‘Heart Pairing’ Tops Rankings for 7 Weeks Straight—Gen Z Can’t Get Enough

Channel A’s dating reality show Heart Pairing is making waves with Gen Z viewers, setting new records for popularity and search buzz.

According to the FunDex Chart compiled by Good Data Corporation for the first week of May, Heart Pairing ranked No. 2 in non-drama TV buzz, achieving its highest ranking yet since its premiere. The show has now broken its own record for seven consecutive weeks, proving its ongoing dominance among youth-driven entertainment.

The program also ranked: No. 4 in TV-OTT Non-Drama Buzz and No. 2 in TV-OTT Non-Drama Search Reactions. It also placed highly in individual cast member buzz: Jaeyeon at No. 2 and Jimin at No. 4.

Notably, Heart Pairing ranked No. 1 among viewers in their 20s across all TV-OTT non-drama search reaction charts—an indicator of its sweeping influence among the MZ generation.

What’s Driving the Hype?

In episode 8, the show followed four couples—Jimin × Jaeyeon, Woojae × Jiwon, Chanhyung × Haneul, and Changhwan × Chae-eun—as they participated in a 3-day “contract dating” trial. Emotions ran high as the pairs grew closer, setting the stage for deeper romantic developments.

Then came the game-changer: a surprise ninth housemate. “Catfish Guy” Sang-yoon, who entered with idol-level visuals, sent shockwaves through the house—and across viewers' screens. As he expressed clear interest in “Alpha Girl Lawyer” Jaeyeon, the existing dynamics were thrown into question.

Now, anticipation is building over how Sang-yoon's arrival might reshape the couples’ future, with viewers obsessively tracking every glance, confession, and chemistry shift.

What’s Next?

Episode 9 of Heart Pairing airs on May 9 at 10:50 PM (KST). The episode will finally reveal Sang-yoon’s career, which has remained a mystery and is expected to spark even more buzz.

With its unique dating format, relatable 20-something cast, and addictive emotional rollercoasters, Heart Pairing is fast becoming Gen Z’s must-watch relationship drama.

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