Lee Young-ja and Hwang Dong-joo Choose Each Other on 'Seeking Long-Lasting Connections'

In the latest episode of KBS JOY's Seeking Long-Lasting Connections (오래된 만남 추구), which aired on February 16, 2025, Lee Young-ja (이영자) and Hwang Dong-joo (황동주) made their mutual selections after a night spent together following their first date.

During the episode, Hwang Dong-joo expressed jealousy over Lee Jae-hwang's (이재황) enjoyable time with Lee Young-ja. When Lee Jae-hwang remarked, "We had a lot of great conversations, and it was incredibly fun, almost to the point of being dizzy," Hwang's expression quickly darkened. In a subsequent interview, he shared, "He said he had a great time and laughed a lot, but honestly, when I went on my first drive date with Young-ja, we didn’t laugh that much. I was worried about what would happen if Jae-hwang chose her."

As the participants gathered for dinner, Lee Young-ja immediately sought out Hwang Dong-joo, who greeted her with a bright smile. Although he typically doesn't cook, he announced that he would prepare kimchi stew (김치찜) especially for her, which caught everyone's attention.

Later, Lee Young-ja teased Hwang about his nervousness during his date with Kim Sook (김숙), saying, "I heard you were really nervous and sweating a lot." Hwang explained, "I was given a mission, which made me nervous. But talking to her here was different from what I expected from watching her on TV."

Lee Young-ja jokingly remarked, "Isn't it more awkward than what you see on TV? It feels like a setup!" In a later interview, she admitted, "When Dong-joo said he liked me, it made me look at him differently, and I definitely feel more drawn to him now." She even helped him wipe his sweat while he was cooking, to which Hwang responded, "When she wiped my sweat, I felt like I turned into a mannequin, frozen and unable to move. It was both good and overwhelming."

As the sweet atmosphere between the two unfolded, Woo Hee-jin (우희진) captured their moments with a photo, prompting Hwang to request, "Please send me that picture!"

In a truth game segment, the participants were asked how much of their feelings were genuine and how much was for entertainment. Lee Young-ja stated, "I approached this genuinely. We often think about what it would be like to meet a great singer on TV and wonder, 'What if I were with that person?' Since we can't usually meet and talk like this, I treated it as real."

Kim Sook pointed out Hwang Dong-joo, saying, "Isn't there one person here who is 100% real?" Hwang admitted, "I wanted to make a good impression today. I didn’t feel that way during drama shoots, but I was very nervous when I was chosen. I realized this was real."

As the truth game concluded, it was time for the participants to light a candle for the person they liked. Amidst the uncertainty, Lee Young-ja chose Hwang Dong-joo, saying, "At first, I thought it was a joke, but I saw his sincerity. I felt his genuine effort in everything he did." Hwang reciprocated her feelings, saying, "When you wiped my sweat earlier, I didn’t know where to look. I was so flustered."

They were the only two to choose each other, but the next day, Hwang was shocked to learn that Lee Young-ja had gifted clothes to Koo Bon-seung (구본승). Recognizing the outfit, he exclaimed, "I think I might feel sick from this! I was really surprised, and at the same time, emotions just surged up."

Hwang then expressed his confusion, saying, "Is it the man's turn to choose today? My heart is all over the place!" A bewildered Koo Bon-seung joked, "You look like a villain from a drama. Are you sharpening your knife for revenge?"