Dating shows have been a big deal in Korea, with the most popular ones being “Heart Signal,” “Exchange,” and “Single’s Inferno.” These shows have gained immense popularity both in South Korea and internationally. Each show has different themes and concepts to set themselves apart from competitors. Out of the three, I am a huge fan of “Exchange” and “Single’s Inferno.”
“Exchange” has the most unique theme, in my opinion, where ex-couples come on the show to go on dates with each other. The information about who the exes are is disclosed, which makes the show more interesting. One couple that dated for 6 years became really famous after the show. For the first time, a new couple was created, which I believe is still together to this day. “Exchange” part 2 is currently airing on Apple TV and is getting a lot of attention in Korea as well as in foreign countries. Some streamers in Korea are even becoming famous by creating reactionary videos of the show.
“Single’s Inferno” features attractive singles going to an island to survive and play games to earn a night off the island for a date. This show is very similar to the American show called “Bachelor in Paradise.” I watched a few episodes with one of my students, Chasey, and she pointed out some major cultural differences. Because Korea is more conservative, she found the interactions to be very awkward. While people on "Bachelor in Paradise" casually have more sexual interactions, Koreans mainly focus on their conversations and earning tickets for a date. It is very rare for these Koreans to physically interact with one another. Another difference is the outfits that the cast brings to the show. The level of scandal is very different in America and in Korea. People on "Bachelor in Paradise" usually only wear swimsuits and bikinis, while in Korea, they still wear revealing clothes but remain fully clothed. There was a lot of backlash when a Korean girl brought a scandalous pajama to the show. It seems to be a harsher setting for Koreans to be on these shows because they have to care a lot more about public judgment. While being flirty with each other, the cast still have to be conservative and cautious with their actions and appearances.
Overall, people on these shows tend to appear to increase their fame. Typically, if a person receives positive reviews, they become social media famous with a lot of sponsorships. A unique case was a guy named Dex, who is now a celebrity for his humor and attractive looks. These Korean dating shows are great examples of cultural differences and dating styles in Korea.
Comments
I really enjoyed the first few seasons of Single's Inferno but have yet to watch the new one. I never heard about the other ones so I might have to check those ones out too.
I have also heard that in Exchange part 2, there’s a couple who have dated for about 13 years that went on the show. This is such an interesting show concept especially because you do not know who each other’s exes are. I wonder if this show concept would do well in America and how it would maybe change because of the cultural differences.