Dating reality shows are all the rage now, with shows like Love Is Blind, Too Hot to Handle and Love Island quickly gaining popularity. There’s just something about watching individuals chase their dreams of finding love that gets us so addicted!
Some of the best reality dating shows from Korea have also made it up the list of most-watched TV shows across the globe. The shows come in a wide variety of creative formats that pit contestants against each other. They also feature people from all walks of life, ranging from celebrities to singles and even ex-partners.
Here’s a list of 15 Korean reality dating shows that will have you head over heels!
Love Like A K-Drama
Love Like A K-Drama is a new Korean dating reality show that premiered in November 2023. In this show, four male Korean actors and female Japanese actresses have to live under one roof. Hosted by Yuko Fueki (Yu-min), this show explores whether on-screen romance can blossom into real-life love. To make things more interesting, coveted roles in six romantic K-drama episodes are up for grabs!
This Korean Dating Variety Show revolves around auditions and emotional performances. The cast has to balance their desire to advance their career, romance, and friendships. As contestants pair up, audition for roles, and navigate love triangles, the emotional stakes soar. There is just enough drama to keep you eagerly awaiting what will happen in the next episode!
The cultural differences between the Korean and Japanese contestants brings another element to this show. Apart from the romantic pursuits, the series also shines light on the camaraderie and professionalism within the entertainment industry.
Watch Love Like A K-Drama on Netflix.
Catch the trailer here:
Nineteen To Twenty
Netflix’s new dating reality show, titled ‘Nineteen to Twenty’, offers a refreshing take on the dating show genre.
First released in July 2023, the show’s concept revolves around the journey of eight nineteen-year-olds who have to live together for two weeks in “adulting school”. The two-week journey unfolds in ‘School 19’ and ‘House 20’, where the cast partakes in activities meant to prepare them for adult life, which paves the way for new friendships and budding romances.
One of the highlights of this series is that the participants are teenagers who have shy and demure personalities, navigating co-ed interactions for the first time. It’s a perfect reminder of the innocence of teenage love!
The show also ties in some elements of Korean culture such the celebration of coming of age, offering an interesting peek into the lives of Korean youth.
Nineteen to Twenty is not a run of the mill fast-paced reality TV spectacle, but rather showcases a more wholesome and genuine side of coming-of-age journeys.
Watch Nineteen to Twenty on Netflix.
Catch the trailer here:
Between Love and Friendship
Between Love and Friendship is a 2022 reality dating show that follows a group of four male and four female friends. Unlike some of the other shows on our list, this show is somewhat of a hidden gem that has garnered positive reviews from many fans.
Four male friends and four female friends, who already know each other, live under one roof for a week. The diversity among the cast makes for an amusing watch, especially for those who are experiencing love for the first time.
The show places emphasis on the delicate balance between blossoming romances and existing friendships. Amid the quest for love, there are moments of genuine camaraderie and shared experiences that deepen the bonds among the cast.
Between Love and Friendship comes across as a sincere and down to earth show, focusing on the strong bonds between the casts and their quirky personalities, while adding in some unexpected twists. The cast members inject entertainment value with their engaging personalities, making it a great watch!
Watch Between Love and Friendship on Viu.
Single’s Inferno
If you have not yet heard of Single’s Inferno, you’re really missing out. The first season of Single’s Inferno aired in December 2021 and made it onto Netflix’s Top 10 TV Shows almost instantly. Following the success of Season 1, two more seasons aired in December 2022 and December 2023 – both of which achieved raving reviews from fans!
Single’s Inferno brings the allure of shows like Too Hot to Handle and Love Island but still manages to keep it a little more PG. The storyline is simple to understand – six men and six women are together on an island known as “Inferno” or hell island for 9 days. Resources like food and water are scarce, and contestants have to forage for their own sustenance. Couples that manage to pair up will be taken to a luxury hotel for the night (known as Paradise) while singles have to remain on the ‘hell island’.
Another noteworthy fact is that the contestants are not allowed to reveal their ages or occupations to one another while they are still on hell island. They can only do so once they pair up with another contestant and reach Paradise.
The contestants are all from different backgrounds, ranging from students to entrepreneurs. There are memes from this show all over the internet -you have also probably heard about one of the contestants, Song Ji-Ah being a lookalike of BLACKPINK’s Jennie.
If you have not yet watched this show, you probably should as it promises to be full of entertaining moments and will leave you eagerly anticipating the next season. You can watch Single’s Inferno on Netflix!
Catch the trailer here:
Pink Lie
Pink Lie is a new dating reality show that premiered in October 2022, with a total of 12 episodes released for Season 1.
Four men and three women who are looking for love enter Pink House, where they will be spending twelve days together. The unique aspect of Pink House is that every contestant is keeping a secret, which is something that they are afraid of being judged for. It can be their age, job, academic background or anything else. The objective of the show is for the contestants to find a partner that can look past their flaws without judgement.
As the show progresses, there are a series of twists planned that will put the contestants under more pressure – and leave you hooked as you watch how they navigate their way through the challenges presented to them.
Check out our article for more information about Pink Lie. Pink Lie is available on Disney+!
Catch the trailer here:
Heart Signal
Heart Signal is another one of Korea’s most popular dating reality shows. Comprising 4 seasons, Heart Signal gained a loyal fanbase for bringing a different and more wholesome approach to a dating show. That’s not to say that it is boring though – there is still a fair share of juicy drama, love triangles and rejection that will make you binge-watch an entire season in a day.
The show revolves around 8 contestants who are complete strangers that live in the same house for one month. The cast interacts with one another throughout their stay, and they are not allowed to divulge any romantic interests or feelings that they might have for each other. However, at the end of every day, they are allowed to send a text message to the person that they are interested in, which will also be anonymous.
A panel of celebrity judges known as “love forecasters” is tasked with determining who the cast members are interested in. The most fun aspect of this show is watching them try to decipher the contestants who are interested in each other based on their body language and conversations.
As the season progresses, the show gets more interesting as the contestants go on “missions” such as blind dates and show more of their own personalities. You will find yourself rooting for everyone to get together with the person that they are attracted to.
Following the success of Season 1 of the Korean version of Heart Signal in 2017, a Chinese version also premiered in 2018, with 5 seasons being produced to date.
Heart Signal is available on Viu.
My Daughter’s Men
As the name of the show suggests, My Daughter’s Men involves more than just the contestants. Four father-daughter duos participate in this show, creating an interesting dynamic that is fun to watch! Their daughters go embark on a series of blind dates to meet new people and engage in a series of activities, ranging from simple meals to roller coaster rides. There are four seasons that have been released thus far, with the first season premiering in May 2017.
A panel of their fathers and the show hosts watch the footage of their dates and react to them. As you can expect, there are some hilarious reactions, especially when the dads comment on the first impression of the men. As the show progresses, the dads try to guess if their daughters are interested in their partners and decide whether to cast their approval.
In some moments of the show, you can see the genuine joy on the fathers’ faces when their daughter finally meets someone they are happy to be with. Equal parts heartwarming and hilarious, this show allows fathers to see a different side of their daughters that they might otherwise never see.
Check out this clip from My Daughter’s Men:
Love Catcher
Love Catcher is a dating reality show that pits contestants with different priorities against each other. There are a total of three seasons that have been released thus far, with the first season launching in 2018. The fourth season is now out, set on the island of Bali!
This series brings 10 contestants together to live under one roof for eight days. The contestants fall under two categories, “love catchers” and “money catchers”. The love catchers are there to find true love, hoping to match with another contestant who is out to find love as well. The money catchers are those who are participating to win the grand prize of 50 million won.
The catch is that if the money catchers pair up with each other, they will be eliminated from the game, rendering them unable to win the prize money. The love catchers have to avoid pairing with the money catchers in order to achieve their goal of finding true love. The interesting part of the show is watching the contestants try to figure out who the money catchers are in order to steer clear of them. It gets quite intense and the commentary from the hosts (or love experts) makes it even more entertaining!
Watch Season 4 of Love Catcher on Viu!
Check out the trailer for Season 4 of Love Catcher here:
Taste of Love
Taste of Love involves pairing up two contestants, one of whom is a celebrity and the other who is not. As part of the rules of the show, they have to date each other for a period of 100 days. After which, they can make a decision if they want to continue their relationship or not. The first season of Taste of Love aired in 2018, and a total of 3 seasons have been released to date.
Unlike other shows where the contestants have a shorter amount of time to get to know one another, couples in Taste of Love spend almost 3 months together. They thus have time to connect on a deeper level and understand each other’s personalities better. The couples also have the chance to talk about more difficult subjects like what they value in a relationship, how they would like to raise their children, and so forth.
They buy each other gifts, share meals together and participate in a range of activities prepared by the hosts that will help them grow closer as a couple. There’s also the chance for them to introduce each other to their friends and family. Because the couples spend so much time together, naturally this show is full of mushy moments that will make you go “aww”.
Matching Survival 1+1
Matching Survival 1+1 is a dating reality show that first aired in June 2019. Every 2 episodes cover four men and four women who compete to find the other half that best suits them.
The set is based in a supermarket and the various activities that contestants are made to engage in will revolve around elements that can be found in the supermarket. All the activities are designed to match contestants with the same preferences. For instance, in one of the activities, the hosts displayed four different rooms that belonged to the different female contestants. The men were tasked with choosing the room that they liked the most before the results were revealed to them.
As they get to know each other, certain preferences between contestants become obvious and it was really entertaining to see the subtle (or not-so-subtle) hints that they made to the other party.
At the end of the show, contestants are asked to call the person they are interested in “finding love” with and confess their feelings to them. Matching Survival 1+1 is a fun watch for viewers as you will be on the edge of your seat trying to guess which couples will end up together.
Check out a clip from this show here:
EXChange
EXChange is a dating reality show that brings together 4 pairs of ex-couples. There are 3 seasons that have been released, with the first and second seasons airing in 2019 and 2022 respectively. The latest season of this show premiered on 29 December 2023, and is expected to have 16 episodes.
The eight contestants have to live together in the same house and engage in a range of planned activities together. They can either attempt to rekindle their relationship with their ex or find love with someone new. The twist? The contestants are not allowed to disclose to each other who their previous partner is, in order to keep the audience on their toes guessing which pair was formerly a couple.
EXChange is different from other Korean dating reality shows because it involves the perspective of someone who is trying to find love while still carrying baggage from their previous relationship. Through going on this show, some couples were able to get closure and move on to form a friendship with their ex, whereas some couples were not as fortunate.
It is quite an exhilarating experience for the audience as well, as you can root for your favourite couple and see if their relationship is able to last through the entire season. The second season of EXChange is available on Viu!
Check out Season 3 of EXChange on Viu.
Check out the trailer here:
Somebody
If you are a fan of dance and choreography, you have to watch this show! Somebody is a dance-themed Korean dating reality show that was first telecasted in 2018. There are currently two seasons that have been released. The ten contestants on the show all have something in common – they are professional dancers. This show combines their love for dance with their interest in pursuing a romantic relationship making for an exciting watch!
The dancers showcase their proficiency in a variety of different genres such as hip-hop, ballet and contemporary as they literally dance their way into each other’s hearts.
Throughout the time they spend living in the same house, the contestants have to engage in a series of performances and dance-offs in front of one another. If they are interested in another dancer, they can get to choose a song for them to dance to. The show depicts the journey that each pair of dancers embark on, as they complete the various dance-themed ‘missions’ assigned to them by the producers.
The main highlight of the show is the dance music video that each pair is tasked with creating – it is intended to capture both the romantic chemistry that has blossomed between the dancers, as well as their dancing prowess.
Check out a clip from Somebody here:
Divorced Singles
Divorced Singles tells the story of four men and four women who are divorced and looking for a new relationship. The first season premiered in 2021 and there are currently 4 seasons that have been released.
The contestants are from diverse backgrounds and have different occupations, ages and personalities. They are tasked with getting to know one another without revealing any details about their past relationships such as the reason for their divorce, or how long they have been divorced. This is so that they can avoid any stereotypes or prejudices that are commonly associated with divorce since its often cast in a negative light.
Contestants are split into two teams and embark on a series of challenges designed to allow them to get to know one another, and eventually, some of them match as couples. The twist is that those that end up as a match have to live together for one week.
The dynamics of this show are slightly different from other shows as it’s more complex. Some participants live with their kids and have to introduce their new partner to their kids and family. This show is filled with touching moments that might make your eyes well up! It is heart-warming when children who are initially reserved and apprehensive finally accept them into the family.
Watch Season 4 of Love After Divorce on Netflix.
Check out the trailer for Season 3:
I am Solo
Premiering in July 2021, I am Solo is a show that matchmakes single people who wish to find true love and eventually tie the knot. Like other titles in the dating reality show category, it has attained rapid success and is on its 18th season as of 2024.
I am Solo features six women and six men who are invited to the show to live under the same roof. They go on a series of missions which involve activities like road trips and get to know each other in the process. I am Solo lacks the theatrics and drama of some other shows that spark more controversy with their risqué scenes. Instead, it focuses on giving the audience a more authentic experience. Contestants act naturally in front of the camera and express their true emotions in front of one another.
An interesting fact about I am Solo is that the contestants never reveal their real names on camera. Instead, they use pseudonyms throughout the entire show. A couple that successfully matches can reveal their names to each other, but the viewers are still unaware.
As the cast consists of ordinary members of society that come from diverse backgrounds, viewers can easily empathise with them. As the contestants on this show are genuinely interested in pursuing a relationship, it makes for a compelling watch! In fact, 6 couples from this show actually ended up getting married!
Check out the trailer:
Change Days
Change Days is another dating reality show albeit with a unique twist – it features couples that are on the verge of breaking up. The first season of Change Days aired in May 2021, quickly becoming a hit due to its interesting storyline. Following its success, the second season was released in June 2022.
The objective of Change Days is to allow contestants to interact with someone new, in hopes that the time spent away from each other would allow them to see their previous partner in a different light. The contestants were made to exchange partners and participate in a series of dates that would make them rethink about their existing relationships.
The first season features three couples who went on a week-long trip to Jeju Island, while the second season features four couples who went on a two-week getaway. At the end of the getaway, the couples have to make a decision if they are going to end their current relationships or try to make things work with their current partners.
This show was well-received by many because it showed the everyday struggles of ordinary couples. Many felt that they could liken the contestants’ feelings to their own, and could relate to their ways of dealing with problems in their relationships. Season 2 of Change Days is available on Netflix!
Check out the trailer:
Binge-Worthy Korean Reality Dating Shows
Which of these series are you most excited about for a new season? Share it with us in the comments below!
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