Single’s Inferno is back with its biggest season yet. The hit Korean reality dating show on Netflix returned on January 20, 2026, introducing twelve new singles ready to find love on a deserted island. This fifth season promises more drama, new connections, and a cast that producers say is the most honest and expressive group so far.
The show’s hosts, including Hong Jin-kyung, Lee Da-hee, Kyuhyun, Hanhae, and Dex, have teased that this group will bring a fresh energy. After some viewers felt Season 4 had too many already-famous faces, the production team changed its strategy. They moved away from social media scouting and instead used old-fashioned flyers in gyms, hair salons, and restaurants to find a more balanced mix of everyday people.
A New Group of Singles for a New Season
This season features the largest cast in the show’s history. They come from diverse backgrounds, including athletes, models, artists, and business owners. On the island they call “Inferno,” they cannot reveal their ages or real jobs. They must build connections based only on personality and first impressions. The goal is to find a mutual match and escape to “Paradise,” a luxury hotel where they can finally talk openly.
The first four episodes are now available for streaming. New episodes will be released weekly. The next three episodes arrive on January 27, 2026, followed by three more on February 3. The season will conclude with the final two episodes on February 10, 2026.
The Women of Single’s Inferno Season 5
Kim Min-ji is a standout as a professional track and field athlete. She specializes in the 400-meter races and has won Korea’s National Sports Festival four years in a row, earning nicknames like “Goddess of the Track”. She is confident and says her dating style is very direct. She has previously appeared on TV shows like King of Masked Singer and King of Survival: Tribal War.
Kim Go-eun is a model and beauty queen who won the 2022 Miss Korea pageant. She is also known as the daughter of former national soccer player Kim Hyun-soo. She describes herself as having a cat-like face but a warm, puppy-like personality once you get to know her.
Choi Mina Sue brings global experience. Born in Australia, she has lived in South Korea, Canada, and the U.S., where she is a communications student at the University of Illinois. She made history in 2022 as the first Korean woman to win the Miss Earth pageant. On the show, she says she is a “ball of fire” who loves high-energy sports like scuba diving.
Ham Ye-jin, 30, works as a freelance announcer for news stations and corporate events. She says people find her quirky and honest, and she prefers to build connections by looking people directly in the eye when she talks to them.
Park Hee-sun is a former cheerleader who loves to dance. She is proactive in dating and admits she is used to getting attention from men, but is still searching for a real, heartfelt connection.
Lee Joo-young, 26, is a craft designer who creates resin vases and pressed-flower art. She says she has a bubbly personality and was very popular in school, even being called one of her school’s “goddesses”.
The Men of Single’s Inferno Season 5
Kim Jae-jin quickly became a central figure. The 28-year-old professional dancer and teacher is the joker of the group, entering with a playful and nonchalant attitude. He received the most votes from the women in the first Paradise matching round.
Woo Sung-min, 30, is an optician who runs his family’s optical shop. He says he is not looking for fiery drama but prefers relaxed, easygoing relationships where he can banter with his partner.
Song Seung-il, 25, works in fashion marketing. He is also an athlete skilled in jiujitsu and says he is intensely competitive.
“I hate losing, and when I do, I can’t even sleep at night,” he admits.
Youn Hyun-jae joined the show because he hadn’t “felt butterflies” in a while. He is athletic, practices the Korean martial art kundo, and says he will persistently pursue a woman if she fits his ideal type of someone pure and innocent.
Lim Su-been is a 24-year-old model and former baseball pitcher who had to quit due to a shoulder injury. His ideal type is a tall woman, and he specifically mentioned host Lee Da-hee as an example of the allure he likes.
Shin Hyeon-woo is confident in his physique and aura. He believes in fate and is hoping to meet someone meant for him on the island.
Lee Sung-hun, also known as Samuel Lee, adds an international flavor. He currently lives in New York City and is more fluent in English. He looks for someone with “cat-like” looks who is genuine and kind. His appearance on the show, however, has been accompanied by online controversy. After the premiere, social media rumors surfaced alleging he cheated on his ex-girlfriend, TikTok influencer Hena Yang. Lee has denied these allegations on Instagram.
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Early Connections and Paradise Dates
The first four episodes have already set the stage for several potential love stories and triangles.
In the first Paradise matching, Kim Jae-jin and Kim Min-ji won the most votes. Jae-jin chose Ham Ye-jin for his date, while Min-ji picked Woo Sung-min. While these dates were friendly, other connections have sparked more obvious attraction.
A notable love triangle has formed between Kim Jae-jin, Park Hee-sun, and Lee Joo-young. During a tense truth game, Jae-jin admitted that Joo-young was his top choice, even while he was holding Hee-sun’s hand.
Another complicated triangle involves Song Seung-il, Kim Min-ji, and Choi Mina Sue. Seung-il received chocolates from both women in an early vote. After a date with Min-ji, he later suggested he would choose someone new for Paradise, which upset her. Meanwhile, Mina Sue switched her interest to Seung-il after learning he liked her back.
The pairing of Kim Go-eun and Woo Sung-min has also developed quickly. After their second Paradise date together, Sung-min openly said he plans to keep pursuing Go-eun without hesitation.
The show has introduced new games to test these bonds. In a couples’ dodgeball challenge, the team of Park Hee-sun and Shin Hyeon-woo won. A photoshoot contest to find the “hottest couple on earth” was won by Kim Go-eun and Kim Jae-jin, who earned the right to see the secret preference rankings of other contestants.
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