Romance Variety Show Pairs Up Popular 4th-Gen Idols As Couple, Sparks Intense Reactions
From 2008 to 2017, MBC aired four successful seasons of a very popular romance variety show, We Got Married. The program paired prominent Korean celebrities and idols together as fake married couples, amusing viewers with their real-life K-Drama-esque interactions.
Now, a new reality show, which is being deemed the new-age version of We Got Married, has arrived. On October 9, KST, the popular YouTube channel KODE released a teaser of Trip KODE, in which two fourth-generation idols will travel together and experience “heart-fluttering” moments.
의외로 저속노화 꿀팁 : 심박수 걸고 여행하기. . . .💖
설렘만 가득한 여행을 기대하셨다면, 크나큰 오산입니다 (놉놉) 🙂↔️☝️두근두근 '심쿵' 여행 리얼리티 [#트립코드]
💗10/16 (목) 6:30PM @유튜브 KODE 채널#트립코드 #코드 #KODE pic.twitter.com/hscfh9dYSC— KODE코드 (@findyourKODE) October 9, 2025
Though the teaser didn’t fully reveal the idols’ identities, fans promptly recognized them as i-dle‘s Miyeon and former CIX member Bae Jinyoung.
Since the teaser’s release, the reactions have been intense. Similar to the backlash received by We Got Married, this show has also attracted criticism from fans who were outright angry at the concept or the choice of the cast member.
Whether this is going to be broadcasted eventually, the only thing I’m certain is that I will never watch this🙂
Cube Ent if you wanna go bankrupt you could’ve just said it aloud🥰Not all Neverlands, but over 80% of us would not want it— min.zip (@m_mchocow) October 9, 2025
？？？？왜 이런 프로그램에 출연하는 거죠? 회사가 죽고 싶냐!
— Xbo._.bro (@Xiaobo69139) October 9, 2025
Why is she appearing on a program like this? Does the company have a death wish?
— The post above
Whether it’s a date or a competition, fans don’t enjoy watching shows that involve close contact with male artists.
— MLLM (@record_ingg) October 9, 2025
couldnt they find someone suitable at least https://t.co/i6aEmIC5V2 pic.twitter.com/EQmFq0QJVg
— beny (@michooki) October 9, 2025
However, many more fans came to the idols’ defense, calling out certain fans’ “parasocial” mentality and encouraging Miyeon to explore whichever avenues she wanted to.
A tough day if you are a parasocial loser. My girl is almost 30 let her get paid to go on a fake date. Damn. https://t.co/KZkbfLUksd
— 💕 💜 (@Tashal55) October 9, 2025
She’s 28 y’all are so weird and parasocial https://t.co/CWWsjqFSuh
— Reha⁷* (@shadowjeon) October 9, 2025
she's almost 30, why are nevies being so annoyingly pressed about this?! LMAO get a grip https://t.co/Q5f2NWidgs
— irms. || stunner! (@suh10ten) October 9, 2025
Ykw now I hope she starts in a kdrama soon and yall annoying asses explode once she kisses the man. It will be a nice fandom cleanse https://t.co/nKC6PQLLjo
— shuromi || ONE IN A MILL10N ❤️🔥 (@songblingbling) October 9, 2025
Concerningly, after the backlash, the teaser video disappeared from KODE‘s YouTube channel, even though it is still there on other social media platforms. Many fans are now fearing that the negative response from a few might lead to the show getting scrapped. However, the channel has not made any official statements about it as of yet.
