A unique love story of lifelong singles, 'Better Late Than Single' reveals its secrets.
On the 3rd, a production presentation for the Netflix entertainment show 'Better Late Than Single' took place at CGV in Yongsan, Seoul. Attendees included producers Jo Wook-hyeong, Kim No-eun, and Won Seung-jae, as well as cast members Seo In-guk, Kang Han-na, Lee Eun-ji, and Car The Garden.
'Better Late Than Single', which will be released globally on July 8, is a makeover reality show that helps lifelong singles, who are inexperienced in romance, with their first love. Their challenges, filled with sincerity despite their lack of experience, range from amusing sitcoms to heartwarming romances, providing delightful excitement.
On that day, Producer Jo Wook-hyeong noted, "Our program is a realistic dating reality show for lifelong singles challenging their first romance. To assist in their first love, four matchmakers helped the participants with their external and internal transformations. Experts also conducted training over six weeks, which differentiates our support for their first romance from other programs."
He added, "Maintaining a good relationship is important, and those we invited felt like family from the very beginning. Thus, figuring out how to conclude was the most critical aspect. While there may be external issues, some participants suffered internal wounds. We tried to encourage them, with experts aiding them, and by continuously communicating with the writers. Ultimately, those connected surely felt joy, but there were also those who felt hurt from not succeeding. We worried a lot about them, but most of the participants managed to shake it off wonderfully, offering advice to others, which made me realize they learned a lot. I felt a sense of pride and gratitude as a viewer."
Producer Kim No-eun shared the reason for selecting 'lifelong singles' for participation, stating, "I thought there were characteristics of lifelong singles trying to have their first love. Since they have never dated before, there was plenty of unexpectedness, which is the biggest charm. Additionally, their strong desire and expectation for romance translated into their sincerity. The combination of these two aspects could lead to a new kind of dopamine experience."
Furthermore, she explained, "Unlike other dating shows, the participants we supported wanted to date but were unable to for various reasons. We provided makeovers for those who wished to overcome their limitations and challenge love. Our overall goal was to boost the confidence of the participants. They are all attractive individuals, so I often wondered why they lacked confidence. Thus, we conducted makeovers that affected their appearance and inner selves, focusing on fashion sense, flirting, and communication styles. After six weeks, you will see how the participants' confidence will soar and their expressions brighten up."
Kim PD also recounted the process of casting matchmakers: "Seo In-guk is someone I've worked with on a dating program, and his authenticity during our collaboration left a deep impression. He effectively empathized and engaged with the participants, offering realistic advice. Kang Han-na is someone who garners attention every time she appears on a show. I invited her because of her bright energy, and luckily, she expressed enjoyment for dating shows, making her participation possible. When she met friends, she spoke comfortably like an older sister. She is notably a calm person who never gets angry in any situation."
Producer Jo said, "Lee Eun-ji is well-known as a romance expert with extensive knowledge and an excellent sense of flirting. She offers practical and helpful advice to her friends. Some have extroverted and introverted traits, and she's adept at delivering tailored flirting strategies. Car The Garden possesses a natural confidence that is entirely fitting for the context. I was deeply attracted to that natural confidence. She was cast based on a strong recommendation from Producer Won Seung-jae." In addition, Won Seung-jae added, "I have seen her on avatar blind dates, and she is incredibly popular. The participants seem to have a lot of internal intimacy. To put it positively, she provides honest feedback. I was surprised while filming in the studio, as she seemed to have an excellent intuition, wondering if she had seen the edited versions beforehand, by keenly observing the connections among the participants."
He explained the criteria for selecting participants, saying, "Our biggest criteria for inviting lifelong singles were sincerity and the truth of their lifelong single status. We did not conduct forced investigations, rather we verified facts through cross-interviews with family or acquaintances. We also endeavored to secure their authenticity through in-depth interviews and auditions. As a distinctive advantage of our program, we did not purposely invite people we already knew. We wanted to gather individuals whom we found truly attractive."
Car The Garden, who participated as a matchmaker, humorously remarked, "Initially, there was a strong pull from the massive name of Netflix. I don't usually watch dating shows, but I found the very structure intriguing. I thought that if it were to be a show like this, I'm not particularly good at offering love advice. I joined because I thought it would resonate with my experience as someone who also started dating late. It brought back a lot of memories of my first awkward attempts at love, doing things that I really wanted to do, and yet failing. Though it's straightforward, I recalled how I would sometimes tell small lies instead of being honest about my feelings at such times."
When asked, 'What advice did you give?', he humorously answered, "I initially had no expectations of these friends. I just hoped they would manage their schedules and successfully complete the solo camp without any early departures. Surprisingly, fun things unfolded that made it engaging." He notably pointed out, "There's a friend who is the first participant in a dating show to have a big appetite. Pay close attention to him; he tends to forget that the cameras are rolling."
Lee Eun-ji expressed, "I have always loved love stories and enjoy dating shows. I was particularly drawn to the term 'lifelong single.' Everyone has their first experience, like first love or first year in college. Since I've had those first experiences, I felt an overwhelming sense of empathy. Viewers will likely reminisce about their first loves, making it thrilling for me to participate." She also added, "During my first meeting with the producer, I felt that it wasn't just being a panelist, but that I had to participate in the makeovers directly. While it felt burdensome, everyone trusted and followed along. Being able to change someone and witnessing their growth is precious to me."
She continued, "If you ask me what my top priority in life is now, I would say work or career, but when I first fell in love, it was definitely love. Because of that, I would often get overly emotional and throw tantrums. I remember shedding tears during those times. As expected, the participants exchanged overwhelming emotions. It reminded me of my own first love experiences. I felt a profound connection to their simple joys from small gestures and words, and it deepened the understanding of what a lifelong single's romance truly means." She added, "I tend to enjoy more spicy shows like 'Too Hot to Handle' or 'Love Island', but I worried that the romance of lifelong singles might be dull. However, it turns out to be quite spicy. There's a particularly spicy moment around episodes 5 to 6. It has a rich narrative. I'm also curious about how participants will respond once it airs, wondering if they will be fine. There's a level of honesty in their reactions too."
Kang Han-na remarked, "I enjoy watching dating shows, and I felt overjoyed when I received the invitation. Above all, creating a dating show targeted at lifelong singles seemed interesting and sincere, so I definitely wanted to participate." She reflected, "When I met the lifelong singles face to face, each had distinct appealing traits. However, while living together, if someone's charm does not shine through due to awkwardness, I found myself wishing, 'I hope that side emerges quickly.' At times, there were moments of confusion in discussions. When the assigned matchmaker guided them, I understood better. However, I didn't expect my disposition to lean towards my assigned friend, genuinely wishing for them to succeed."
He mentioned, "I observed the lifelong singles occasionally make statements like, 'Let's get married someday.' When I reflect on my childhood, I remember making declarations about marriage and even naming our future children. Watching them brings up nostalgia, and I empathize with their feelings." He highlighted significant moments, specifically a scene where a female participant asks a male participant to join her on the rooftop to confess her feelings, describing it as genuinely moving and sincere. "I wonder if I could confess my feelings as transparently as she did; it felt like a meaningful scene that resonated profoundly."
Seo In-guk shared, "When I saw the title, I felt a sense of anticipation that it would present something fresh that hasn't been seen before. I felt this during the filming as well, and I believe many viewers will feel that freshness." He elaborated, "I often reflect on my past through the emotional expressions of these friends. Watching them take time alone reminds me of my youthful experiences. I think viewers will have the chance to revisit their own childhood crushes and love memories. I feel I made a great decision to participate."
He added, "Since I'm not just representing the ongoing love stories of participants, but I had met with them beforehand to understand their feelings, I become more connected to them. Knowing their personalities means that some friends are overflowing with confidence, while others may lack it, and I certainly become more attached to those who face difficult situations. There's an interesting element of favoritism in how I support certain friends, at times even resentful towards other panel members' friends, thinking, 'Don't be too harsh on them.'" He mentioned, "When I first met the participants, each of them was incredibly attractive and well-mannered. While of course relationships carry several important factors, the most critical is whether they can continue that connection or not, and I believe they all possess that potential. The issue seemed to be confidence. Though this might sound simplistic, we decided to approach things by making a slight change in their appearances through stylist and hair professionals."
In conclusion, Car The Garden stated, "There's a participant in the dating program with an appetite. This is amusing. I tend to be rather strict about fun, but this truly is entertaining. I recommend it." Lee Eun-ji added, "These days, everyone talks about how there are many things to watch but nothing that truly attracts them. However, after watching our first episode, I hope they will stay engaged until the end. I believe it's a show where they can grow together with lifelong single friends." Notably, Producer Won remarked, "They say, 'The perception is different,' but our participants have no prior experience in dating. I hope viewers will enjoy watching how they embark on their first love journey."
'Better Late Than Single' will be exclusively released on Netflix on July 8. Starting with episodes 1-3 on July 8, episodes 4-6 will follow on July 15, episodes 7-8 on July 22, and episodes 9-10 on July 29; in total, ten episodes will be showcased over four weeks every Tuesday.
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