‘I Am SOLO’ First Date Sweetness Fades as Parenting Debate Ignites

The 30th season of “I Am SOLO” sees its contestants unexpectedly clash during what was meant to be a romantic first date.

In the February 11 broadcast, viewers will witness the atmosphere at “Solo Nation No. 30” shift dramatically, as budding romance quickly turns into a full-fledged debate, heightening curiosity.

I Am SOLO. Photo by SBS Plus and ENA.

After selecting their first-date partners, the Season 30 singles head out for one-on-one dates. However, one couple finds themselves in an unexpected argument when the topic of marriage and childcare arises. The discussion escalates into a direct clash over whether a single-income or dual-income household is ideal after marriage, and how they would approach raising children.

The female contestant asks, “If your wife said she wanted to focus on childcare for about five years, what would you do?” The male contestant responds, “Five years? Then I’ll take five years off for childcare too,” momentarily leaving her flustered. She goes on to explain her vision of marriage based on her own experiences, saying, “If I get married, I want to focus on my child. Rather than going out often, I’d like to prepare healthy meals at home and pack lunchboxes.”

The male contestant, however, candidly reveals his preference for a dual-income household, stating, “From elementary school onward, I actually liked that my mom worked outside the home.” With that, the pink romantic mood disappears, and the Season 30 couple’s first date quickly turns into a fiery exchange.

Meanwhile, the February 4 broadcast recorded an average nationwide rating of 4.2 percent among paid households, combining SBS Plus and ENA, according to Nielsen Korea, peaking at 4.7 percent per minute. The show also ranked third in the TV non-drama buzz category on Good Data Corporation’s FUNdex chart as of February 3, proving its consistent popularity.

Viewers can find out how the heated childcare debate unfolds when “I Am SOLO” airs on February 11 at 10:30 p.m. on SBS Plus and ENA.

Reported by News Culture [e-mail]