KBS’s dating reality introduces noona-younger man pairings that spark strong reactions.

KBS’s new dating reality show Nuna Naege Yeoja-ya has finally introduced its “noona” contestants and younger men, creating a highly immersive premise. In the first episode, aired Monday night, four noona contestants — Park Ye-eun, Park Ji-won, Kim Young-kyung, and Goo Bon-hee — appeared and received cards featuring silhouettes and keywords representing the younger men. They picked keywords matching their tastes and went to meet the matches at designated locations.

The first matchup was Goo Bon-hee with the younger man Kim Mu-jin, guided by the keyword “Ya-mujin.” The MCs Han Hye-jin, Hwang Woo-seul-hye, 2PM’s Wooyoung, and Tomorrow X Together’s Soobin watched their interaction and commented on the chemistry, noting that the pair looked well suited. Mu-jin flirted by telling Goo “you are really beautiful,” and Han Hye-jin admitted she was overwhelmed, saying, “Not ordinary at all.”

Throughout the episode, participants received “Love QR” messages asking them to leave messages, voice notes, photos, or music for someone they liked. After the 1-on-1 meetings, all four pairs gathered at the “Noona House” to continue their evolving dynamics. Viewers were teased with the possibility of a significant age gap, up to a full 12 years, adding to the anticipation.

The couples toasted with wine as the evening progressed, and the younger men tried to keep composed in the face of enthusiastic noonas. The love notes were exchanged later as the younger men checked the messages in their own rooms, revealing the evolving dynamics among the group. Nuna-noona romance “Nuna Naege Yeoja-ya” airs every Monday at 9:50 PM on KBS2.