The 25th season of the South Korean reality dating show I'm SOLO is creating waves as it focuses on new singles and drops the tradition of specific names, most noticeably the absence of 'Jung-sook'. The much-anticipated episode, which aired on March 5, 2025, at 10:30 PM on ENA and SBS Plus, set the stage for various intriguing introductions, as solo men awaited their potential matches at 'Solo Nara 25' located in Gimhae, Gyeongnam.
At the start of the show, the solo men displayed their excitement as they welcomed the new female contestants. Among them was the poised Young-sook, whose charm immediately caught the attention of the audience and participants alike. MC Defconn humorously clarified why the name 'Jung-sook' was eliminated from this season, adding to the curiosity surrounding what alternate names the show could bring forward.
Throughout the episode, several participants shared insights about their backgrounds, with one notable solo woman claiming she graduated from a prestigious music university in the United States. She confidently asserted, "I've only walked one path," as she addressed her dedication to her career.
Another introduced contestant candidly stated, "I've already met all the decent men in my area. There's no one left to date, so I came to I'm SOLO." This prompted both laughter and applause from the MCs, who were equally enchanted with the new faces. The anticipation and nerves heightened as these contestants revealed their ambitions, leaving the solo men impressed. Defconn remarked, addressing one solo woman, “You look so cute, are you even over twenty?” This playful remark reflected the overall excitement surrounding the new line-up.
Last week's episode garnered impressive viewer ratings, with Nielsen Korea reporting an average viewership of 5.3% for the show, making it quite the hit. The peak ratings even reached 5.8%! The trio of hosts, Defconn, Lee Yi-kyung, and Song Hae-na, noted the audience buzz, which only solidified the show's popularity. According to the FunDex chart by Good Data Corporation, the show also maintained the top spot for three consecutive weeks concerning 'TV-OTT non-drama topicality'.
Among the new male contestants, Young-soo stood out not just for his name but for impressive financial revelations. He shared he saves 20 million won each month, claiming his net earnings after taxes are 30 to 40 million won monthly, leading to surprise among the crowd when he speculated his annual salary is around 400 to 500 million won. When pressed about his profession, he humorously stated, “I majored at my arts high school.”
Alongside Young-soo was Young-ho, who works as a pharmacist and had interesting tales to share about his life, including his background migratory history to the United States, also explaining he runs his very own pharmacy. When asked if he had time to date amid his busy slew of commitments, he quipped back, “Even freedom fighters date and get married; it’s not impossible for me to manage time.”
Young-sik, another participant, characterized himself as proactive and spontaneous, and unabashedly asserted he had ideal preferences for women—those who are intelligent and confident, explicitly mentioning former participants by name. Young-cheol looked to the future with confidence, standing tall at 188 cm and noted he had played football previously. When expressing himself, he said he wanted to create opportunities for marriage, shining light on his eagerness to form lasting connections through the show.
Another intriguing contestant, Sang-cheol, humorously mentioned his resemblance to actor Kim Woo-bin, noting how he enjoyed the attention. He proudly shared his educational accolades, consistently aiming for excellence, having impressively aced his TOIEC exam before working for a significant company upon graduation. His great impression was, undoubtedly, taking the spotlight.
Later on, it was time for the first impressions vote, igniting a wave of excitement. Contestants were to attach their name tags onto teddy bears of the women they admired and were required to record messages. Young-soo, for example, opted to express admiration toward Soon-ja, exclaiming, “I hope to get to know you for 5 days and 6 nights.” Meanwhile, another hopeful picked Hyun-sook, appreciating her infectious smile. The competition turned fierce as Young-cheol expressed his admiration for Soon-ja, stating, “Soon-ja, I have you inside my heart,” leading to cheers and laughter across the set.
By the end of the rounds, it was soon clear who had captured the hearts of the participants. Soon-ja emerged as the most popular woman, earning four votes and making quite the impression. Others, such as Ok-soon, Young-ja, and Mi-kyung, left empty-handed for this round of choices. It was evident soon enough, with Young-soo and Young-ho each failing to gain any votes, finding themselves walking solo back to their respective spiels.
Participants like Sang-cheol and Young-cheol also drew supporters, with their early charm and engaging personalities shining through. Each contestant left hints from this first glimpse of attraction, ensuring viewers will be eager for what lies beyond. The excitement continues to build for the 25th season as the song of romance—and potential heartbreak—floats through Solo Nara, all but ensuring captivating moments to come.