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Arts & Culture
21 January 2026

Single’s Inferno Season 5 Cast Brings Global Flair

Netflix’s popular dating show returns with its largest and most diverse group of contestants yet, including beauty queens, athletes, and international personalities vying for romance and attention.

Netflix’s hit Korean dating show, Single’s Inferno, has returned for its highly anticipated fifth season, and this year’s cast is already generating buzz across social media and entertainment circles. With the premiere of four episodes on January 20, 2026, fans are diving into the drama, romance, and surprises that have made the series a global favorite since its debut in 2021. The show’s signature format—stranding singles on a remote island and challenging them to form connections to escape “Inferno” for a night of luxury in “Paradise”—remains intact, but the stakes and personalities are higher than ever.

This season marks the largest and most diverse group of contestants in the show’s history, with twelve singles from various backgrounds, professions, and even continents. The cast includes beauty queens, professional athletes, artists, and entrepreneurs, ensuring a dynamic blend of personalities and stories. Among the standout participants is Choi Mina Sue, whose impressive resume and international appeal have quickly made her a fan favorite.

Choi Mina Sue, 27, isn’t just another contestant looking for love on reality television. According to Reality TV Shrine, she was crowned Miss Earth in 2022, becoming a global ambassador for environmental causes and serving as a spokesperson for organizations such as the Miss Earth Foundation, the United Nations Environment Programme, and the WWF. As part of her title, she wore a crown crafted from gold, pearls, and gemstones and enjoyed a year of fully funded international travel and endorsement contracts. Choi’s journey on Single’s Inferno comes on the heels of her Miss Earth reign and a stint on the competitive reality show Battle for Tenancy: Penthouse, where she finished in seventh place.

Born in Australia and educated in the United States, Choi studied communications at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Her cosmopolitan background, coupled with her advocacy for the environment, sets her apart from her fellow contestants. And for those who love a touch of whimsy, Choi is also the proud owner of a dog named Summer, who boasts her own Instagram page filled with glimpses of canine luxury.

But Choi isn’t the only contestant with a compelling story. As BollywoodShaadis and Filmogaz report, the season’s cast includes Kim Go-eun, a 26-year-old model who won the Miss Korea pageant in 2022 and is the daughter of national soccer player Kim Hyun-soo. Song Seung-il, 25, brings a unique combination of fashion marketing expertise and athletic prowess to the island, while Lim Su-been, 24, is a former baseball pitcher turned model who left the sport after a shoulder injury. Park Hee-sun, another 26-year-old, is a former cheerleader and passionate dancer, adding a burst of energy to the group.

Other notable participants include Ham Ye-jin, a 30-year-old freelance announcer known for her quirky personality; Kim Min-gee, a 30-year-old professional athlete with four National Sports Festival wins to her name; and Lee Joo-young, a 26-year-old craft designer celebrated for her resin home décor creations. Youn Hyun-jae, 25, is an athlete and practitioner of the Korean martial art Kundo; Shin Hyeon-woo, 28, is keeping his profession under wraps but is open about his hopes to find a meaningful connection; Kim Jae-jin, 28, is a professional modern dancer; Woo Sung-min, 30, is an optician running his family’s optical shop; and Lee Sung-hun, also known as Samuel Lee, is a New York resident fluent in English and Korean.

Viewers can expect a whirlwind of personalities and relationships, as the show’s format encourages both heartfelt connections and playful competition. According to Filmogaz, the contestants are more candid and expressive than ever, with hosts Hanhae, Dex, Hong Jin-kyung, Lee Da-hee, and Kyuhyun providing commentary and insight into the evolving dynamics. With episodes scheduled to release in batches—three more on January 27, another three on February 3, and the final two on February 10—the anticipation is building for who will find love and who will leave the island alone.

The show’s unique structure remains a key draw. Contestants spend their days on the island, stripped of modern comforts, and must form mutual romantic connections to escape Inferno and earn a night in Paradise, a five-star resort complete with hot tubs, gourmet meals, and the privacy to reveal their true ages and professions. The tension between the desire for romance and the competitive spirit keeps both the cast and viewers guessing.

Each contestant brings their own motivations and ideals to the show. For example, as BollywoodShaadis recounts, Song Seung-il describes himself as “extremely competitive” and confident in his ability to win challenges, while Park Hee-sun is a self-described “proactive dater” who goes after what she wants. Kim Go-eun, despite her glamorous appearance, insists she is warm and affectionate once people get to know her. Choi Mina Sue, for her part, emphasizes the importance of self-worth and prefers genuine connections over extravagant gestures, stating, “Knowing your worth is important.”

Social media has become an integral part of the Single’s Inferno experience, with fans encouraged to follow contestants on Instagram for behind-the-scenes glimpses and personal updates. Handles such as @minadori222 (Choi Mina Sue), @goxnniee (Kim Go-eun), and @arb0r_day (Kim Min-gee) offer fans a deeper look into the lives of their favorite singles, further blurring the lines between reality TV and real life.

The diversity of the cast is not just a talking point—it’s a reflection of the show’s growing international appeal. With contestants from Australia, the United States, and Korea, as well as a range of careers from athletics to design, the season promises a rich tapestry of stories and interactions. This global flair, combined with the show’s addictive format and charismatic hosts, has cemented Single’s Inferno as a mainstay in the world of reality television.

As the season unfolds, viewers will no doubt be captivated by the slow-burning tension, unexpected alliances, and the ever-present question: who will escape Inferno for Paradise, and who will capture the hearts of fans around the world? If the first four episodes are any indication, Single’s Inferno Season 5 is set to deliver all the drama, romance, and surprises that audiences have come to expect—plus a few twists no one saw coming.

With a cast this dynamic and a format designed for maximum intrigue, the only certainty is that every episode will leave viewers eager for more.