Devil's Plan: Death Room Ends with Controversy Over Contestants
The Netflix original reality show, Devil's Plan: Death Room (데블스 플랜: 데스룸), concluded its second season on May 20, 2025, with Jung Hyun-kyu emerging as the winner. Known as 'Seoul National University's Song Kang' from the dating show Transit Love Season 2, his victory has sparked more criticism than praise, particularly directed at him and fellow contestants Kyuhyun and Yoon So-hee.
Following the finale, a wave of backlash against the contestants overshadowed the celebration of Jung's win. The trio has faced a barrage of negative comments on social media, raising questions about whether this is a result of viewers' over-investment in the show or a failure in production by director Jung Jong-yeon.
Jung Hyun-kyu found himself in hot water after making a controversial remark during the competition, asking another contestant, "Can you do math?" This comment was deemed rude and led to accusations of arrogance. In response, he changed his social media status to "I'm sorry," but the criticism has persisted even after his victory.
Yoon So-hee, who was initially seen as a strategic player, faced criticism for her emotional decision-making in the finale, which some felt undermined the competitive spirit of the survival genre. Comments like "They turned the survival show into a dating program" and "I saw Jung Hyun-kyu and Yoon So-hee's romance" have surfaced as a result.
Kyuhyun, who had been active throughout the season with his alliance strategies, also faced scrutiny. Some of his actions were perceived as selfish, and the editing choices made by the production team simplified complex relationships into a more straightforward conflict, leading to concentrated criticism on specific individuals. His comments about differing perspectives on a fan community platform further inflamed public sentiment.
The show has been mired in controversy over alliances versus isolation throughout its run. The early elimination of popular player Lee Sedol and the dominance of larger alliances left little room for individual players to shine, frustrating viewers. The backlash against Jung Hyun-kyu, Yoon So-hee, and Kyuhyun reflects a broader dissatisfaction with the show's structure.
Despite the negative feedback, Devil's Plan: Death Room has performed well in various popularity metrics. However, as the series looks toward a potential third season, there is a pressing need for improvement in its execution and narrative depth. Given Jung Jong-yeon's previous work on The Genius series, fans are left wondering if the next installment can rise above the controversies that have plagued this season.
