Jaehwa Bernardo

Song Seung-il and Kim Min-gee from the fifth season of 'Single's Inferno.' Photo courtesy of Netflix

Article (news)

Searching for romance: Korean dating shows to stream online

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width: 960px; display: block;" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1770006133301Single's Inferno2.jpg" style="width: 960px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align: left;">Song Seung-il and Kim Min-gee from the fifth season of &#39;Single&#39;s Inferno.&#39; <em>Photo courtesy of Netflix</em></span></span></span></div><p>In recent years, South Korean dating shows have surged in popularity, drawing in even international audiences through global streaming platforms. There is, after all, a particular thrill in watching people pursue romance. Their appeal is perhaps most evident in the success of Netflix&rsquo;s &ldquo;Single&rsquo;s Inferno&rdquo; &mdash; arguably the genre&rsquo;s most recognizable title &mdash; which premiered its fifth season in January.</p><p>These programs typically bring together participants from all walks of life, placing them in a shared space for a set period as they get to know one another in hopes of forging romantic connections. Their interactions unfold under the watchful eyes of a panel of hosts, whose commentary and reactions often mirror the audience&rsquo;s own thoughts.</p><p>Many of these shows move beyond the traditional search-for-love format, experimenting with concepts such as former couples reuniting under one roof or participants navigating relationships with significant age gaps (such as in &ldquo;Noona, You Are a Woman to Me,&rdquo; which is excluded here as it does not appear to be available on any streaming service in the Philippines).</p><p>For viewers eager to get swept up in other people&rsquo;s quests for romance, we&rsquo;ve rounded up (in no particular order) several Korean dating shows that you can binge-watch on streaming platforms.</p><div><br></div><div><strong>Single&rsquo;s Inferno</strong></div><p><strong>Stream on:&nbsp;</strong>Netflix</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1sKBjti2HF8?&wmode=opaque&rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div><p>Launched in 2021, &ldquo;Single&rsquo;s Inferno&rdquo; is arguably the most popular Korean dating show today, having already spanned five seasons. Its massive appeal has propelled many of its participants to internet fame, with some &mdash; such as Dex and actress Shin Seul-ki &mdash; going on to pursue careers in the entertainment industry.</p><p>In the show, participants are brought together on a deserted island called &ldquo;Inferno,&rdquo; where they are given the chance to get to know one another while taking part in a series of challenges. Those who successfully pair up earn a night at a luxury hotel known as &ldquo;Paradise.&rdquo;</p><p>TV host Hong Jin-kyung, actress Lee Da-hee, Super Junior member Kyuhyun, rapper Hanhae and Season 2 participant Dex serve as the current panel.</p><div><br></div><div><strong>EXchange</strong></div><p><strong>Stream on:&nbsp;</strong>Viu</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pDt7BUdmnwI?&wmode=opaque&rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div><p>What&rsquo;s more intriguing than a dating show? A dating show involving exes. &ldquo;EXchange,&rdquo; also known as &ldquo;Transit Love,&rdquo; builds on this premise by bringing participants together under one roof, where they live together, get to know one another and go on dates. The twist? They are all former couples, and at the outset, no one knows who is whose ex. This setup potentially fuels drama, as some participants hope to rekindle old flames while others seek new connections.</p><p>The show began in 2021 and has since produced four seasons.</p><p>The panel lineup includes comedian Lee Yong-jin, rapper Simon Dominic, actress Kim Ye-won and K-pop star Yura of Girls&rsquo; Day.</p><div><br></div><div><strong>Better Late Than Single</strong></div><p><strong>Stream on:</strong> Netflix</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zv9bVA9gcdc?&wmode=opaque&rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div><p>Pursuing love is never easy &mdash; something the participants of &ldquo;Better Late Than Single&rdquo; know all too well. The dating show, which debuted in 2025, centers on &ldquo;lifelong singles&rdquo; or individuals who, for various reasons, have never been in a relationship. Over the course of the series, they step into the dating world while living together, receiving makeovers and guidance from so-called &ldquo;cupids.&rdquo;</p><p>The &ldquo;cupids,&rdquo; who act as both mentors and panelists, include actors Seo In-guk and Kang Han-na, alongside comedian Lee Eun-ji and singer Car, the garden.</p><p>It seems that &ldquo;Better Late Than Single&rdquo; has also captured the hearts of audiences as it has been renewed for a second season, which is expected to come out in the second quarter of 2026.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/movies-series/2026/1/21/big-stars-lead-netflix-s-2026-k-content-lineup-1511"><strong>READ: Big stars lead Netflix&#39;s 2026 K-content lineup<br></strong></a></div><div><br></div><div><strong>My Sibling&rsquo;s Romance</strong></div><p><strong>Stream on:&nbsp;</strong>Viu</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/e3bVcYPT3w4?&wmode=opaque&rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div><p>The 2024 dating show &ldquo;My Sibling&rsquo;s Romance&rdquo; puts a fresh twist on the genre by turning the search for romance into a family affair. Participants move into a shared house in sibling pairs, where they seek potential romantic partners not only for themselves, but also for one another.</p><p>Music producer Code Kunst, model Han Hye-jin, K-pop stars Miyeon and BamBam, and Congolese entertainer siblings Jonathan and Patricia Yiombi comprise the panel lineup.</p><div><br></div><div><strong>Possessed Love</strong></div><p><strong>Stream on:</strong> Viu</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bcNd-QfaGWk?&wmode=opaque&rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div><p>Fortune tellers have long been consulted about love, but in &ldquo;Possessed Love,&rdquo; they explore their own romantic futures. The 2024 program follows a group of fortune tellers who spend a week together in a shared house, putting their skills to the test as they search for their destined partners.</p><p>The panel features comedian Shin Dong-yup, actress Yoo In-na, actor Yoo Seon-ho, dancer Gabee and fortune-teller Park Seong-ju.</p><div><br></div><div><strong>His Man</strong></div><p><strong>Stream on:&nbsp;</strong>iQIYI</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lEXI1igr-IY?&wmode=opaque&rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div><p>Premiering in 2022, &ldquo;His Man&rdquo; is widely regarded as South Korea&rsquo;s first gay dating reality series and has since spawned four seasons. The show keeps things simple, following a group of gay men as they live together for a week in the hope of finding love among their housemates.&nbsp;</p><p>Unlike most dating programs, &ldquo;His Man&rdquo; does not feature a panel of commentators.</p><div><br></div><div><strong>60 Minutes to Love</strong></div><p><strong>Stream on:&nbsp;</strong>Disney+</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Y4esbWIBp4Y?&wmode=opaque&rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div><p>Ji Ye-eun, known for &ldquo;Saturday Night Live Korea&rdquo; and &ldquo;<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/movies-series/2025/7/16/-kian-s-bizarre-b-b-returns-for-2nd-season-yu-jae-seok-gets-own-b-b-1114"><strong>Kian&rsquo;s Bizarre B&amp;B</strong></a>,&rdquo; takes the spotlight in &ldquo;60 Minutes to Love.&rdquo; Released in 2025, the show follows the variety star as she goes on 60-minute speed dates with different men, many of whom may be familiar to Korean dating show fans as they previously appeared on other programs like &ldquo;Single&rsquo;s Inferno&rdquo; and &ldquo;EXchange.&rdquo;</p>

<p>For viewers eager to get swept up in other people’s quests for romance, we’ve rounded up several Korean dating shows currently available on streaming platforms.</p>

For viewers eager to get swept up in other people’s quests for romance, we’ve rounded up several Korean dating shows currently available on streaming platforms.