Lee Sung Hoon, also known as Samuel Lee, a contestant on Netflix’s dating reality show 'Single’s Inferno 5,' has found himself at the center of ongoing rumors and controversies that continue to draw public attention.
Although the production team has officially denied recent allegations related to his private life, new speculations are spreading online, keeping the controversy alive.
Lee, who captured viewers’ interest with his impressive background and mysterious aura, has unexpectedly become the focus of a series of rumors.
Born in 1998, Lee Sung Hoon currently resides in New York and is one of the show’s overseas-based contestants. He majored in computer science and applied mathematics at the University of California, Berkeley, and now works in quantitative trading within the finance industry.
Quantitative trading, a highly specialized field that relies on data and algorithms to trade financial products, surprised both fellow cast members and viewers when his profession was revealed.
On the show, Lee is not particularly talkative, but his calm demeanor and restrained emotional expression have helped him establish what viewers describe as a “brainy” character. His academic background and career, disclosed during his first “Paradise” date, instantly drew attention. Combined with his tall stature and fit physique, he quickly became a point of interest among the female contestants.
The controversy began when some Chinese-language media outlets, including Taiwan’s Liberty Times, reported allegations regarding Lee’s past relationships. The reports claimed that he had dated influencers such as Kevin Ninh and Hena Yng while allegedly being unfaithful multiple times.
Lee strongly denied the claims in a statement posted on his personal social media account on January 21. “I have never committed adultery or cheated, not even once,” he said, adding that all related allegations were false and that he was already pursuing legal action over defamation.
He has since deleted his social media accounts and has not issued further statements.
A representative of 'Single’s Inferno 5' also addressed the issue on February 2, stating, “After confirming with the contestant, we have verified that the allegations are not true.”
Just as the private life controversy appeared to be settling, a new rumor began circulating across online communities. Some netizens have claimed that Samuel Lee is the maternal grandson of former South Korean President Lee Myung Bak.
The speculation gained traction based on perceived similarities in appearance between Lee Sung Hoon and the former president, as well as Lee’s U.S. education, New York residency, and elite academic background. Some posts have gone as far as to suggest that Lee’s mother is the former president’s eldest daughter and that his father is an executive in a major conglomerate’s overseas legal division.
However, these claims remain entirely unverified online speculation.
To date, neither Samuel Lee himself nor the production team nor any official channel has confirmed any of these assertions. The show’s producers have also drawn a clear line against unsubstantiated rumors regarding contestants’ personal backgrounds.
Meanwhile, 'Single’s Inferno 5' is a dating reality series set on a remote island known as “Inferno,” where contestants must form couples to leave. The 12-episode season has been released on Netflix from January 20 through February 10 and has gained strong popularity for its unique dating format that alternates between “Inferno” and “Paradise.”
Despite the continued spread of unverified rumors, Samuel Lee has been solidifying his presence on the show with a distinct on-screen persona. Following his straightforward pursuit of Mina Sue Choi, the season’s most talked-about contestant, the latest episode depicted him developing an interest in Park Hee Sun, who shares a similar background, further fueling viewer interest in his evolving love lines.
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