Every year, a Single’s Inferno contestant becomes the focus of viewer discussion, and it’s no different with Season 5. Choi Mina Sue is facing scrutiny from fans, leading to a fellow pageant queen stepping in to defend her.
The popular dating show returned to Netflix last week, with a whole host of new singletons vying for love. This time round, the producers have added a few twists to spice things up, culminating in the most drama-fuelled game of ‘truth or drink’ the series has ever seen.
But among all the Single’s Inferno Season 5 cast members, Mina Sue grabbed the most attention after announcing Lee Sung-hun, Lim Su-been, and Woo Sung-min as her top three, only to later express interest in Song Seung-il, which caused friction with Kim Min-ji.
This, coupled with her eye roll at the campfire, has led to backlash among viewers. But other Single’s Inferno fans are defending her, as is a fellow beauty pageant contestant after seeing the reaction to her friend.
Choi Mina Sue friend defends her against Single’s Inferno backlash
Mina Sue’s Instagram posts have been inundated with angry comments, so much so that Jasmin Selberg – a model and winner of Miss International 2022 – has jumped in to defend her.
For context, Mina Sue has taken part in a number of beauty pageants, culminating in her being crowned Miss Earth in 2022. She and Selberg have been friends for years.
In Mina Sue’s latest post, Selberg wrote, “I’ve known Mina for some years now. I see how her role in Single’s Inferno might have a bad look on her as a person. It’s a show meant for entertainment.
“As in any entertainment show, each person in the cast receives a role. From everybody’s darling up until the antagonist, there’s everything in between. Y’all are absolutely permitted to voice your opinions about her role in the show. But coming for her as a person is too much.
“The Mina I know is a very fun, loving and caring friend. Our beloved Miss Earth. The role which was given to her from the directors and editors does not represent her as a person.
“Don’t just shame people for the role they present on a show. It’s not real, and most certainly not that deep. What is real is the hurt that is created through online bullying.”
Even though Selberg wanted to reflect the real Mina Sue, her comment has received hundreds of replies, with one asking, “Didn’t they say that it’s not scripted?”
Another wrote, “Even if it is for a show, being a mean rude girl is not fun. She was so cute and most of us liked her at the beginning but Episode 4 we were so disappointed with her actions.”
Others, however, are defending Mina Sue and agreeing with Selberg’s comments. “I’m afraid the show successfully baited you guys,” wrote one.
Following the huge response, Selberg added an additional note directed at her friend. “Mina, your friends love you for who you are,” she said.
“If you come across hurtful comments, remember they come from strangers. Without the internet, their words would have no impact on your life at all.
“It’s important to disconnect and experience real life once in a while. Turn off your devices and look at what’s in front of you, that is what life truly is meant to be like.”
Season 5 viewers spot hidden detail
While the Mina Sue/Seung-il/Min-ji drama dominated the truth game in Single’s Inferno Season 5 Episode 4, fans have noticed a hidden detail you may have overlooked: Lee Sung-hun and Ham Ye-jin holding hands.
Right near the end, after Mina Sue sits beside Seung-il and Min-ji to tell Seung-il she likes him, the camera pans out to show Ye-jin putting down a piece of paper from the question box before holding Sung-hun’s hand.
Given some of the questions required contestants to hold hands, this could always just be part of the challenge – although at the very least, this would mean Sung-hun is Ye-jin’s top pick or vice-versa.
What’s more, when Mina Sue leans on Ye-jin, Ye-jin leans on Sung-hun. These clips have been circulated on social media, with one suggesting, “Everyone was focused on the chaos, no one noticed them holding hands.”
“I didn’t see that coming,” wrote one Redditor in response, while another said, “Omg wait?? This is SUCH a good catch!”
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