Single’s Inferno is a Korean reality dating show that aired in 2021. In the program, a number of beautiful singles are stranded on a remote island, which they call Inferno, under basic conditions and without revealing information concerning their ages and professions. The participants compete against each other in various challenges and conversations in a bid to find a partner and win a trip to paradise, a luxurious center that promotes overnight dating.
The show mainly bases its content on romance, drama, jealousy, and game-playing, with comments from a number of celebrities. Single’s Inferno, season 5 of the show, which consists of 12 episodes, has begun streaming on Netflix. It went live on January 20, 2026. The initial four episodes of the season have been released, followed by additional episodes.
These include episodes 5-7, released on January 27, episodes 8-10 released on February 3, and episodes 11-12, which are the finale of the season, released on February 10. As the story of this season unfolds, the most talked-about subject is contestant Choi Mina Sue. She has become the subject of numerous discussions among audiences worldwide.
Single’s Inferno: Choi Mina Sue’s background and entry
Choi Mina Sue, a 26-year-old graduate of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, joined Single’s Inferno season 5 on episode 2. She has a communications degree and has an impressive beauty pageant resume, winning Miss Earth 2022, as well as being a runner-up for Miss Korea 2021. She comes from a rich family, as indicated by the fact that she flaunted expensive jewelry valued at millions.
She wore a flowing yellow dress on arrival, which caught the eye of many male contestants, including receiving the highest first impression votes on the first night of her stay. This made her one of the most sought-after participants early on. Her confidence and beauty were highlighted by the other participants as well as the panel.
Subsequently, as the episode progressed, her background helped to raise discussion points about her life choices, such as her earlier comments, which were highlighted after joining the show in 2022: in the show Penthouse War of Tenants, she used the prize money to eat by herself, which raised many speculations about the nature of the participant.
Romantic entanglements and love triangles in Single’s Inferno season 5
During Single’s Inferno Season 5, Choi Mina Sue developed several romantic interests and was embroiled in some of the central love triangles. She immediately attracted the attention of Song Seung Il, Lim Su Been, and Lee Sung Hun, who all voted for her in the first impressions. She also took trips to Paradise with both Su Been and Seung Il, and even considered a third trip with Sung Hun, whom she seemed to consider a sure thing.
Her behavior changed frequently, first showing interest in Sung Hun, then moving to other members, leading to discussions about how she felt. In one instance, she asked whether choosing two partners for the final selection was possible, leading to shock among viewers. This behavior also changed her position within the island’s social hierarchy, leading to changes in alliances and rivalries.
Other members also adopted different approaches, showing only a few interests, which is understandable given her multi-dimensional approach. Other members also revised their approaches, showing only a few interests, and this is understandable given her multi-dimensional approach.
Public reactions and criticisms
The reactions of the public after Choi Mina Sue in Single’s Inferno season 5 have been mixed, with many condemning her for being indecisive. Social media highlighted her as being “attention-seeking” and “fickle-minded” due to her changing focus of interest in matters of romance, along with other quotes like choosing “multiple options.” Her past clip, where she spent team money for personal use, was another reason for people to condemn her for being “selfish.”
Her social media page received negative comments, including red flags for her Instagram. She was the most buzzworthy non-drama performer in early February 2026, based on popularity. Her arguments with female contestants such as Mingee and Heesun, as well as her emotional honesty, were identified as frustrating elements of her personality. Her approach was identified as disruptive against social norms in dating relationships. However, as the finale got closer, opinions about her were still split.
Defenses and support from viewers
The audience and some of those associated with Single’s Inferno Season 5 were supportive of Choi Mina Sue despite the cases made by critics. The audience suggested that all people should be treated well, considering that the program might be edited to favor dramatic moments. The friends stood by her, claiming her niceness off-camera was essential. There were also several apologies, including from some panel members and the hosts, who understood they made too many comments and were critical of her.
I’m sorry but the hate Mina sue getting it’s out of hand. Like she can’t explore????? It’s a dating show for a reason and now she out here crying 😭 #SinglesInfernoS5
— shirley⁷ ﾒ𝟶 ✿ (@shirleyyjin) February 7, 2026
During this, it was seen that “Discussions have shown that her multi-faceted approach to dating is consistent with the exploration that the show provides, rather than any level of malice. In fact, another pageant contestant that she was in competition with publicly came out in her defense after backlash. All of this created the public perception of her as a multi-faceted personality, which added to the engagement, rather than took away from it. It was seen that she went into ‘reflection mode’ following the feedback.”
Impact on the show’s dynamics
The appearance of Mina Sue Choi was quite instrumental to Single’s Inferno season 5, making the drama even more engaging. Her appearance revitalized the show, which some felt was becoming stale, to create a sense of ”beautiful chaos.” This was especially true as she defined several central storylines for the show, influencing how the contestants behaved and interacted with each other as well as how the contestants’ outcomes were decided.
Her presence was also due to the fact that she was the most discussed contestant, increasing the overall conversation around her, particularly with high engagement levels as indicated by the rankings. Her indecisiveness and the various triangles also influenced how other contestants behaved, especially the male contestants and female contestants. The panel also seemed to discuss her, adding complexity to the drama.
Her role, notwithstanding mixed reactions, made this season one of the standout viewing experiences for Netflix. Viewers noted her as a polarizing yet influential player in exposing vulnerabilities in the cast through her emotional shifts. This dynamic positioned her as a centerpiece that might make season 5 memorable in the history of the series. The value she brought extended beyond romance, communicating themes such as communication and self-discovery in real dating.
Stay tuned for more upcoming updates on Single’s Inferno season 5.
Also Read: 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.
