young-sook to a Cheonggukjang restaurant for their first date. Young-ho revealed it was a test, saying, "If a woman says this isn't right about the Cheonggukjang menu, then we're not compatible." Fortunately, Young-sook enjoyed it, saying, "The smell is great," and they had an in-depth conversation about life perspectives. After the date, Young-sook said, "It was a wonderful time," but added, "I'll get to know others before deciding on my feelings for Young-ho."
The 'zero-vote guys' Young-soo and Kwang-soo went to a Chinese restaurant for a 'lonely meal'. However, they had to share a bowl of Jajangmyeon as the ingredients ran out. Young-soo, struggling to eat, said, "It tastes good, but it doesn't," leaving most of the food. He later confessed to the production team, "If Young-ja clearly expresses disinterest, I'll move on without regrets, but if not, I'll continue to show interest." The preview for the next episode showed a cheerful date between Young-sik and Young-ja, and a 'battle of appeals' between Soon-ja and Ok-soon over Young-chul, heightening anticipation for the next broadcast.
Tae Yuna, TenAsia Reporter youyou@tenasia.co.kr