'My Remaining Love': Can It Erase Concerns About Terminal Illness? ... The Focus Is on Love, Not Fighting the Disease [Comprehensive]

*This content was translated by AI.

Can the dating program 'My Remaining Love,' which portrays the lives and loves of young people who have experienced serious illness, dispel concerns raised by some?

On the 31st in the afternoon at Mokdong SBS in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, a press conference for SBS's new dating variety program 'My Remaining Love' took place. Attendees included PD Lee Eun-sol, PD Kim Hyo-jin, actors Lee Se-young and Jung Yong-hwa, SEVENTEEN member D.O., and singer Choi Yena.

'My Remaining Love' is a dating reality show featuring 2030s youth who have received terminal diagnoses or experienced life-and-death struggles with illness. Participants sustain their relationships through an original matching system where they exchange limited 'time' with each other every night. The program is directed by PD Lee Eun-sol, known for the romance series 'Love Possessed,' which depicted the romantic lives of MZ fortune tellers.

On this day, PD Lee stated, "I hoped that young people who have experienced life-and-death struggles with illness would look at life and love again. I believe the theme of 'the finiteness of time' is universal. I wanted to share the deep stories of youth who realized (the finiteness of time) first when they should have been working hardest and loving most deeply. This program does not center on fighting illness itself; rather, it conveys authenticity by depicting their growth afterward."

Why were Lee Se-young, Jung Yong-hwa, D.O., and Choi Yena selected as the MC team? When asked this question, PD Lee replied, "We hoped for a warm perspective. When thinking of 'likable types,' these four immediately came to mind. We also chose them because they can empathize warmly from the viewpoint of their peers. Putting all four together felt fresh."

Among the four MCs, Lee Se-young, Jung Yong-hwa, and Choi Yena are making their debut as MCs for a dating program through 'My Remaining Love.' First, Lee Se-young said, "(Stories about death and illness) have been covered in various media, but I haven't seen broadcasts that deal with stories we can actually encounter in reality. (Fighting illness) is something happening frequently around me and could happen to me as well, so I hoped someone would cover such stories. After reviewing the program proposal, I joined with a meaningful heart."

Jung Yong-hwa said, "This is my first time being an MC for a dating program," adding, "I believe authenticity is most important. Since I also enjoy dating programs, I thought it would be a win-win situation and that there's the merit of watching the broadcast first. I joined with the imagination that 'I'll see it first, and if acquaintances ask, I should keep it secret,' which drew laughter."

Choi Yena remarked, "I felt this dating program has more depth compared to others I've seen before," while D.O. shared, "The title immediately caught my attention. Isn't it a meaningful title? I wanted to be part of the beautiful love stories of those who have experienced illness."

Previously, Choi Yena overcame childhood pediatric cancer. Regarding this, Choi Yena revealed her inner thoughts: "I thought that if people with the same pain and wounds gather to share (illness) stories, they might find comfort and courage in each other, and I feel the same way. While watching the VCR, I felt deeply resonated. I believe viewers who also carry similar pain will find great comfort."

She continued, "I am grateful that I was invited to such a wonderful dating program. I hope it succeeds well so that Season 2 can be produced."

Views on 'My Remaining Love' are diverse. Some expressed concern about using death and severe illness as material for a dating variety show, while others offered support for the attempt to view death as part of life. Additionally, some netizens warned against excessive criticism, stating, "Since participants have their own experiences with death and severe illness and chose this themselves, we should respect them."

In response, PD Lee stated, "I am aware of those opinions and accept them as viewers' perspectives. You will understand more as episodes progress. 'My Remaining Love' is absolutely not a program centered on the narrative of fighting illness. Fighting illness leaves a significant mark in a person's life, and (participants) mentioned that it is difficult to move forward without resolving it. We wanted to depict their lives and loves more deeply, and we hoped that the experience of fighting illness itself would not be consumed. Therefore, from the first episode, we quickly opened content related to illness and moved on to other stories."

Continuing about the selection process, he said, "Many people posted their illness experiences on blogs or YouTube. We proceeded with invitations to those among them who had completed active treatment. There are differences in (treatment) progress and pace for each participant. We decided to disclose only what each person wished to reveal, and beyond that, we aimed to invite individuals with unique charm."

PD Lee further explained, "Since this is a broadcast, various issues may arise. We first checked whether participants were willing to proceed despite these challenges. Because the hearts and health of the cast are important, we established a consultation and protection system. We also plan to take measures even after the broadcast ends. Scenes that could become controversial will naturally be edited out."

PD Kim, sitting nearby, added, "The growth and overcoming of each individual participant is the most noteworthy point."

Meanwhile, 'My Remaining Love' will premiere on August 3 at 10 p.m.

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*This content was translated by AI.