'Heart Signal 5' contestant faces married-man affair allegations as controversy escalates; producers break their silence

10 Jun 2026, 20:00 by K-Soul · allkpop

A growing controversy surrounding a contestant on Channel A's dating reality show 'Heart Signal 5' has prompted the production team to release an official statement.

On June 9, the 'Heart Signal 5' production team stated, "We are currently verifying the facts regarding allegations involving one of the contestants." They added, "We are taking this matter very seriously and are carefully reviewing the direction of future broadcasts involving the contestant, regardless of whether the allegations are ultimately confirmed." The team also apologized, saying, "We sincerely apologize for causing concern to our viewers."

The controversy began with a post uploaded on the anonymous workplace community Blind on June 6. Titled "Failure to Verify the Morality of a Dating Reality Show Participant," the post accused a female contestant, referred to as "A," of being "the person responsible for an extramarital affair that destroyed a family" and "a defendant in a lawsuit seeking damages from a third party involved in an affair." As reports spread that the dating reality show mentioned in the post was the currently airing 'Heart Signal 5,' the allegations quickly gained traction online.

Additional claims soon followed. According to the post, 'A' allegedly maintained an inappropriate relationship with a married man who has children from the time she applied for 'Heart Signal 5' through the show's filming period. The author further alleged that 'A' had displayed a brazen attitude by threatening to take legal action against the alleged victim.

'Heart Signal' is Channel A's flagship dating reality series, which first premiered in 2017 and has maintained strong popularity through its fifth season. The show follows Gen Z participants living together in the Signal House as they navigate romance and search for genuine emotional connections.

Season 5 has been enjoying record-breaking buzz. According to data compiled by Good Data Corporation for the period between June 1 and June 7, the show's buzz score increased by 57.4% from the previous week, setting a new all-time high. It also ranked No. 1 in the Tuesday non-drama category for two consecutive weeks. The program placed fourth overall in TV non-drama buzz rankings, while contestant Kang Yoo Kyung ranked ninth in the individual cast buzz category.

In Episode 9, which aired on June 9, the relationship between Park Woo Yeol and Kang Yoo Kyung grew noticeably closer. The pair watched the film 'Decision to Leave' together in the shared lounge, creating a warm and intimate atmosphere. During a nickname date with Choi So Yoon, Park admitted, "That night, I realized I kept thinking about someone," confirming his feelings for Kang Yoo Kyung. He also offered a sincere apology for his previous avoidant behavior.

Choi So Yoon openly expressed her disappointment, saying, "Our date in Japan meant a lot to me. I thought you had feelings for me too." However, she handled the situation maturely, adding, "I was hurt and it was difficult, but your actions gave certainty to someone else. I hope we can keep only the good memories." Celebrity panelist Kim Eana praised her response, commenting, "I couldn't have handled it like that in my twenties."

The episode's text-message selections also delivered unexpected twists. Park Woo Yeol and Kang Yoo Kyung chose each other, as did Jung Gyu Ri and Kim Seo Won. Jung Jun Hyun selected Kang Yoo Kyung, while Choi So Yoon chose Jung Jun Hyun. The biggest surprise came when Kim Sung Min, who had consistently shown interest in Kang Yoo Kyung, sent his message to Kim Min Joo instead. Kim Min Joo selected him in return.

Meanwhile, Jung Gyu Ri struggled with seeing Park Woo Yeol and Kang Yoo Kyung spending time alone in a room together. A devoted fan of 'Decision to Leave' who even owns the screenplay book, she appeared visibly upset upon learning that the pair had chosen that particular film. Cameras later captured her stepping onto the terrace alone to process her emotions. She continued to express her feelings for Park Woo Yeol, saying, "I don't think it's over for me," signaling that she had not yet given up.

With 'Heart Signal 5' reaching record levels of popularity, the affair allegations have emerged at a particularly sensitive moment for the program. Attention is now focused on the production team's fact-finding process and how the contestant's future appearances will be handled.

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