How shows like Single's Inferno reveal the dark side of reality TV fame for non-celebrities

By Kwak Yeon-soo

In the past, non-celebrities with unique skills and expertise could become celebrities by showing off their talents in the media – but that trend is slowly dying.

“Ordinary” individuals have started to take centre stage in shows where celebrities now simply serve as panel judges or as commentators.

From cooking competitions to dating shows, recent reality shows featuring non-celebrities have seen high ratings, in an indication of how viewers have grown tired of seeing the same old television personalities.

Paik Jong-won was the host of Alley Restaurant.

Chefs like Paik Jong-won, Lee Yeon-bok and Lee Won-il have shot to fame in South Korea after showing off their culinary skills and humour in cooking shows like SBS’ Alley Restaurant (2018-2021) and JTBC’s Chef & My Fridge (2014-2019).

Military training shows like Fake Men and Channel A’s The Iron Squad feature judges or contestants from Korea’s top Special Forces. These two shows were the biggest hits in 2020 and 2021, respectively.

Yuk Jun-seo, who was a part of South Korean Underwater Demolition Team, recently signed with an entertainment agency after his appearance on The Iron Squad.

Yuk Jun-seo signed with an entertainment agency after appearing on The Iron Squad.

Another non-celebrity show that has been creating buzz is Netflix’s Single’s Inferno, with the cast members quickly rising in popularity after their appearances. One of them, Song Ji-ah, has more than 1.9 million YouTube followers.

Critics say it is a mix of fantasy and escapism that attracts viewers to these reality stars. These non-celebrities, who nonetheless exist in a slightly heightened reality, seem more accessible than the usual high-profile, professional actors or entertainers.

“Compared to celebrities who are already well-known and over-consumed, fresh-faced ordinary stars and their natural behaviours come out as something interesting for the audience,” culture critic Kim Sung-soo says.

A non-celebrity show that has been creating buzz is Single’s Inferno. Photo: Netflix

However, their rising popularity has been accompanied by controversy.

Although production houses undertake a verification process for people taking part in reality shows to get in front of any controversies that might surround the cast members or judges, many are revealed to have been embroiled in misconduct, such as assault or violating intellectual property rights.

Producer Kim Jae-won of Single’s Inferno revealed that they accepted contestants for the show as long as they fit the purpose of the show and were honest people. They underwent a fairly strict verification process and were tested to see if they could withstand potential stress by consulting a psychiatrist.

“I was not worried about slander or unjustified attacks because we completed the verification process,” producer Kim said during a press conference for the show.

Jung Chang-wook, who rose to fame through cooking show Chef & My Fridge, was accused of assaulting an acquaintance.

Soon after the show gained popularity, however, Song came under fire for having worn counterfeit luxury brands on-screen. The influencer announced she would halt all her activities on social media after apologising for damaging the value of the brands.

Meanwhile, chef Jung Chang-wook, who rose to fame through cooking show Chef & My Fridge, was accused of assaulting an acquaintance and threatening them with a knife.

“As reality shows have become mainstream media, attractive young contestants are gaining popularity,” Ha Jae-keun, another culture critic, says. “However, those fast-rising stars are unable to get their problems sorted out before their screen debuts, compared to celebrities who [usually] clear up any personal issues before showing up.”

Read the full story at The Korea Times