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An Actor’s Day of Running a Generator and Fixing the Floor
To get electricity at home, actor Kim Min first fired up a generator. He patched up cracks in the floor with cement himself, moving on to woodworking and martial arts training to fill his day. In the October 2 broadcast of MBC’s “I Live Alone,” his old house in Dongducheon felt less like a finished living space and more like a work in progress, a place defined by ongoing care. The screen skipped past convenient modern amenities and instead captured someone actively solving them. The narrative shifted away from the worn exterior of the old house to the daily life unfolding inside.
Introduced on the show as an actor who has lived alone for 28 years, Kim earned the nickname “Dongducheon Naturalist” for his hands-on approach to repairing a roughly 90-year-old house and running a generator. This was a striking departure for viewers who recognized him from intense roles in dramas like “Big Bet” and “A Shop for Killers,” or films such as “The Roundup: No Way Out” and “Smugglers.” Instead of a fictional character, the screen revealed someone actively building his own life with his own two hands. His practical skills and personal choices anchored the appeal here more than his fame as an actor did.
This scene isn’t entirely new to Korean audiences. Stories of people stepping away from urban conveniences to fix up their homes, forage for food, and live on their own terms have long been a television staple. Kim Min’s routine simply brought this familiar format into the realm of celebrity observational reality shows. While tracking down someone living deep in the mountains differs from observing an actor in Dongducheon, both tap into a shared discovery of freedom and capability found in a modest, unadorned life.
The 14-Year Legacy of “I Am a Natural Person”
The quintessential example is MBN’s “I Am a Natural Person.” According to Gallup Korea, the show premiered in August 2012 and features hosts Yoon Taek and Lee Seung-yoon taking turns visiting and staying with people living deep in nature. By 2026, the program had been running for over 14 years. Although officially classified as a nature documentary, the hosts’ firsthand experiences and the residents’ life stories naturally weave in humor and unexpected twists, making it a definitive example of what many call the “naturalist variety” genre. The term points more to this recurring storytelling format than any strict broadcast categorization.
Its longevity isn’t the only proof of its enduring appeal. Gallup Korea notes that “I Am a Natural Person” first cracked the top 20 favorite programs in August 2014, breaking into the top five by June 2017. In June 2019, it reached the number one spot, a first for both documentaries and MBN programs. It ranked second again in a December 2025 survey. Far from a passing fad, its popularity has been consistently validated across multiple periods. Kim Min’s recent broadcast offers a fresh take built upon this established foundation.
The allure of this genre extends beyond scenic mountain and forest views. “I Am a Natural Person” depicts self-built shelters, meals made from foraged or cultivated ingredients, and the personal histories of those who embrace this lifestyle. Maekyung Economy once noted that this rugged yet relaxed way of living satisfies a modern yearning to return to nature. The romance of a simple life isn’t about desiring hardship; it’s about the possibility of finding contentment without constantly accumulating more or competing with others. Kim Min’s home repairs demonstrate this possibility through concrete action.
How a Classic Genre Sparked a Ratings Rebound
In this broadcast, audience interest translated directly into ratings. According to an October 5 report by OSEN citing Nielsen Korea, the episode featuring Kim Min scored a nationwide household rating of 6.0%, jumping 2.5 percentage points from the previous episode’s 3.5%. The Seoul metropolitan area rating hit 6.3%, and the 20-54 demographic rating reached 3.4%, both ranking first among all Friday programs. Focusing on the distinct lifestyle of a new cast member clearly triggered a noticeable rebound.
The peak viewership, hitting 8.4%, occurred during Kim Min’s Hapkido class, specifically the moment he flashed a warm smile after strictly instructing the children. The old house and the generator were the initial hook, but the highest engagement came when he interacted with others. Even in naturalist reality shows, an unfamiliar living environment is merely the starting line. It’s when the resident’s true character and relationships emerge that a simple spectacle transforms into a compelling human narrative. The martial arts class perfectly captured this transition.
Although the long-term popularity of “I Am a Natural Person” and the recent ratings bump from Kim Min’s episode involve different metrics, together they illustrate the durability and versatility of this format. As stories of wilderness dwellers continue to be loved, an actor’s daily routine rooted in similar sentiments easily draws attention. It proves that the appeal of the naturalist variety genre doesn’t strictly require retreating deep into the mountains. Someone who handles necessary tasks with their own hands and repurposes everyday conveniences can spark the same curiosity right on the edge of the city.
Managing Inconvenience Rather Than Just Enduring It
Kim Min’s cement repairs and woodworking are backed by real experience in the construction field. According to MHN Sports, he worked in construction in Korea before living abroad in the UK, New Zealand, and Australia for about eight years. His home repairs aren’t just props to create a rustic vibe; they are practical applications of acquired skills. The freedom often depicted in naturalist variety shows is closely tied to these tangible abilities. Because he can identify what’s missing and fix it himself, an inconvenient environment feels less like helplessness and more like real autonomy.
Newsen also highlighted Kim’s experience studying acting abroad, including clowning classes in France. Clowning is a performance art heavily reliant on body language, facial expressions, and movement. Viewed alongside his martial arts training and acting background, his highly physical daily routine takes on deeper meaning. Behind the modesty of his old house lies a wealth of international experience. This sharp contrast between the initial “naturalist” impression and his global background makes it impossible to pigeonhole him into a predictable character trope.
Holding a combined 10th-degree black belt across various martial arts disciplines, he is also a certified Hapkido instructor who teaches children. The solitary life and the role of a mentor coexist within him. This dynamic challenges the assumption that a “naturalist” must be completely cut off from society. Just as the hosts and residents in “I Am a Natural Person” share meals and converse, the relationships in Kim Min’s broadcast complete his on-screen charm. The romance of a simple life isn’t just about isolation; it encompasses how one chooses to connect with others.
A Refreshing Twist Amid Reality TV Fatigue, and the Producers’ Response
Kim Min’s appearance came shortly after “I Live Alone” faced backlash over Jun Hyun-moo’s allegedly scripted “spontaneous trip.” OSEN reported on the controversy of presenting a planned trip as impromptu, noting a subsequent drop in viewership. Against this backdrop, Kim’s routine of fixing his house and practicing martial arts sparked a different kind of interest compared to a heavily produced vacation. It placed essential life tasks ahead of grand events staged for the cameras. For viewers exhausted by contrived reality TV setups, the tangible labor of daily survival served as a highly effective, refreshing twist.
However, after the broadcast, rumors of staging began to circulate regarding Kim’s home. Some netizens compared the broadcast footage to past street views on map services and questioned the need for a generator, pointing out a nearby utility pole. On October 7, the production team clarified that the house is Kim Min’s actual residence and that no situations were staged or separately arranged for filming. Financial News and Star News reported the crew’s explanation that the house simply lacks a direct electrical connection, making the generator a genuine necessity.
This response directly addressed suspicions that the generator was just a prop for television. It also highlights exactly what sustains the appeal of the naturalist variety genre. Viewers aren’t just looking for a rustic set; they want to see the genuine choices of someone truly living in that environment. Both the intense interest in Kim Min and the subsequent scrutiny stem from the core premise of observational reality TV, which places a premium on authenticity. Delivering the romance of a simple life inherently requires clearly explaining the practical conditions of that lifestyle.
Back to the Dongducheon Generator and the Hapkido Class
The scene of Kim Min firing up his generator captures the familiar paradox of the naturalist variety show: a less convenient life can somehow translate on screen into a feeling of real freedom. The labor involved in generating electricity or fixing the floor doesn’t just disappear. However, the purpose and the results of that labor belong entirely to the individual. The emotional thread connecting the wilderness dwellers of “I Am a Natural Person” to the actor in Dongducheon is found precisely in this act of independently powering one’s own day.
The Hapkido class that followed demonstrated that a free-spirited life doesn’t require erasing one’s connection to others. The revelation that the strict instructor and the smiling actor were the same person created an unexpected charm. This proves why the lasting appeal of the naturalist genre cannot be explained solely by modest homes or pretty landscapes. It’s a combination of curiosity about unfamiliar living conditions, admiration for those who find contentment with less, and surprisingly human expressions. Kim Min’s episode brilliantly concentrated all these elements into a single day.
The question moving forward is whether the show will merely repeat footage of Kim Min’s unusual living situation, or if it will dive deeper into how he uses his skills and builds relationships. As the 14-year legacy of “I Am a Natural Person” shows, the staying power of this subgenre relies on fresh personal stories, not just new scenery. While the generator in Dongducheon sparked initial interest, sustaining that attention will depend on exploring the ongoing life choices of the man who runs it, fixes his home, and teaches the children in his community.
Sources: Gallup Korea, “Favorite Broadcasting Video Programs – December 2025”, December 23, 2025, https://www.gallup.co.kr/gallupdb/reportContent.asp?seqNo=1609; Maekyung Economy, July 15, 2019, https://news.nate.com/view/20190715n04366; MHN Sports, October 3, 2026, https://v.daum.net/v/bjciYbrNiu; OSEN, October 5, 2026, https://www.osen.co.kr/article/G1112887627; Newsen, October 2, 2026, https://news.nate.com/view/20261002n36834; Star News, October 7, 2026, https://www.starnewskorea.com/broadcast-show/2026/10/07/2026100711400113473; Financial News, October 7, 2026, https://www.fnnews.com/news/202610072231228161.
