The latest season of Netflix’s hit Korean dating show, Single’s Inferno, has its most talked-about contestant yet. Choi Mina Sue, a former Miss Earth winner, finds herself at the center of a major viewer debate. While she entered the island with plenty of romantic options, her constantly shifting interests have left fans and even the show’s hosts confused. This has sparked a wave of online backlash, discussions about reality TV editing, and a fierce defense from a close friend.
Choi Mina Sue’s Changing Interests and Fan Backlash
Single’s Inferno Season 5 released its second batch of episodes, Episodes 5 through 7, on January 27, 2026. These episodes placed a strong spotlight on Choi Mina Sue and her complicated connections with several male contestants. Initially, she named Lee Sung-hun, Lim Su-been, and Woo Sung-min as her top three interests. However, she later expressed a strong interest in Song Seung-il, who was also being pursued by fellow contestant Kim Min-ji.
This pattern of switching continued in the new episodes. Viewers saw her mainly moving between Song Seung-il and Lim Su-been, but she also surprised everyone by sending a red heart to Lee Sung-hun during a campfire round. When Seung-il and Min-ji grew closer, Mina Sue turned her attention to Su-been. Yet, when Su-been began to show interest in her, fans noticed her acting distant and even rolling her eyes.
“Mina is the definition of insecure and selfish. I doubt she likes any of them but rather loves the idea of having them hover around herโฆ pity,” one viewer posted on X (formerly Twitter).
Her indecisive behavior reached a point where it frustrated the show’s panel of hosts. In a preview, host Dex commented, โIโm going to be honest, I can no longer relate to Mina Sue.โ
Friend Defends Mina Sue’s ‘Role’ on the Show
As the online criticism grew more intense, flooding Choi Mina Sue’s Instagram with negative comments, a close friend came to her defense. Jasmin Selberg, a fellow beauty queen who won Miss International 2022, argued that Mina Sue was simply playing a role assigned by the show’s producers.
In a detailed comment on Instagram, Selberg explained her perspective on how reality TV works.
โIโve known Mina for some years now. I see how her role in Singleโs Inferno might have a bad look on her as a person. Itโs a show meant for entertainment,โ Selberg wrote. โAs in any entertainment show, each person in the cast receives a role. From everybodyโs darling up until the antagonist, thereโs everything in betweenโฆ The role which was given to her from the directors and editors does not represent her as a person.โ
This defense shifted part of the conversation from Mina Sue’s actions to broader questions about how much of the show is genuine interaction and how much is crafted by editing for drama.
Fan Reactions on Social Media
The backlash against Choi Mina Sue has been widespread on social media platforms like X, Reddit, and Instagram. Fans have labeled her behavior as “selfish,” “insincere,” and the “definition of a pick-me girl”.
Many viewers expressed frustration with what they saw as inconsistent and attention-seeking actions. One moment that particularly upset fans was when she pulled Lim Su-been aside for a private chat, only to immediately ignore him when Song Seung-il walked over.
“Mina Sue is insufferable. The way she has been trying to tell everyone that she is bothered because Subeen ditched her for Heesun. Excuse me? This happened bc she humiliated him first,” another X user posted.
The criticism wasn’t limited to her romantic indecision. A separate clip where Mina Sue commented on other female contestants borrowing her bikinis also sparked anger, with some netizens calling her hypocritical for trying to paint others in a bad light.
Release Schedule and Global Streaming Details
Single’s Inferno Season 5 is being released on Netflix in weekly batches. The first four episodes debuted on January 20, 2026. The latest trio of episodes (5, 6, and 7) dropped together on Tuesday, January 27, 2026.
For global audiences, the release time for these episodes was 12:00 AM Pacific Time (PT) / 3:00 AM Eastern Time (ET). This translated to:
- 8:00 AM in the United Kingdom
- 9:00 AM in Central European Time
- 1:30 PM in India Standard Time
- 7:00 PM in Australia
The season is scheduled to continue with Episodes 8, 9, and 10 releasing on February 3, 2026, followed by the final episodes on February 10, 2026.
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The Scripting Debate Surrounding Single’s Inferno 5
The intense focus on Choi Mina Sue’s storyline and the subsequent friend’s defense have fueled ongoing viewer debates about how “real” the show is. Some fans question if the drama is scripted or heavily engineered by producers.
While Jasmin Selberg’s comments suggested contestants are given roles, past cast members have offered different views. A former contestant from Season 3, Minkyu, stated, โWe donโt have any script or directionโฆ I could do it by myself, to be honest.โ
Another former participant, FreeZia, also addressed the speculation, saying, โI have to tell you that it really wasnโt. How can we follow a script when we are not even actors?โ.
This contrast highlights the complex nature of reality television, where editing, selective storytelling, and personal agendas can shape narratives, making it difficult for audiences to separate a person’s true character from their on-screen portrayal.
Also Read: Positively Yours K-drama: Full Episode Release Schedule on Channel A and Viki
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