INSIGHT

Described as an extreme dating reality show, Single’s Inferno captivated global audiences with its unique format where contestants who fail to couple up are sent to “inferno,” while successful matches move on to “paradise.” Beyond the glamorous cast and intense competition, viewers were also intrigued by the mysterious locations featured on the show.

The main setting for the so-called "paradise" is Paradise City in Yeongjongdo Island, Incheon. This luxury resort includes a hotel, water park, theme park, and casino and boasts sophisticated interiors and art galleries that offer the distinct feeling of having stepped into another place and time. The resort’s lavish pools and dinner scenes shown on Single’s Inferno helped turn the place into a popular destination for international travelers.

In contrast, the “inferno” scenes were filmed on an uninhabited island near Seungbongdo Island. Although the location is privately owned and visitors would require permission to access the lands, the island of Seungbongdo itself is open to the public. It’s close to Incheon and highly accessible yet largely undeveloped, meaning its raw natural beauty has been left untouched. The coastal walking paths lined with pine trees and unique rock formations like Chotdaebawi Rock create a striking landscape, and the beaches are frequented by many visitors during the summer.

As a surprise hit this year, the Netflix dating reality show, Better Late Than Never captured viewers’ hearts by following a cast of singles who had never gone on a date as they took their first steps into romance. The show was praised as a story of personal growth, with viewers calling it more a coming-of-age reality show than a typical dating program. While on their dates, the cast explored various romantic spots around Jeju Island.

On the show, two members of the cast, Ido and Seung-ri, went on a seaside date at Woljeongri Beach. It’s a popular destination known for surfing, paddleboarding, and paddleboard yoga, with its emerald-green waters and charming cafés making for Instagrammable photos.

Another location beloved for its scenic drives and walkways is the Aewol Coastal Road. Visitors strolling along the Olle Trail that runs beside the open ocean can discover small fishing villages like Gonae Port. With stylish cafés and local shops scattered throughout the area, Aewol is a place where you can easily spend an entire day without ever feeling the need to go anywhere else.

Which would you prefer, an exciting water sports adventure or a romantic stroll through a quiet village?

With its unique concept combining fortune-telling and romance, the reality show Fortune Tellers’ Love captured attention for exploring the emotions of youth as they confront their destinies. In doing so, the show weaved a striking narrative touching on fate, instinct, and the tension between the destinies predicted by divination and the real emotions felt by the cast. What also stood out were the show’s unexpected locations.

The scene from season one involving the participants’ final choice took place at an ancient dolmen site. Instead of a beach, café, or resort, which are the typical backdrops for such scenes, having the contestants confess their feelings before a centuries-old heritage site created an unexpected, symbolic moment. As ancient relics met with contemporary romance, the show visualized its key message of “destiny.”

Another memorable setting was the Mudeungsan Yangtte Sheep Ranch in Hwasun, Jeollanam-do. Couples enjoyed their dates under a vast, open sky while watching flocks of sheep roam the wide, green pastures. The ranch became a unique, popular destination as it offers the chance to interact with animals like alpacas, ostriches, and rabbits.

If you had the chance to step into one of these larger-than-life settings from dating reality shows, which would you choose?