“Single’s Inferno” is a globally known Korean dating show where contestants join in hopes of finding their next partner. 

The fifth season of “Single’s Inferno” contained heated drama between contestants and cliffhangers after each episode, leaving watchers anticipating what will happen next. This year’s final episodes were filled with unexpected outcomes leaving fans speechless. I’ve since gathered a ranking of my favorite couples based on compatibility and personality.

5. Kim Go-eun and Woo Sung-min

Compared to Mina Sue, who went after every love interest, Kim Go-eun was the opposite. Instead of liking the whole cast, Go-eun’s bright and charming personality enchanted male contestants. Go-eun was never alone –- she was always with someone, one of them being Woo Sung-min. Sung-min was proactive towards Go-eun, approaching her whenever he got the chance to. His other contenders, Shin Hyeon-woo and Jo I-geon, didn’t back down either. As all three of them went to Paradise with her, the one who had the most romantic tension with her was I-geon. He showed great promise through keeping their conversations interesting and humorous. However, after their second date in Paradise, he made repeated jokes about how much he missed another female contestant. Ultimately, this led Go-eun to prioritize the emotional reassurance that she got from Sung-min over the fiery tension with I-geon. 

I was disappointed when Go-eun chose Sung-min over I-geon. The compatibility between Go-eun and I-geon was stronger than what she had with Sung-min. When watching the episodes, I didn’t enjoy watching how possessive Sung-min was over Go-eun. He was always there whenever Go-eun was talking to someone else. While I understand why Go-eun chose Sung-min, I wouldn’t choose someone who gave me mixed signals throughout the time I spent with him. For this reason, I place this couple last.

4. Lee Joo-young and Kim Jae-jin

Kim Jae-jin’s entrance left a lasting impression on everyone. Intrigued by his unpredictable allure, Lee Joo-young was captivated and wanted to learn more about him. Every chance she got, she chose Jae-jin. Their dates in Paradise showed their whimsical chemistry, Jae-jin described it as “the best day of his whole year.” Although this couple suited each other well, I was hoping Joo-young left Inferno with another contestant; Youn Hyun-jae. From the first day, Youn Hyun-jae often expressed his gentle, tender feelings towards Joo-young, but unfortunately, Joo-young maintained clear boundaries, while still appreciating his feelings. 

3. Choi Mina Sue and Lee Sung-hun

This season revolved around one contestant: Choi Mina Sue. Staying true to herself and her feelings, Mina Sue took initiative and was intentional with her actions showing interest in multiple contestants. Her wavering attraction towards them made them wary of who she truly likes. Lee Sung-hun, one of the people she was interested in, always stayed by her side and consoled her whenever she broke down. Mina Sue only noticed Sung-hun’s worth when he went to Paradise for the first time without her. After he came back, she hoped that his affection towards her didn’t change. She came to the conclusion that she felt the most comfortable with him as they both are Korean-American and can speak English.

While Mina Sue’s actions were absurd to me, she undoubtedly made the show interesting. I appreciated Sung-hun for staying loyal and listening to her even though his feelings were unreciprocated until the end. I think this was a fitting end for this couple.

2. Park Hee-sun and Lim Su-been

Similar to Min-gee, Park Hee-sun only pinned after Lim Su-been. Even through misunderstandings, their feelings never wavered. In one of the final episodes, a rift in their relationship occurred when Su-been went to Paradise with Min-gee. Su-been comforted her stating that his feelings toward her remained the same. 

Hee-sun revealed that she can speak English fluently and goes to university in the United States. I liked how she kept her charms hidden until the right time. Their relationship seemed so pure and sweet. It made my heart flutter with excitement. 

1. Song Seung-il and Kim Min-gee

From their first meeting, Kim Min-gee only had her eyes on Song Seung-il. As Seung-il displayed early interest in another contestant, the loyalty in her decision of staying devoted to one person made her feel uncertain and unconfident. Their journey was rocky, but showed stability when Seung-il found he and Mina Sue were incompatible on their date in Paradise. Afterwards, he was determined to give his best effort in the final game, wanting to convey his honest, genuine feelings towards Min-gee by winning a date to Paradise. Even though he lost the game, his commendable struggle reassured Min-gee, pushing her decision to leave Inferno with Seung-il with mutual attraction.

I cheered for this couple the hardest because I admired Min-gee’s laid-back and honest mindset. She never interfered with Seung-il’s feelings, but instead encouraged him to go and explore other options. I enjoyed watching their dynamic, as their conversations were filled with playful bantering.