"I wanted the Kangaroo Tribe, which was portrayed negatively in the news, to be seen as one of the lifestyles."
Following a pilot broadcast last October, MBC Every1 and MBN's entertainment show 'I’m grown up but I’m not leaving' returned last month with regular programming. The show features the daily lives of stars living with their parents, offering honest laughter and empathy through an observational format about the Kangaroo Tribe. It airs every Saturday at 8:20 PM, showcasing the lives of Kangaroo Tribe families, including actress Park Hae-mi, Hwang Seong-jae, rapper Jijo, actress Shin Jeong-yoon, and Infinite's Dong-woo, receiving positive feedback from viewers.
On the 27th, PD Jeon Min-kyung, who directed 'I’m grown up but I’m not leaving', discussed the program in a phone interview with Maeil Business Star Today.
First, I asked why she focused on the younger generation, the 'Kangaroo Tribe', who depend on their parents.
PD Jeon Min-kyung replied, "When planning a program, senior colleagues often say, 'Find a story about yourself or those around you.' I am also part of the Kangaroo Tribe. In the past, many of my friends lived alone, but due to issues like rent and living expenses, many have returned to their family homes. I realized it wasn't just me, which is why I focused on the Kangaroo Tribe."
She continued, "I used to only hear the term Kangaroo Tribe in the news. However, the Kangaroo Tribe portrayed in the news seemed to reflect poorly on individuals. I particularly disliked that it was only mentioned in the news. It’s a common topic, but I wanted it to be seen as a form of lifestyle rather than a heavy atmosphere or a word filled with guilt."
PD Jeon pointed out that the news often blames individuals when discussing the Kangaroo Tribe, stating, "There are many people who originally want to be independent. While some may not want to leave, many become part of the Kangaroo Tribe due to external factors like living expenses or rent."
She added, "In the past, when 'I Live Alone' first aired, terms like 'single-person household' or 'living alone' were viewed negatively. However, as more people began living alone and 'I Live Alone' showcased how well they manage on their own for 13 years, it became integrated into daily life. I wanted the observational entertainment about the Kangaroo Tribe to make the public think, 'There are many people living with their families,' and 'We are similar.' I hope the term Kangaroo Tribe becomes a familiar word in life, not just something seen in the news, and is accepted as a lifestyle."
The participants are quite candid. In particular, the mother-son duo of Park Hae-mi and Hwang Seong-jae revealed on the show that they have a debt of 1.5 billion won and even disclosed Hwang Seong-jae's stepfather. The fact that they openly share sensitive family matters on air seems to stem from a trust in the production team not to engage in 'devil's editing' and a love for the program.
In response, PD Jeon said, "I try not to think only about sensationalism. There is no devil's editing. However, rather than just protecting the participants, it’s more accurate to say we fill in the context. When you listen to the conversations between Park Hae-mi and Hwang Seong-jae, it may seem like they are arguing, but in reality, they care for each other a lot. Their way of expressing it is different, but there is affection within it. I tried to help viewers feel the context that I see and feel on set."
The revelation of Hwang Seong-jae's stepfather also came up naturally in context. PD Jeon explained, "Since they moved, they thought it would be nice to have a housewarming party. When discussing who to invite as the first guest, the answer came up naturally. When you move, the first person you invite is usually family. I think Park Hae-mi and Hwang Seong-jae spoke about it without overthinking it." She continued, "From the outside, it may seem like a complicated story, but to them, it’s just family. Hwang Seong-jae said his favorite person is his brother. I also felt cautious, like the viewers, but they made me feel comfortable, and I reflected a lot on my preconceived notions."
PD Jeon expressed affection for all the participants, not just Park Hae-mi and Hwang Seong-jae. She said, "It took a long time to cast because I had to meet all the participating celebrities and their families. By meeting them multiple times, I learned a lot about their charm through their parents' perspectives as their child. I have a lot of affection for the parents as well. They are all really warm."
When asked about the parents she feels closest to, she mentioned Jijo's parents, saying, "Even though their son isn't making much money, they not only embrace him cheerfully but also remember the names of the production team they see often, showing a lot of care."
Among the children, she feels most concerned about Hwang Seong-jae. PD Jeon explained, "He worries a lot about being overshadowed by the label 'Park Hae-mi's son.' He is making a lot of efforts to avoid being consumed by that image."
Observational entertainment is not an easy genre even for celebrities familiar with broadcasting. Therefore, there are often questions about whether observational entertainment featuring ordinary people has a script. PD Jeon Min-kyung laughed and said, "There is no room for a script to intervene."
"If it were a program featuring only one person, I could give them a script and direct them. However, the parents also participate, right? Honestly, it would be easier to make the program if I could, but it’s hard to even direct, let alone have a script. It just doesn’t work. I gave up on that approach from the beginning. The participants provide the material for the show. The parents express their complaints about their children, and the children express their complaints about their parents, thinking of us as a communication channel to say, 'I want to talk about this.' We film that. If I intervene, it’s just to remind them of something they forgot, like, 'Mom, you mentioned wanting to nag about this last time.'
Around the 10th episode airing at the end of March, a new family will be introduced. It will be the couple Hong Seo-beom and Jo Gap-gyeong along with their two daughters. The existing participants have children who are celebrities, but this family has only the parents as celebrities, while the children are ordinary people, so a new dynamic is expected. What kind of chemistry can we expect from them?
PD Jeon said, "The difference is that the parents are more entertaining. In fact, the reactions of children when they hear nagging are similar across ages and cultures. Real reactions come out." She added, "The youngest daughter wants to become a celebrity. They are both parent-child and senior-junior relationships. It’s similar to Park Hae-mi and Hwang Seong-jae, but a bit different. That part will be interesting."
She continued, "Hwang Seong-jae is actually debuting and creating his own world, but he seems to have a rebellious spirit fearing that his mother's nagging might invade his world. So he says, 'I know. I know better. Mom and I have different ways.' However, the youngest daughter of Hong Seo-beom and Jo Gap-gyeong has not debuted yet. So she listens and agrees, acknowledging that it makes sense, but she doesn’t put it into practice. There’s a bit of a back-and-forth in their relationship, which makes it interesting."
PD Jeon described Jo Gap-gyeong as a 'overprotective kangaroo.' She said, "Hong Seo-beom is rather cool, but Jo Gap-gyeong is overprotective. She is overprotective in terms of finances and lifestyle. Even though she is an adult, there are curfews. When it’s 10 or 11 PM, she keeps calling. The children feel stressed, but there’s also the stress of the mother waiting at home. When the eldest daughter went abroad for language study, Jo Gap-gyeong was so worried that she followed her."
Is there anyone else she would like to add? PD Jeon mentioned singer Jay Park again, as she did at the production presentation before the pilot and regular broadcast began. She said, "I still want to invite him. Personally, I’m a fan, but he’s an icon of hip-hop and is said to live in a house that feels like a contradiction with a floral blanket and a floor mat. Isn’t that attractive? I actually contacted him, but it’s not easy because he spends a lot of time in the U.S."
The role of the studio panelists is also significant, just like the participants. PD Jeon said, "In general, studio panelists in observational entertainment play a role in compensating for the shortcomings in editing. Hong Jin-kyung adds more fun by speaking honestly. She can cover all the participants, but her raw reactions as a real parent, saying things like 'I’m annoyed' or 'I don’t like it,' make it even more entertaining. She has a natural talent."
Regarding Haha, she said, "He is full of passion and romance. Even when his sons do silly things, he tries to understand them. He says, 'I did that too,' and 'I was wild too,' but it’s funny that it doesn’t last long. He was cast to take the side of the children, but as a parent, he finds himself thinking of his own children when watching the participants' videos, which makes it interesting to switch between the perspectives of a son and a parent."
The only single comedian, Nam Chang-hee, plays a role in connecting the story. PD Jeon said, "There are times when we need to connect the context while telling interesting stories. For example, knowing where a child is sick when they accompany their parents to the hospital is different from just knowing. We didn’t catch this part, but he points out that 'this is something you know because you live together,' highlighting the good aspects of the Kangaroo Tribe. He’s smart and kind."
In 2013, MBC's 'I Live Alone' first aired in line with the trend of living alone. Now, 12 years later, as the 'Kangaroo Tribe' has emerged as a trend, 'I’m grown up but I’m not leaving' has come out. How long will it take for the trend to change again? PD Jeon said, "As a program PD, I hope this lasts a long time, but as an individual, I wish this era would end quickly. Unfortunately, it seems like it will last quite a while."
She continued, "When I see friends who have returned home after living outside, they say they save a lot of money. It doesn’t seem like house prices will drop, and the economic situation isn’t improving. With more things to prepare, becoming an 'adult' is becoming increasingly difficult. I hope that the 'Kangaroo Tribe' can soon become a choice made by personal preference."
'I’m grown up but I’m not leaving' is PD Jeon’s first main directing project. It gained recognition for its popularity after being regularly scheduled following the pilot.
PD Jeon expressed her struggles, saying, "Being the main PD is really overwhelming." However, she also mentioned, "Now that there is a 'team,' I feel like I want to keep going. There are 30 people working as PDs and writers on this program. Including the cameramen, about 50-60 people are wholeheartedly making this program. It’s tough, but it’s reassuring to be with people who work hard. Work is about 'making a living,' right? I feel a sense of responsibility to ensure that they don’t have to worry about their livelihoods. It’s overwhelming, but I’m grateful, and if given the opportunity, I want to continue working together as long as they trust me."
Finally, PD Jeon said, "I graduated from the Department of Education at a teacher's college. However, I became a PD because I wanted to have a positive influence on people. After deciding to become a PD and capturing people's stories, I want to capture the stories of those who asked me to tell their stories a little more kindly," expressing her commitment to take responsibility for the program with affection for the participants.
'I’m grown up but I’m not leaving' airs every Saturday at 8:20 PM on MBC Every1 and MBN.
[Kim So-yeon, Star Today Reporter]
