Mnet's 'Couple Palace 2' Launches with High Hopes

On February 4, 2025, Mnet held a press conference for its new dating reality show, 'Couple Palace 2', at the Eliena Hotel in Nonhyeon-dong, Gangnam, Seoul. The event featured MCs Kim Jong-kook, Yoo Se-yoon, and Mi-joo, along with production team members including CP Lee Sun-young and PD Jung Min-seok.

'Couple Palace' is a large-scale couple matching survival show aimed at single men and women seeking their perfect marriage partner, utilizing a highly realistic matching system akin to that of a marriage agency.

The first season, which concluded in April 2024, saw an impressive 12 couples formed, setting a record for dating programs. This success has led to high expectations for the second season, which will again feature Kim Jong-kook, Yoo Se-yoon, and Mi-joo as hosts.

Kim Jong-kook shared his thoughts on the show, stating, "I approached this like studying and attending classes. I believe this mindset will be beneficial." He also humorously mentioned, "I’ve been thinking about how I would evaluate myself if I were a participant. I feel like I should get married before the next season. I’ll try my best."

Yoo Se-yoon expressed pride in the program, noting, "There’s no other show focused on marriage matching like ours, which has garnered a lot of attention. People are also curious if the couples from Season 1 are still together."

Mi-joo reflected on her learning experience from the show, saying, "With so many participants, I learned how to approach different personalities and what traits I align with. I believe that good communication is key in relationships."

The press conference also marked Mi-joo's first public appearance since rumors of her breakup with soccer player Song Beom-keun surfaced. She was cautious about discussing her personal life, stating, "Today is about 'Couple Palace', so I will only take questions related to the show. I apologize for not addressing other topics."

In a surprising twist, Mi-joo revealed she has her eye on a particular participant, admitting, "I genuinely liked one person. I felt a connection with him, and I would be okay if he ended up with someone else."

Season 2 will feature 60 singles, with 30 men and 30 women, a reduction from the 100 participants in Season 1. PD Jung Min-seok explained, "We wanted to create a more immersive experience by reducing the number of participants, allowing for quicker developments and deeper storytelling."

The interest in applications for 'Couple Palace 2' has surged, with female applicants reportedly tripling compared to the first season. CP Lee Sun-young noted, "The participants this season are more earnest about marriage, and we expect to see genuine connections."

Returning from the previous season are couple managers Miranda and Jung Soo-mi, joined by new male manager Kang Ba-da, who aims to provide insights from a male perspective on the marriage market.

'Couple Palace' has also gained international recognition, being nominated for the Studio Entertainment category at the 2024 Rose d'Or Awards, organized by the European Broadcasting Union.

The show is set to premiere on February 5, 2025, at 10:40 PM.