Stop Projecting Western Beauty Standards onto Single’s Inferno
As a Korean, I see Single’s Inferno through a different cultural lens, and it’s frustrating to see Western viewers constantly impose their beauty standards on a Korean dating show. If you’re watching it, you need to understand that Korean beauty ideals are different from those in the West. Complaining that certain contestants aren’t chosen because they fit Western beauty standards completely disregards how beauty is perceived in Korea.
From Season 1, people were upset that Soyeon wasn’t popular among the men except for Jin Taek. Personally, I think she’s gorgeous, but the reality is that she doesn’t fit the Korean beauty ideal—she’s tanned, very fit, older, and has a confident, assertive personality. These traits don’t align with traditional Korean dating preferences. That’s not to say it’s fair, but expecting immediate cultural change through a reality show is unrealistic. Similarly, many Western viewers were upset that Ye Won wasn’t a top pick. While she has a look and body that are often admired in the West, in Korea, her beauty is considered more “friendly” than conventionally desirable. Korean men typically don’t gravitate toward a “sexy” body type in the way Western audiences might expect.
In Season 2, the outrage over Nadine not being chosen was excessive. She struggled with the language, frequently switching between Korean and English, which can feel awkward in a Korean dating show. If you’re going to participate in a show like this, speaking the language is important. The argument that men were “intimidated” by her Harvard background doesn’t hold up—Dong Woo was clearly more interested in Seul Ki even before knowing about Nadine’s education. He himself is a doctor, while she was only pre-med at the time (and still isn’t in medical school today). Expecting Korean dating preferences to suddenly align with Western values just because an international audience is watching is unrealistic.
Season 3 had similar reactions, with people upset that Hyeseon wasn’t popular except with Gwanhee. Once again, she fits Western beauty ideals more than Korean ones, where Sieun and Gyuri were seen as more conventionally attractive. Hyeseon is intelligent and likable, but her education shouldn’t be her defining trait in a dating show.
Now, in Season 4, I keep seeing complaints that “all the women look the same.” This is a lazy generalization. While Sian and You Jin may have had similar cosmetic procedures, the rest have distinct facial features. If you’re not familiar with Korean beauty trends, you might not notice the differences, but that doesn’t mean they’re identical. They follow similar beauty standards, wear similar makeup styles, and may opt for popular surgeries, but their facial structures are different.
People also need to stop getting mad that Jiyeon wasn’t a top pick. She’s tanned, which is already outside of Korean beauty standards, and while she is pretty, she doesn’t have the “cute” features that are highly preferred in Korea. Just because she fits Western beauty ideals doesn’t mean Korean men are wrong for not choosing her. Different cultures have different preferences, and that’s okay.
And about the new girl—yes, she looks different, and that may feel refreshing to some viewers, but saying she’s “more beautiful than everyone” just because she aligns more with Western beauty standards is ignorant. Beauty is subjective, and Korean men are naturally going to be attracted to features that fit their own cultural preferences. Also, let’s not ignore how she came off. Calling the other women unnies without knowing their ages wasn’t “cute”—it was passive-aggressive and rude. Of course, no one was going to call her out on national television, but that doesn’t mean they felt comfortable with it.
At the end of the day, if you can’t appreciate Single’s Inferno for what it is—a Korean dating show that reflects Korean beauty and dating norms—then maybe it’s not the show for you. Either accept that different cultures have different standards or stop watching it.