Banyan Group’s Seoul resort is ‘Paradise’ in hit K-reality dating series Single’s Inferno 4

SINGAPORE – The fourth and latest season of South Korean reality television dating series Single’s Inferno sports a Singapore touch.

Available on Netflix, the hit show features a group of singles who stay on a remote island in South Korea known as “Inferno”. There, romance is intertwined with physical competitions such as relays and endurance tests to win coveted dates at luxurious hotels around the country, referred to as “Paradise”. 

While life on Inferno can get demanding – they are required to cook their food and reside in no-frills accommodation – Paradise is an idyllic escape where participants are waited on hand and foot.

In season four, the enviable getaway is Banyan Tree Club & Spa Seoul, a resort by home-grown hospitality company Banyan Group.

“In recent years, reality dating shows have captivated audiences worldwide, offering relatable entertainment. We are excited to be part of the programme and showcase our take on an urban paradise,” Mr Philip Lim, senior vice-president and head of regional operations and group specialist services at Banyan Group, tells The Straits Times.

The sprawling 70,000 sq m resort, which opened in June 2010, has numerous facilities, including an outdoor pool that transforms into an ice rink during winter, a 73m-long golf driving range and a herbal sauna room. 

Banyan Tree Club & Spa Seoul may be nestled away on the slopes of Namsan mountain, but downtown Seoul is just a short drive away. Trendy shopping and entertainment districts like Dongdaemun and Itaewon are roughly 10 minutes away by car.  

Its 50 rooms and suites range in size from the 49 sq m entry-level Banyan Room to the 315 sq m Presidential Suite.

Mr Lim says the resort hinges on the concept of “a sanctuary in the heart of a bustling metropolis”, with nearly 90 per cent of its rooms fitted with a private relaxation pool.

It is in the sleek Presidential Suites that lucky couples from Single’s Inferno 4 spend their overnight stays getting better acquainted, while enjoying the best of the resort’s hospitality in food, drinks and amenities.

There are only two such suites in the resort – the 279 sq m Banyan Presidential Suite and the 315 sq m Namsan Presidential Suite – that differ slightly in size due to the configuration of their private pools and dining rooms.

Both have panoramic views of the city skyline and lush greenery of Namsan mountain, and can sleep up to four guests. According to Banyan Group, a night in a Presidential Suite costs 11 million won (S$10,370).

In episodes that have aired since the show’s Jan 14 premiere, the couples are shown being wowed by the premises. Some praise the “amazing view” and how famed landmark N Seoul Tower can be seen from their vantage point, with one contestant cooing: “We’re definitely in paradise.”

In the first and second seasons, date nights were filmed in the 711-room Hotel Paradise in Paradise City – a 330,000 sq m integrated resort with attractions such as a theme park, a casino and an art gallery – located in the vicinity of Incheon International Airport.

Luxury hotel Grand Hyatt Jeju – Asia-Pacific’s largest Grand Hyatt hotel – served as Paradise in season three. It has 1,600 rooms and suites, and features Jeju’s largest outdoor deck with an infinity pool.  

In contrast with the previous seasons’ ostentatious choices of five-star accommodation, Banyan Tree Club & Spa Seoul takes a more subtle approach to opulence. 

“Combining the energy of the city with the serenity of a luxury retreat, the resort delivers a distinctive and refreshing perspective on Paradise,” says Mr Lim.

Single’s Inferno producer Kim Jae-won had said that its first two seasons each garnered around six million viewing hours, while the third season logged more than seven million viewing hours within its first month of airing. Season four’s viewership statistics have yet to be released.

Mr Lim says: “We are pleased with this opportunity for the brand to reach the Korean and international audience on such a scale. We look forward to observing if the continued exposure with the remaining episodes will translate to an uptick in direct bookings.”