The Master of Self-Management: Actor Yoon Si-yoon

Actor Yoon Si-yoon, born in 1986, has joined the SBS show “My Little Old Boy” (미운 우리 새끼). At 40 (Korean age), he’s past the typical marriageable age, fitting the program’s theme of bachelors who live with their mothers. While he’s made occasional TV appearances since his time on the show “2 Days & 1 Night,” this is the first time he has been the sole focus for an hour, revealing his private life and home. Yoon Si-yoon first gained fame through the 2009 sitcom “High Kick Through the Roof.” However, he truly rose to stardom after his role as the protagonist ‘Kim Tak-gu’ in the 2010 drama “King of Baking, Kim Tak-gu,” which achieved an astounding 50% viewership rating—a number now considered impossible in a fragmented media landscape. Since then, he’s been recognized as a top star. On “My Little Old Boy,” his thorough self-management has drawn significant attention. His entire day is a series of alarms. He wakes up to an alarm and goes to sleep to one, meticulously planning his day down to the minute. This level of self-discipline is powered by a strong will to fight laziness, which is a major theme throughout the broadcast. The “King of Organization” Unveils His Home The show begins by showcasing Yoon Si-yoon’s living room, which is not a typical living room with a sofa and TV. Instead, a large 8-person desk and chairs sit in the center, flanked by bookshelves filled with books. At 6:59 AM, a robot vacuum cleaner starts its work. At 7:00 AM, the lights in his room automatically turn on, and an alarm sounds, to which he immediately wakes up. His spacious home offers a panoramic view of the Han River. The kitchen is impeccably clean with nothing left out, and all items are arranged in perfect rows and columns, with precise angles. Inside the fridge, sauces are sorted by height, jams are lined up neatly, and tofu is arranged by size. His clothes are sorted by color, and his shoes are perfectly aligned. Even the apps on his phone are grouped by type, each folder named. The toilet paper in his bathroom is folded into a perfect triangle, like in a hotel. In an interview, Yoon Si-yoon explains, “I like arrangements and rules. When I open a cabinet, I like to see everything in perfect rows. I hate it if even one thing is crooked.” He adds, “No matter how busy or tired I am, when I open the door, I want my home to perfectly welcome me. That’s where I get healing and strength. So I never let my home get messy.” He also reveals he doesn’t have a sofa because he considers it the number one place for laziness. The only place he can lie down is his bed, and even his chairs are uncomfortable, like those found in a fast-food restaurant. A Day in the Life of a “King of Alarms” Yoon Si-yoon immediately starts his day by making a protein shake. As he does, he immediately cleans up the items he uses. An alarm sounds at 7:03 AM: “Drink protein/supplements.” He finishes and continues to clean up. Another alarm rings at 7:07 AM: “Vocal practice.” He washes the cup he just used and starts his practice while looking at the Han River view. He practices while lying on his back, with his legs and back raised. He explains that he sets alarms for the next day, and plans everything from a monthly and weekly schedule down to the day before. “I’m so afraid of being lazy that if I don’t set a plan, I’ll just go out and waste time,” he says. He admits he feels anxious when his plans are not followed. “I feel most comfortable when I’m living according to my plan,” he states. Another alarm rings, and he goes for a run, arriving at the gym at 7:50 AM. He’s on a body fat management plan for his upcoming role in “Taxi Driver 3.” He has lost 10 kg, with a current body fat percentage of 6.5%. For comparison, the singer Kim Jong-kook is at 9% and soccer player Ronaldo is at 7%. His goal is to reach 5%. After a 30-minute run, he has a personal training session at 8:20 AM, revealing his clear six-pack. He arrives home at 9:00 AM, showers, and gets ready for breakfast. The Meticulous “King of Cleanliness” Yoon Si-yoon’s home is so tidy that he has a special custom-made cover for his gas stove to maintain a flat, uniform surface. He also has a framed cover over an electrical outlet he finds an eyesore. His kitchen is spotless, with everything stored or covered. He even labels all the ingredients in his fridge, managing them like inventory with Post-it notes. He says he started enjoying organizing after his time in the Marine Corps. Breakfast is at 9:40 AM. He prepares broiled tilapia and low-sodium mentaiko ochazuke, aiming to finish both cooking and eating in 20 minutes. He immediately soaks the used pan and even wipes down the stove while his food cooks, unable to tolerate even a second of grease splatter. He finishes eating in just 8 minutes. After eating, an alarm signals the start of his English class at 10:00 AM, which is followed by a Japanese class at 11:00 AM. At 12:00 PM, an alarm for “Character analysis & acting” goes off. He has a private home theater where he analyzes drama characters, taking pictures and notes. At 1:00 PM, his “rest time” alarm goes off. He plays video games, but after 15-20 minutes, the monitor automatically turns off. He explains that he has to set a time limit because he has no self-control when it comes to games. Planning Every Detail, Even His Outfits Yoon Si-yoon has a detailed monthly plan for his outfits. He lays out clothes on his desk and consults his phone, which has photos of pre-planned outfits with his stylist. He even plans his

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