The Producers of ‘Single’s Inferno’ Answer Our Burning Questions
Temperatures may have sweltered up to 95 degrees, but the reality show’s team spills even hotter tea.When Single's Inferno dropped over the holidays, the South Korean dating show warmed up the cold winter nights. The premise: In the heat of summer, sexy singles hoping to find love are marooned for nine days on a tropical island nicknamed Inferno. They cook, bunk and mull over lovesick dilemmas together. Not all find love, but they do at least build close friendships.
The drama fires up when a Lana-like voice, á la Too Hot to Handle, summons the contestants to compete for nights in Paradise — a luxury penthouse suite offering well-deserved privacy and unlimited room service and drinks. Tears and messy love triangles — no wait, are love squares a thing? — ensue, and just in case it wasn’t spicy enough, new contestants join and shake things up.
In the end (spoiler alert), out of 12 contestants, four couples find love. But even after the credits roll, we’re left on the edge of our seats, riddled with burning questions. Will we see the contestants again? What about those cute Polaroids? Will there be a second season? Luckily, producers Kim Jae-won and Kim Na-hyun have some answers.
The cast were an interesting mix of characters. Did you have any particular strategies for the casting process?
Kim Jae-won: We searched hashtags on social media #girlswhoworkout or #guyswhoworkout, which seemed to be trending. I thought they would fit well with the show’s setting on the hot summer beach. There were also a lot of people who applied after seeing our recruitment posters. We received recommendations from friends of friends and reached out to PR teams in colleges and companies as well. When we needed something new, we even went out to the streets and handed out flyers.
Single’s Inferno differs from other South Korean dating shows, in that it’s relatively racier — couples win overnight stays together, and contestants aren’t afraid to show skin. What was the inspiration?
Kim Na-hyun: Too Hot to Handle was a reference in our recruitment video, so a lot of the candidates thought that’s what it would be like. However, since Single’s Inferno is a completely different show, we needed to explain this during the interviews.
Did anyone need a little convincing before saying yes to the show?
Kim Jae-won: A lot of candidates were wary that our show would be too much like Too Hot to Handle. Though it’s a very interesting and great show, the pace of the relationships came as a culture shock for a lot of Korean viewers. Koreans tend to spend a lot of time building a relationship with a girlfriend or a boyfriend, and so a lot of time was invested in explaining to concerned participants that our show was not going to be exactly the same.
Even Inferno looked like heaven. Where was this deserted island?
Kim Na-hyun: We filmed on Saseungbong-do, an uninhabited island on the west coast of [South] Korea. It’s very beautiful since nature remains untouched.
A few of the contestants really seemed to develop strong feelings quickly. Was the whole experience really only nine days total?
Kim Jae-won: We actually did film for nine days between the end of June to the beginning of July.
Why was cooking with limited ingredients important to include on the show?
Kim Na-hyun: Food and ingredients were limited because we wanted to observe how the participants would cook even with these restrictions. The intent was to see a relationship develop in the process of overcoming a challenge together. We provided some reinforcements to participants who seemed tired to boost their energy. For Koreans, that means ramen.
Do contestants have access to social media and the outside world while filming the show?
Kim Na-hyun: It was a rule for those inside the Inferno to be cut off from the outside world, so they couldn’t be on social media or contact anyone.
Even though they didn’t have cell phones, they did have a cute Polaroid camera to share. What happened to the Polaroids?
Kim Jae-won: Our junior producer has the Polaroid pictures. Once we’re free of COVID-19 and can all gather again, we’ll give them to the participants.
One of the bigger dramas was the battle between friends Hyeon-joong and Hyun-seung, who knew each other prior to the show, and both liked Ji-a. Do you know if they’re still friends?
Kim Jae-won: We haven’t asked them directly since it’s been more than six months since we filmed. But according to their social media, it seems like they’re still good friends.
It was a big surprise when a few of the contestants knew each other prior to the island.
Kim Na-hyun: Most participants didn’t know each other, though some followed each other on Instagram because they had mutual friends. It might be because we looked for people with similar interests within a similar age bracket.
A lot of people are curious if the couples on the show are still together.
Kim Jae-won: What happens after filming becomes a personal matter for the participants, so we don’t think we, as producers, have the right to ask if they are still dating.
So, will there be a Single’s Inferno Season 2?
Kim Na-hyun: We want to bring a second season to you as well. If we end up doing so, I hope another batch of charming contestants will apply.
Crossing fingers. In any case, will there at least be a reunion special?
Kim Jae-won: As of now, unfortunately, we don’t have a reunion special planned. Following the show, some of the participants suffered backlash on social media. I don’t want to add to the burden of these participants, who have gone back to their everyday lives.
After such an intimate experience, do you think the cast still stays in touch?
Kim Na-hyun: I see them interacting on Instagram, so I think it’s safe to say that they’re still in contact. Because they spent eight nights and nine days on an island together, where they not only built relationships but also friendships, they are probably still close.
This interview was edited and condensed for clarity.
When Single's Inferno dropped over the holidays, the South Korean dating show warmed up the cold winter nights. The premise: In the heat of summer, sexy singles hoping to find love are marooned for nine days on a tropical island nicknamed Inferno. They cook, bunk and mull over lovesick dilemmas together. Not all find love, but they do at least build close friendships.
The drama fires up when a Lana-like voice, á la Too Hot to Handle, summons the contestants to compete for nights in Paradise — a luxury penthouse suite offering well-deserved privacy and unlimited room service and drinks. Tears and messy love triangles — no wait, are love squares a thing? — ensue, and just in case it wasn’t spicy enough, new contestants join and shake things up.
In the end (spoiler alert), out of 12 contestants, four couples find love. But even after the credits roll, we’re left on the edge of our seats, riddled with burning questions. Will we see the contestants again? What about those cute Polaroids? Will there be a second season? Luckily, producers Kim Jae-won and Kim Na-hyun have some answers.
The cast were an interesting mix of characters. Did you have any particular strategies for the casting process?
Kim Jae-won: We searched hashtags on social media #girlswhoworkout or #guyswhoworkout, which seemed to be trending. I thought they would fit well with the show’s setting on the hot summer beach. There were also a lot of people who applied after seeing our recruitment posters. We received recommendations from friends of friends and reached out to PR teams in colleges and companies as well. When we needed something new, we even went out to the streets and handed out flyers.
Single’s Inferno differs from other South Korean dating shows, in that it’s relatively racier — couples win overnight stays together, and contestants aren’t afraid to show skin. What was the inspiration?
Kim Na-hyun: Too Hot to Handle was a reference in our recruitment video, so a lot of the candidates thought that’s what it would be like. However, since Single’s Inferno is a completely different show, we needed to explain this during the interviews.
Did anyone need a little convincing before saying yes to the show?
Kim Jae-won: A lot of candidates were wary that our show would be too much like Too Hot to Handle. Though it’s a very interesting and great show, the pace of the relationships came as a culture shock for a lot of Korean viewers. Koreans tend to spend a lot of time building a relationship with a girlfriend or a boyfriend, and so a lot of time was invested in explaining to concerned participants that our show was not going to be exactly the same.
Even Inferno looked like heaven. Where was this deserted island?
Kim Na-hyun: We filmed on Saseungbong-do, an uninhabited island on the west coast of [South] Korea. It’s very beautiful since nature remains untouched.
A few of the contestants really seemed to develop strong feelings quickly. Was the whole experience really only nine days total?
Kim Jae-won: We actually did film for nine days between the end of June to the beginning of July.
Why was cooking with limited ingredients important to include on the show?
Kim Na-hyun: Food and ingredients were limited because we wanted to observe how the participants would cook even with these restrictions. The intent was to see a relationship develop in the process of overcoming a challenge together. We provided some reinforcements to participants who seemed tired to boost their energy. For Koreans, that means ramen.
Do contestants have access to social media and the outside world while filming the show?
Kim Na-hyun: It was a rule for those inside the Inferno to be cut off from the outside world, so they couldn’t be on social media or contact anyone.
Even though they didn’t have cell phones, they did have a cute Polaroid camera to share. What happened to the Polaroids?
Kim Jae-won: Our junior producer has the Polaroid pictures. Once we’re free of COVID-19 and can all gather again, we’ll give them to the participants.
One of the bigger dramas was the battle between friends Hyeon-joong and Hyun-seung, who knew each other prior to the show, and both liked Ji-a. Do you know if they’re still friends?
Kim Jae-won: We haven’t asked them directly since it’s been more than six months since we filmed. But according to their social media, it seems like they’re still good friends.
It was a big surprise when a few of the contestants knew each other prior to the island.
Kim Na-hyun: Most participants didn’t know each other, though some followed each other on Instagram because they had mutual friends. It might be because we looked for people with similar interests within a similar age bracket.
A lot of people are curious if the couples on the show are still together.
Kim Jae-won: What happens after filming becomes a personal matter for the participants, so we don’t think we, as producers, have the right to ask if they are still dating.
So, will there be a Single’s Inferno Season 2?
Kim Na-hyun: We want to bring a second season to you as well. If we end up doing so, I hope another batch of charming contestants will apply.
Crossing fingers. In any case, will there at least be a reunion special?
Kim Jae-won: As of now, unfortunately, we don’t have a reunion special planned. Following the show, some of the participants suffered backlash on social media. I don’t want to add to the burden of these participants, who have gone back to their everyday lives.
After such an intimate experience, do you think the cast still stays in touch?
Kim Na-hyun: I see them interacting on Instagram, so I think it’s safe to say that they’re still in contact. Because they spent eight nights and nine days on an island together, where they not only built relationships but also friendships, they are probably still close.
This interview was edited and condensed for clarity.