[Edaily Starin Gim Ga Yeong Reporter] Nam Gyu-hong, the producer of “I’m Single,” is set to unveil a new reality show titled “Contract Marriage,” which goes beyond “dating” to explore “marriage.”

On the 7th, the production team behind MBC Every1 and KBS Joy’s “Contract Marriage” described the program as “a marriage simulation observational reality show in which men and women who desperately want to get married experience married life in advance through a contract, and in the process, explore the meaning of marriage and the realities of partnership.”
“Contract Marriage” stems from the questions that everyone has pondered at least once: “Why am I getting married?” and “With whom and how should I live my life?” Unlike conventional dating reality shows—which typically end with a final choice after meeting someone, experiencing butterflies, and confirming love—this show focuses on whether participants can become a real married couple by experiencing actual married life together.
The cast members of “Contract Marriage” will get a preview of married life within a contract-based relationship. By navigating various situations they might encounter in real married life together, they will gain a concrete understanding of the kind of spouse they want and what their married life should look like. The unpredictable storylines arising from diverse relationship dynamics and character combinations are expected to create a unique sense of tension and entertainment distinct from existing matchmaking variety shows.
“Contract Marriage” is drawing attention because Producer Nam Gyu-hong—who has helped shape the landscape of South Korean matchmaking variety shows—is bringing the theme of “marriage” to the forefront for the first time. Starting with “Match,” and continuing through “Stranger” and “I’m Single,” Producer Nam Gyu-hong has directed dating reality shows for over 15 years, observing how men and women meet, make choices, and see their relationships evolve. Having brought together nearly 80 couples through “Match” and “I’m Single,” expectations are high for the new dating show he is set to unveil.
The production team explained, “‘Contract Marriage’ is not a program that encourages marriage or provides a definitive answer about it,” adding, “It is a reality show where men and women who deeply desire marriage discover what kind of relationship they truly want by living with someone as if they were an actual married couple.”
They added, “Please look forward to the first collaboration between Producer Nam Gyu-hong, who will pour in the know-how he has accumulated over 15 years of dating shows, and MBC Every1 and KBS Joy.”
MBC Every1 and KBS Joy’s “Contract Marriage” premieres on the 28th of next month at 10:30 p.m.