I Am SOLO's Sang Cheol tearfully opens up about loneliness after divorce

As the emotional landscape shifts rapidly for the participants of 'I Am SOLO' Season 32, Sang Cheol drew intense attention from viewers by tearfully confessing the deep loneliness and sense of loss he has experienced since his divorce. With love lines being significantly restructured through two rounds of date selections in a single day, the participants' raw emotional confessions heightened the program's immersion.

In the 262nd episode of the SBS Plus and ENA dating reality program 'I Am SOLO', which aired on the 15th, the story of the fourth day in 'Solo Land 32' was revealed. The broadcast, characterized by mismatched choices and unexpected emotional shifts, recorded a combined nationwide viewership rating of 4.1% (Nielsen Korea).

In the first round of date selection, the female participants were given the right to choose.

Yeong Suk chose Yeong Sik without hesitation, while Jeong Suk headed toward Yeong-ho, who had consistently expressed interest. Sunja chose Gyeong Su, and Yeong Ja decided to go on a date with Yeong-cheol. Furthermore, as Ok-sun, Hyeon Suk, and Jeong-hui all chose Gyeong Su, Gyeong Su became the protagonist of the only '3-on-1 date.' On the other hand, Yeong-su and Sang Cheol were not chosen by anyone, facing what is known as the 'solitude meal.'

Yeong Sik and Yeong Suk strengthened their relationship by sharing realistic values such as ideal types, religion, and views on marriage.

When Yeong Suk asked, "Do you not intend to talk more with Sunja?" Yeong Sik replied firmly, "I don't think I need to worry about that anymore." Afterward, Yeong Sik also told Sunja, "I don't think there is anything more to consider," settling his feelings, and showed his firm intention to pursue Yeong Suk by giving her a gift he had prepared before entering the program.

In contrast, Gyeong Su's date, who had received the most interest, followed a flow different from expectations.

Hyeon Suk expressed her regret, saying, "I think I should give up on my feelings now," as she did not feel clear interest from Gyeong Su. However, upon returning to the accommodation, Gyeong Su belatedly sought out Hyeon Suk, confessing his sincerity, saying, "I actually can't speak well in front of someone I am truly interested in," and "I was interested because you are pretty." Hyeon Suk also reopened her heart to his honest expression.

The relationship between Yeong-ho and Jeong Suk actually drifted a step further apart.

Jeong Suk candidly shared her feelings, saying, "I like men who lead, but the excitement wasn't great," and Yeong-ho concluded the date without being able to sustain sufficient conversation.

Conversely, Ok-sun and Gwang-su showed an unexpectedly high level of connection.

As their tastes and communication styles naturally aligned, Gwang-su actively expressed his interest, saying, "If there is nothing holding you back, please come to me," and Ok-sun also signaled a change in their relationship by replying, "I feel most comfortable and natural when I am with Gwang-su."

A cold atmosphere continued between Yeong Ja and Yeong-cheol.

Yeong Ja pointed out Yeong-cheol's passive attitude in not approaching her first, to which Yeong-cheol replied, "I am originally not good at expressing things like that. I will try to pay attention in the future." However, Yeong Ja revealed that her feelings had drifted away, confessing that even at the accommodation, she had begun to become increasingly conscious of his tone, behavior, and even his clothing.

The scene that left the greatest impact was Sang Cheol's tears.

Sang Cheol, who was spending time alone while waiting for Ok-sun, eventually could not suppress his emotions and shed tears. When Sunja, Gyeong Su, and Yeong-cheol saw this and offered comfort, he calmly confessed, "When I got married, I created a family, but when I divorced, that family disappeared," and "I was terribly lonely."

This confession went beyond a mere scene in a dating program, drawing empathy from viewers as a moment that honestly revealed the sense of loss, disconnection from relationships, and emotional emptiness an individual can experience after a divorce. However, psychological experiences and the recovery process after divorce vary greatly by individual, making it difficult to generalize specific cases.

Ok-sun revealed her inner thoughts to Jeong Suk regarding her dilemma between Sang Cheol and Gwang-su, and Jeong Suk advised, "If your mind is already made up, it is polite to tell Sang Cheol directly."

In the second round of date selection that followed, the male participants exercised their right to choose.

Yeong Suk received selections from both Yeong Sik and Yeong-su simultaneously, and Yeong-ho chose Jeong Suk again, with whom his relationship had drifted somewhat. Yeong-cheol chose Yeong Ja, Gwang-su chose Ok-sun, and Gyeong Su chose Hyeon Suk, each successfully arranging a 1-on-1 date. Meanwhile, Sang Cheol, who had shown steady interest in Ok-sun, created a new variable by choosing Jeong-hui instead.

The preview for the next episode, shown at the end of the broadcast, teased a competition to win the 'Super Date Right,' raising expectations that the love lines of Season 32 will hit another major turning point.