Lee Sung-hun, the quiet and steady AI engineer turned Wall Street trader from Netflix’s Single’s Inferno Season 5, has finally broken his silence about those viral photos showing him on a romantic date at Disneyland with a mystery woman. But his response is raising more eyebrows than answers. The 28-year-old contestant who left the show paired with Miss Earth 2022 Mina Sue Choi is now suggesting that the images flooding social media might not be real at all. He hinted they could be the work of artificial intelligence.
The dating rumor mill went into overdrive earlier this week when a Chinese netizen posted pictures and short video clips on social media. The content appeared to show Lee Sung-hun at the American Disneyland resort, walking hand-in-hand with a long-haired woman, sitting closely on benches, and enjoying a day at the theme park. Given his high-profile career background as a former Google AI engineer, his response carries a unique weight. He is now using his expertise to cast doubt on the evidence itself.
The Disney Photos That Sparked a Cheating Storm
The controversy erupted almost immediately after the February 10 finale of Single’s Inferno Season 5. In the final episodes, viewers watched Lee Sung-hun consistently choose Mina Sue Choi, and the two walked off together as one of the record-breaking five final couples. The on-screen romance made them a fan-favorite pair .
Just days later, on February 11, a social media user shared photos claiming to have spotted Lee Sung-hun at Disneyland. The timing caused immediate backlash. Many netizens accused him of cheating on Mina Sue Choi or leading viewers on during the show . The images showed what looked like a comfortable, intimate date. Supporters of the on-screen couple expressed shock and disappointment .
However, other viewers quickly pointed out that filming for the season ended months ago. They reminded everyone that cast members rarely become real-life couples after the show ends. Lee Sung-hun himself had reportedly denied the dating rumors shortly after they surfaced. He even threatened legal action against those spreading defamatory claims .
Lee Sung-hun’s New Statement: “It Could Be AI”
Now, Lee Sung-hun is adding a new layer to the story. Given his professional background, his latest comment carries significant weight. According to recent reports aggregating his statement, the Single’s Inferno star is questioning the authenticity of the visual evidence. He reportedly stated that the viral Disney photo with his rumored girlfriend could be AI-generated .
This defense is particularly notable because of his career. Lee Sung-hun (also known as Samuel Lee) holds a double degree in Computer Science and Mathematics from UC Berkeley. He previously worked as a machine learning engineer on Google’s TensorFlow team. He is currently a quantitative trader at Jump Trading in New York . He understands better than most how convincingly AI can now fabricate images.
By suggesting the photos might be deepfakes or AI creations, he is challenging the core evidence of the rumor. This moves the conversation from “Did he cheat?” to “Is that even him in the photo?” It is a sophisticated defense that leverages his personal brand as a tech expert.
Fans Are Divided: Deepfake Defense or Clever Excuse?
The reaction to his statement is mixed. On one hand, some fans accept that AI technology has advanced enough to create realistic fake photos. They point out that as a public figure emerging from a massive Netflix show, he could be a target for malicious editing.
On the other hand, some netizens remain skeptical. They note that the original leak included short video clips, not just still photos. Video is harder to fake convincingly than a single image. Additionally, the original poster on Chinese social media described seeing him in person, adding a layer of eyewitness testimony .
The debate highlights the strange intersection of dating scandals and AI technology. It also puts Lee Sung-hun in a unique position. He is one of the few reality stars who can credibly argue about the technical possibility of AI-generated content.
“I saw Lee Sung Hun at US Disneyland, but he wasn’t with Mina Sue. He’s so handsome in real life. I watched the finale yesterday night and recognized him even from the back. I was so excited.”
— Original eyewitness post translated
Mina Sue Choi and the Single’s Inferno Reunion Context
While Lee Sung-hun deals with the Disney photos, his on-screen partner Mina Sue Choi has remained publicly silent about the rumors. The Miss Earth winner has also faced her own share of online scrutiny following the show’s end .
The timing of this new AI statement is interesting. It comes shortly after the cast gathered for the Single’s Inferno Season 5 Reunion. The reunion special aired on February 14 . During that episode, the production team addressed the topic of “real-life couples” (or 현커 in Korean). The directors revealed that they even tried to add clauses to contracts requiring contestants to date publicly if they became a couple, but their lawyers advised against it for constitutional reasons .
In the reunion, the cast reportedly gave honest answers about their current relationship statuses. Viewers are now analyzing those responses to see if they align with Lee Sung-hun denying the Disney date or if they hint at something else.
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The Challenge of Proving What is Real
Lee Sung-hun’s background is impressive. Before Jump Trading, he accumulated experience at Amazon’s Alexa AI team, Snowflake, and Accenture . He is deeply embedded in the tech world. His claim that the photo could be AI is not the word of an average celebrity trying to escape a rumor. It is an expert opinion.
However, proving that a specific image is AI-generated is difficult. Currently, no major tech forensic account has declared the Disney photos to be fakes. Until Lee Sung-hun or his representatives provide concrete evidence of manipulation, the public is left with two possibilities. Either he was at Disneyland with someone new, or someone used advanced software to put his face on another man’s body.
For now, the Single’s Inferno Season 5 star is holding his ground. He initially denied the relationship and promised legal action . Now, he is questioning the very technology used to capture and share the moment.
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