A longtime dream of Kian84 — a webtoon-artist-turned TV personality — is becoming reality.
On the March 13 broadcast of MBC’s variety show I Live Alone, viewers will see Kian84 head to Japan to meet Junji Ito, the legendary master of horror manga.
A teaser at the end of the previous episode already hinted at their encounter, immediately drawing massive attention. Kian84 has often named Junji Ito as a major influence on his life as a cartoonist and has even paid homage to Ito’s style in his own works.
There was another twist of fate behind this meeting. Last summer, TV personality Kangnam visited Kian84’s home and promised to try to arrange an introduction to Junji Ito. What started as a lighthearted promise is now actually happening, ramping up anticipation.
Ahead of the meeting, Kian84 couldn’t hide his excitement, saying, "I never imagined something like this would really happen. It feels like I’m in a dream."
After arriving in Japan, Kian84 unpacked and immediately focused on preparing, organizing the questions and stories he wanted to share with Junji Ito. Having recently started studying Japanese, he said, "I studied as hard as I do during my runs," showing his next-level dedication.
Kian84 also spread out a canvas and immersed himself in drawing. "He’s the person who showed me just how cool the job of a manga artist can be. To me, he’s like the universe," he said, preparing a heartfelt artwork as a gift.
All eyes are on how this long-awaited encounter will unfold. Watch Kian84’s preparations and his meeting with Junji Ito on I Live Alone, airing on the 13th at 11:10 p.m.