'Single's Inferno 5' star tops non-drama buzz rankings for 2 straight weeks, beating Park Bo Gum and Son Jong Won

The popularity of Netflix’s 'Single’s Inferno 5' continues to soar.

According to the February Week 1 TV-OTT Integrated Non-Drama Cast Buzz Rankings released by Good Data Corporation’s FUNdex on February 10, Single’s Inferno 5 contestant Mina Sue Choi ranked No. 1 for the second consecutive week.

The February Week 1 rankings analyzed TV non-drama programs, OTT original non-drama series, and their cast members and guests that aired, were streaming, or were scheduled to air between February 2 and February 8, 2026.

Fellow 'Single’s Inferno 5' cast members also dominated the list: Lim Soo Bin placed second, Kim Min Ji ranked third, Park Hee Sun came in fifth, and Song Seung Il secured ninth. Compared to the previous week, even more cast members from the show generated buzz.

Driven by its cast’s popularity, 'Single’s Inferno 5' also ranked No. 1 among TV-OTT non-drama programs, with overall buzz rising 11.4 percent from the previous week. When comparing only the third week after release, the show’s buzz surged 107.5 percent compared to the previous season.

JTBC’s Please 'Take Care of My Refrigerator' since 2014 saw chefs Son Jong Won and Kim Poong rank fourth and sixth, respectively. Despite the program not airing that week, both chefs maintained strong buzz.

Park Bo Gum ranked seventh for tvN’s 'The Village Barber,' while Untell from Show Me the Money 12' placed eighth. Gree from 'Radio Star' rounded out the top 10.

In the program rankings, Mnet’s 'Show Me the Money 12' placed second, followed by JTBC’s 'Please Take Care of My Refrigerator' since 2014 in third. MBN’s 'King of Active Singers 3' ranked fourth, posting a 39.4 percent increase in buzz from the previous week.

From fifth to tenth place were ENA and SBS Plus’s 'I'm Solo,' Netflix’s 'Culinary Class Wars Season 2,' Mnet’s 'Show Me the Money 12,' TV Chosun’s 'Miss Trot 4,' MBN’s 'Cheonha Bakery: Bake Your Dream,' and 'Bogum Magical.'

Each season of 'Single’s Inferno' has drawn attention for its standout personalities, and this time, Mina Sue Choi emerged as the most talked-about figure. While she initially attracted attention with her confident entrance, she later faced criticism for appearing to juggle multiple romantic interests and for what some viewers described as rude behavior.

Despite the backlash, her buzz remained unmatched. In both the January Week 5 and February Week 1 TV-OTT Integrated Non-Drama Cast Buzz Rankings, Mina Sue Choi claimed the top spot for two consecutive weeks. Though she was initially criticized, some viewers later remarked that “this season was saved thanks to Mina Sue Choi.”

Her past has also resurfaced amid the renewed attention. Mina Sue Choi was crowned Miss Korea Sun in 2021 and went on to win Miss Earth the following year, becoming the first Korean to take home the title at one of the world’s four major beauty pageants.

She previously appeared on Channel A’s variety show Battle for Residence: Penthouse in 2022 and made a cameo last year in the tvN weekend drama Seocho Dong as a blind date of Lee Jong Suk, continuing her presence in the entertainment industry.

Past Single’s Inferno stars such as Dex and Shin Seul Ki have since built successful careers as broadcasters and actors. With Mina Sue Choi now at the center of public attention, anticipation is building over the next steps for her and other 'Single’s Inferno 5' cast members.