'Heart Pairing' goes beyond simple flings to showcase the romance of young men and women searching for a 'marriage partner', marking a fresh start for 'emotional romance' and 'evolutionary romance'.
In the first episode of Channel A's dating variety show 'Heart Pairing', which aired on the 7th, six residents—Woojae, Jeyun, Jimin, Jiwon, Chan-hyung, and Haneul—gathered at the 'Pairing House' in Italy to find a lifelong connection, leading to an exciting first meeting.
The five MCs—Yoon Jong-shin, Lee Cheong-ah, Choi Si-won, Mimi, and Professor Park Ji-sun—watched the six's romance unfold like a movie, offering various deductions based on the 'Pairing Book'. The beautiful visuals, the unique emotional depth of 'Heart Pairing', and the marriage views and life values of the male and female participants, captured through the 'Pairing Book', heightened viewer engagement.
Set against the beautiful backdrop of Tuscany, the city of romance, Jeyun was the first to appear. With a pure atmosphere, Jeyun expressed her determination to participate, saying, "The longest break I've had was about five days. I've been living dedicated to work." Yoon Jong-shin noted, "She has a fresh-out-of-college vibe. She also has a Jeon Ji-hyun aura," showing interest. Other MCs, including Mimi, chimed in, "She's so pretty." The next resident was the model-like 'handsome guy' Woojae, who shyly greeted Jeyun and said, "I wasn't nervous at all until I saw your face, and now... I'm a bit nervous," revealing his excitement. Following him, Jimin joined and drew admiration from the five MCs with his looks, stating, "I want to get married around 35, but since starting my job, it's been hard to have natural encounters." Immediately after, he quietly observed the calm Jeyun, smiling unconsciously, prompting the MCs to tease, "Are you already falling for her?"
The cheerful and bright Chan-hyung declared, "Now, I need to meet someone to share life with rather than just dating," while the 'cool girl' Jiwon, who has a warm smile, expressed her serious desire to "marry someone with whom I can share small happiness." Finally, the charming Haneul, with her bright smile, caught Chan-hyung's attention. The six residents broke the ice by asking each other about their MBTI types and later enjoyed brunch while exploring the 'Pairing House'.
As the sun began to set, the residents had tea time and discussed the 'Pairing Book'. The 'Pairing Book' was created from the 33 questions about love and marriage that the residents answered before leaving Seoul, each representing a color symbolizing them. The residents had already chosen their most compatible partners through the 'Pairing Book' and speculated on who the main character of the book would be after moving into the 'Pairing House'. At this point, Chan-hyung asked everyone, "Did anyone feel like they had an ideal type just from reading the text?" Haneul replied, "There was someone whose values were very similar to mine," revealing her excitement about the partner she chose in the 'Pairing Book'.
As night fell, the residents prepared dinner. Haneul, Jimin, and Chan-hyung took charge in the kitchen, while Jeyun and Jiwon quietly conversed with Woojae in the living room. Meanwhile, Haneul actively reacted and complimented Jimin and Chan-hyung, getting closer to them. Once the cooking was done, everyone gathered in the dining room to enjoy their first dinner. Here, Haneul continuously expressed her interest in Jimin, while Jiwon observed the two with a peculiar look. Eventually, Jiwon showed some discomfort at Haneul's excessive reactions towards Jimin, which Yoon Jong-shin quickly picked up on, saying, "It seems like there's some tension between the two girls. A 'love rival' has emerged over Jimin from the first day," heightening the intrigue around the 'popular guy' Jimin.
After dinner, as everyone relaxed, a notice appeared: "Please send a text to the person your heart is drawn to tonight." The residents sent secret messages to their crushes with fluttering hearts. Shortly after, the five MCs analyzed their psychology and actions, beginning their first 'pairing predictions'. Yoon Jong-shin, Choi Si-won, and Professor Park Ji-sun predicted Jimin and Jiwon as a couple, while Lee Cheong-ah and Mimi predicted Jimin and Haneul as the 'first pairing'.
A moment later, the results of the 'first pairing' were revealed: 'Jeyun → Woojae, Woojae → Jiwon, Jiwon → Jimin, Jimin → Jeyun, Chan-hyung → Haneul, Haneul → Chan-hyung', shocking the five MCs. Only 'Chan-hyung and Haneul' successfully paired, while the fact that 'popular guy' Jimin chose Jeyun over Jiwon left Si-won in disbelief, saying, "I can't trust Jong-shin anymore," expressing distrust towards Yoon Jong-shin, who has nine years of experience on 'Heart Signal'.
Yoon Jong-shin quickly acknowledged, "Don't trust me," turning the scene upside down. The five MCs then remarked, "Jimin's comment about Jeyun's state at the end of dinner was a genuine expression," expressing their surprise. Finally, the text messages exchanged among the six residents and the decisive moments that led them to develop feelings for each other unfolded like a movie, beautifully concluding the first day at the 'Pairing House'.
Now, Channel A's 'Heart Pairing', a romantic and reality-filled pre-marital dating diary of young men and women who want to get married, airs every Friday night at 10:50 PM.
[Jin Joo-hee, MK Sports Reporter]
