Fans appreciate 'real' ― even educational ― moments, while others dismiss it as practically scripted. But is there real value in watching others date on TV? We asked both viewers and nonviewers to find out

South Korea is in a golden age for dating reality shows.
From programs featuring couples with exceptional looks and physiques, like “Heart Signal” and “Single’s Inferno,” to “Love After Divorce,” which focuses on dating among divorcees, and “Last Love” for senior citizens, these shows have maintained consistent popularity. The scope has recently expanded to include dating shows for shamans as well as same-sex couples.
While it is hard to tell exactly if dating shows are more popular in Korea than in other countries, many replications of similar formats indicate Koreans' strong interest in peeking into someone else's romantic relationships, according to Yun Bok-sil, a research professor at Sogang University’s Media Convergence Research Institute.
But why are people drawn to dating shows, and why are they so popular now?
Vicarious satisfaction
Kim Young-ah, a 36-year-old graphic designer, has watched every season of Channel A's “Heart Signal” and Netflix's “Single’s Inferno.” Both programs are renowned for casting only the most exceptionally attractive noncelebrities.
“The contestants are all beautiful and handsome -- far from ordinary appearances. Watching attractive men and women get excited about each other and develop romantic feelings is enjoyable and gives me a sense of vicarious satisfaction," she said.
"It’s a kind of emotion you can’t experience in everyday people’s relationships.”
Kim only watches these two programs and avoids others like SBS' “I’m Solo,” which features ordinary people seeking lifelong partners for marriage. “I don’t get any interest in the romantic relationships of normal people,” she added.
Kim is also an avid fan of Korean romance drama series featuring flawless actors enacting the unrealistic fantasies of young couples. She said dating shows are like real-life versions of these dramas.
“Dating shows popular among younger generations often feature contestants with celebrity-level appearances,” said professor Yun. “Editing and visual effects make them seem even more appealing, allowing viewers to feel as if they are part of a fantasy romance and experience vicarious satisfaction.”
Kim said she sees reality dating shows as raw, like uncut diamonds. Sometimes, when things take unexpected turns, they disappoint.
She exited midway through the latest season of "Heart Signal." The storyline heavily focused on a central female contestant and a male contestant, making it seem as if they would choose each other in the finale. However, in a surprising twist, the female contestant ended up choosing a different mate.
"If it were a drama, it would have given me the ending I wanted, but reality shows seem to have their limitations in that regard," she said.

Study of life, relationships?
Some people said they watch dating programs to learn about relationships and human interaction.
Park Yoon-ha, a 32-year-old computer programmer with little dating experience, uses these shows as a study tool.
“Since I don’t have much experience in relationships, I don’t know how to appear attractive to men,” she said. "Watching ‘Heart Signal’ has taught me some of those strategies."
What she has learned most is the importance of composure.
“All the contestants are attractive, but in the end, the ones who maintain their composure tend to win the affection of their desired partner. Even if someone is physically stunning, if they become anxious, insecure or act impulsively out of fear of not being liked, it often diminishes their charm, and they lose the other person’s interest,” Park said.
She also notes that contestants on “Heart Signal” and “Single’s Inferno” tend to have exceptional looks and ample dating experience, offering plenty to learn from.
Kim Sung-eun, a 37-year-old mother of a 1-year-old daughter, reflected that before getting married she watched dating shows to think about the type of partner she would choose.
“I’d wonder, ‘Wouldn’t I match well with someone like that?’ or ‘What would I do if I were in that situation?’” she said. She also used male contestants’ behavior to understand things she couldn’t comprehend about her boyfriend.
After marriage, her focus shifted to understanding other people, which is why she enjoys watching "I’m Solo," a show featuring ordinary individuals.
“'I’m Solo' feels rawer and more realistic than other dating shows. One of my acquaintances even appeared on the program,” she said. “You get to observe a range of human characters you wouldn’t normally encounter. The spectrum of personalities, traits and behaviors showcased in the program is incredibly diverse.”
She also finds valuable lessons from the contestants. “I pick up social skills from watching how the participants interact with each other. Sometimes, I even feel inspired by their hard work during the introduction sessions, where they share how they’ve lived their personal and professional lives.”
Dopamine rush
Park Sung-woo, a 38-year-old public relations manager, watches "I’m Solo," which he stumbled upon via the YouTube recommendation algorithm.
He described the experience as dopamine-inducing. “Life doesn’t have many moments that spark dopamine like this. It’s similar to how watching your colleagues from work face off with each other can feel more instantly entertaining than a high-budget movie with perfect actors."
He shared one specific moment, “In a recent episode, I saw a contestant named Jung-sook cry all day like a child after not being chosen. I’ve never laughed so hard at someone crying.”
He assessed that "I’m Solo" is more like a social experiment exploring diverse human characters rather than just a dating show.
"Living together in a confined space under psychological pressure, they strip away their social masks, revealing their raw, instinctive selves. It's fascinating to observe how ordinary people behave when their social masks come off."

Professor Yun added more reasons for their popularity.
Many modern dating shows incorporate elements of mystery and deduction.
“With hosts analyzing and speculating alongside the audience, the shows go beyond simple romantic scenes to include engaging storylines,” Yun said.
“Heart Signal” involves deducing who will end up together, while “Single’s Inferno” features continuous missions and games for the participants. “I’m Solo” owes much of its entertainment value to hosts like Defconn, whose commentary and situational explanations make the program more engaging.
Not everyone is so engaged
Not everyone is drawn to these programs.
Kim Ha-young, a 25-year-old college student, has never watched a single dating show. “I’m not interested in other people’s love lives at all. I don’t understand why anyone would be so curious about them.”
She described these shows as “scripted,” built on a deceptive premise of reality. “They follow set rules or scripts, which lack authenticity. Viewers get overly invested in the contestants, cheering for or condemning them. I find it absurd. These couples are manufactured for the show, and people getting emotionally attached to them seems bizarre.”
She also dismissed the idea that dating shows can have useful lessons. “I can only truly learn about relationships through personal experiences or those of close friends. Watching a show won’t provide meaningful insights.”
Seo Eun-hee, a 35-year-old marketing manager, finds “I’m Solo” particularly uncomfortable. “The producers act superior during interviews with contestants and the edited program often lacks consideration for them.”
“They repeatedly show scenes that could attract criticism, adding captions to provoke negative reactions. Keeping the comment section open on the YouTube channel despite knowing contestants will face backlash suggests the focus is solely on ratings and revenue.”
A 2022 survey of 500 unmarried men and women in their 20s and 30s by the Korean matchmaking company Duo revealed that 19.6 percent of men and 28.4 percent of women enjoy dating shows.
Among those who watch dating shows, the top reason was the chance to observe others’ dating styles (49.6 percent of men, 52.6 percent of women). This was followed by seeing realistic portrayals of dating (28.9 percent of men, 43.6 percent of women) and enjoying the variety of contestants (32.2 percent of men, 35.3 percent of women).
The same survey showed that the top reason for not watching was a lack of interest in others’ love lives (32.3 percent of men, 45.8 percent of women). This was followed by unrealistic portrayals (37.8 percent of men, 28.5 percent of women) and too much emphasis on appearances (24.9 percent of men, 27.4 percent of women).