Single’s Inferno Season 4: Who Left Together and Are They Still a Couple?
Single’s Inferno Season 4 concludes just like every other season of the popular Korean reality dating show: with a group of attractive, unattached individuals selecting their preferred date from among their fellow singles. The producers of Single’s Inferno use this ending to shape everything that precedes it on screen. As co-creator and producer Kim Jae-won explains to TIME through an interpreter, “For us, the creators and crew, we already know the final choices, and then we edit the entire series to build up the anticipation for the viewers.
In the fourth season of “Single’s Inferno,” now off Netflix after completing its 12-episode run, four couples formed, exiting the “Inferno” island as pairs. The remaining 3 men and 4 women from the original cast of 13 were left unattached and love-struck for the moment. Did any of these pairs remain together? And how does the team behind “Single’s Inferno,” including Kim, foster an environment where individuals could potentially find love in such a short span? Let’s delve into the global phenomenon that is “Single’s Inferno”…
The Single’s Inferno Global Phenomenon
In his own words, Kim (the creator) shared that the concept originated during his work on another reality show. As he was engrossed in a survival show set on an uninhabited island, he found himself captivated by its stunning beauty. This sparked an idea: “Why not create a dating show against this breathtaking backdrop?” Kim further explained that the island’s setting differs from typical Korean reality dating shows, which typically revolve around the romantic charm of city winters. He then proposed a unique twist: instead of focusing on the urban coziness of winter, they could explore the steamy heat of an island during summer.
In “Single’s Inferno”, a group of Korean singles seeking love are left on an isolated island, known as Inferno. For Season 4, seven women and six men spent ten days together on this deserted island. They have the opportunity to leave the island for romantic dates at a luxurious hotel, called Paradise. These dates can be won through physical competitions like traditional wrestling matches or pool games, or by mutual selection between two singles. In Paradise, they are allowed to disclose their ages and professions, which is prohibited on the island. The contestants do not have access to their phones, making their experience more intense and similar to other secluded dating shows on Netflix like “Love Is Blind”.
In December 2021, the first season of Single’s Inferno debuted on Netflix, following closely behind the explosive popularity of Squid Game. This marked the first time a Korean reality show entered the Netflix Top Ten. Kim attributes this global success to the increased interest in Korean content and curiosity about the real lives of actors seen in Korean dramas. Once viewers were drawn in, they appreciated the comparative subtlety of Single’s Inferno compared to Western dating shows like Too Hot to Handle or Love Island. As Kim explains, these shows are faster-paced and more explicit, whereas Single’s Inferno offers a slower, more emotionally introspective look at the participants’ journeys. The third season, which included basketball player Lee Gwan-hee as a controversial figure, was particularly well-received, garnering over 71 million watch hours in its four-week run. As of February 2, Season 4 had amassed over 21 million watch hours.
Single’s Inferno Season 4 Explained—From Casting to That Double Date
In the latest season of “Single’s Inferno,” while the fundamental concept remains consistent, the creators have made some adjustments. For instance, the duration the contestants stayed on the island was slightly prolonged to 10 days instead of the initial nine. Moreover, a new twist was added – the “gamechangers,” who are brought in mid-season to create a stir. This season, the producers chose 24-year-old acting student Park Hae-lin as the female game-changer. In contrast, the women were given the option to choose among three potential male additions to the cast, and they selected 32-year-old restaurateur An Jong-hoon.
According to Kim, finding genuine individuals seeking real relationships is a crucial part of the hit show “Single’s Inferno.” While the increased popularity of the series has resulted in more potential candidates, it also poses a challenge due to some people using the platform for fame rather than love. As Kim points out, while such contestants can make for entertaining television, the producers strive to maintain the essence of the show: the pursuit of genuine romantic connections over fleeting fame.
In “Single’s Inferno,” the production team and crew have a well-structured strategy when it comes to filming, but according to Kim, there’s some leeway for adjustments. The main drama this season revolved around 25-year-old model and former idol contestant Lee Si-an deciding among her numerous male admirers, with the tension reaching its peak in Episode 9. In a surprising twist, the producers organized a double date for the couples at Paradise, an unusual move for this series that typically maintains the private nature of the Paradise dates between two individuals. Si-an had arrived at Paradise with 28-year-old artist and actor Yuk Jun-seo, who she was starting to develop feelings for. However, 33-year-old cafe owner Kim Jeong-su had come with 28-year-old dancer Chung You-jin, primarily because his initial choice, Si-an, was unavailable. This double date marked a new phase in the show’s dynamics.
As a movie buff, I’d rephrase it like this: “I, being the one behind the scenes, didn’t just decide on a whim to have the double date. It was more about navigating the intricate romantic web of Si-an, Jun-seo, Jeong-su, and You-jin. We had a general idea, but the specifics like who would go and when were still up in the air. So while we have our grand scheme, there’s room for adjustments along the way.” The choice to involve Si-an, Jun-seo, Jeong-su, and You-jin on this double date was because of the tangled dynamics among them, as I explained. Additionally, it was the second consecutive night that Si-an and Jun-seo were going together, so we aimed to introduce a fresh challenge and atmosphere with this double date.
An illustration of the adaptable strategy is evident in the scheduling of the games, which frequently influence who gets to pick a date for Paradise. “Though all preparations are made, we can make decisions spontaneously—for instance, will it be a girl’s game or a boy’s game today?
Absolutely, the production team has its boundaries in terms of control, and at times, their decisions can lead to unexpected outcomes. For instance, during Season 4 of Inferno, there were fewer romantic connections formed compared to previous seasons. As Kim explains, “It wasn’t intentional at all; it just happened. I believe the reason was that we had two game-changers and sent everyone to Paradise, leaving only men in the Inferno with just Hae-lin.” At the start of the season, the cast was divided by gender into separate Inferno camps on different islands, reducing the contestants’ opportunities for interaction. Kim further notes, “I think they simply didn’t have much time to be together and socialize in Inferno, which is something we regret after filming everything.
Single’s Inferno Season 4 Ending Couples: Who Did Si-an Choose?
Eventually, four pairs were paired off and departed Inferno jointly, after an intense selection process. As Kim puts it, “The [final] ambiance on set mirrors the emotions portrayed during the show.” “They’re not allowed to discuss their final decisions,” Kim continues, “so none of them can be certain that this person will choose me or that person will choose me.
25-year-old spatial designer Bae Ji-yeon selected 31-year-old DJ Kim Tae-hwan, even though she had doubts about how genuine his feelings for her truly were. Despite this, he also chose her, and the pair departed Inferno hand in hand.
An Jong-hoon and Kim Hye-jin, a 25-year-old model, decided to be together and exited Inferno holding hands. Hye-jin was among the female contestants who selected Jong-hoon as the male wildcard.
25-year-old model Kim A-rin and accountant Koon Dong-ho, aged 30, decided to pair up. This season, Dong-ho was among the top bachelors on the reality show “Single’s Inferno,” while Hae-lin was another participant.
In addition, Hae-lin chose him as her final pick. On their last date at Paradise, Dong-ho and Hae-lin went out together, even though Dong-ho had expressed his affection for A-rin and didn’t seem likely to change his feelings. Interestingly enough, during their time in Paradise, both A-rin and Dong-ho found out they live in the same Seoul neighborhood and work in the same area.
In the fourth season of the show, You-jin showed interest in Dong-ho, yet ultimately selected Jeong-su as her preferred choice. During their Paradise date, they became friends. When speaking about this, Kim expressed that there weren’t as many romantic moments as they would have liked. He adds that You-jin is an appealing contestant who openly expresses her feelings. In his opinion, she is well-suited for a dating show. However, he regrets that they didn’t provide her with enough time to consider her available options, which seems unfortunate.
Lee Si-an emerged prominently as the leading character in Season 4, captivating male contestants such as Yuk Jun-seo, Kim Jeong-su, and Jang Theo, a 29-year-old actor, with her enchanting beauty and allure. Each of these men chose Si-an as their preferred choice. However, in choosing her final Paradise date, Si-an selected Jeong-su. Despite this, she decided to partner up with Jun-seo before leaving the island. In her initial season video, Si-an expressed her wish to be swept off her feet by love, and later described her feelings for Jun-seo as a whirlwind. As they departed the island, he playfully picked her up and carried her over his shoulder.
Kim shared that while editing Season 4, despite already knowing the final decisions, he found himself puzzled by Si-an’s final Paradise date and her ultimate pick. He further explained, ‘When you watch the last episode, you’ll understand that [Si-an] was truly thoughtful about her choice. She carefully weighed all factors and made the best decision for herself.’
23-year-old freelance news anchor, Kim Min-seol, and fan favorite Jun-seo found themselves stranded alone on the island, as the other contestants – Jung You-jin, Park Hae-lin, Kim Jeong-su, and Jang Theo – decided to leave the island without partners.
Are Any of the Single’s Inferno Season 4 Couples Still Together?
To maintain the intrigue surrounding “Single’s Inferno”, contestants are forbidden from revealing details about their romantic lives on social platforms. Interestingly, Season 4 had the longest gap between filming and release, spanning eight months. The series was filmed in June 2024, with the finale finally airing on Netflix in February 2025. It took approximately three months to put together the final product, during which time the production team captured segments featuring hosts Lee Da-hee, Dex, Hong Jin-kyung, Hanhae, and Kyuhyun as they watched and commented on the episodes, all part of the editing process.
Over the last eight months, strict social media rules for contestants have made it difficult to determine if any couples who exited the Inferno as a pair are still together. At present, no couples from past seasons have reportedly stayed together. However, unofficial reports suggest that Si-an and Jun-seo may be seen together in Seoul, but this has not been confirmed or denied yet.
Reflecting on our time together during a recent interview with Marie Claire, I was asked about my contact with my final pick. Instead of directly addressing the question, I chose to share that I maintain connections with all contestants. We frequently gather for enjoyable meals or social events, and we also collaborate on promotional activities. During these promo sessions, we reminisce about our experiences while filming, catching up and sharing memories. So, yes, we’ve been spending quite a bit of time together recently. Here’s a quick video where some of the cast members look back on the season.
The Future of Single’s Inferno: Season 5 and Beyond
The reality series “Single’s Inferno” has proven to be one of Netflix’s most successful non-English shows. The program is currently preparing for its fifth season and is on the lookout for new cast members. In a post on Instagram from December 2024, producer Kim expressed his gratitude for reaching the fourth season and thanked the audience for their continued support. He also shared that with the success of this latest season, they are aiming to extend the show’s run to ten seasons and hope to establish it as the longest-running dating series in South Korea.
Read More
- Cookie Run: Kingdom Candy Apple Cookie Guide: How to unlock, Best Toppings, and more
- This is Us boss’s new thriller with Sterling K Brown is shockingly addictive
- Brawl Stars: Is the Late Post a Time Travel Mystery or Just Slow Internet?
- Demi Lovato Defends Non-Binary Identity After Pronoun Change Backlash
- TFT patch 13.4 notes revealed: Reunion nerf, Welcome to the Playground buff, and more
- Former Doctor Who star Tosin Cole lands major new lead movie role
- Love and Deepspace Voice actors list for English, Japanese, and Chinese language
- Unforgotten actor’s BBC series won’t return despite strong Rotten Tomatoes score
- Mortal Kombat 1 Kombat Pack 3: Is it happening?
- Nexon cancels Warhammer RPG, developed by Thought Pennies due to strategic changes
2025-02-12 08:07