Gu Seong Hwan Contributes to the Revival of 'I Live Alone' with Controversy Over 26-Year Age Gap Friend

While 'I Live Alone' is noisy due to the production controversy surrounding Jun Hyun-moo's impromptu trip to Kazakhstan, it has now moved the hearts of viewers with Gu Seong Hwan's warm friendship. Gu Seong Hwan, who went riding on a motorcycle to find food with a young man born in 2006 who is 26 years younger than him, provided comfort to the other's hard daily life while also gaining great solace himself. The sincere communion between the two, transcending the age difference, provided both laughter and emotion.

In the 669th episode of the MBC entertainment program 'I Live Alone' broadcast on the 16th, Gu Seong Hwan was shown enjoying a ride with Park Tae-hwan, whom he met at a small motorcycle license testing site. Gu Seong Hwan's friend, who appeared at the meeting place riding his newly purchased motorcycle 'Kuku', was Park Tae-hwan, born in 2006 and 21 years old this year. The two met at the license testing site, exchanged phone numbers, and continued to stay in touch, becoming close enough to drink alcohol together. Gu Seong Hwan revealed his extraordinary friendship by stating he even gifted the helmet that Park Tae-hwan uses.

The occasion for the two to become rapidly close was the passing of Kkotbun-i, the pet dog Gu Seong Hwan cherished. Gu Seong Hwan recalled the time, saying, "When something bad happened in February, I received many contacts, and he also cautiously contacted me in the early morning." It is said that Park Tae-hwan called in the early morning to ask if he was okay after Kkotbun-i passed away and cried, and seeing this, Gu Seong Hwan also shed tears together. Gu Seong Hwan said, "If Tae-hwan had treated me with difficulty, we wouldn't have become close. He is more like an adult than me, so we communicate well." Despite the 26-year age difference, they became close by understanding each other's pain.

There was also a pleasant story unique to the two regarding their titles. Gu Seong Hwan revealed that at first, he told Park Tae-hwan to call him 'Uncle', but Park Tae-hwan instead insisted on the title 'Hyung-nim' (older brother). Gu Seong Hwan drew laughter by saying, "We are not at an age to be Hyung-nim and Dong-saeng (younger brother), but he said he likes being Hyung-nim." The sight of the two forming a comfortable relationship rather than being conscious of the actual age difference added warmth.

The real purpose of this trip was the food rather than the motorcycle itself. The two stopped at a pizza restaurant during the ride and then visited Gu Seong Hwan's regular donut shop. Gu Seong Hwan confessed, "The riding is actually an excuse. I came to eat with you." He even brought laughter by joking, "The reason I got my license is that I can park anywhere and eat 8 or 9 [donuts]." Unlike Park Tae-hwan, who got his license for commuting, for Gu Seong Hwan, the motorcycle was a special means to enjoy delicious food with a friend.

However, the atmosphere changed when Park Tae-hwan's daily life was revealed. He attends night university only on Saturdays, works at a repair shop from 8 AM to 6 PM on weekdays, and works part-time at a raw fish restaurant from 7 PM until 1 AM the next day. He lives a life of working two jobs to earn separate pocket money after giving the money earned at the repair shop to his mother. He was so diligent that he even exercises on Sundays, his only day off. Upon hearing that his last trip was a school trip during high school, Code Kunst and Kian84 marveled, saying, "That must be why he looks even prettier," and "You are blessed with people. To meet a friend like that."

Gu Seong Hwan found the grease stuck between the fingernails while working at the repair shop and did not hold back his praise for Park Tae-hwan. He said, "It is a trace of living hard," and "What a wonderful medal. Even though there is an age difference between us, I learn a lot from you." He did not stop at unilaterally taking care of the young friend, but found things to learn from the other's attitude of living diligently. When Park Tae-hwan shouted during the ride, "I'm not lying, this is the best vacation of my life," Gu Seong Hwan replied emotionally, "I am so thankful to you."

Minho, watching this, brought up his own experience. He said he liked being able to have various experiences by hanging out with older brothers who were 20 years older when he was around twenty, and interpreted that Park Tae-hwan also seems to feel happiness while having new experiences with Gu Seong Hwan. Gu Seong Hwan joked, "Hey, call me Dad," upon realizing that Park Tae-hwan was not even born when he debuted in 2004, drawing laughter once again. Gu Seong Hwan stated, "There is a 26-year difference, but Tae-hwan shows more consideration, so that age gap was not important," and revealed that he actually gained a lot of energy from the kind and responsible friend. After eating Dak-galbi heartily, the two promised to go on riding and gourmet trips together once a year.

While Gu Seong Hwan's warm friendship is drawing viewers' attention, 'I Live Alone' is still in an embarrassing situation due to the production controversy surrounding Jun Hyun-moo's impromptu trip to Kazakhstan. After scenes were broadcast where Jun Hyun-moo chose his destination and departed without much planning, questions were raised as to whether the trip was actually carried out spontaneously. MBC has stated its position that while there was some production, it was not manipulation.

The controversy resurfaced on the 16th when reports emerged regarding the contents of data submitted by the Incheon International Airport Corporation to the office of Kim Eun-hye, a member of the People Power Party belonging to the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea. The reported data is said to contain a plan to film scenes of requesting filming permission on July 22 and issuing airline tickets at the Air Astana departure counter on August 6 and departing, along with the recorded flight information. It is also known that a composition plan regarding the scene where Jun Hyun-moo considers the Kazakhstan trip and calls Gu Seong Hwan and Lee Joo-seung to seek advice was included.

Regarding this, an MBC official explained on the 16th that they had submitted a composition plan containing a rough filming plan to the airport via official document to obtain filming permission. They stated that it was merely a document written to understand the filming content, and emphasized that the said script was not shared with Jun Hyun-moo in advance. The intention is to distinguish between the preliminary composition plan for filming permission and the script delivered to the performers.

Ultimately, the core of this controversy lies not in the fact that the production team prepared for filming in advance, but in how much the impression of an 'impromptu trip' delivered to viewers in the broadcast matches the actual production process. Even if Gu Seong Hwan and Park Tae-hwan's friendship provided sincere emotion, it does not automatically resolve the questions surrounding the entire program. Attention is focused on whether 'I Live Alone', which is trying to regain laughter and empathy, can also recover the trust of viewers.

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