The romance fans believed in turned out to be a one-way street. Kim Min-gee, the star athlete who captured hearts on Single’s Inferno Season 5, has opened up about what really happened between her and Song Seung-il after the cameras stopped rolling. And the truth hurts.
During the six-episode reunion special that dropped on Netflix on February 14, 2026, Min-gee sat down for a solo interview and shared the painful reality of her post-show experience. Despite choosing Seung-il in the finale and leaving Inferno together, the two never became a real-life couple. Instead, Min-gee admitted she got “ghosted” by the man she liked, sparking an outpouring of anger and sympathy from viewers worldwide .
The Honest Confession That Broke Fans’ Hearts
In her one-on-one interview with the production team, Min-gee did not hold back about her feelings. She reflected on her final choice and made it clear she had no regrets about picking Seung-il, even knowing how things turned out.
“I have no regrets about my final choice. Even if I did it again, I would still choose Seung-il,” Min-gee said. But then her voice shifted, and she added something that left fans emotional. “I just feel a bit sorry. Seeing myself back then makes me feel pitiful” .
Min-gee went on to explain that after the show ended, the connection she thought they had simply vanished. “It wasn’t really contact. It was more like me knocking on the door alone,” she revealed, describing how she was the only one trying to reach out .
She described their current relationship status as “a bit ambiguous. It’s not like we’re colleagues. That connection has already been broken.” With a bittersweet smile, she delivered the line that has since gone viral among fans: “The person I liked doesn’t seem to have come out of Inferno yet” .
Seung-il’s Own Words Confirm the Distance
Song Seung-il, the 24-year-old fashion marketer who works at a company in South Korea, was equally honest during his reunion interview. He did not try to sugarcoat the situation or pretend there was more between them than there actually was.
“Watching the final selection scene again, I thought, ‘Song Seung-il really had no sincerity.’ I think I even said, ‘How embarrassing’ as I was walking over,” he admitted .
When asked about their contact after the show, Seung-il confirmed they barely spoke. “In reality, we only contacted each other a little bit,” he said, indirectly confirming they never became a couple .
He also tried to define what they are now. “Since we didn’t develop into a couple, I guess we’re like acquaintances? A slightly closer older sister and younger brother relationship” . For fans who watched Min-gee beam with happiness when she chose him in the finale, those words felt like a slap in the face.
Fans React: “She Deserved Better”
Social media erupted after the reunion episodes aired, with viewers expressing their disappointment and anger at how Seung-il handled things. Many pointed out that Min-gee was nothing but sincere throughout the show, and seeing her get treated this way felt unfair.
“Min-gee was so sincere, it hurts to watch” — a fan commented on social media, capturing the general mood of the audience .
On Reddit and X (formerly Twitter), the backlash against Seung-il grew quickly. Fans who had rooted for the couple from the beginning felt betrayed by his lack of effort after the show.
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“She doesn’t deserve this at all. She put her heart out there and he just let her knock on the door alone? That’s cold,” one user wrote.
Another fan added, “The way he called her a ‘slightly closer older sister’ after everything she said to him… I’m actually angry. Min-gee deserved someone who would match her energy.”
Some viewers pointed out that Seung-il’s behavior on the show should have been a warning sign. During the season, he showed interest in multiple women, including Choi Mina-sue, which had already drawn criticism. But many fans chose to ignore those red flags because of the strong chemistry between him and Min-gee .
“I fear for her tho that man was looking at Mina the entire campfire and if he fumbles Mingee, I need her to move on cause she deserves better” — a fan had predicted back in January, and that prediction sadly came true .
The Reunion Trailer Already Hinted at Trouble
Before the reunion episodes dropped, eagle-eyed fans had already spotted signs that something was off. The reunion trailer, which Netflix released in early February, showed Min-gee and Seung-il sitting far apart from each other. Body language experts among the fanbase pointed out how uncomfortable they looked together .
In one clip, Seung-il appeared to pull his hand away quickly during a moment that should have been romantic. Viewers described the pair as “feeling forced” and noticed the lack of warmth between them, especially when compared to other couples like Park Hee-sun and Lim Su-been, who looked genuinely happy and comfortable .
The official reunion poster also fueled speculation. Min-gee and Seung-il were positioned far apart, while other couples stood close together. At the time, some fans dismissed it as editing or promotion strategy, but the reunion confirmed their worst fears .
Signs That Raised Hope and Then Crushed It
Interestingly, there were several moments before the reunion that made fans believe the couple might still be together. Seung-il had liked an Instagram post related to Min-gee not long ago. During a photoshoot, they were spotted wearing matching bracelets. Min-gee had also worn Seung-il’s blue jacket in a social media post back in November .
During the reunion filming, some attendees noticed the way Min-gee looked at Seung-il when they recreated the hoodie scene from the show. His ears turned red, and during interviews, their knees touched despite having plenty of space to sit apart. There were even reports that Seung-il attended one of Min-gee’s track and field races .
But as Min-gee herself confirmed, those small moments did not translate into a real relationship. The contact never went beyond surface level, and she was left waiting for someone who was not going to show up.
Other Couples Found Love, Making the Contrast Clear
To make matters worse for Min-gee fans, other couples from the same season actually made their relationships work. Park Hee-sun and Lim Su-been confirmed they are still dating and shared sweet moments throughout the reunion. They held hands, wore matching outfits, and talked about their future together .
Hee-sun even got emotional during one conversation, telling Su-been how hard it was not hearing from him for days. But unlike Min-gee’s situation, Su-been explained himself and they worked through it together. They are now committed to making things work, with Hee-sun studying at Seoul University while Su-been supports her .
Seeing another couple from the same show build something real while Min-gee got left behind made the pain even sharper for viewers. The contrast between Hee-sun and Su-been’s happy moments and Min-gee’s solo heartbreak was impossible to ignore.
Min-gee’s Rise and Seung-il’s Fall in Popularity
Despite the heartbreak, Kim Min-gee has emerged as the true winner of Single’s Inferno Season 5 in terms of public support. Before the show aired, she had around 450,000 Instagram followers. That number has now skyrocketed to over 1.47 million, making her the most followed contestant from this season .
She was also the first Season 5 contestant to cross the 1 million follower mark, proving that audiences connected with her honesty and vulnerability . Her athletic background as a track and field star, combined with her genuine personality, made her a fan favorite from the start.
Song Seung-il, on the other hand, has faced growing criticism. While he still has around 620,000 followers, the backlash after the reunion has been intense . Many fans have called him out for leading Min-gee on or not being honest about his feelings from the beginning.
One fan summed up the general feeling: “He knew he wasn’t that into her but still let her choose him in the finale. That’s not fair to her at all.”
What Min-gee Said About Moving Forward
In her reunion interview, Min-gee also reflected on her time in Inferno and how it changed her. She wrote a heartfelt message on social media after filming wrapped, sharing her emotions with fans.
“When I rewatch Single’s Inferno 5, I feel the emotions of that summer again. In the end, my heart feels a little calmer,” she wrote. “Those 10 days felt so long to me, and every minute and second was precious” .
She also opened up about struggling after production ended. “After filming wrapped, there were moments when my heart felt heavy and I struggled. But thanks to the friends who cried and laughed with me and shared those emotions, I was able to get through it well” .
Min-gee made sure to thank the production team and the viewers who supported her. She ended with gratitude, showing the grace and maturity that made fans love her in the first place.
The Reunion Format and Where to Watch
The Single’s Inferno Season 5 reunion is historic for the franchise. Instead of a single YouTube video like previous seasons, Netflix produced a full six-episode event that streams exclusively on the platform. All episodes are now available for subscribers in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, India, and worldwide .
The reunion includes one-on-one interviews with each contestant, group trips back to Paradise, and behind-the-scenes moments that were never shown before. For the first time, fans get a real look at what happened after the Inferno ended.
While the reunion brought closure for some couples, for Min-gee and Seung-il, it brought a painful truth that fans are still processing. The image of Min-gee smiling through her heartbreak and saying her love got “stuck in Inferno” will stay with viewers for a long time.
As one fan put it, “She gave him everything on the show, and he gave her nothing after. That’s not how love works. Min-gee deserves someone who will knock on her door too.”
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