'I'm SOLO' Season 33, Kwangsoo and Hyunsook's date resonates... Youngho and Sunja's affection increases, ratings rise

In the 33rd season of the dating reality show ″I am SOLO,″ the contestants’ love lines changed significantly following their first dates. In episode 268 of ″I am SOLO,″ aired on SBS Plus and ENA on the 26th, the 33rd season’s lifelong singles confirmed their true feelings through one-on-one and two-on-one dates. The episode recorded ratings of 2.2% on SBS Plus and 2.1% on ENA according to Nielsen Korea, with a combined nationwide average of 3.6% across both channels. Kwangsoo and Hyunsook talked about their jobs and careers during their first one-on-one date. When Hyunsook mentioned the possibility of an overseas assignment and asked about long-distance married life, Kwangsoo replied, ″Since it’s your career, of course, I have to respect it.″ After the date, Hyunsook expressed her fondness for Kwangsoo, saying, ″He seems genuine. I don’t think he would hurt me.″ On the other hand, Kwangsoo said, ″It was okay,″ but also expressed a desire to get to know other women. Meanwhile, Youngsoo, Sangcheol, and Youngcheol, who did not participate in the dates, ate the ″Lonely Set Meal″ in the dormitory. Sangcheol and Youngcheol appeared downhearted, while Youngsoo showcased a mukbang by sprinkling salt and pepper on jajangmyeon and storing leftover sweet and sour pork in the freezer. During the two-on-one date with Youngho, Youngja, and Sunja, dramatic emotional changes occurred. Youngho showed affection by taking care of Sunja throughout the meal. Sunja said, ″It felt less like fairness and more like ’I am Sunja’ was being emphasized.″ Youngho revealed that he intentionally acted kinder to match Sunja’s stated ideal type. Then, the ″Rubber Duck Incident″ happened. At the end of the meal, Youngho chose yellow rubber duck decorations for himself and Sunja, and a pink one for Youngja. When Youngja wanted the yellow one, Sunja gave up hers, but Youngho took the pink one again to match Sunja’s color. Youngja said, ″That was the counterpunch. I realized his feelings were firm,″ and gave up on Youngho. After the dates, a new atmosphere was sensed. Hyunsook showed a fluttering expression when Youngho sat close to her in the common living room and said, ″I’ve never had this kind of contact with a man before, so I was most heart-fluttered,″ revealing her interest in Youngho. Kwangsoo felt excitement when he shared a blanket with Jungsook and ranked Hyunsook and Jungsook high on his list of favorites. On the morning of the third day, the lifelong single men became more proactive. Youngsoo suggested a walk to Jungsook but was rejected because she was in pajamas, which he took as a clear refusal. Youngsik revealed that Youngja had been his first choice since the initial impression selection, but Youngja confessed she felt burdened. Later, Youngsoo said his fondness increased after hearing Sunja’s response that she did not draw a line on the nine-year age difference. After talking with Jungsook, Kwangsoo said his feelings for her grew stronger than for Hyunsook and named Jungsook his new first choice, but added that Jungsook’s defensive attitude toward younger men made her an ″unstable first choice.″ In the preview at the end of the broadcast, the 33rd season lifelong singles showed surprise and excitement at the ″Holding Hands Random Date″ mission.