Why Korea's new dating shows keep surviving in an overcrowded market

Korea's dating reality TV market has long been described as oversaturated, with viewers frequently complaining that too many programs feature ordinary people searching for love. Yet despite predictions that the genre had reached its limit, several newer dating shows have done what many industry observers considered difficult: secure a second season. Rather than relying on conventional romance formats, these programs have found audiences through increasingly specific concepts — from lifelong singles looking for their first relationship to divorced women meeting inexperienced men, and even matchmaking shows involving parents and family members. The trend suggests that while viewers may be growing tired of traditional dating programs, they are still willing to embrace new formats that offer fresh stories and emotional connections. One of the latest examples is MBC Every1 and E Channel's "Romance School: First & Again" (Dolsing N Mosol), which wrapped up its first season on June 2. The show drew attention before its premiere with its unusual premise of pairing divorced women with men who haWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times