A controversy has broken out after claims emerged that a participant on a romance variety program was previously involved in an extramarital relationship.
On the 21st, the production team behind SBS’s Match to Marry: With Parents announced they will remove the female cast member at the center of the allegations from all remaining episodes. They said they recently learned information about a cast member’s past that could spark public backlash, and that they asked the person to verify the details—but have not received a clear answer so far.
The producers apologized to viewers, stating that regardless of whether the claims are ultimately confirmed, they regret the discomfort caused. They added that once the issue came to their attention, they immediately began emergency re-editing and decided to cut every appearance of the cast member from the rest of the broadcast so audiences can watch without feeling uneasy.
They also explained their screening process, saying they repeatedly check for potential disqualifying issues through written questionnaires and in-depth interviews. The team noted that the participation agreement includes a clause requiring cast members to affirm they have not been involved in serious controversies such as crimes, drugs, affairs, or school violence and that penalties apply if that declaration is violated.
Despite these measures, the production team said they are deeply disappointed and saddened that a cast member’s personal history has become a source of controversy. They offered apologies not only to viewers, but also to the other participants who took part sincerely in filming.
Match to Marry: With Parents is a dating show where 10 single men and women hoping to marry, along with their 10 mothers, live together for five nights and six days to explore potential matches with marriage in mind.
The allegations gained attention after a woman in her 40s appeared on JTBC’s Scandal Supervisor, claiming one of the show’s cast members had an affair with her husband. She stated that in 2022 she pursued both a divorce case and a lawsuit against the alleged third party, and that the court ordered her husband and the woman to jointly pay 30 million won in damages.
The informant shared that seeing the cast member on television left her devastated, saying she couldn’t sleep and cried for days. She added that her family fell apart because of what happened, making it especially painful to see the person appear publicly without remorse.
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