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Netflix's reality dating series Single's Inferno 4 has reignited discussions about colorism in Korean media. Netizens criticized the male contestants for allegedly sidelining one of the participants, Bae Ji-yeon, during the initial episodes. The show dropped its first four episodes on January 14, 2025.
Single's Inferno centers around young singles stranded on a remote island, competing for opportunities to escape to a luxurious destination called "Paradise." However, viewers noted a striking pattern in the contestants' partner choices.
Bae Ji-yeon, a 26-year-old model and space director, has drawn attention not only for her striking appearance and personality but also for how the male participants seemed to overlook her in favor of others. Fans were quick to voice their frustration on social media, attributing this exclusion to entrenched beauty standards that prioritize paler skin tones. An X user, @minhotaps, wrote:
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"Jiyeon is the baddie of the season but she’s also the so-yeon and the se-jeong that get overlooked and treated like they’re not seen practically the entire season bc they’re not the ‘typical type’ when really it’s just colorism."
Many highlighted Ji-yeon's uniqueness, calling her "the IT girl" of the season and expressing disbelief over her lack of recognition from the male contestants. The disparity is further emphasized in a scene where Ji-yeon is left eating alone while others form connections.
"can't wait for my queen bae jiyeon to become the it girl of her season," an X user wrote.
"korean men have such basic taste it was actually painful to see how a beauty like this was overlooked by everyone like they really can’t handle baddies over there," a fan mentioned.
"It's colourism. Every season they overlook the women who aren't pale. F*ck them," a person commented.
"These vanilla, boring, shallow men can’t handle a brown skin baddie like Ji Yeon." a fan remarked.
Observers noted that this wasn't an isolated incident, as similar patterns had emerged in previous seasons of Single's Inferno. Some fans even suggested that the producers should avoid casting participants who deviate from these rigid standards if the show continues to perpetuate such biases.
"either bring men with diverse tastes or don’t choose baddies like jiyeon to join bc it’s just painful to watch them being totally disregarded every season. like it’s not the first time that happened on the show and we all know why..," a netizen added.
"it's insane how every single season, the girl who has the most tan ALWAYS gets overlooked even though they are the prettiest and sweetest ... disgusting pattern that has been repeated every single season,' an X user wrote.
"that makes it so tiring to watch bc she’s gorgeous and so nice but keeps on getting rejected like whyyyy,' a fan mentioned.
More about episodes 1-4 of Single's Inferno 4
The first four episodes of Single's Inferno season 4 introduce a fresh mix of contestants, setting the stage for an exciting season. The season opens with six women—Lee Si-an, Jung You-jin, Kim Min-seol, Bae Ji-yeon, Kim Hye-jin, and Kim A-rin—and five men—Yuk Jun-seo, Kim Tae-hwan, Kook Dong-ho, Jang Theo, and Kim Jeong-su.
The first game sees Jun-seo choosing You-jin to accompany him to Paradise, a luxurious setting for couples to bond. Meanwhile, Jeong-su picks Si-an, sparking the season's first pairings. Si-an's connection with Jeong-su starts strong, but her growing attraction to Theo adds layers of complexity.
The competitive games in Single's Inferno 4 add a playful edge, including a swimming pool challenge where contestants hilariously navigate wooden logs. Si-an's speed and Theo's gentle attention during the game further solidify their bond. Campfire interactions, however, unravel some relationships. While Theo declares his sole interest in Si-an, Jeong-su's inconsistent approach costs him points with her.
Episodes 5–6 of Single's Inferno 4 will release on January 21, 2025. The grand finale, episodes 11–12, will air on Netflix on February 11, 2025.
