Single's Inferno Season 4's Theo Jang Says Finding Love Was the 'Last Thing I Wanted'

Single's Inferno's Theo Jang has never worked out with more determination. Let us explain: Since the 30-year-old actor appeared on the fourth season of Netflix's hit Korean reality dating series, he's amassed more than 1.6 million followers on Instagram. This boom in online popularity has translated to Theo being recognized left and right on the streets of South Korea, but he's also felt more eyes on him in one particular setting. 

"Every time I hit the gym, some people start gazing [at] me," the actor shares. It's Valentine's Day, and Theo is Zooming in from his home in Seoul as he recalls his thoughts during recent workouts. "Everyone is watching me, I have to lift as much as possible," he says as he grunts and pushes his arms back and forth to imitate the motions of a bench press. The result? "My muscle is getting more pronounced," Theo smiles as he gently pats his left pec. 

The actor never expected to become the most-followed cast member from Single's Inferno Season 4. "I felt myself [be] like, "oh my God, look at this pity guy," Theo says of watching himself on the show. "He's so cringe." Part of why he thought he'd be perceived as "pitiful" was because Theo was rejected by Lee Si-an, the 25-year-old model who was Season 4's It Girl. In the show, single participants have the opportunity to leave a dreary island, or "Inferno," if they match with another participant to go on a date in a luxurious hotel, or "Paradise." At the end of 10 days, the singles must decide who they want to leave Inferno with and attempt dating in the real world. Though Si-an initially had the strongest connection with Theo, her feelings faded and she selected 28-year-old artist Yuk Jun-seo to be her final match. The last shot of Theo in Single's Inferno 4 shows him watching that pair walk away hand-in-hand. 

But while Theo may have lost the fight for Si-an's affections, he won the hearts of viewers around the world. The actor committed to pursuing Si-an from the beginning, and stood out for his romantic gestures like gifting her a hand-made flower ring. In a show where participants typically either keep their feelings close to their chests or spend the entire 10 days exploring multiple connections, Theo's one-track, expressive approach felt like a breath of fresh air. In an interview with TV Guide conducted in English, the actor talked about how he was cast, the authenticity of the experience, and his hopes of breaking into Hollywood. And, of course, we also asked him about his relationship status. 

TV Guide: How did you join the cast of Single's Inferno Season 4? Did you apply or did someone from the production team reach out to you? 
Theo Jang: Honestly, when I went to the first interview, I had already made up my mind to leave Korea for a long time. The interview was actually the date before my flight to New York, so dating was not even on my radar. During the interview, I thought I made it pretty clear that I was not looking for anything. But funny enough, I heard my attitude came off as attractive for producers. Even when filming started on the island, I was sure I was not going to get involved in a relationship. I just saw it as a fun little vacation, I was like, it will be a good chance to meet new people. But I ended up falling in love so hard and so deeply. Who would have thought that I'd actually end up genuinely liking someone there in front of so many cameras?

So you were primarily looking for a vacation experience and less to find love? 
Theo: Yeah. Actually, finding love is the last thing that I wanted because it was a very important time last year — I was debating whether I'm living in Korea or abroad. I was like, love? I don't need it! So that's why my attitude in the interview was like that. "Single's Inferno, what's that?" And on top of that, I have never watched any reality dating show in my life.

And you ended up being the most romantic one despite that. When you said you were considering going abroad, did you mean going to the States to pursue acting? 
Theo: I wanted to move my workplace to the bigger world. The United States market is the biggest in the world, so I made up my mind. "OK, Korean market is so small." My ultimate goal is to break into Hollywood market someday, and I want to be an international actor. Because if you use English or Chinese, you can have another identity. Every time I use English, I feel like I got [a] more outgoing, uplifting, and happy vibe. But when I speak Chinese, I feel more soft. When I use Korean, I feel more calm and gentle. This kind of diversity is going to lead you to having a lot of a range of acting, so that challenge was very meaningful at the time. If I [got] accepted to appear [on Single's Inferno], it means I have to get back to Seoul to film. I was like, I'm not that rich to buy flight ticket again, so I was really contemplating after receiving, "You got past [the first interview]. Congratulations."

That's super interesting about how when you use different languages, different parts of your personality are shown more.
Theo: On top of that my best friend is Korean American, I have a lot of foreign friends, and I lived in Hong Kong. And I sometimes work [as a] tour guide in Korea as a side gig so I used to meet more than 30 to 40 people a week. When I first appeared [in Single's Inferno], I was like, "Yo," right? I feel like, "yo" is just so natural to me, honestly. Every time I meet my friend, "yo, Allen!" "Yo, Josh!" Isn't it natural? That's why I didn't expect that all the panelists and Korean [viewers] are shocked about my gesture. It was just like a small, cute greeting for me.

That was definitely a viral moment. So you can also speak Chinese?
Theo: Trying my best, I've been learning. 

What made you decide to start studying Chinese? 
Theo: China is also a very attractive market, and I love Chinese culture as well. So learning Chinese and making Chinese friends are very therapeutic for me. I'm definitely willing to work in China market — mainland, Taiwan, Hong Kong. For the time being, I have to set my base in Korea because of my agencies, and they have been handling all the jobs for me throughout the world. 

I of course also have to ask you more about your Single's Inferno experience. There's a lot of discussion about your approach of being locked in on Si-an starting from the first day. What we see in the show is just a small part of what happened because of the editing. Did you have conversations with all the women before you decided you will only focus on Si-an?
Theo: Some people were wondering [about] that. "How dare you just go all in as soon as you watched Si-an?" I know myself, that I'm kind of [a] weirdo. I feel like, because I'm [a] weirdo, it's really hard to find the girl for me. As soon as I had a conversation with Si-an, I clicked with her. I was like, oh my God, she is also [a] weirdo like me. So I was like, OK, challenge accepted. This is very normal for me in my real life. I'm not into getting to know many people — I'm very busy, I don't want to waste my time and my energy to find out [about] many girls. I know what my type is, so that's why I decided that I have to go all in [on] Si-an. 

Can you share more about what you mean by she is also a weirdo?
Theo: Every time I do the joke, like "[meeting] mother-in-law" joke, I think most Korean girls or most girls do not like that. Actually, someone was like, "You're too light[-hearted], you're not serious." But at the time, Si-an was like, oh my, you are so funny, I love it. "Your joke is crazy, he's so hilarious." I was like, "Oh yeah? I think so too!" So we ended up going to Paradise together, and we really had a fun time. Even in Paradise we clicked a lot. We had a lot of conversation[s], but I think a lot of conversation [was] cut out for the broadcasting. We are really generous to each other's jokes, this is very crucial for me to see someone.

So because of a similar sense of humor, you were good with focusing on her.
Theo: Yeah, definitely.

When you watched the show back and saw Si-an's dates with Jun-seo and Jeong-su, what was your reaction? 
Theo: Honestly, as time went on in the island, I could tell that Si-an's feelings for me were slowly fading. It was not shock[ing] for me, I was just hoping that she would be so happy and content with what she had chosen. Before talking about Si-an, if someone asked me, Theo, what would you say if you were confessing to a girl, asking out to be your girlfriend? I would probably say something like this: The world is big and it's beautiful. If you choose to be with me, I'll fill your life with endless positivity. I'll make you feel like the main character in a movie. I'll show you the world the way I see it. So even when she turned down my flirting at the end of the show, I was very satisfied. Because I did my best, and she said she was also satisfied.

It was a very beautiful and moving conversation when she turned you down.
Theo: During our final conversation, I tried my best to stay calm, not to make her cry more, but my heart was racing so fast and crazily. I was like, "Oh my God." Even thinking about it now, I feel like I still get that rush. 

You were feeling that, but you were more focused on calming and reassuring her. 
Theo: She really broke down. I was like, "What am I supposed to do? Is there any tissue over here?" Because girls have to appear a little bit pretty in front of camera in the show, but her makeup was devastated. So I was like, I want you to appear as pretty as possible because I love you, I like you, I respect you. 

Would you say you loved her or liked her?
Theo: Kind of love, but it's a blur between lov[ing] and liking. At the time, I felt like this was kind of the start of love. What do you say? Was it love or just liking or?

Listening to you talk, I feel like it was very strong emotions. And I know a lot of people say [filming for Single's Inferno] is only 10 days, how can you develop the feelings? But I'm imagining when you're there in the experience and all you have is time with each other, the feelings also come a lot sooner, right?
Theo: Yeah, definitely. So many people say, "Hey, it is just 10 days." But if you get to the island, you end up forgetting all about the camera since Day 3. You even don't know what time it is. All the emotions and all the actions were 100 percent pure, genuine things. Nobody could act in front of the cameras.

Thank you for sharing that. Especially since this season has more participants that are in acting or modeling, some fans have been wondering, were people acting? Do you have thoughts on that?
Theo: The camera never lies. If you really act in front of someone, other cast [members] are not fooled — they can catch fake or not easily. So if you do any acting in front of them, they're going to catch [you] as soon as you do. We couldn't act at all. 

I also wanted to ask — a lot of fans were shipping you with Chung You-jin. Were you surprised by that reaction? 
Theo: I really got on well [with] all the cast in Single's Inferno — with A-rin, Hae-rin, Min-seol. I was called Big Brother Theo, because I was kind of [the] consultant on the island. [Me and Youjin] were really close. When it comes to our music and movie taste, we had a lot [in] common. I think that's why people want us to have a more [romantic] vibe, so I understand it. But yeah, we are just super close. [Pauses.] I think myself with Youjin is close, but the other way around? I don't know. 

You don't know if she thinks you guys are close? 
Theo: Yeah. [Laughs.] I'm just hoping. 

When you said you were the island consultant, what were you consulting them on?
Theo: The saying goes, fake it till you make it and it ain't over till it's over. This is my all-time favorite motto. But on the island, so many people were very hesitant to make a move on someone. So I was like, hey, please be confident. "You have to go big or go home, why are you hesitant like that?" Especially when it comes to Dong-ho, [he] was very [popular] between three girls — You-jin, Hae-rin, A-rin. Hae-rin came to me and was like, "Oppa, I'm [feeling] very painful because of Dong-ho. [What] am I supposed to do?" I was like, "Hey, go straight. You're going to make it." And next time A-rin came to me saying [the] same thing. Then I was like, "Hey, no worries. You're going to make it, just go." And You-jin came to me and I said same thing. So I made [an] uplifting and very encouraging vibe on the island. 

You were telling everyone to shoot their shot.
Theo: Right. They were too shy, I think.

I also saw you post that Lee Byung-hun and his movie Once in a Summer inspired you to start acting while you were in military. Can you share more about how that happened? 
Theo: He's my role model. I took up acting because of his movie and him. Every time I watch his movie and his acting, I was very motivated. And especially his eyes are one of a kind and unparalleled. Among his movies, Once in a Summer was very — I cried a lot, more than 10 times. That love comes off as very pure. I love that period, 1970 to 1990s. They didn't have any cell phone, so they [would] write a letter or [make] expressions like flower ring or something like that, like me. 

Is there one genre you're most interested in right now for when you choose acting projects? Is it romance or are you open to anything?
Theo: Actually, romance is the last thing that I want to. It's so burden[some] and so hard. The role that I want to portray as an actor is historical figures, like artist, especially musician, because I was going to major in piano when I was younger. And I have a kind of admiration for singer or musician. But after watching Single's Inferno, I was like, "Oh, I'm not going to be that bad to land a romantic role. OK, let me try."

So as you were watching Single's Inferno, you were seeing the potential for yourself as a romance lead.
Theo: [Laughs] Yeah, I don't want to be very cocky, but yeah.

I have to ask on behalf of the fans if you're single right now.
Theo: Yeah, I'm single.

Has your ideal type changed since going on Single's Inferno?
Theo: I haven't changed. My ideal type is smile well, optimistic, positive, and not outgoing but uplifting, because I hate naysayers. I never let naysayers be around me. And on top of that, I'm extremely positive and extremely obsessed with being happy. I think happiness is not as complicated as you think — a single flower, or a little handwritten note, those small things can make someone's whole day. I think that's what makes life more romantic and meaningful. I want my future partner to have this kind of similar attitude to life like me.

I love it. So positivity and little gestures, simple things that bring joy.
Theo: There are a lot of people — some people would take my flower ring [and be] like, "Oh my God, I need diamonds, get out of here." But some people are like, "Oh my God, flower ring, you're so romantic. I love it." There are a lot of types of people in the world, so I would definitely choose the second. And Si-an was like that, that's why we really clicked and had good chemistry.

Finally, did you expect this level of support?
Theo: This whole experience has been too surreal like to me, like a pinch-me moment. I never expected people [to] like me this much through this show. I've gotten a lot of comments and direct messages. Some guys were like, "I want to love like you do." I was so moved.

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Single's Inferno Season 4 is available to stream on Netflix.