'I Am Solo' director Nam Kyu-hong to launch 'marriage experiment' reality show 'Contract Marriage'

Nam Kyu-hong, the director behind "I Am Solo," is set to debut a new dating reality show built around the concept of a "marriage experiment."

MBC Every1 and KBS Joy announced Monday that they will air the first episode of the marriage-simulation show "Contract Marriage" on Sept. 28 at 10:30 p.m.

The program will follow men and women eager to marry as they enter a contractual arrangement to experience married life in advance, exploring what marriage truly means along the way.

Participants will live as a couple under the terms of their contract, navigating lifestyle habits, values and conflicts that rarely surface during ordinary courtship. Through this process, they will get a concrete sense of the kind of spouse and married life they are looking for. The unpredictable situations that arise from pairing different personalities are expected to deliver tension and entertainment distinct from conventional matchmaking shows.

Nam, a former SBS entertainment division producer, has built his career directing matchmaking-style dating reality programs. He gained popularity directing "Jjak" during his time at SBS and currently helms "I Am Solo" and its spinoff "I Am Solo: Love Continues." Among fans, his shows have earned a reputation not merely as matchmaking entertainment but as something closer to a documentary observing the full spectrum of human nature — or even a social-anthropology experiment.