Amidst 'I Live Alone' Controversy, Kim Shin-young Stands Out with 'Not Fabricated' Dedication

While 'I Live Alone' is embroiled in authenticity controversies due to successive allegations of direction and manipulation, entertainer Kim Shin-young captured the attention of viewers with her extraordinary tenacity and sincerity. She even gave up her breakfast habit that she had maintained for 16 years to focus on an exam, and despite schedules that lasted late into the night, she did not stop studying until dawn. Her passion for obtaining the certification was revealed so fully that it rendered any suspicion that this was a challenge hastily concocted for the broadcast meaningless.

In the MBC entertainment program 'I Live Alone' broadcast on the 9th, Kim Shin-young's daily life as she challenged herself to obtain the 2nd domestic 'Rice Sommelier' certification was revealed. Leaving the house early in the morning as soon as she opened her eyes, she gave up the breakfast she would normally not have skipped because of the exam. Kim Shin-young confessed, "For the first time in 16 years, I skipped breakfast. Honestly, it was like hell," revealing her tension and desperation ahead of the exam. For someone who loves rice, the fact that breakfast holds more meaning than just a simple meal made her confession feel even more real regarding the desperation of her challenge.

'Rice Sommelier,' which Kim Shin-young challenged, is a private certification that covers professional knowledge about rice, such as the characteristics of rice and the cooking process. She explained the background of her challenge, saying, "This is a process that was first introduced in our country this year. I couldn't participate in the 1st session due to my schedule, but I definitely wanted to obtain it in the 2nd session." She further emphasized, "I have expertise in rice, but isn't it hard to be recognized without a certification? I am the type of person who digs in until the end once I am hooked on something." Already holding four certifications in recreation, acting education, life insurance, and property insurance, she embarked on this challenge to obtain her fifth certification.

Action came before words. Kim Shin-young did not lose her concentration despite the tight training schedule totaling 18 hours over three days. She learned in detail, from the types of rice grains to the cooking temperature and how to stir with a rice paddle, while naturally mingling with her colleagues. Although her schedule ended at midnight, the studying did not end there. She continued learning while holding onto her books until 4:30 AM. Beyond simply having a preference for rice, her attitude of trying to systematically learn and gain expertise in a field she was interested in drew attention.

The tension was significant even on the day of the exam. While taking the written exam consisting of 70 questions, Kim Shin-young focused intensely on writing her answers and, due to nervousness, replaced her OMR card twice. In the studio, she played pranks on the members by deceiving them into thinking she had failed, but soon provided a twist by pulling out her certificate. After intense studying, she secured her fifth certification. Afterwards, she invited actress Ryu Hye-young to her home and served her carefully cooked rice, showing how she connects the knowledge she learned to her actual daily life.

The reason this broadcast drew particular attention is not unrelated to the recent controversies surrounding 'I Live Alone.' The program has successively come under fire due to suspicions of prior direction regarding Jun Hyun-moo's impromptu overseas trip and controversies over the authenticity of Kim Min's residence in an old house. Observational variety shows are based on the trust that they show the daily lives of the cast members as they are, but if suspicions of staged scenes grow, even a minor action can be perceived as an intended setting. Kim Shin-young's certification challenge also faced scrutiny when the trailer was released, with some questioning if it was an excessive setup to create broadcast material.

However, the image of Kim Shin-young revealed in the broadcast showed that, at least this time, the challenge was not just an event to be lightly consumed. The process of skipping breakfast for the first time in 16 years and studying until dawn after late-night schedules to take the exam contained her will to know more deeply about a field she loves. While the result of passing is important, it gained persuasiveness from viewers in that she connected her interest to actual learning and effort. Of course, the sincerity of one cast member does not resolve the suspicions surrounding the entire program. For observational variety shows to restore trust, the transparency of the production process must be supported along with the sincerity of the cast members.

Ultimately, Kim Shin-young's challenge became an example of how a cast member's attitude can draw empathy from viewers amidst the authenticity controversy of 'I Live Alone.' It was noted that she did not stop at merely explaining the things she likes with words, but spent time learning them and proved it with results by passing the exam. In an era where one is first suspected of being a setup for a broadcast, Kim Shin-young dug into her interests in her own way. In her single remark, "It was like hell," there was not only the regret of giving up breakfast but also the sincerity of letting go of even the small joys of daily life to achieve her goal.

Read the original (Korean)