Im Woo-il's Culinary Journey on 'I Live Alone' Captivates Viewers, Boosts Ratings
Im Woo-il, a 44-year-old bachelor, showcased his efforts to embrace change by learning to cook and cleaning out his refrigerator on MBC's 'I Live Alone'. His earnest attempts, despite being a novice, garnered much support from viewers. As a result, the show's ratings soared to a peak of 7.8%, securing the top spot among all Friday programs in the 20-54 age demographic.

The episode aired on the 10th of this month, featuring Im Woo-il attending a cooking academy. He revealed his new venture, stating, "I wanted to try something new this year," and set 'learning to cook' as his goal for 2026. He attends cooking classes twice a week. Im Woo-il shared a practical reason for his decision, "In my line of work, cooking is unavoidable. I've been asked countless times if I can cook, and when I say 'I can't', the conversation often ends there."

Im Woo-il's Culinary Journey on 'I Live Alone' Captivates Viewers, Boosts Ratings
At the cooking academy, Im Woo-il displayed his 'passion for cooking'. After the instructor's demonstration, he confidently prepared ingredients, showcasing skills he acquired as a cooking assistant during his military service. However, he struggled with handling raw chicken for a dish and raced against time to complete the class. Reflecting on the experience, he often thought of his mother, wondering, "How did she do this all her life?" His determination to learn, despite his inexperience, was commendable.

Im Woo-il's Culinary Journey on 'I Live Alone' Captivates Viewers, Boosts Ratings
Im Woo-il also tackled a major refrigerator clean-out. Upon seeing the bags of items he pulled out, he humorously remarked, "You can tell by microwaving it," eliciting laughter from the Rainbow Club members. When he mentioned storing food indefinitely with the hope of eating it someday, Jeon Hyun-moo shared a cautionary tale of getting sick from eating old frozen meat, advising, "Don't do that!" A comedic moment ensued when a bottle of makgeolli exploded during the cleanup.

After the refrigerator overhaul, Im Woo-il prepared a meal with dishes he learned at the cooking academy. Tasting his creation, he expressed surprise at how delicious it was, stating, "I was amazed at how good it tasted. With a recipe, I can cook anything!" Anticipation grows for his future culinary endeavors. Next week's episode teases Koo Sung-hwan's 'National March' challenge and rookie actor Park Kyung-hye's solo living experience.

Lee So-jung, TenAsia Reporter forusojung@tenasia.co.kr
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