Season 5 of Single’s Inferno concluded on February 10 with 12 episodes, returning approximately one year after Season 4. The latest installment achieved the highest performance in the series’ history, recording 3.1 million views (calculated by dividing total viewing hours by the show’s runtime) and 45.1 million viewing hours from February 2 to February 8. The show ranked No. 2 in Netflix’s Global Top 10 (Non-English TV) for three consecutive weeks and reached No. 1 in countries including South Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Taiwan. It also entered the Top 10 in 18 countries, such as Thailand, Japan, Indonesia, and the Philippines.
Much of the season’s buzz centered on Choi Mina Sue. She formed a complex four-way romantic dynamic with multiple male contestants while also engaging in a tense yet compelling rivalry with fellow female contestant Kim Min-ji. Her “villain” arc — a staple element in dating reality shows — fueled discussion online and boosted the program’s popularity.
Choi Mina Sue previously gained recognition as the 2021 Miss Korea “Sun” (runner-up) and became the first Korean to win Miss Earth, one of the world’s four major international beauty pageants.
PDs: “Season 5’s Popularity Is Thanks to Choi Mina Sue”
Producers Kim Jae-won, Kim Jung-hyun, and Park Su-ji credited Choi Mina Sue as a key contributor to the season’s success in a February 13 interview with Star News. “We’re extremely happy that Season 5 wrapped up with record-breaking results. We’re hearing reactions we’ve never received before,” they shared. “Many people say, ‘Season 5’s popularity is all thanks to Choi Mina Sue,’ and we absolutely agree.”
The producers revealed that editing her storyline felt less like work and more like watching the show as viewers themselves. Her dynamic with Kim Min-ji, in particular, became one of the most entertaining aspects in the editing room. While their relationship began as a conflict, international fans reportedly viewed it through a “romantic comedy enemies-to-lovers” lens, appreciating the evolving chemistry and eventual sense of genuine camaraderie.
Producer Kim Jae-won even promised to treat Choi Mina Sue to an expensive meal as a token of appreciation. He humorously added that during a recent cast gathering, he gave her a deep formal bow in gratitude. “She’s actually very cheerful and even a bit shy,” he said. “When I bowed to her, she became embarrassed and tried to bow back. Every time I meet her, I feel she’s incredibly charming and fun.”
“She Never Blamed the Production Team”
Despite her surge in popularity, Choi Mina Sue also faced harsh criticism and malicious comments. On February 13, she shared her reflections on social media, writing, “Watching my immature sides on the show, I reflected a lot, learned, realized, and grew. It was a time to deeply understand that my actions and words could make others uncomfortable.” When asked whether she had expressed resentment toward the production team over editing choices, PD Kim Jae-won firmly responded, “She never blamed us.”
He explained that they spoke frequently during the broadcast period, as she sought advice about the intense criticism. “She asked, ‘When will things calm down?’ I told her it would get better around week three, and that she should start reading comments then. But I miscalculated — it was more like week four,” he joked.
He added that public reaction has since softened, with more viewers acknowledging her bright and genuine personality. “There were many critical opinions during the broadcast, which is understandable. But now that it’s over, we hope viewers will send her lots of support.”
Final Couples and the Reality Question
Season 5 concluded with five final couples: Choi Mina Sue and Lee Seong-hun, Kim Min-ji and Song Seung-il, Lim Soo-been and Park Hee-sun, Lee Ju-young and Kim Jae-jin, and Kim Go-eun and Woo Sung-min. However, a final on-screen pairing does not necessarily translate into a real-life relationship. According to Star News coverage, Choi Mina Sue and Lee Seong-hun are not currently dating in real life.
Addressing ongoing discussions about the show’s lack of publicly confirmed real couples, PD Kim Jae-won admitted disappointment. “There’s a lot of talk that ‘*Single’s Inferno doesn’t produce real-life couples.’ But I think the issue is more about whether participants choose to go public with their relationships. It’s something we find hard to understand.”*
He revealed that during casting, the team even considered adding a clause about public dating to contracts and consulted a lawyer — only to be told it would violate privacy rights and be unconstitutional. This ultimately led them to create the spin-off concept Single’s Inferno Reunion to share behind-the-scenes updates.
With Season 6 already confirmed, the producers promised to return with a stronger balance of entertainment and authenticity, carefully considering both cast members and fixed panelists.
Sources: Daum
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