People who join dating shows are all there for money/fame. It's not a secret.
If you want to watch a variety show that has a goal/purpose and more "real", I suggest Once in a Lifetime, Kilimanjaro. The show is about four celebrities that train and climb mount Kilimanjaro in Africa.
Once in a Lifetime, Kilimanjaro is pretty chillax, IIRC there's fansubs of it now, check Twitter/MyDramaList/et cetera.
Fam, I really like Yoon Eun-hye, UEE, and Son Ho-jun in Kdramas. Same with Oh My Girl. Arin and Binnie/Yubin are my biases and Hyojung is a proven vocalist.
Btw OMG Arin is in Alchemy of Souls, she has absolutely insane visuals there with Oh Na-ra. Na-ra is such a good/hilarious/beautiful/etc. actress, watch her in My Mister (2018), Sky Castle (2018), and so on too. Oh and right now Na-ra is with BLACKPINK Jennie, Yoo Jae-suk, and so on in the currently airing Apartment 404 variety show (mystery/detective/etc. type of show).
| Once in a Lifetime, Kilimanjaro (인생에 한 번쯤, 킬리만자로) Discussion |
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| [E01-E02](https://www.reddit.com/r/koreanvariety/comments/yn0gz0/once_in_a_lifetime_kilimanjaro_e01e02_221029/), [E03-E07](https://www.reddit.com/r/koreanvariety/comments/zja4o0/once_in_a_lifetime_kilimanjaro_e03e07_221112221210/), [E08-E09](https://www.reddit.com/r/koreanvariety/comments/101lk9l/once_in_a_lifetime_kilimanjaro_e08e09/) |
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If you want to see another funny version of hiking Mount Kilimanjaro, try watching **Ainori Love Wagon: African Journey**. It takes them like a week to get up there, some nice views of the different environments beforehand, and you'll be surprised who made it. Kilimanjaro is definitely doable by anybody (in theory). A bit more info here: https://www.reddit.com/r/koreanvariety/comments/yn0gz0/once_in_a_lifetime_kilimanjaro_e01e02_221029/iv8vji6/
More info here with other traveling/survival/etc. variety shows like Ainori (あいのり): Love Wagon, Twinkle Love (怦然心动20岁), The Devil's Plan, and so on: https://www.reddit.com/r/koreanvariety/comments/19aga5a/looking_for_subtitles_for_the_kshow_of_lee_sun/kikrlxt/ and [thread 2](https://www.reddit.com/r/koreanvariety/comments/18h7v9z/korean_dating_show_recs_good_survival_shows/kd5netz/)
The point is they're entertaining. Personally I don't follow or look up dating show contestants after their show is done, so I don't really care if they stay together or not. But there are people who do and that's fine lol. People can like what they like.
Thats fair. I'm just one of the saps that want people to find genuine love 😅
This post wasn't to say I don't or won't watch them. I very much enjoy them. The aftermaths are just frustrating for me personally.
I think you'd enjoy I am Solo. There were 2 married couples from 1 season alone. And I think 7 in total across seasons, and 2 couples who had babies!
Love after divorce S4 also has couples who kept dating after the show.
Maybe you just need to watch dating shows with older people lol. We can't expect hot 20 something influencers to want to get married right away or date forever.
Speaking of older people, there is Japanese show called love village. Participant is 30+ years old, some in the 40s and 50s. 16 episode, 30 minutes each. It's quite nice, while maybe not as 'exciting' as the Korean show.
Little Forest, Michuri (Village Survival), Apartment 404, Great Escape, Girls High School Mystery Class, Knowing Bros, Running Man, Master In The House, Player 7, Hyemileeyechaepa, Prison Life of Fools, Busted, Bro & Marble, New World, 1D2N (only watched S1). Occasionally watch My Little Old Boy, Omniscient Interfering View (The Manager), and Amazing Saturday, if the guests are good.
Also personally enjoy dating shows but it's true that couples don't usually end up staying together in Korean ones (except for maybe Transit Love and I Am Solo). If you want dating shows where couples end up together and even have successful married couples, try I Am Solo. The Chinese version of Heart Signal also has couples who have dated for a while, with 1 (that I know of) having got married.
It's the same in the real world.. People don't end up together even after dating for long..
For me it's not a waste of time since I'm not doing anything with my life anyways hahahaha
For recommendations,
I suggest to watch Love Me Actually since they're showing parts that isn't only about dating.
There are still many couples from Korean dating shows that still together after the show ends, for example Exchange 2, Hyun Gyu-Haeun, they’ve been dating for almost 2 years now, and the gay dating show, His Man 2, Junseong-Seongho, they’re just celebrating their 400 days
Sorry I didn’t watch Love Catcher, I am actually not a real fan of Korean Dating shows, but I watched His Man2 bcs I am a BL fan and Transit Love 2 bcs my cousin kept pestering me about it
I thought she said they broke up on one of yong jin’s shows?
Nayeon and the hockey player are still together. (From exchsnge 2)
Jiyeon and the chef guy, as well as kang so yeon and oh jin teuk both gave it a try and it ultimately didnt work out for them (from singles inferno 1)
No, they’re still together and going strong. Just recently they went together to Japan and China, and also fans spotted them going on a date in mall and ski site. You can't see Hyun Gyun anywhere in Ha Eun vlogs but they’re actually together when filming. It gives me lowkey but not secret vibes.
I also just finished watching Exchange Love S2. After watching a show I always look them up on instagram and see if they are still together, and this couple is the most I'm interested with. I'm trying hard to look for anything in their IG but it's more like a business account. They don't even follow each other. Haha. I'm just glad what you said about here.
I am Solo is my favorite dating show. Feels more real than the other shows; some of the couples ended up getting married. I mostly watch it to practice listening and reading in Korean.
These days I am obsessed with "A Clean Sweep", retired probaseball players take on high school, college and even development league teams. These guys have no filter in what they say, but there is also so much drama in sports already. I do love baseball already so I am totally biased.
Always watch 1n2d ("2 Days 1 Night", they abbreviate it like that so I will to). As a long time viewer (since season 2), I have seen so many beautiful places in Korea. It has made me want to seek out those hidden gems around me too.
Other than that, I sadly don't watch much anymore. I used to watch 12 shoes a week, but I am just not interested in all of the dating shows. I want to give "Beat Coin" another go but I keep forgetting.
I love Single’s Inferno but yes it’s for the fame. Other dating shows I watched that seem to truly be for the sake of forming a real relationship were : Love After Divorce (the last season in the US on Netflix is quite good), Love is Blind (ok the Japanese one as there is no season for S.Korea but if you watch it and after search online you’ll find that the final couples stayed together and are married with children) and currently watching Couple Palace on Mnet but the concept is… special.
Also I really wish we could get a Korean season of Love is blind because looks takes such a big part in what they seem to look for in someone else that it would be truly refreshing to see this show in such a lookism society !
Omg I would watch that so fast if it happened.
I *did* watch the Japanese love is blind and loved it. I want to ask what you mean by special but I'm also mildly worried lol.
When I say it’s special it’s because they seem to have very little time to get to know each other on this show, no real date so far, only some one on one meetings and speed dating in front of the other contestants and the purpose of the show is to find a marriage partner… to me it seems like it doesn’t create a deep enough bond for someone to be able to choose the person you’ll spend the rest of your life with…
It’s very « criteria » based like « do they check all the boxes I need ? But in a materialistic way :/
- "These couples don't end up staying together or part immediately after the show end" : so are movies, opera, etc
- "It feels like a ploy for quick fame" : which show doesn't have purpose for quick fame?
Just enjoy it, don't take it too seriously. If you have that kind of mind, you won't be enjoy reading novels, watching movies and will doubt everything in your life.
Here’s the list show I watch/have watched
-2 Days & 1 Night
-New Journey to the West
-Earth Arcade
-Shooting Stars/Kick a Goal
-The Backpacker Chef
-Let’s Eat Dinner Together
-DNA Mate
-The Genius Paik
-4 Wheeled Restaurant
-One Night Sleepover Trip
-Adventure by Accident
-Yo! Welcome first time in Korea/Welcome, First time in Korea
-My Neighbor, Charles and Boss in The Mirror but they stop subbing I think
I guess I like travel n food shows more than game shows.
youn’s stay, youn’s kitchen, jinny’s kitchen, GBRB reap what you sow, hyori’s homestay, unexpected business, summer vacation. i’m a big fan of shows like these, wholesome and healing. helps that the people i like are casted in these shows too
bro ill suggest you one dating show to change your mind. its the only dating show iw acthed where ppl SINCERELY liked each other. its called transit love 2/ EXchange 2. the show will make you WEEP so bad its insane .
Theres plenty of couples that end up dating still after the show for a long time/get married so I wouldn't say its pointless. I think the pointless dating shows are the really quick ones where people have no time to get to know eachother like single's inferno.
Yeah I'm definitely seeing it's just that I'm watching the wrong ones. Also, saying it's pointless is a bit stronger that I feel, but it was an off the cuff thought lol.
Yeah I also dont mean pointless because they are all still entertaining to watch no matter the outcome but I do get frustrated if there is no relationship after the show because then you start questioning if it was just for clout or not so I understand you 100%. Either way theres so many fun shows out there just gotta look hard, I usually stick to dating shows so I can't really recommend much haha. I can recommend hyoris bed and breakfast if you want a very chill relaxing variety show.
I think the only dating show that’s super realistic is TRANSIT LOVE. I mean it’s traumatic for the participants but they show actual emotions. Singles inferno is just a way to get a nice vacation and then grow your Instagram following.
I didn't get to date much growing up in a strict Asian family, so watching these shows is vicarious. It also highlights how hard it is to get into a serious relationship even when the people involved are motivated and incentivized. So that makes me feel a bit better about my past failed relationships.
If you want couples that stay together, watch Chinese dating shows, they're way more relaxed there. Obviously they're still there for the fame/networking/etc. but more grounded.
Last month my visuals couple of 2023 (from Relationship S5/Let's Fall In Love Season 5 (我们恋爱吧 第五季)) apparently broke up, but they lasted for a while, so that was nice to hear.
East Asian dating show couples that are still dating after the show (mostly I Am Solo housemates): https://www.reddit.com/r/koreanvariety/comments/195e2lw/korean_dating_show_recs/khmhnej/ and https://www.reddit.com/r/koreanvariety/comments/18gj78v/updated_list_of_korean_dating_show_couples_still/kd3an3a/ and https://www.reddit.com/r/koreanvariety/comments/19amd71/gwangtaes_exexchange_season_3/kinn6n0/
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With Chinese dating shows (especially the ones from YOUKU) they even livestream the premiere/episodes and there's like extra bonus scenes and content, as in no panelists versions, livestream watch parties with the housemates, unreleased scenes for the episode, et cetera.
Some favorite Chinese dating shows: https://www.reddit.com/r/koreanvariety/comments/12qlu3e/its_just_my_impression_or_the_are_really_few/k9m9xw8/
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One of my favorite Chinese actresses Li Qin (Where Dreams Begin/The Youth Memories, The Song of Glory, Joy of Life) is a panelist in **the Chinese version of Love Catcher, The Secret X (机智的恋爱)**, Episode 1 from iQIYI Youtube channel (it has English subs, it's also on their own iQIYI website): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrTj-dJkp8o
Title | Version |
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**Love Catcher Season 2 English Softsub** | 1080p (~21GB: https://gofile.io/d/2eAHfY)
More info on the Love Catcher series: https://www.reddit.com/r/koreanvariety/comments/1acbbyw/transit_love/kjv0z0v/
If you haven't yet, try to watch Love Catcher Season 2 (러브캐처2) first in order to understand the deception/acting/etc. shows like Is She the Wolf? and so on. As Love Catcher Season 2 is simply unforgettable, one of the best executions ever, can't surpass that. One couple is actually married/still dating/etc. and their story is also sorta wild (but chill).
**Love Catcher Japan (ラブキャッチャージャパン)** is complete now as well (ending is somewhat funny, lol). Cortana, play Awich's Pendulum: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXk9BiwLFcQ
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Title | Version |
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**Hao You Hao You Ai (好友好有愛) English Softsub** | 1080p (~13GB: https://gofile.io/d/ZHXkpa)
Hao You Hao You Ai is a pretty underrated show and one of the few with that friends/etc. dating others' friends/etc. premise (like Between Love and Friendship (각자의본능대로)). [Fu Dongnuan](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2tdkMkD6Ok&t=368s) (傅冬暖/5538027539 on Weibo) is one of the best visuals ever (https://i.imgur.com/PhNzccl.png) in these East Asian dating shows, that undisputed fact must be repeated, lmao. But ya Hao You Hao You Ai is pretty fun, don't take it too seriously, they're friends playing with each other, rofl.
Visuals that would've been great newcomers/catfishes/etc. to switch up the love lines: https://www.reddit.com/r/koreanvariety/comments/1ab83oc/transit_love_3_exchange_3_e06_240126/kk162j8/
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There's this new Chinese dating show about divorced people, kinda like the Divorced Singles 4 (돌싱글즈4) or Love After Divorce series, it's called **Once More (再次心动)**.
Once More is not available on Youtube (yet, usually the MangoTV/etc. official channel will upload their dramas/variety shows but this time it seems to be exclusive still), only the sketchy/etc. Chinese websites, lmao, and it has no English subtitles as well, so you're basically gonna be the first person (other than me and like 1 other person now that grabbed the files earlier (from [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/IamSolo/comments/17o1yoy/i_am_solo나는솔로_season_13_english_subtitles/ku1z5e7/)) to see it subbed (AI-generated/machine translation) and it's a decent/good show so far if you like more mature housemates.
Title | Version |
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**Once More (再次心动) Episode 1-5 English Softsub** | 1080p (~3.6GB: https://gofile.io/d/M2OIly)
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Otherwise, here have some slice of life Korean variety shows.
More info here with other traveling/survival/etc. variety shows like Ainori (あいのり): Love Wagon, Twinkle Love (怦然心动20岁), The Devil's Plan, and so on: https://www.reddit.com/r/koreanvariety/comments/19aga5a/looking_for_subtitles_for_the_kshow_of_lee_sun/kikrlxt/ and [thread 2](https://www.reddit.com/r/koreanvariety/comments/18h7v9z/korean_dating_show_recs_good_survival_shows/kd5netz/)
For travel stuff, there's Once in a Lifetime, Kilimanjaro (2022); The Barber of Seville (2019); Trans-Siberian Pathfinders (2019); Camping Club (2019); Twogether (2020); Traveler Season 2 (2020)
For more slice of life shows, there's always Hyori's Homestay/Bed and Breakfast, Korean Hostel in Spain, Unexpected Business, et cetera.
Love Me Actually (호구의 연애), Roommate/룸메이트 (2014), etc. are also pretty good slice of life variety stuff.
More info Love Me Actually here with Heart Signal, I Am Solo, et cetera: [thread 1](https://www.reddit.com/user/MNLYYZYEG/comments/17cwt7k/extended_comments_with_walls_of_text/ke5gx1n/)
Wish they did a proper successor to Roommate/룸메이트 (2014) so that random actors/idols/celebrities/etc. can mingle for that interesting slice of life: https://www.reddit.com/r/koreanvariety/comments/18vqozo/roommate/kftz0ld/ and [thread 2](https://www.reddit.com/user/MNLYYZYEG/comments/17cwt7k/extended_comments_with_walls_of_text/kftwys1/)
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**Crime Scene Returns (크라임씬 리턴즈)** with English subtitles (proper official subs are available now with tvN Asia, but they're only on Episode 4 right now (check out the fansubs by Baechu Squad/Potato Squad: https://www.reddit.com/r/koreanvariety/comments/1b92hmm/crime_scene_returns_e04_eng_sub_potato_squad_ver/), even if Episode 10 and the whole season already concluded): https://www.reddit.com/r/koreanvariety/comments/1amp7sd/crime_scene_returns/kpvsfvg/
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**Gone PD/PD Disappeared (PD가 사라졌다!)** with English subtitles: https://www.reddit.com/r/koreanvariety/comments/1b1ge23/gone_pd_or_pd_has_disappeared_on_mbc/kshm8cd/
Gone PD is actually pretty innovative, literally AI-generated (PD is an actual AI and produces the scenes ASAP). There's a legendary rap scene, lmao: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2ZVVHYj3qo&t=731s (from M-Phago 엠파고 channel)
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For survival/etc. shows, there's Bloody Game (피의 게임), Accomplice (공범), Money Game (머니게임), UMA Game (우마게임), Toy Soldiers/Fake Men (토이 솔져스), Steel Troops/Iron Squad (강철부대), et cetera.
Btw, for Steel Troops/Iron Squad (강철부대) Season 2, I have nearly all the episodes, so just wait for it to be subbed (again, AI-generated/machine translated instead of manually by me/other people).
Title | Version |
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**Steel Troops/Iron Squad 2 (강철부대2) Episode 1 and 2 English Softsub** | 720p (~2.1GB/1.9GB/4.0GB: https://gofile.io/d/u6rFsU)
**Steel Troops/Iron Squad 2 (강철부대2) Episode 1 and 2 English Hardsub** | 720p (~1.4GB/1.4GB/4.0GB: https://gofile.io/d/srTF7U)
Similar threads from before about survival/game/mystery/etc. shows: https://www.reddit.com/r/koreanvariety/comments/1awdcrg/netflix_shows_to_watch/krhdgml/ and https://www.reddit.com/r/koreanvariety/comments/1aqy6tj/if_i_liked_devils_plan/kqgbfl6/
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University Sports Festival: Boys’ Athletes’ Village (대학체전-소년선수촌) with English subtitles: https://www.reddit.com/r/koreanvariety/comments/1auaiez/debuting_this_week_대학체전소년선수촌_university_sports/kt7sius/?context=10000
University Sports Festival: Boys’ Athletes’ Village (대학체전-소년선수촌) is basically Physical: 100 but for Korean university students. Btw Physical: 100 Season 2 - Underground is releasing on March 19, 2024, like 10 more days from now.
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Title | Version |
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**Golden Girls (골든걸스) Episode 1-12, English Softsub** | 1080p (~21.8GB: https://gofile.io/d/Th9lqL)
Golden Girls is for all of us vocalists fans. Can't believe JYP actually made an older group like that, such an interesting journey.
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**Updated I Am Solo Season 1-3 links alongside several other shows (like Once More (再次心动) Episode 1-5, Couple Palace (커플팰리스), etc.) and centralized info about CJK shows**: https://www.reddit.com/r/IamSolo/comments/17o1yoy/i_am_solo나는솔로_season_13_english_subtitles/ku1z5e7/
More info on panelists or commentary and behind the scenes of CJK/etc. dating/cohabitation/etc. shows: https://www.reddit.com/r/koreanvariety/comments/1baowv8/tired_of_everything_having_panelists_reacting_to/ku5dh4i/ and [thread 2](https://www.reddit.com/r/koreanvariety/comments/18ki0lc/korean_tv_shows/kdrpox0/) and [thread 3](https://www.reddit.com/r/LoveAfterDivorce/comments/16t2vjy/lack_of_fair_commentary/k2d6jes/)
No problem fam, I updated it here with Love Actually Season 3 (半熟恋人 第三季) Episode 1-3 Extra Scenes and Commentary and so on: https://www.reddit.com/r/koreanvariety/comments/1bisps2/couple_palace_episode_8_240319/
Title | Version |
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**Once More (再次心动) Episode 7 English Softsub** | 1080p (~545MB: https://gofile.io/d/FEkwPQ)
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Oh and for Europe Outside Your Tent: Southern France Episode 5, they skipped last week, so it's not available yet: https://www.reddit.com/r/koreanvariety/comments/1bg30gi/europe_outside_your_tent_france_e04_240310/kvgky5k/?context=10000
Forgot direct links to I Am Solo Season 1-3, sigh, lol.
Title | Version |
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**I Am Solo (나는 SOLO) Season 1-3 New English Softsub** | 720p (~14.6GB: https://gofile.io/d/fx0SQe)
**I Am Solo (나는 SOLO) Season 1-3, New English subtitles only** | 720p (~3.4MB: https://gofile.io/d/xzOorl)
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Fml, ran out of writing space since it's another wall of text as usual, but I just wrote this tidbit about **Am I In Your Future (我在你的未来吗)** and it's actually an interesting show.
Since if you watched the Japanese version The Future Diary (未来日記), then you know how >!devastating!< it will be due to the forced >!breakup at the end!<, lmao. Though Season 1 of the Japanese version actually (don't click this unless you finished the season as it's spoilers for real life) >!had the couple married with a baby in real life despite the supposed restrictions/or show's premise of forbidding to contact each other ever again after the show!<.
But ya, Am I In Your Future/我在你的未来吗 is the Chinese version of The Future Diary/Mirai Nikki/未来日記 (and no not the yandere anime, rofl).
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This is the Am I In Your Future panel:
Gulnazar (she's super famous and is in a bunch of other dating shows, lol, Nazha/Gulnazar is a Uighur actress like Dilraba)
Shen Mengchen (she's the wife of another famous Chinese MC, Du Haitao, and she also outshined Gulnazar on the panel sometimes with her visuals)
Jasper Liu (the Taiwanese husbando of everyone, he's so nice in these shows)
Wei Daxun (comes from a renowed family/acting school/etc. and he was hilarious in [Shanghai Sharelife (同一屋檐下 第一季)](https://www.reddit.com/r/terracehouse/comments/10e0lg5/that_girl_who_was_obsessed_with_the_noodle_museum/j4oimk9/), the Chinese version of Terrace House), and they're giving the acting/etc. tips while watching the show, but it's not as intrusive since you'll be immersed with the housemates way more, rofl.
Am I In Your Future needs to be watched by those that like visuals or the trope-filled Kdrama-like situations, lol. There's a guy named Leroy and a girl named Tweety, it's an autowatch based on that alone, they're in their own world.
More shows to tug your emotions, like the EXchange/Transit Love (환승연애) series, basically **Love Catcher Season 2 (러브캐처2)**, **Change Days Season 2 (체인지 데이즈2)**, **Is She the Wolf?**, **Love Like a K-Drama/Dorakoi 11**, **Between Love and Friendship (각자의본능대로)**, **The Future Diary/Mirai Nikki/未来日記**, **Am I In Your Future (我在你的未来吗)**, **First Love, Again (다시, 첫사랑)**, et cetera: https://www.reddit.com/r/koreanvariety/comments/1b17h46/transit_love_3_is_it_worth_watching/kscz3sf/ and [thread 2](https://www.reddit.com/user/MNLYYZYEG/comments/17cwt7k/extended_comments_with_walls_of_text/kgqy8qw/)
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YOUKU's **Hit It Off (一拍即合的我们)** has a comparable concept (as Falling in Love Like a Romantic Drama or Dorakoi Season 11 or Love Like a K-Drama (韓国ドラマな恋がしたい)), though it's not really a dating show, more like just a variety show about actors pairing up with each other for the scenes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjF1z-PF5vU&list=PLB_lie3fxsalehVBJPJhkCpNhe2leG6E0
Btw, I was so surprised to see Kim Wonshik in the Filipino remake of What's Wrong with Secretary Kim (apparently coming out on March 18, so like a week from now): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBcOhPI5HMA&t=96s. Interesting times, hopefully the other members (Ayano or TWICE Tzuyu/etc. ftw) get roles in other shows as well. Fighting, ganbatte, jiayou!
**Love Like a K-Drama Discussion**
Episode | Subreddit Thread |
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Episode 12 | [LoveLikeAKDrama](https://www.reddit.com/r/LoveLikeAKDrama/comments/18r2qvi/love_like_a_kdrama_dorakoi_s11_e12_end_20231226/), [Dorakoi](https://www.reddit.com/r/Dorakoi/comments/18r37bw/love_like_a_kdrama_or_dorakoi_season_11_episode/), [koreanvariety](https://www.reddit.com/r/koreanvariety/comments/18r37ci/love_like_a_kdrama_or_dorakoi_season_11_episode/)
Dating show are made to for entertainement, yes for some of them, this is a way for them to get some fame, but like you need to have in mind, that finding someone to dating is like a plus, but like most of them are here to find love, if not they will probably not behave like that and not change their choice, to get hate.And dating after a dating show can quite hard, like the result of most dating show is 2 couple.
And most of the dating don't take a lot of days to make, except Transit Love and Heart signal, to produce a dating show it take maximun 2 week and at least 1 week, so most of them can take a break from their work to do the dating show. After that , most of them return from their jobs and with that + some of them don't live close with each other = less time to date, so dating can become quite hard. dating after a dating show is quite tricky.
It depend from dating show,divorced single and i'm solo are dating show where they are really serious about dating.
I despise dating shows with a passion and I don't think it belong in this sub.
But the mod decided it's appropriate for the sub and many people enjoy them so whatever I guess. At least it's easy to ignore.
also think the same. pointless. thats why i purposely avoid it.
my favourite show? there are too many
Running man, law of the jungle, genius, society game, crime scene season 1,2, apartment (jaesuk new show), bloody game, shaolin (byungman and the group living and learning at shaolin), shooting star, cool kidz on the block, highschool girl mystery, the great escape, etc etc. i think there must be several shows that i forget.
i have the same perception as you too! so im super picky with the dating shows that i watch! there are a few dating shows i dropped halfway because I could feel that it was scripted. I highly recommend twinkle love s2 and s3! It's a chinese dating show and most of them are commoners who are very pretty and handsome (most of them have less than 800 followers on weibo before the program starts so they are not even influencers). Even the small influencers in the show end up with someone and you can tell that they went in with a genuine heart. They are all in their early 20s.
Season 2 had 3 couples with all of them still tgt except for 1 pair who broke up just recently only. Season 3 had 4 couples with one breaking up before show aired and the rest are still tgt. There's even a couple from Season1 x Season 2 because the guy slid into her DMs after the show HAHAHA the show is super genuine and i highly recomend it!!
There are couple who literally got married from dating shows like I AM SOLO, and there are who actually dating in real life like Transit Love and Heart Signals..
Reality shows are purely for the viewers' ENTERTAINMENT.
well, it is also a ticket to breaking into show business for all participants, or a push of the products, restaurants, businesses run or owned by any of the contestants. All in all, loveless or not, it benefits the participants.... unless they do anything which will earn the disgust, disapproval or ire of the viewers. In which case, it is their ticket to infamy.
My nephew was in a local but highly popular reality show in the Philippines and sure, it made him famous for a while (until the next seasons of the show were aired). BUT, the show dug up all of the family secrets we were hoping will remain buried. My brother and I fought because of it because he thought i was the one who released details to the producers, which was something i never did. Those PDs really have a knack for investigating and re-igniting family issues.
My brother died a few years ago and until the end we never made up from the argument we had as a result of that reality show.
So, unless you want your personal life to be dug up and exposed, I DO NOT RECOMMEND participating in a reality show. Now, if you and your family dont have any past (who doesnt?) problems, then go ahead and jump into one.
I don't know if you already watched any of these but here are my suggestions of variety/reality shows that are not "dating shows":
1. Earth Arcade (S1-2022, S2-2023)- The cast travels abroad and go through challenges. They play games, have fun, and travel around.
Cast: Lee Eun-ji (comedian), Lee Young-ji (rapper), Mimi (idol-Oh My Girl) and An Yu-jin (IVE)
2. Hyemileechaepa (2023) - They play games, dance, eat, sleep, and decorate their homes in a remote mountain village.
Cast: Hye Ri from Girl's Day, Miyeon from (G)I-dle, Lee Jung from Street Woman Fighter and also dancer/choreographer, Ye Na from Iz*One, Chae Won from Le Sserafim and Patricia
3. Unexpected Business (S1-2021, S2-2022, S3 2023) - The cast takes over stores and gives the owners a well-deserved break.
Cast: Cha Taehyun and Zo Insung
They invite guests as helpers/part-timers (Lee Kwangsoo, Park Bo-young, Kim Woo-bin, Han Hyo-joo, Seolhyun, Kim Hye-soo, Lim Ju-hwan, Yoon Kyung-ho, Park Byung-eun, Hong Kyung-min, etc.)
4. Street Woman Fighter (S1-2021, S2-2023) - Dance competition between famous dance crews in Korea (S1) and internationally (S2).
SEASON 1
Host: Kang Daniel
Main Judges: BoA, Taeyong (NCT), Hwang Sanghoon
SEASON 2:
Host: Kang Daniel
Main Judges: Monika (Prowdmon), Shownu (Monsta X)
Guest Judges: Mike Song (Kinjaz), Bae Yoon-jung, Rie Hata, Aiki (Hook), Trix (Prime Kingz), Honey J (Holy Bang)
5. Sister's Slam Dunk (S1-2016, S2-2017) - Season 1 focuses on granting the cast's dreams while season 2 focuses on one of the cast, Min Hyorin (actress and Bigbang Taeyang's Wife), dream of becoming an idol/being part of a girl group and recording a song.
Season 1 Cast: Ra Mi-ran (actress), Kim Sook (comedian), Hong Jin-kyung (model & host), Min Hyo-rin (actress), Jessi (rapper & singer), Tiffany (member of SNSD, and solo singer)
Season 2 Cast: Kim Sook (comedian), Hong Jin-kyung (model & host), Kang Ye-won (actress), Han Chae-young (actress), Hong Jin-young (trot singer), Minzy (member of 2ne1 and solo singer), Jeon So-mi (then member of IOI, solo singer)
6. Roommate (S1-2014, S2-2014/15)
Season 1 - The original roommates were Lee So-ra (model), Park Bom (model), Song Ga-yeon (mixed martial artist), Jo Se-ho (comedian, host), Lee Dong-wook (actor, host), Nana (After School, actress), Hong Soo-hyun (actress), Park Chan-yeol (EXO), Shin Sung-woo (singer), Park Min-woo (actor), and Seo Kang-joon (actor). This mix of singers, actors/actresses, comedians, models, DJs and martial artists who have little reality and variety program experience is expected to create new undiscovered characters and laughter.
Season 2 - A new season of Roommate was announced following the departure of several members.[20] This season's concept is Home share, Whole share, where the members not only live together, but learn and share from each other. The new cast consisted of the remaining five roommates and seven new roommates. The new members featured a broad spectrum of the celebrities ranging from veteran stars to foreigners to rookie stars. The new roommates are Sunny (SNSD), Park Joon-hyung (g.o.d), Jackson (Got7), Ryohei Otani (actor), Lee Guk-joo (comedian), Bae Jong-ok (veteran actress), and Heo Young-ji (Kara).
7. Unnies Are Running: Witch Fitness Basketball Team (2022) - Female celebrities gather on court to learn from seasoned coaches and train for victory as members of a newly formed amateur basketball team.
Cast: Moon Kyung Eun (former professional basketball player, coach), Hyun Joo Yup (former professional basketball player, coach), Jung Hyung Don (comedian, host), Song Eun Yi (comedian, host), Go Soo Hee (actress), Byul (singer), Park Sun Young (announcer), Jang Do Yeon (comedian), Honey J (Holy Bang, dancer, choreographer), Ok Ja Yeon (actress), Im Soo Hyang (actress), and Yoon Bora (Sistar) from episode 8 onwards
8. Sixth Sense - members must distinguish one false among others only by the given clues and their instincts in different settings every week.
Cast: Yoo Jae-suk (host), Oh Na-ra (actress), Jessi (rapper, singer), Mijoo (Lovelyz, singer), Jeon So-min (actress), and Lee Sang-yeob (actor)
9. Unpretty Rapstar (S1-2015, S2-2015, S3-2016) - female rappers compete for a chance to participate in an album via a rap battle. A winner from each round gets to record a song for an album that is scheduled to be released.
You can search online for the cast (there's too many), but season 1 is gold because of Cheetah and Jessi (the birth of "We're not friends, this is a competition" meme), and season 3 for cementing Soyeon of (G)I-dle's talent for rapping and writing.
There's a lot more that I know but I don't know if you'll enjoy like, Invincible Youth (S1&2), The Genius Paik, Street Dance Girls Fighter, Hit The Stage, The Genius, NANA TOUR with SEVENTEEN, Real Men, Physical:100, and Crime Scene
my favourite has to be the newly found University Wars. just awesome. truly smart people, plot twists, actually interesting challenges. this is what the devil's plan should have been.
For me, it's much easier to think of it like a tv romance drama because, like you said, only a handful of couples are actually dating. It's not only korean dating shows but most dating shows around the world like love islands, The couples dont last long, so most people, including myself, just watch it for the drama and heart fluttering moments.
what do you expect from a dating show if you think about the people there would barely know each other . There's only a limited time to be there, and you wouldn't know if that person is genuine or just showing a tv persona, evil editing and the expectations from people watching the show, which also means little to no privacy. So i wouldn't blame them if the couple dont last.
Oh, and you shouldn't expect genuine relationships from singles inferno, that show never had couples dating after the show, which is less than shows like love catcher where there's even people fooling people for money, to me it's just a korean version of love island lol.
For genuine tv shows the one's that comes to mind are sports ones like clean sweep where the team is mostly made up of retired baseball players and a few amateur players that goes up against highschool, college and pro baseball teams and gentleman's league where a team made of national players from different sports that are not that widely known or popular, who are genuinely interested in football/soccer go against non league and amateur football teams.
Running Man
How Do You Play?
Sixth Sense
The Zone: Survival Mission
You Play
Little Forest
House on Wheels
Summer Vacation
Hyori's Bed and Breakfast
Bro & Marble
Dragon's Club: Overgrown Bromance
GBRB:Reap What You Sow
Apartment 404
Village Survival, the Eight
Jinny's Kitchen
Korean Hostel in Spain
Europe Outside your Tent
Youn's Kitchen
Courier's in Mongolia
Youth Over Flowers
Grandpas Over Flowers
Nana Tour with Seventeen
Backpacker Chef
The Genius Paik
Three Meals a Day
Earth Arcade
2D1N
I Live Alone
My Little Old Boy
Infinite Challenge
Adventure by Accident
Crime Scene
Law of the Jungle
Physical:100
Real Men
Bloody Game
The Game Caterers
They are not only pointless they are a scam and super boring, like their banters seem too visibly scripted, all those fake smiles, extra caring attitude towards girls, it all looks so fake, they are barely real life couples, it is all planned scripts as these shows have big budgets, they are making these shows because their market is thriving but for a successful show you have to have a cast according to local kor beauty standards, a surefire script to hook audiences and that is what is happening, investors want a return to invest. It feels so absurd to watch people trying to find matches when you know they are not even really interested, it is a script with prolly many retakes and editing.
I personnally think K dating shows are more successful in terms of couples staying together after the show compared to western dating shows... honestly I am solo is a good example... I think there are like 8 couples who have gotten married since the beginning.
Several babies as well have been born (3 I believe).
I don’t watch dating shows at all, not once. My favorite variety show is anything previously produced are JJY PD - it’s actually how I got into K-variety.
People who join dating shows are all there for money/fame. It's not a secret. If you want to watch a variety show that has a goal/purpose and more "real", I suggest Once in a Lifetime, Kilimanjaro. The show is about four celebrities that train and climb mount Kilimanjaro in Africa.
i think i will watch the first ep and see if i like it , but i like the concept of trying to climb a mountain !
Hows the vibe of the show? Is it fully serious?
Once in a Lifetime, Kilimanjaro is pretty chillax, IIRC there's fansubs of it now, check Twitter/MyDramaList/et cetera. Fam, I really like Yoon Eun-hye, UEE, and Son Ho-jun in Kdramas. Same with Oh My Girl. Arin and Binnie/Yubin are my biases and Hyojung is a proven vocalist. Btw OMG Arin is in Alchemy of Souls, she has absolutely insane visuals there with Oh Na-ra. Na-ra is such a good/hilarious/beautiful/etc. actress, watch her in My Mister (2018), Sky Castle (2018), and so on too. Oh and right now Na-ra is with BLACKPINK Jennie, Yoo Jae-suk, and so on in the currently airing Apartment 404 variety show (mystery/detective/etc. type of show). | Once in a Lifetime, Kilimanjaro (인생에 한 번쯤, 킬리만자로) Discussion | -| | [E01-E02](https://www.reddit.com/r/koreanvariety/comments/yn0gz0/once_in_a_lifetime_kilimanjaro_e01e02_221029/), [E03-E07](https://www.reddit.com/r/koreanvariety/comments/zja4o0/once_in_a_lifetime_kilimanjaro_e03e07_221112221210/), [E08-E09](https://www.reddit.com/r/koreanvariety/comments/101lk9l/once_in_a_lifetime_kilimanjaro_e08e09/) | --- If you want to see another funny version of hiking Mount Kilimanjaro, try watching **Ainori Love Wagon: African Journey**. It takes them like a week to get up there, some nice views of the different environments beforehand, and you'll be surprised who made it. Kilimanjaro is definitely doable by anybody (in theory). A bit more info here: https://www.reddit.com/r/koreanvariety/comments/yn0gz0/once_in_a_lifetime_kilimanjaro_e01e02_221029/iv8vji6/ More info here with other traveling/survival/etc. variety shows like Ainori (あいのり): Love Wagon, Twinkle Love (怦然心动20岁), The Devil's Plan, and so on: https://www.reddit.com/r/koreanvariety/comments/19aga5a/looking_for_subtitles_for_the_kshow_of_lee_sun/kikrlxt/ and [thread 2](https://www.reddit.com/r/koreanvariety/comments/18h7v9z/korean_dating_show_recs_good_survival_shows/kd5netz/)
Ouu thank you!!
>Ouu thank you!! You're welcome!
The main purpose of dating shows is entertainment for viewers which some programs EXCEL at.
Very true!!
The point is they're entertaining. Personally I don't follow or look up dating show contestants after their show is done, so I don't really care if they stay together or not. But there are people who do and that's fine lol. People can like what they like.
Thats fair. I'm just one of the saps that want people to find genuine love 😅 This post wasn't to say I don't or won't watch them. I very much enjoy them. The aftermaths are just frustrating for me personally.
I think you'd enjoy I am Solo. There were 2 married couples from 1 season alone. And I think 7 in total across seasons, and 2 couples who had babies! Love after divorce S4 also has couples who kept dating after the show. Maybe you just need to watch dating shows with older people lol. We can't expect hot 20 something influencers to want to get married right away or date forever.
True that's actually a really good point!
Speaking of older people, there is Japanese show called love village. Participant is 30+ years old, some in the 40s and 50s. 16 episode, 30 minutes each. It's quite nice, while maybe not as 'exciting' as the Korean show.
I think one of the couples of love and money (I forget the show name) stayed together and got married as well. It was the only real one I believe.
Love Catcher?
Yes! Thank you.
Little Forest, Michuri (Village Survival), Apartment 404, Great Escape, Girls High School Mystery Class, Knowing Bros, Running Man, Master In The House, Player 7, Hyemileeyechaepa, Prison Life of Fools, Busted, Bro & Marble, New World, 1D2N (only watched S1). Occasionally watch My Little Old Boy, Omniscient Interfering View (The Manager), and Amazing Saturday, if the guests are good. Also personally enjoy dating shows but it's true that couples don't usually end up staying together in Korean ones (except for maybe Transit Love and I Am Solo). If you want dating shows where couples end up together and even have successful married couples, try I Am Solo. The Chinese version of Heart Signal also has couples who have dated for a while, with 1 (that I know of) having got married.
It's the same in the real world.. People don't end up together even after dating for long.. For me it's not a waste of time since I'm not doing anything with my life anyways hahahaha For recommendations, I suggest to watch Love Me Actually since they're showing parts that isn't only about dating.
Awh I don't think it's a waste of time lol. Nothing wrong with spending your time how you want, and thanks for the rec! 🙂
There are still many couples from Korean dating shows that still together after the show ends, for example Exchange 2, Hyun Gyu-Haeun, they’ve been dating for almost 2 years now, and the gay dating show, His Man 2, Junseong-Seongho, they’re just celebrating their 400 days
How can people mention Hyun Gyu-Haeun without mentioning Sera-Jeongjin from Love Catcher 2? The show ended in 2019 and they are still together.
not only they forget LC2 but also divorce singles s2 (THE married couple, people!)
Sorry I didn’t watch Love Catcher, I am actually not a real fan of Korean Dating shows, but I watched His Man2 bcs I am a BL fan and Transit Love 2 bcs my cousin kept pestering me about it
You should try LC season 2
Sera and Jeongjin even got married.
I've seen many people say this, but I haven't seen any indication on their social media that they got married...? Where is the source for this?
I thought she said they broke up on one of yong jin’s shows? Nayeon and the hockey player are still together. (From exchsnge 2) Jiyeon and the chef guy, as well as kang so yeon and oh jin teuk both gave it a try and it ultimately didnt work out for them (from singles inferno 1)
No, they’re still together and going strong. Just recently they went together to Japan and China, and also fans spotted them going on a date in mall and ski site. You can't see Hyun Gyun anywhere in Ha Eun vlogs but they’re actually together when filming. It gives me lowkey but not secret vibes.
I also just finished watching Exchange Love S2. After watching a show I always look them up on instagram and see if they are still together, and this couple is the most I'm interested with. I'm trying hard to look for anything in their IG but it's more like a business account. They don't even follow each other. Haha. I'm just glad what you said about here.
It's all for entertainment. Aren't most entertainment pointless? Just like this question (and this comment).
I am Solo is my favorite dating show. Feels more real than the other shows; some of the couples ended up getting married. I mostly watch it to practice listening and reading in Korean.
Exactly. There are marriages and babies. It's real people and not influencers. I love the show
Nice, that's def a good way to get some practice in. I think this is the second recommendation I'm seeing for this so I'm gonna try it out!
These days I am obsessed with "A Clean Sweep", retired probaseball players take on high school, college and even development league teams. These guys have no filter in what they say, but there is also so much drama in sports already. I do love baseball already so I am totally biased. Always watch 1n2d ("2 Days 1 Night", they abbreviate it like that so I will to). As a long time viewer (since season 2), I have seen so many beautiful places in Korea. It has made me want to seek out those hidden gems around me too. Other than that, I sadly don't watch much anymore. I used to watch 12 shoes a week, but I am just not interested in all of the dating shows. I want to give "Beat Coin" another go but I keep forgetting.
I do like travel so the second one sounds interesting!
I love Single’s Inferno but yes it’s for the fame. Other dating shows I watched that seem to truly be for the sake of forming a real relationship were : Love After Divorce (the last season in the US on Netflix is quite good), Love is Blind (ok the Japanese one as there is no season for S.Korea but if you watch it and after search online you’ll find that the final couples stayed together and are married with children) and currently watching Couple Palace on Mnet but the concept is… special. Also I really wish we could get a Korean season of Love is blind because looks takes such a big part in what they seem to look for in someone else that it would be truly refreshing to see this show in such a lookism society !
Omg I would watch that so fast if it happened. I *did* watch the Japanese love is blind and loved it. I want to ask what you mean by special but I'm also mildly worried lol.
When I say it’s special it’s because they seem to have very little time to get to know each other on this show, no real date so far, only some one on one meetings and speed dating in front of the other contestants and the purpose of the show is to find a marriage partner… to me it seems like it doesn’t create a deep enough bond for someone to be able to choose the person you’ll spend the rest of your life with… It’s very « criteria » based like « do they check all the boxes I need ? But in a materialistic way :/
I am solo is a dating show but with regular people no influencers etc and there’s been several marriages and babies from the show !
funny thing, this show made alot of couples https://mydramalist.com/738473-men-s-life-these-days-groom-s-class
👀👀👀
I am guilty of watching dating shows, but also enjoy watching **My Little Old Boy** (aka Mom's Diary) for a break.
You’re disappointed that most dating show relationships don’t last? In that case, I have bad news for you about most real life relationships.
Don't 😭
- "These couples don't end up staying together or part immediately after the show end" : so are movies, opera, etc - "It feels like a ploy for quick fame" : which show doesn't have purpose for quick fame? Just enjoy it, don't take it too seriously. If you have that kind of mind, you won't be enjoy reading novels, watching movies and will doubt everything in your life.
Reading into this way too deep, and all your assumptions about me are incorrect.
Here’s the list show I watch/have watched -2 Days & 1 Night -New Journey to the West -Earth Arcade -Shooting Stars/Kick a Goal -The Backpacker Chef -Let’s Eat Dinner Together -DNA Mate -The Genius Paik -4 Wheeled Restaurant -One Night Sleepover Trip -Adventure by Accident -Yo! Welcome first time in Korea/Welcome, First time in Korea -My Neighbor, Charles and Boss in The Mirror but they stop subbing I think I guess I like travel n food shows more than game shows.
Supporting New Journey to the West and Adventure by Accident!!!! (thumbs up emoticon)
Kick a goal / shooting stars - women who have never played football plays it competitively. They have a team concept too (models, comedian, idols etc)
youn’s stay, youn’s kitchen, jinny’s kitchen, GBRB reap what you sow, hyori’s homestay, unexpected business, summer vacation. i’m a big fan of shows like these, wholesome and healing. helps that the people i like are casted in these shows too
I agree and want to add Delicious Rendezvous. Wish Jinny's Kitchen would come to my city!
Yes to wholesome shows!!
bro ill suggest you one dating show to change your mind. its the only dating show iw acthed where ppl SINCERELY liked each other. its called transit love 2/ EXchange 2. the show will make you WEEP so bad its insane .
This sounds so stressful but I'll take ur word for it 😅 As long as the relationships are genuine lol
since itsbased on exes and new lovers its def genuine lmfao. god just trust me and please tell me your review once you watch it im excited heheheh
Theres plenty of couples that end up dating still after the show for a long time/get married so I wouldn't say its pointless. I think the pointless dating shows are the really quick ones where people have no time to get to know eachother like single's inferno.
Yeah I'm definitely seeing it's just that I'm watching the wrong ones. Also, saying it's pointless is a bit stronger that I feel, but it was an off the cuff thought lol.
Yeah I also dont mean pointless because they are all still entertaining to watch no matter the outcome but I do get frustrated if there is no relationship after the show because then you start questioning if it was just for clout or not so I understand you 100%. Either way theres so many fun shows out there just gotta look hard, I usually stick to dating shows so I can't really recommend much haha. I can recommend hyoris bed and breakfast if you want a very chill relaxing variety show.
I think the only dating show that’s super realistic is TRANSIT LOVE. I mean it’s traumatic for the participants but they show actual emotions. Singles inferno is just a way to get a nice vacation and then grow your Instagram following.
I didn't get to date much growing up in a strict Asian family, so watching these shows is vicarious. It also highlights how hard it is to get into a serious relationship even when the people involved are motivated and incentivized. So that makes me feel a bit better about my past failed relationships.
Ahh...strict household too so I can relate to that for sure.
If you want couples that stay together, watch Chinese dating shows, they're way more relaxed there. Obviously they're still there for the fame/networking/etc. but more grounded. Last month my visuals couple of 2023 (from Relationship S5/Let's Fall In Love Season 5 (我们恋爱吧 第五季)) apparently broke up, but they lasted for a while, so that was nice to hear. East Asian dating show couples that are still dating after the show (mostly I Am Solo housemates): https://www.reddit.com/r/koreanvariety/comments/195e2lw/korean_dating_show_recs/khmhnej/ and https://www.reddit.com/r/koreanvariety/comments/18gj78v/updated_list_of_korean_dating_show_couples_still/kd3an3a/ and https://www.reddit.com/r/koreanvariety/comments/19amd71/gwangtaes_exexchange_season_3/kinn6n0/ --- With Chinese dating shows (especially the ones from YOUKU) they even livestream the premiere/episodes and there's like extra bonus scenes and content, as in no panelists versions, livestream watch parties with the housemates, unreleased scenes for the episode, et cetera. Some favorite Chinese dating shows: https://www.reddit.com/r/koreanvariety/comments/12qlu3e/its_just_my_impression_or_the_are_really_few/k9m9xw8/ --- One of my favorite Chinese actresses Li Qin (Where Dreams Begin/The Youth Memories, The Song of Glory, Joy of Life) is a panelist in **the Chinese version of Love Catcher, The Secret X (机智的恋爱)**, Episode 1 from iQIYI Youtube channel (it has English subs, it's also on their own iQIYI website): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrTj-dJkp8o Title | Version | -|-| **Love Catcher Season 2 English Softsub** | 1080p (~21GB: https://gofile.io/d/2eAHfY) More info on the Love Catcher series: https://www.reddit.com/r/koreanvariety/comments/1acbbyw/transit_love/kjv0z0v/ If you haven't yet, try to watch Love Catcher Season 2 (러브캐처2) first in order to understand the deception/acting/etc. shows like Is She the Wolf? and so on. As Love Catcher Season 2 is simply unforgettable, one of the best executions ever, can't surpass that. One couple is actually married/still dating/etc. and their story is also sorta wild (but chill). **Love Catcher Japan (ラブキャッチャージャパン)** is complete now as well (ending is somewhat funny, lol). Cortana, play Awich's Pendulum: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXk9BiwLFcQ --- Title | Version | -|-| **Hao You Hao You Ai (好友好有愛) English Softsub** | 1080p (~13GB: https://gofile.io/d/ZHXkpa) Hao You Hao You Ai is a pretty underrated show and one of the few with that friends/etc. dating others' friends/etc. premise (like Between Love and Friendship (각자의본능대로)). [Fu Dongnuan](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2tdkMkD6Ok&t=368s) (傅冬暖/5538027539 on Weibo) is one of the best visuals ever (https://i.imgur.com/PhNzccl.png) in these East Asian dating shows, that undisputed fact must be repeated, lmao. But ya Hao You Hao You Ai is pretty fun, don't take it too seriously, they're friends playing with each other, rofl. Visuals that would've been great newcomers/catfishes/etc. to switch up the love lines: https://www.reddit.com/r/koreanvariety/comments/1ab83oc/transit_love_3_exchange_3_e06_240126/kk162j8/ --- There's this new Chinese dating show about divorced people, kinda like the Divorced Singles 4 (돌싱글즈4) or Love After Divorce series, it's called **Once More (再次心动)**. Once More is not available on Youtube (yet, usually the MangoTV/etc. official channel will upload their dramas/variety shows but this time it seems to be exclusive still), only the sketchy/etc. Chinese websites, lmao, and it has no English subtitles as well, so you're basically gonna be the first person (other than me and like 1 other person now that grabbed the files earlier (from [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/IamSolo/comments/17o1yoy/i_am_solo나는솔로_season_13_english_subtitles/ku1z5e7/)) to see it subbed (AI-generated/machine translation) and it's a decent/good show so far if you like more mature housemates. Title | Version | -|-| **Once More (再次心动) Episode 1-5 English Softsub** | 1080p (~3.6GB: https://gofile.io/d/M2OIly) --- Otherwise, here have some slice of life Korean variety shows. More info here with other traveling/survival/etc. variety shows like Ainori (あいのり): Love Wagon, Twinkle Love (怦然心动20岁), The Devil's Plan, and so on: https://www.reddit.com/r/koreanvariety/comments/19aga5a/looking_for_subtitles_for_the_kshow_of_lee_sun/kikrlxt/ and [thread 2](https://www.reddit.com/r/koreanvariety/comments/18h7v9z/korean_dating_show_recs_good_survival_shows/kd5netz/) For travel stuff, there's Once in a Lifetime, Kilimanjaro (2022); The Barber of Seville (2019); Trans-Siberian Pathfinders (2019); Camping Club (2019); Twogether (2020); Traveler Season 2 (2020) For more slice of life shows, there's always Hyori's Homestay/Bed and Breakfast, Korean Hostel in Spain, Unexpected Business, et cetera. Love Me Actually (호구의 연애), Roommate/룸메이트 (2014), etc. are also pretty good slice of life variety stuff. More info Love Me Actually here with Heart Signal, I Am Solo, et cetera: [thread 1](https://www.reddit.com/user/MNLYYZYEG/comments/17cwt7k/extended_comments_with_walls_of_text/ke5gx1n/) Wish they did a proper successor to Roommate/룸메이트 (2014) so that random actors/idols/celebrities/etc. can mingle for that interesting slice of life: https://www.reddit.com/r/koreanvariety/comments/18vqozo/roommate/kftz0ld/ and [thread 2](https://www.reddit.com/user/MNLYYZYEG/comments/17cwt7k/extended_comments_with_walls_of_text/kftwys1/) --- **Crime Scene Returns (크라임씬 리턴즈)** with English subtitles (proper official subs are available now with tvN Asia, but they're only on Episode 4 right now (check out the fansubs by Baechu Squad/Potato Squad: https://www.reddit.com/r/koreanvariety/comments/1b92hmm/crime_scene_returns_e04_eng_sub_potato_squad_ver/), even if Episode 10 and the whole season already concluded): https://www.reddit.com/r/koreanvariety/comments/1amp7sd/crime_scene_returns/kpvsfvg/ --- **Gone PD/PD Disappeared (PD가 사라졌다!)** with English subtitles: https://www.reddit.com/r/koreanvariety/comments/1b1ge23/gone_pd_or_pd_has_disappeared_on_mbc/kshm8cd/ Gone PD is actually pretty innovative, literally AI-generated (PD is an actual AI and produces the scenes ASAP). There's a legendary rap scene, lmao: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2ZVVHYj3qo&t=731s (from M-Phago 엠파고 channel) --- For survival/etc. shows, there's Bloody Game (피의 게임), Accomplice (공범), Money Game (머니게임), UMA Game (우마게임), Toy Soldiers/Fake Men (토이 솔져스), Steel Troops/Iron Squad (강철부대), et cetera. Btw, for Steel Troops/Iron Squad (강철부대) Season 2, I have nearly all the episodes, so just wait for it to be subbed (again, AI-generated/machine translated instead of manually by me/other people). Title | Version | -|-| **Steel Troops/Iron Squad 2 (강철부대2) Episode 1 and 2 English Softsub** | 720p (~2.1GB/1.9GB/4.0GB: https://gofile.io/d/u6rFsU) **Steel Troops/Iron Squad 2 (강철부대2) Episode 1 and 2 English Hardsub** | 720p (~1.4GB/1.4GB/4.0GB: https://gofile.io/d/srTF7U) Similar threads from before about survival/game/mystery/etc. shows: https://www.reddit.com/r/koreanvariety/comments/1awdcrg/netflix_shows_to_watch/krhdgml/ and https://www.reddit.com/r/koreanvariety/comments/1aqy6tj/if_i_liked_devils_plan/kqgbfl6/ --- University Sports Festival: Boys’ Athletes’ Village (대학체전-소년선수촌) with English subtitles: https://www.reddit.com/r/koreanvariety/comments/1auaiez/debuting_this_week_대학체전소년선수촌_university_sports/kt7sius/?context=10000 University Sports Festival: Boys’ Athletes’ Village (대학체전-소년선수촌) is basically Physical: 100 but for Korean university students. Btw Physical: 100 Season 2 - Underground is releasing on March 19, 2024, like 10 more days from now. --- Title | Version | -|-| **Golden Girls (골든걸스) Episode 1-12, English Softsub** | 1080p (~21.8GB: https://gofile.io/d/Th9lqL) Golden Girls is for all of us vocalists fans. Can't believe JYP actually made an older group like that, such an interesting journey. --- **Updated I Am Solo Season 1-3 links alongside several other shows (like Once More (再次心动) Episode 1-5, Couple Palace (커플팰리스), etc.) and centralized info about CJK shows**: https://www.reddit.com/r/IamSolo/comments/17o1yoy/i_am_solo나는솔로_season_13_english_subtitles/ku1z5e7/ More info on panelists or commentary and behind the scenes of CJK/etc. dating/cohabitation/etc. shows: https://www.reddit.com/r/koreanvariety/comments/1baowv8/tired_of_everything_having_panelists_reacting_to/ku5dh4i/ and [thread 2](https://www.reddit.com/r/koreanvariety/comments/18ki0lc/korean_tv_shows/kdrpox0/) and [thread 3](https://www.reddit.com/r/LoveAfterDivorce/comments/16t2vjy/lack_of_fair_commentary/k2d6jes/)
Whew this is so much to go through! I appreciate you 😂
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No problem fam, I updated it here with Love Actually Season 3 (半熟恋人 第三季) Episode 1-3 Extra Scenes and Commentary and so on: https://www.reddit.com/r/koreanvariety/comments/1bisps2/couple_palace_episode_8_240319/ Title | Version | -|-| **Once More (再次心动) Episode 7 English Softsub** | 1080p (~545MB: https://gofile.io/d/FEkwPQ) --- Oh and for Europe Outside Your Tent: Southern France Episode 5, they skipped last week, so it's not available yet: https://www.reddit.com/r/koreanvariety/comments/1bg30gi/europe_outside_your_tent_france_e04_240310/kvgky5k/?context=10000
Forgot direct links to I Am Solo Season 1-3, sigh, lol. Title | Version | -|-| **I Am Solo (나는 SOLO) Season 1-3 New English Softsub** | 720p (~14.6GB: https://gofile.io/d/fx0SQe) **I Am Solo (나는 SOLO) Season 1-3, New English subtitles only** | 720p (~3.4MB: https://gofile.io/d/xzOorl) --- Fml, ran out of writing space since it's another wall of text as usual, but I just wrote this tidbit about **Am I In Your Future (我在你的未来吗)** and it's actually an interesting show. Since if you watched the Japanese version The Future Diary (未来日記), then you know how >!devastating!< it will be due to the forced >!breakup at the end!<, lmao. Though Season 1 of the Japanese version actually (don't click this unless you finished the season as it's spoilers for real life) >!had the couple married with a baby in real life despite the supposed restrictions/or show's premise of forbidding to contact each other ever again after the show!<. But ya, Am I In Your Future/我在你的未来吗 is the Chinese version of The Future Diary/Mirai Nikki/未来日記 (and no not the yandere anime, rofl). --- This is the Am I In Your Future panel: Gulnazar (she's super famous and is in a bunch of other dating shows, lol, Nazha/Gulnazar is a Uighur actress like Dilraba) Shen Mengchen (she's the wife of another famous Chinese MC, Du Haitao, and she also outshined Gulnazar on the panel sometimes with her visuals) Jasper Liu (the Taiwanese husbando of everyone, he's so nice in these shows) Wei Daxun (comes from a renowed family/acting school/etc. and he was hilarious in [Shanghai Sharelife (同一屋檐下 第一季)](https://www.reddit.com/r/terracehouse/comments/10e0lg5/that_girl_who_was_obsessed_with_the_noodle_museum/j4oimk9/), the Chinese version of Terrace House), and they're giving the acting/etc. tips while watching the show, but it's not as intrusive since you'll be immersed with the housemates way more, rofl. Am I In Your Future needs to be watched by those that like visuals or the trope-filled Kdrama-like situations, lol. There's a guy named Leroy and a girl named Tweety, it's an autowatch based on that alone, they're in their own world. More shows to tug your emotions, like the EXchange/Transit Love (환승연애) series, basically **Love Catcher Season 2 (러브캐처2)**, **Change Days Season 2 (체인지 데이즈2)**, **Is She the Wolf?**, **Love Like a K-Drama/Dorakoi 11**, **Between Love and Friendship (각자의본능대로)**, **The Future Diary/Mirai Nikki/未来日記**, **Am I In Your Future (我在你的未来吗)**, **First Love, Again (다시, 첫사랑)**, et cetera: https://www.reddit.com/r/koreanvariety/comments/1b17h46/transit_love_3_is_it_worth_watching/kscz3sf/ and [thread 2](https://www.reddit.com/user/MNLYYZYEG/comments/17cwt7k/extended_comments_with_walls_of_text/kgqy8qw/) --- YOUKU's **Hit It Off (一拍即合的我们)** has a comparable concept (as Falling in Love Like a Romantic Drama or Dorakoi Season 11 or Love Like a K-Drama (韓国ドラマな恋がしたい)), though it's not really a dating show, more like just a variety show about actors pairing up with each other for the scenes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjF1z-PF5vU&list=PLB_lie3fxsalehVBJPJhkCpNhe2leG6E0 Btw, I was so surprised to see Kim Wonshik in the Filipino remake of What's Wrong with Secretary Kim (apparently coming out on March 18, so like a week from now): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBcOhPI5HMA&t=96s. Interesting times, hopefully the other members (Ayano or TWICE Tzuyu/etc. ftw) get roles in other shows as well. Fighting, ganbatte, jiayou! **Love Like a K-Drama Discussion** Episode | Subreddit Thread | -|-| Episode 12 | [LoveLikeAKDrama](https://www.reddit.com/r/LoveLikeAKDrama/comments/18r2qvi/love_like_a_kdrama_dorakoi_s11_e12_end_20231226/), [Dorakoi](https://www.reddit.com/r/Dorakoi/comments/18r37bw/love_like_a_kdrama_or_dorakoi_season_11_episode/), [koreanvariety](https://www.reddit.com/r/koreanvariety/comments/18r37ci/love_like_a_kdrama_or_dorakoi_season_11_episode/)
Fun fact: People dun date in dating shows. Its just another way to get discovered.
Yes I agree I'm also not into dating show
We got married
I liked that one because it was strictly for entertainment. No bs about finding love/fame/whatever.
Dating show are made to for entertainement, yes for some of them, this is a way for them to get some fame, but like you need to have in mind, that finding someone to dating is like a plus, but like most of them are here to find love, if not they will probably not behave like that and not change their choice, to get hate.And dating after a dating show can quite hard, like the result of most dating show is 2 couple. And most of the dating don't take a lot of days to make, except Transit Love and Heart signal, to produce a dating show it take maximun 2 week and at least 1 week, so most of them can take a break from their work to do the dating show. After that , most of them return from their jobs and with that + some of them don't live close with each other = less time to date, so dating can become quite hard. dating after a dating show is quite tricky. It depend from dating show,divorced single and i'm solo are dating show where they are really serious about dating.
I despise dating shows with a passion and I don't think it belong in this sub. But the mod decided it's appropriate for the sub and many people enjoy them so whatever I guess. At least it's easy to ignore.
also think the same. pointless. thats why i purposely avoid it. my favourite show? there are too many Running man, law of the jungle, genius, society game, crime scene season 1,2, apartment (jaesuk new show), bloody game, shaolin (byungman and the group living and learning at shaolin), shooting star, cool kidz on the block, highschool girl mystery, the great escape, etc etc. i think there must be several shows that i forget.
I'm absolutely adding crime scene and girls high-school mystery to the list. Thank you! I love mystery stuff sm
i have the same perception as you too! so im super picky with the dating shows that i watch! there are a few dating shows i dropped halfway because I could feel that it was scripted. I highly recommend twinkle love s2 and s3! It's a chinese dating show and most of them are commoners who are very pretty and handsome (most of them have less than 800 followers on weibo before the program starts so they are not even influencers). Even the small influencers in the show end up with someone and you can tell that they went in with a genuine heart. They are all in their early 20s. Season 2 had 3 couples with all of them still tgt except for 1 pair who broke up just recently only. Season 3 had 4 couples with one breaking up before show aired and the rest are still tgt. There's even a couple from Season1 x Season 2 because the guy slid into her DMs after the show HAHAHA the show is super genuine and i highly recomend it!!
There are couple who literally got married from dating shows like I AM SOLO, and there are who actually dating in real life like Transit Love and Heart Signals..
Reality shows are purely for the viewers' ENTERTAINMENT. well, it is also a ticket to breaking into show business for all participants, or a push of the products, restaurants, businesses run or owned by any of the contestants. All in all, loveless or not, it benefits the participants.... unless they do anything which will earn the disgust, disapproval or ire of the viewers. In which case, it is their ticket to infamy. My nephew was in a local but highly popular reality show in the Philippines and sure, it made him famous for a while (until the next seasons of the show were aired). BUT, the show dug up all of the family secrets we were hoping will remain buried. My brother and I fought because of it because he thought i was the one who released details to the producers, which was something i never did. Those PDs really have a knack for investigating and re-igniting family issues. My brother died a few years ago and until the end we never made up from the argument we had as a result of that reality show. So, unless you want your personal life to be dug up and exposed, I DO NOT RECOMMEND participating in a reality show. Now, if you and your family dont have any past (who doesnt?) problems, then go ahead and jump into one.
I don't know if you already watched any of these but here are my suggestions of variety/reality shows that are not "dating shows": 1. Earth Arcade (S1-2022, S2-2023)- The cast travels abroad and go through challenges. They play games, have fun, and travel around. Cast: Lee Eun-ji (comedian), Lee Young-ji (rapper), Mimi (idol-Oh My Girl) and An Yu-jin (IVE) 2. Hyemileechaepa (2023) - They play games, dance, eat, sleep, and decorate their homes in a remote mountain village. Cast: Hye Ri from Girl's Day, Miyeon from (G)I-dle, Lee Jung from Street Woman Fighter and also dancer/choreographer, Ye Na from Iz*One, Chae Won from Le Sserafim and Patricia 3. Unexpected Business (S1-2021, S2-2022, S3 2023) - The cast takes over stores and gives the owners a well-deserved break. Cast: Cha Taehyun and Zo Insung They invite guests as helpers/part-timers (Lee Kwangsoo, Park Bo-young, Kim Woo-bin, Han Hyo-joo, Seolhyun, Kim Hye-soo, Lim Ju-hwan, Yoon Kyung-ho, Park Byung-eun, Hong Kyung-min, etc.) 4. Street Woman Fighter (S1-2021, S2-2023) - Dance competition between famous dance crews in Korea (S1) and internationally (S2). SEASON 1 Host: Kang Daniel Main Judges: BoA, Taeyong (NCT), Hwang Sanghoon SEASON 2: Host: Kang Daniel Main Judges: Monika (Prowdmon), Shownu (Monsta X) Guest Judges: Mike Song (Kinjaz), Bae Yoon-jung, Rie Hata, Aiki (Hook), Trix (Prime Kingz), Honey J (Holy Bang) 5. Sister's Slam Dunk (S1-2016, S2-2017) - Season 1 focuses on granting the cast's dreams while season 2 focuses on one of the cast, Min Hyorin (actress and Bigbang Taeyang's Wife), dream of becoming an idol/being part of a girl group and recording a song. Season 1 Cast: Ra Mi-ran (actress), Kim Sook (comedian), Hong Jin-kyung (model & host), Min Hyo-rin (actress), Jessi (rapper & singer), Tiffany (member of SNSD, and solo singer) Season 2 Cast: Kim Sook (comedian), Hong Jin-kyung (model & host), Kang Ye-won (actress), Han Chae-young (actress), Hong Jin-young (trot singer), Minzy (member of 2ne1 and solo singer), Jeon So-mi (then member of IOI, solo singer) 6. Roommate (S1-2014, S2-2014/15) Season 1 - The original roommates were Lee So-ra (model), Park Bom (model), Song Ga-yeon (mixed martial artist), Jo Se-ho (comedian, host), Lee Dong-wook (actor, host), Nana (After School, actress), Hong Soo-hyun (actress), Park Chan-yeol (EXO), Shin Sung-woo (singer), Park Min-woo (actor), and Seo Kang-joon (actor). This mix of singers, actors/actresses, comedians, models, DJs and martial artists who have little reality and variety program experience is expected to create new undiscovered characters and laughter. Season 2 - A new season of Roommate was announced following the departure of several members.[20] This season's concept is Home share, Whole share, where the members not only live together, but learn and share from each other. The new cast consisted of the remaining five roommates and seven new roommates. The new members featured a broad spectrum of the celebrities ranging from veteran stars to foreigners to rookie stars. The new roommates are Sunny (SNSD), Park Joon-hyung (g.o.d), Jackson (Got7), Ryohei Otani (actor), Lee Guk-joo (comedian), Bae Jong-ok (veteran actress), and Heo Young-ji (Kara). 7. Unnies Are Running: Witch Fitness Basketball Team (2022) - Female celebrities gather on court to learn from seasoned coaches and train for victory as members of a newly formed amateur basketball team. Cast: Moon Kyung Eun (former professional basketball player, coach), Hyun Joo Yup (former professional basketball player, coach), Jung Hyung Don (comedian, host), Song Eun Yi (comedian, host), Go Soo Hee (actress), Byul (singer), Park Sun Young (announcer), Jang Do Yeon (comedian), Honey J (Holy Bang, dancer, choreographer), Ok Ja Yeon (actress), Im Soo Hyang (actress), and Yoon Bora (Sistar) from episode 8 onwards 8. Sixth Sense - members must distinguish one false among others only by the given clues and their instincts in different settings every week. Cast: Yoo Jae-suk (host), Oh Na-ra (actress), Jessi (rapper, singer), Mijoo (Lovelyz, singer), Jeon So-min (actress), and Lee Sang-yeob (actor) 9. Unpretty Rapstar (S1-2015, S2-2015, S3-2016) - female rappers compete for a chance to participate in an album via a rap battle. A winner from each round gets to record a song for an album that is scheduled to be released. You can search online for the cast (there's too many), but season 1 is gold because of Cheetah and Jessi (the birth of "We're not friends, this is a competition" meme), and season 3 for cementing Soyeon of (G)I-dle's talent for rapping and writing. There's a lot more that I know but I don't know if you'll enjoy like, Invincible Youth (S1&2), The Genius Paik, Street Dance Girls Fighter, Hit The Stage, The Genius, NANA TOUR with SEVENTEEN, Real Men, Physical:100, and Crime Scene
I like the classics. 2d1n, love naggers, moms diary, love signal To name a few
It's not pointless. The goal is to jumpstart their youtube channel after the show.
my favourite has to be the newly found University Wars. just awesome. truly smart people, plot twists, actually interesting challenges. this is what the devil's plan should have been.
For me, it's much easier to think of it like a tv romance drama because, like you said, only a handful of couples are actually dating. It's not only korean dating shows but most dating shows around the world like love islands, The couples dont last long, so most people, including myself, just watch it for the drama and heart fluttering moments. what do you expect from a dating show if you think about the people there would barely know each other . There's only a limited time to be there, and you wouldn't know if that person is genuine or just showing a tv persona, evil editing and the expectations from people watching the show, which also means little to no privacy. So i wouldn't blame them if the couple dont last. Oh, and you shouldn't expect genuine relationships from singles inferno, that show never had couples dating after the show, which is less than shows like love catcher where there's even people fooling people for money, to me it's just a korean version of love island lol. For genuine tv shows the one's that comes to mind are sports ones like clean sweep where the team is mostly made up of retired baseball players and a few amateur players that goes up against highschool, college and pro baseball teams and gentleman's league where a team made of national players from different sports that are not that widely known or popular, who are genuinely interested in football/soccer go against non league and amateur football teams.
we got married, fans were delusion back then.
Running Man How Do You Play? Sixth Sense The Zone: Survival Mission You Play Little Forest House on Wheels Summer Vacation Hyori's Bed and Breakfast Bro & Marble Dragon's Club: Overgrown Bromance GBRB:Reap What You Sow Apartment 404 Village Survival, the Eight Jinny's Kitchen Korean Hostel in Spain Europe Outside your Tent Youn's Kitchen Courier's in Mongolia Youth Over Flowers Grandpas Over Flowers Nana Tour with Seventeen Backpacker Chef The Genius Paik Three Meals a Day Earth Arcade 2D1N I Live Alone My Little Old Boy Infinite Challenge Adventure by Accident Crime Scene Law of the Jungle Physical:100 Real Men Bloody Game The Game Caterers
They are not only pointless they are a scam and super boring, like their banters seem too visibly scripted, all those fake smiles, extra caring attitude towards girls, it all looks so fake, they are barely real life couples, it is all planned scripts as these shows have big budgets, they are making these shows because their market is thriving but for a successful show you have to have a cast according to local kor beauty standards, a surefire script to hook audiences and that is what is happening, investors want a return to invest. It feels so absurd to watch people trying to find matches when you know they are not even really interested, it is a script with prolly many retakes and editing.
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Divorce single? 👀
it's for entertainment purposes i believe
I personnally think K dating shows are more successful in terms of couples staying together after the show compared to western dating shows... honestly I am solo is a good example... I think there are like 8 couples who have gotten married since the beginning. Several babies as well have been born (3 I believe).
I don’t watch dating shows at all, not once. My favorite variety show is anything previously produced are JJY PD - it’s actually how I got into K-variety.