South Korean television is experiencing a seismic shift as entertainment shows featuring former couples gain immense popularity, marking a departure from traditional dating reality formats. This cultural transformation is driven by a growing openness in discussing past relationships, answering the audience’s demand for more genuine and relatable content, according to industry experts.

Korean streaming service Tving reported a significant surge in paid subscribers, with their reality dating show “Transit Love 3” claiming the top spot among the platform’s original titles on Jan. 4. This success came just a week after the release of its first episode on Dec. 29, 2023.

“Transit Love,” the hit dating reality series, takes a bold approach by bringing together men and women who were once romantically involved but have since parted ways. The show invites them to cohabit for a defined period, leading participants to confront decisions about rekindling relationships with their past lovers or exploring new romantic interests.

Kim Hye-won, a fourth-year college student in Seoul, shared her fascination with the show’s unconventional concept, stating, “I ended up watching the entire ‘Transit Love’ series because the show realizes an impossible concept, which is bringing together broken couples and publicly broadcasting the process of them reuniting with their past loves or seeing their past lovers seek new love.”

She emphasized the uniqueness of the format, as Korean dating reality shows typically focus on the excitement of meeting new people rather than delving into the complexities of previous relationships.

In a parallel development, a video featuring popular Korean comedian Shin Dong-yup on the YouTube channel of his past lover, Korean model Lee So-ra, gained immense traction. The video, posted on Dec. 6, 2023, featured Lee interviewing Shin about their past relationship and current lives, amassing over 7.7 million views.

Hwang Young-mee, a film critic and director of the Cinerature Cultural Contents Research Institute, commented on the broader trend, noting, “It seems like the entertainment industry is attempting to capture and adopt a social atmosphere that values individual freedom.”

She highlighted the universal desire to reconnect with past lovers, asserting that while some films have explored the topic fictionally, entertainment shows provide a unique platform to address these desires directly. Young-mee suggests that reality programs like “Transit Love” are serving as a method for viewers to engage with their innate desires more openly.

Crucially, Young-mee emphasized a shift in focus within the Korean entertainment industry, stating, “What is now most important is individuals’ respective emotions, and not how people view them.” This change reflects a growing acceptance of personal experiences and emotions, potentially contributing to the evolving landscape of Korean entertainment shows.

So, South Korean television is witnessing a transformative moment as reality dating shows redefine the genre by bringing former couples together on screen. “Transit Love 3” stands out as a prime example, captivating audiences and contributing to the surge in streaming platform subscriptions. This cultural shift towards openly discussing past relationships signals a broader movement in the entertainment industry, with audiences craving more authentic and relatable content.