Jisangryeol’s Dating Lessons: A Genuine Effort or Entertainment Gimmick?
At 56, South Korean comedian Jisangryeol has stepped into unfamiliar territory—dating advice. Appearing on the reality show Mr. House Husband Season 2, he's being coached on romance by two K-pop idols: Shim Eunjin from Baby V.O.X and Shinji from Koyote. Notably, Shinji is 13 years younger than Jisangryeol, a detail the show doesn't shy away from.
This setup might sound unusual, but the show’s goal is rather sincere: help a middle-aged bachelor navigate the modern dating world, no matter how much he’s missed out in prior decades. It hopes to bridge generational gaps, open up honest conversations about love, and normalize later-in-life dating journeys. But is it as heartwarming as it sounds? Or is it just another entertainment show cashing in on awkward situations?
Why This Could Be a Good Thing
1. Making Dating Relatable for Everyone
The honest, often awkward way Jisangryeol approaches dating is incredibly relatable. Not everyone has an active love life by their 50s or 60s, and his willingness to try—even on TV—offers a hopeful narrative for others in similar positions.
2. Bridging Generations
The show offers rare but needed dialogue across generations. Shinji’s and Eunjin’s advice reflect younger perspectives, while Jisangryeol brings in the values of an older generation. In times when dating culture is changing rapidly, shows like this might help everyone understand each other better.
3. Refreshing TV Content
Let’s be honest—reality TV today often involves the same tropes. Seeing a veteran comedian take dating advice from a younger pop star is different. It’s not just fresh, it's oddly charming. It's also helping to redefine what both dating and masculinity look like for older men in South Korea.
But What's the Catch?
1. The Age Gap Controversy
Not everyone’s comfortable watching a middle-aged man taking romantic advice from much younger women, especially when he’s also styled in romantic scenarios with them. The 13-year age gap is legal and common in some relationships, but when used as a tool for entertainment, it can feel exploitative or forced.
2. Staged Feels, Not Real Feels
Some viewers question whether the coaching is genuine. Is Jisangryeol really learning about dating, or is this all just a setup for laughs and ratings? When producers add overly dramatic background music or rehearse scenes, it chips away at the reality of the situation.
3. Selling Love for Views
Turning something as vulnerable as love into content walks a thin line. If the coaching seems too scripted or primarily aimed to boost viewership, it runs the risk of trivializing the very thing it hopes to enhance—real emotional growth and connection.
Balancing Entertainment with Empathy
In the best-case scenario, Mr. House Husband offers a rare representation of adult dating challenges. It could encourage other men in similar life stages to take more proactive steps in relationships. The show also opens up space for societal conversations about aging, love, and gender dynamics.
But its success depends on one thing: sincerity. If audiences feel that producers and cast are more interested in emotional growth than viral clips, trust and respect will follow. Viewers today are smart—they know when they’re watching something authentic versus something manufactured.
So far, the show is walking a thin line. It's playful, awkward, and interesting, but it’s also under scrutiny. Is this dating coaching a kind-hearted experiment, or are we watching a carefully orchestrated attempt to make late-life dating the next trendy content?
The Final Takeaway
If anything, Jisangryeol’s televised quest for love mirrors what many people go through: uncertainty, vulnerability, and the search for connection. The fact that it's happening in front of cameras doesn’t diminish its importance—it just raises the stakes.
More than anything, this show reflects a shifting tide in public storytelling. Romantic life isn’t just a young person’s game anymore, and television could be a surprisingly helpful place to start that conversation—as long as it respects the real emotions involved.
