Ratings for I Live Alone, which seemed to be rebounding, are once again at risk of falling below the 5% threshold despite appearances by Red Velvet's Joy and Dex.
According to ratings firm Nielsen Korea on the 10th, the MBC variety show I Live Alone (abbreviated "I Live Alone") episode 629, which aired on the 9th, recorded a nationwide household average rating of 5%. This is 0.4 percentage points lower than the 5.4% recorded for episode 628, which aired last week. It also attracted attention because the figure reached the 5% threshold that was raised when concerns about I Live Alone were voiced.
On the day, I Live Alone held a "rainbow grand bazaar" prepared by Jun Hyun-moo, Kian84, Code Kunst, and Red Velvet's Joy. Their earnest sales efforts to donate all revenue moved the hearts of "grand guests" such as YouTuber Dex, DAY6's Dowoon, comedian Im Woo-il, actor Bong Tae Gyu, writer Park Cheon-hyu, and actor Cha Taehyun, leading to a wave of generous donations.
However, the nationwide household average rating slightly fell compared with the previous week. Still, that figure was enough to place first among Friday variety shows. In addition, the target 20-54 rating boasted an impressive 3.2%.
Coincidentally, recently on I Live Alone, core members comedian Park Narae and SHINee's Key consecutively left the show. Park Narae first paused activities and left amid controversy stemming from disputes with former managers, and SHINee's Key also revealed a connection to the "injection aunt" issue raised in the aftermath, confessed to being a victim of medical fraud, and stopped activities and left the show after being shocked.
Above all, suspicion arose that the production team might also have been aware of Park Narae's "injection aunt" controversy during the I Live Alone recording, and moral criticism of the program itself intensified. As a result, in early last month, just after Park Narae's controversy erupted, I Live Alone's ratings fell to 4.7%. It was a rare decline for I Live Alone recently.
Park Narae's controversy continues to provoke debate. While sympathy for Park Narae formed amid a truth fight over statements by former managers, a considerable amount of critical public opinion remains. Moreover, unless the illegal medical allegations surrounding the "injection aunt" disappear, it appears difficult for her to completely shake off the accusations.
Perhaps because of that, attention is focused on the distribution of nationwide household ratings for I Live Alone. In fact, I Live Alone has long boasted MBC's flagship status in terms of buzz among 20-54 viewers. That prominence remains solid, but a sense of stability seems to have been lost with the departure of core members. The bazaar, in which existing members such as Jun Hyun-moo, Kian84, and Code Kunst worked together, clearly tried to fill that void with a positive influence. It remains to be seen whether the production team's efforts can quell criticism of the program and lift its ratings onto a stable trajectory commensurate with its buzz.
[Photo] Provided by MBC, OSEN DB.
[OSEN]