'EXchange 4' Stuns with First-Ever Two-Ex Bombshell

Tving’s hit dating reality series "EXchange 4" just dropped a jaw-dropping twist: one contestant is connected to not one, but two exes ― a first for the franchise since its 2021 debut.

In Episode 12, released Nov. 26, a new male “wildcard” contestant ― the show’s term for a late arrival meant to stir the pot ― entered the EXchange House. The newcomer, dermatologist Shin Seung-yong, 33, cranked up the tension, and by the episode’s final moments it was revealed that his ex is Park Hyun-ji ― leaving both the panel and viewers stunned.

The shock landed harder because earlier in the season, actor Sung Baek-hyun, 27, had already been identified as Park’s former boyfriend. The two dated from December 2018 to December 2020 and reunited on camera after roughly five years apart.

With Park now facing two former partners under one roof, fans marveled that it marks the first time in EXchange history that a participant is entangled with two exes inside the house.

Not everyone was sold on the pacing. Coming right after Episode 11’s tearful “X Room” scene, some questioned the narrative logic and emotional continuity ― wondering if that five-year heartbreak was tied to this twist ― while others found the two-ex setup simply “too much.”

Still, plenty of viewers called it a savvy shake-up and are eager to see what happens when the exes clock each other’s presence. With one more female “wildcard” reportedly still to come, fans are also speculating whether another male cast member could end up linked to two exes as well.

Riding strong buzz, Season 4 has been extended by two episodes to a 22-episode run. With contestants whose breakups are further in the rearview than in past seasons, the stakes for new pairings are higher than ever.

"EXchange 4" streams Wednesdays at 6 p.m. KST exclusively on Tving. 

(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)