July 22, 2026
soul – South Korea’s upcoming dating reality series asks a bold question: Can a human actually fall in love with a partner generated by artificial intelligence?
“My AI Partner: Strange Romance,” produced by SBS and premiering in August, depicts the emotional highs and lows of contestants as they step into a world created by AI and connect with their AI “partners.” According to SBS, the series aims to explore whether humans can “fall in love with AI” and how technology processes human emotions.
SBS added in a press release, “The opponent may be an AI, but the emotions that emerge during the process are by no means unfamiliar.”
“The key points to watch are how the unexpected situations and choices created by AI will affect the contestants’ hearts, and what kind of ripple effect their feelings toward an unfamiliar presence will have on their real lives and human relationships.”
Leading the single lineup is 41-year-old webtoon artist and media personality Kim Hee-min, widely known by the pen name Kian84.
Kian84, the creator of hits like “Fashion King” and “Bok Haku One,” has built a huge presence on television through blockbuster variety series like “Home Alone” and “Adventure by Accident.” He won the grand prize at the 2023 MBC Entertainment Awards, becoming the first ordinary person to receive the highest honor and reaching a major milestone in his career.
But this new project promises to show a much more vulnerable side of the star.
SBS said, “Through this program, Kian 84 will reveal different emotions and aspects of daily life than what he has shown on observational reality shows.”
“His candid reactions and choices are captured unfiltered as he oscillates between excitement and alarm, hope and disappointment in his relationship with his AI partner.”
The studio side of the format will feature panels anchored by comedian Jang Do-young, singer Kang Nam, and actor-singer Lee Joon. Chan plays a dual role in this project, providing commentary from the studio booth with his co-hosts, and also participating in the experiments himself.
The series will be streamed globally on Netflix, but the full cast and exact premiere date are being kept secret for now.
The proposal arrives as romance reality shows continue to dominate the Korean television landscape. To stand out in an increasingly saturated market, creators have pushed the boundaries of the genre. Programs such as “The Child Release Project: Cohabitation Blind Date” have parents and their adult children searching for love together, while Coupang Play’s “Chain Reaction” literally keeps participants in chains. Spaces have also become more inclusive. In June, the first bisexual dating series was aired in South Korea.
The dating reality format and its continued reinvention has proven attractive to producers due to its relatively cost-effective production model and reliable viewership. Audiences are drawn to the emotional catharsis at a time when dating itself is difficult for many.
This format is also increasingly used as a means of addressing social issues. From the impact of AI and relationships to the question of how involved parents should be in their children’s love lives, it reflects changing attitudes towards love, dating, and relationships in modern South Korea.
