'I prefer Korean men': 'I Am Solo' spinoff takes on international dating with foreign female cast

The Korea Times - Oct 19, 2026

"I prefer Korean men to men from my own country." A Korean dating show is putting cross-cultural romance front and center, bringing together Korean men and women from overseas in a new special that is already drawing attention for the contestants' candid reasons for wanting to date Koreans. SBS Plus and ENA's "I Am Solo, Love Forever," a spinoff of the popular reality dating franchise "I Am Solo," recently unveiled a preview of its upcoming foreign contestant special, which premieres Thursday. The special will feature Korean men meeting women of various nationalities as they search for romantic connections across cultural and national boundaries. The teaser introduces a diverse group of female contestants from different parts of the world. Watching the women arrive, host Defconn said, "Someone very elegant has arrived." Several of the women also openly explained why they were interested in meeting Korean men. "I prefer Korean men to men from my own country," one contestant said. Others gave reasons including, "I think it would be fun to be together," and, "His face is cute," signaling their

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