Lee Young-ja waters the garden at her new countryside home in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi Province. Captured from Lee's YouTube

The era of elusive, glamorous celebrity lifestyles is fading. Instead, more authentic and humble portrayals of stars who live alone are captivating Gen Zers, exemplified by Korean celebrities Lee Young-ja, Choi Hwa-jung and Kim Sook, who have been enjoying immense popularity by showcasing their simple, down-to-earth routines.

Comedian and TV personality Lee Young-ja, 56, shares glimpses into her solitary country life in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi Province, through MBC's "I Live Alone" as well as her YouTube channel.

"The city is filled with dazzling displays. Then I realized that I'm not of the age where I need to ceaselessly compete with others in a race — I'd rather cheer others on. Yet, I find myself living like an Olympian, always striving for gold. It's so peaceful to be here, away from the noise, where I can simply relax," Lee said, explaining why she decided to move to the countryside on her YouTube channel.

She mainly shows a "three days in the city, four days in the countryside" lifestyle. After working hard, she relaxes in her self-decorated dream house, enjoying home-cooked meals and peaceful moments in her garden. Her simple routine has resonated with many, with her videos garnering nearly 2 million views.

"It looks like she's truly happy, living life without pretense and doing whatever she wants. I've been feeling burned out lately and nothing has been giving me much joy, but watching Lee Young-ja's rural life was really interesting and fun. It was so healing and comforting," said Park Eun-ji, a 23-year-old university student.

Another viewer in her late 20s also said, "Instead of a fancy, high-end apartment, she is living in a home that she truly wanted. It's not a grand, palatial country house, but a practical and cozy home that perfectly suits her lifestyle. Watching her, I myself thought that I wanted to be like Lee."

Choi Hwa-jung, 63, shares her cheerful single lifestyle with fans through her YouTube channel. Captured from Choi's YouTube

After stepping down from her long-running SBS' radio show "Choi Hwa-jung's Power Time," Choi Hwa-jung, 63, launched a YouTube channel and transformed herself into a popular creator. While Lee shares the cozy parts of her everyday life, Choi's main content is the recipes for the food she cooks, her daily routine such as grocery shopping, the contents of her bag and her preferred skincare routines.

Engaging over 500,000 subscribers within just two months of launching the channel, Choi's popularity is soaring — as is the number of her YouTube subscribers. In her channel introduction, Choi wrote, "They say cheerful people eventually catch happiness. I always want to be a cheerful adult," and many viewers have expressed their desire to learn from her bright and optimistic attitude toward life.

Camping enthusiast and comedian Kim Sook, center, shares the joy of her outdoor lifestyle at her Gapyeong home in Gyeonggi Province. Captured from Kim's YouTube

Comedian Kim Sook, in her late 40s, shares a diverse range of activities amid her life as a single person. The camping enthusiast offers fun and relatable content exploring camping equipment and showing off her enjoyable lifestyle as she goes on trips with her friends and hosts parties at her home.

Recently, Kim also purchased a second home in Gapyeong, where she has been documenting her DIY endeavors, remodeling her bathroom and landscaping her garden on a 200,000 won ($150) budget and tackling the challenge of installing a canopy, all of which she shared with her viewers.

Culture critic Kim Hern-sik noted that a shift in social values has made these modest celebrities more appealing to younger generations than those decked out in luxury brands from head to toe.

"For today's people in their 20s and 30s, the financial burdens of marriage and child-rearing discourage people from getting married, so aging and living alone is no longer something that only happens to other people. It has become a viable life choice. This is why they are drawn to the lives of single celebrities. Particularly, as this generation prioritizes 'small but certain happiness' over material wealth, they tend to be more interested in celebrities who showcase simple aspects of their everyday lives."