On February 14, 2026, fans of Netflix's hit reality dating show Solo Hell 5 (also known as Single's Inferno 5) found themselves swept up in a wave of speculation and surprise, as rumors swirled about the fate of one of the season’s most talked-about couples, Choi Mina-su and Lee Seong-hoon. The pair, who captured viewers’ hearts with their emotional journey and chemistry on screen, were the subject of intense scrutiny after photos began circulating online suggesting their romance may not have survived beyond the show’s finale.
According to reports from OSEN and Star News, the rumors took off after a series of candid snapshots surfaced on social media and online communities. The images showed Lee Seong-hoon enjoying what appeared to be a cozy amusement park outing with a woman who was not Choi Mina-su. The two were seen waiting in line for rides, chatting amiably, and even sharing a moment on a bench, with Lee’s hand resting comfortably on the woman’s knee. The friendly intimacy captured in these photos quickly led fans to question whether the woman was Lee’s real-life girlfriend, and whether his on-show relationship with Choi had fizzled out after filming.
For those who tuned in to Solo Hell 5, the news came as a disappointment. The season had been a record-breaker for the series, with five couples forming in the final episode—the highest number in the show’s history. Choi Mina-su and Lee Seong-hoon’s storyline, in particular, had stood out. Overcoming initial uncertainty and confusion, the pair eventually chose each other in a heartfelt finale aired on February 10, 2026. Lee had made a memorable confession, telling Choi, “I have so much affection for you and want to get to know you outside, whether it’s in Korea or the United States. I’ll find you wherever you are.” Choi responded with equal sincerity, saying, “When I’m with you, I feel like I see the version of myself that I like the most. I can’t imagine leaving this place without you. Sam, thank you. The person I want to leave Inferno with is you.”
Yet, as Star News confirmed, despite their touching declarations, the couple did not pursue a romantic relationship after the cameras stopped rolling. Instead, they remained supportive friends, keeping in touch but going their separate ways romantically. “They became a couple in the final episode aired on February 10, 2026, but did not continue as a couple afterward, remaining supportive friends,” reported Star News. This revelation, coupled with Lee Seong-hoon’s recent deletion of his personal social media accounts and Choi Mina-su’s silence on the matter, only fueled further speculation among fans.
The show’s production team, meanwhile, has been tightlipped about the couple’s status. No official statement has been released by either the Solo Hell 5 team or the two contestants themselves. However, the behind-the-scenes dynamics of reality TV romance—and the challenge of translating on-screen chemistry into real-world relationships—were addressed candidly by the show’s producers in the lead-up to the much-anticipated “Solo Hell Reunion” special, which was released on February 14, 2026.
At a press event on February 13, 2026, producers Kim Jae-won, Kim Jeong-hyun, and Park Soo-ji spoke openly about the difficulties faced by contestants when it comes to public dating after the show. “There’s a lot of talk that there aren’t any ‘real couples’ from Solo Hell,” Kim Jae-won told reporters, according to OSEN. “But I want to be clear that, including this season, there actually are quite a few real couples.” He went on to express his own perplexity at contestants’ hesitancy to date publicly, saying, “Honestly, I don’t understand why people who come on a dating show would be reluctant to date openly.”
Kim Jae-won also revealed that the production team had considered including clauses in contestants’ contracts requiring them to date publicly if they found love on the show. However, after consulting with legal advisors, they were told that such provisions would violate constitutional privacy rights. “We thought about putting a public dating clause in the contract, but the lawyers told us it would be unconstitutional due to the right to privacy, so we couldn’t do it,” he explained. As a result, producers focused on selecting contestants who expressed a willingness to be open about their relationships, but ultimately respected everyone’s personal boundaries.
The “Solo Hell Reunion” special was designed to address these lingering questions head-on. As Kim Jae-won described it, “The reunion is about asking the questions viewers are most curious about and getting honest answers. All the couples were asked about their current relationships, and they answered honestly.” The special not only promised behind-the-scenes stories and candid reflections from the cast, but also aimed to clarify which couples had continued their romances outside the confines of the show’s remote island setting.
Solo Hell itself has become something of a cultural phenomenon for Netflix, with season 5 reaching the number two spot in the platform’s non-English Top 10 shows—a series best. The show’s unique premise, which strands singles on a deserted island (the so-called “Inferno”) where only couples can escape, has resonated with audiences both in Korea and internationally. The final five couples of season 5—Choi Mina-su & Lee Seong-hoon, Kim Min-ji & Song Seung-il, Lim Soo-bin & Park Hee-seon, Lee Ju-young & Kim Jae-jin, and Kim Go-eun & Woo Seong-min—captured viewers’ imaginations, but as the reunion special reveals, not all on-screen matches translate to real-world romance.
Despite the letdown for some fans, the transparency of the production team and the willingness of the contestants to share their true feelings and current statuses offer a rare glimpse into the realities behind reality TV. As Kim Jae-won put it, “We created the reunion to ask honest questions and get honest answers.” For now, viewers can only watch, speculate, and perhaps root for their favorite contestants as they navigate love—on and off the island.
With the curtain pulled back on the fate of Choi Mina-su and Lee Seong-hoon’s romance, the story serves as a reminder that reality TV can only capture so much—and that, sometimes, the most compelling stories are the ones that unfold beyond the spotlight.