The reality-based Korean TV show Single’s Inferno is a Netflix show where beautiful singles, deserted in a picturesque island location called Inferno, have to make connections and pair up with other singles to get out of Inferno and win a trip to Paradise, a lavish hotel setting where singles can open up about their identities, like their age and profession. The show involves elements of competition, romance, and survival, where singles try to win challenges to have dates.
The new season of Single’s Inferno, Season 5, has these singles, a record number of 15, with new elements like international contestants, and viewers can catch this new season, which started on January 20, 2026, with four out of five episodes being available from Day 1, with fresh episodes being added every Tuesday and concluding on February 10, 2026. The show is available for streaming exclusively on Netflix.
In Single’s Inferno season 5, participant Song Seung-il has been the central figure in injecting significant change in the dynamics of the show. The 25-year-old works in fashion marketing and advertisement, as well as brand consultation. In his free time, he engages in jiujitsu. His confidence, as well as his participation in the physical challenges and his complicated romantic relationships, has brought tremendous elements of competition to the show, moving away from the simple pairing. This feature has enabled the 5th season to be very different from the others.
Single’s Inferno season 5: Song Seung-il’s background and entry
Song Seung-il is a male contestant who joined Single’s Inferno season 5. He became very noticeable, especially due to his profession and his personality. He is 25 years old, born in 2001, and currently works as a fashion marketing company employee. He is in charge of advertising campaigns and brand consulting. He is a jiujitsu athlete, reflecting his sporting and competitive side. He revealed in his intro segment that he dislikes losing to the point where he cannot even sleep. He does not easily fall in love but is successful in pursuing relationships.
When he transferred to the island, he showed a mature and goal-oriented attitude, making him stand out among the rest. He was focused on making connections through meaningful choices, evidenced by his first impression king vote given to Choi Mina Sue. His timing was advantageous in the sense that the show introduced the expanded players and challenges, thus giving him opportunities to participate in activities that demonstrated physical prowess.
In the strength-based tournament in the trenches, which was introduced in Episodes 5 and 6, he emerged victorious in the first match against Lee Sung-hun through excellent use of grappling moves. This effectively positioned him among the strongest players in the match, affecting how he was dealt with by the rest of the players.
The emergence of key rivalries
The involvement of Song Seung-il in the physical competitions led to the development of some noteworthy rivalries in Single’s Inferno Season 5. In the trench tournament, which involves one-on-one physical competitions for the chance to have a meal date, Song Seung-il competed against the other male participants, most notably Shin Hyeon-woo. In the first round against Lee Sung-hun, Song Seung-il reported success, advancing to the final round in which he ended up tying against Hyeon-woo, leading to the flag grab competition, which Hyeon-woo won.
Moreover, the rivalry has spilled over to other aspects of their stay, including their romantic interests and group interactions. Evidently, both parties became key players, and their rivalry was responsible for reshaping the tables in their mingling relations. Song’s ambiguity in social interactions, such as when she said to one of her interests, “Right now, my first choice is Min-Gee… But that doesn’t mean my attraction to you is gone,” has also introduced a core element of emotion to the rivalry between the parties.
Consequently, the show has now adopted a new dynamic of a strategically driven storyline, whereby the eventual winner needed to resort to physicality to gain a leading edge in love. What has now emanated from the development is the formation of new alliances by other contestants, influenced by the rivalries.
Love triangles and emotional dynamics in Single’s Inferno season 5
Song Seung-il found himself in a high-profile love triangle with Choi Mina Sue and Kim Min-gee, making the emotional scenes of Single’s Inferno Season 5 even richer in content. Throughout most of Episode 1, he showed an apparent interest in Choi by voting for her in the first impression. However, he went a night in Paradise with Kim, showing a change in focus. He continued showing a divided focus between the two ladies in successive episodes.
This was a turning point in the episode when Song chose Paradise with Mina Sue. Min-Gee was heavily affected by this choice. She decided to state her position, which led to the choice of a new partner, Su Been, after winning a challenge, while leaving Song behind. This was a clear illustration of the consequences of the choices he had been making. This situation created a love triangle filled with uncertainty.
Song’s choices were now uncertain, currently choosing Min-Gee, but the reciprocation was uncertain as well. This created more dialogue on the subject, creating tension and interest. This tension was different from the light flirtations in previous seasons, reflecting the reality of the situation. This situation was praised by the panel as creating more interest in the drama of the series.
Impact on viewer engagement and narrative
The role played by Song Seung-il increases viewership in Single’s Inferno season 5, making the show more interesting via the narratives it generates. The show recorded a significant milestone of hours viewed through the presence of Song Seung-il and the triangles he formed, making the show rank extremely high among Netflix watchers.
Most of the reviews focus on how the charismatic presence of Song Seung-il and the interactions he has, for example, with fashion marketer peers, create the escapist element of the show. Narratively, this has shifted attention towards the relationship of multiple complexities, moving away from the predictable pairs. For example, this has been seen in how these choices have sparked conflicts, keeping the story dynamic and unpredictable.
The new challenges, like in the trench tournament, increased his part in the storyline, making him not only a plot focus but a driver in the story as well. It has been seen that the audience likes the revamped style, terming it a great beginning, unlike the past seasons, with much talk about him taking over the social media scene, creating a wider viewer pool for Season 5 drama, including the competition and the emotional moments shared.
Overall shift in the Single’s Inferno Season 5
Song Seung-il has resulted in the emergence of a different vibe in Single’s Inferno season 5, as portrayed in that it is now more competitive as opposed to previous seasons. In the previous seasons, mixing and mingling were the focus of the elements of the show, but with the emergence of Song Seung-il, the competition has added strategic dimensions through physical as well as romantic competitions.
The season now seems like a social experiment with more volatility in consequences, while the contestants’ choices have more repercussions. The level-headedness of Song and the involvements in the triangle have added more reality to the show, viewing its origins as escapist material. The contestants, including Dex and Lee Da-hee, have found their expectations changed because of the introductions.
This season has been commended in its renewed enthusiasm, with opinions stating it is because of improved casting and the activities emphasizing their personal strengths. The tension remains high in the lead-up to the finale, viewing the level of influence Song left on the season’s progression.
Stay tuned for more upcoming updates on Single’s Inferno season 5.
Also Read: Single’s Inferno season 5: Why Choi Mina Sue became the most talked-about contestant?
Why Single’s Inferno season 5 has fans obsessed worldwide
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Hilfa, Senior Writer at Hilvaro, excels in pop culture journalism. She crafts engaging content on movies, TV, & trends, fueled by her love for storytelling & entertainment.
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