Exchange (TV program)
Exchange also known as its Korean title literal meaning Transit Love, is an original South Korean dating reality show that airs every Wednesday on TVING, an OTT service in Korea. The series comprises four seasons. The first season aired in 2021, followed by the second season in 2022, the third season in 2023, and the fourth season in 2025.
Overview
The reality show is about ex-couples that have broken up because of various reasons, gather to reunite with an ex-lover or find a new person. The show featured ten single men and women, who are brought together to live for weeks at a time, go on dates and get to know each other without knowing who each other's X is. The participants of this show are not strangers, but rather pairs of ex-lovers. Four pairs of ex-couples live under one roof, some of whom are hoping to reunite with their former flames and some who are ready to find romance with the other participants.The main focus of the production team was the chat room system where the participant can choose a person they like and send them a message for each round. In addition, text messages saying "X chose you" and "No" started with a point that X's existence should be differentiated.
Production
Development
For the season 1, Producer Park Sang-hyuk, who directed Strong Heart and Roommate on SBS and Island Musketeers, Seoul Mate, and Snail Hotel on Olive and tvN, is the head producer of Na Young-seok's division, and has produced everything from Grandpas Over Flowers to Youth Over Flowers, Three Meals a Day, Youn's Kitchen, etc.Producer Lee Jin-ju, who was with Summer Vacation, took charge of directing for season 1 and season 2.
After Producer Lee Jin-ju moved to JTBC, Producer Kim In-ha took charge of the directing process for season 3 and season 4.
;Complete Production Credit
All production credits were adapted from TVING unless otherwise stated.
;Season 1
- Park Sang-hyuk
- Lee Jin-ju
- Choi Mi-rae
- Lee Hee-seon
- Kim Seul-gi
- Lee Seung-hwan
- Shin Hae-won
- Park Hyung-won
- Choi Yu-jin
- Lee Gwan-ui
- Jung Ji-won
- Jeon Yeong-sin
- Yeom Mi-ran
- Woo Ji-hoon
- Jung Ji-yeon
- Lee Jin-ju
- Jin Bo-mi
- Yeom Mi-ran
- Woo Ji-hoon
- Jung Ji-yeon
- Kim Hye-mi
- Kim Dan-bi
- Kim In-ha
- Lee In-sun
- Kang Dong-seok
- Kang Gwi-young
Popularity
On December 15, 2021 TVING announced that it analyzed the total number of video on demand users data for TVing users from December 2020 to December 2021 and selected a total of 15 contents by genre and preference. TVing's original "Exchange" topped weekly viewership for 10 consecutive weeks recorded to be the highest contribution to TVing's paid subscription, and was selected as 2021 entertainment show.Although TVING did not reveal the exact number of views of "Exchange," it is undeniable that it is drawing high attention. It has become a hot topic in 43 videos including the full version of the show in a month since the first episode was released on June 26, surpassing 10.52 million, 4867 views. On top of that, the cast's Instagram and other social media are also booming. Not only is the number of YouTube subscribers increasing, but the number of Instagram followers has doubled, raising interest in individual cast members.
The biggest contributor to increasing the accessibility of TVING is definitely Exchange. It was promoted as a domestic original content that could captivate Korean viewers in the OTT market. Exchange captivated people in their 20s and 30s who are more active in watching TV, and it became an opportunity to promote TVING to the public and a representative program. As a result, TVING's paid subscribers and MAU rose sharply. In August, when EXchange was airing, MAU reached an all-time high of 3.87 million, and TVING usage rates soared in the third quarter. It was a result of the success that followed the syndrome of excessive immersion and proof of viewing on social media by people in their 20s and 30s.
Move in rules
- You cannot reveal X or mention it directly.
- Any expression of feelings or skinship, except confession, is permitted.
- On the first day, your age and occupation are not revealed.
- You cannot share each other's SNS or contact information.
- Cleaning and meal duties are handled in a rotation of 2 people.
- Residents eat together every evening.
Fixed panelist
Participants
Male participantsFemale participants
Season 1
| Couple | Dating Timeline | Time of break-up before the show |
| Lee Hyeseon & Yoon Jeong-gwon | May 20, 2020 – October 8, 2020 | 6 months |
| Kim Bo-hyun & Seon Ho-min | September 2017 – February 2021 | 3 months |
| Go Min-young & Lee Joo-hwey | November 2018 – March 2019 | 2 years |
| Coco Lee & Kwak Min-jae | May 25, 2009 – May 10, 2010 | 11 years |
| Jeong Hye-im & Lee Sang-woo | 1 month |
Male participants
Female participants
Did not send text message
Quit the house for a while
Text message was not revealed
Choose each other
Season 2
| Couple | Dating Timeline | Time of break-up before the show |
| Sung Hae-eun & Jeong Gyu-min | January 2014 – February 2020 December 2020 – February 2021 | 1 year and 3 months |
| Lee Na-yeon & Nam Hee-doo | January 2018 – September 2018 July 2019 – July 2020 January 2021 – December 2021 | 5 months |
| Kim Ji-soo & Park Won-bin | August 3, 2017 – December 30, 2018 | 3 years and 4 months |
| Lee Ji-yeon & Kim Tae-i | April 19, 2020 – November 7, 2020 | 1 year and 6 months |
| Park Na-eon & Jung Hyun-gyu | April 2018 – November 2018 April 2019 – November 2019 | 2 years and 5 months |
| Choi Yi-hyun & Jeon Min-gi | August 27, 2018 – November 30, 2019 | 2 years and 7 months |
Male participants
Female participants
Did not send text message
Quit the house
Text message was not revealed
Choose each other
Season 3
| Couple | Dating Timeline | Time of break-up before the show |
| Lee Hye-won & Jo Hwi-hyun | March 24, 2022 – August 24, 2022 | 1 year and 2 months |
| Song Da-hye & Seo Dong-jin | December 18, 2010 – July 2014 August 2014 – September 2018 December 2018 – June 19, 2023 | 4 months |
| Lee Seo-kyung & Lee Ju-won | June 7, 2020 – May 12, 2022 October 26, 2022 – May 16, 2023 | 6 months |
| Lee Yu-jung & Choi Chang-jin | July 24, 2022 – June 7, 2023 | 5 months |
| Kong Sang-jeong & Seo Min-hyung | June 22, 2023 – September 12, 2023 | 1 month |
| Lee Jong-eun & Kim Kwangtae | May 2, 2022 – November 11, 2022 | 11 months |
Male participants
Female participants
Did not send text message
Quit the house for a while
Text message was not revealed
Choose each other
Season 4
| Couple | Dating Timeline | Time of break-up before the show |
| Jo Yoo-sik & Kwak Min-kyung | July 29, 2017 - January 8, 2025 | 5 months |
| Seong Baek-hyun & Park Hyun-ji | December 2018 - December 2020 | 4 years and 6 months |
| Kim Woo-jin & Hong Ji-yeon | March 3, 2024 - March 17, 2025 | 3 months |
| Jung Won-kyu & Park Ji-hyun | August 2023 - June 2024 | 1 year |
| Lee Jae-hyung & Choi Yun-nyeong | March 14, 2018 - April 7, 2019 | 6 years |
| Shin Seung-yong & Park Hyun-ji | January 2023 - September 2024 | 9 months |
Male participants
Female participants
Did not send text message
Quit the house for a while
Text message was not revealed
Choose each other
Aftermath
As of August 2024, Season 1's Ko Min-young and Lee Ju-hwi, Season 2's Sung Hae-eun & Jung Hyun-gyu and Lee Na-yeon & Nam Hee-do, Season 3's Seo Min-hyung & Kong Sang-jeong and Choi Chang-jin & Lee Yu-jung remained dating.As of July 2024, two exes from Season 3— Song Da-hye & Seo Dong-jin and Lee Seo-kyung & Lee Ju-won— who did not pick each other on the show decided to date outside the show.
Spin-off
EXchange: Another Beginning
A spin-off series titled "EXchange: Another Beginning" was released on January 22, 2025, featuring several members from all three seasons.| Name | Birth year | Occupation | Notes | |
| Lee Hye-seon | 1995 | Graphic Designer | From Season 1. Ex-girlfriend of Yoon Jeong-gwon. | |
| Kwak Min-jae | 1991 | Restaurant manager | From Season 1. Ex-boyfriend of Coco Lee. | |
| Jeong Hye-im | 1993 | Model and YouTuber | From Season 1. Ex-girlfriend of Lee Sang-woo. | |
| Jeong Gyu-min | 1994 | Video designer | From Season 2. Ex-boyfriend of Sung Hae-eun. | |
| Lee Ji-yeon | 2001 | College student | From Season 2. Ex-girlfriend of Kim Tae-i. | |
| Park Na-eon | 1998 | University student | From Season 2. Ex-girlfriend of Jung Hyun-gyu. | |
| Jo Hwi-hyun | 1999 | College student | From Season 3. Ex-boyfriend of Lee Hye-won. | |
| Kim Kwang-tae | 1997 | Imported Food Sales Manager | From Season 3. Ex-boyfriend of Lee Jong-eun. | |
| Park Ji-yeon | 1999 | Friend of Lee Ji-yeon from Season 2. | ||
| Lee Kwan-woo | 1991 | Body Profile Studio Owner | Friend of Jo Hwi-hyun from Season 3. |
Original soundtrack
The following are the songs included in the original soundtrack single album, and the sorting criteria are in order of release| Season | Part | Release Date | Song Title | Artist | |
| Season 1 | Part.1 | July 2, 2021 | "Sun or Suck" | Woodz | |
| Season 1 | Part.2 | September 3, 2021 | "Thank You" | Ha Sung-woon | |
| Season 2 | Part.1 | July 29, 2022 | "What If" | Kang Seung-sik | |
| Season 2 | Part.2 | September 2, 2022 | "The Only One Have to Forget" | Wheein | |
| Season 2 | Part.3 Conflict | September 23, 2022 | "In My Spot" | Kim Yejoon | |
| Season 2 | Part.3 Conflict | September 23, 2022 | "All a Lie" | eSNa | |
| Season 2 | Part.4 Again, heart flutters | September 24, 2022 | "Timing" | KOYO | |
| Season 2 | Part.4 Again, heart flutters | September 24, 2022 | "My World, My First" | Jungtune | |
| Season 2 | Part.5 | September 30, 2022 | "Rewind" | Lee Hae-in | |
| Season 3 | Part.1 | January 5, 2024 | "On my mind" | , Heize | |
| Season 3 | Part.2 | January 12, 2024 | "Love Remnants" | Roy Kim | |
| Season 3 | Part.3 | January 14, 2024 | "Pause" | Eddie and the Bricks | |
| Season 3 | Part.3 | January 14, 2024 | "Together" | onthedal | |
| Season 3 | Part.3 | January 14, 2024 | "Sunset" | soo | |
| Season 3 | Part.3 | January 14, 2024 | "They sing for us" | Luca minor | |
| Season 3 | Part.4 | January 19, 2024 | "I Wanna Know" | Zhang Hao | |
| Season 3 | Part.5 | January 26, 2024 | "Last Minute" | Choi Yu-ree | |
| Season 3 | Part 6 | February 2, 2024 | "We're Done" | Dew | |
| Season 3 | Part 6 | February 2, 2024 | "We're Done" | 4Bout | |
| Season 3 | Part 6 | February 2, 2024 | "Competitor" | Choi Jung-in | |
| Season 3 | Part 6 | February 2, 2024 | "Unpredictable" | ABOPF | |
| Season 3 | Part 6 | February 2, 2024 | "Word" | Inni | |
| Season 3 | Part 6 | February 2, 2024 | "Everything" | Inni | |
| Season 3 | Part 6 | February 2, 2024 | "Decision" | Choi Jung-in | |
| Season 3 | Part 6 | February 2, 2024 | "Cloud" | Yoon Chae-young | |
| Season 3 | Part 6 | February 2, 2024 | "Tiki Taka" | Park Jung-eun | |
| Season 3 | Part 6 | February 2, 2024 | "My Ex-Girlfriend" | Shin Hyun-pill | |
| Season 3 | Part 6 | February 2, 2024 | "In Between" | Yoon Chae-young | |
| Season 3 | Part 6 | February 2, 2024 | "Honey" | Kim Yeon-jeong | |
| Season 3 | Part 6 | February 2, 2024 | "Rookie" | Park Jung-eun | |
| Season 3 | Part 6 | February 2, 2024 | "We're Done" | Choi Jung-in, Kim Yeon-jeong | |
| Season 3 | Part 6 | February 2, 2024 | "We're Done" | Choi Jung-in, Shin Young-pill | |
| Season 3 | Part.7 | March 1, 2024 | "Let the Star Shine Us Again" | Lee Sung-kyung, Lim Seul-ong | |
| Season 3 | Part.8 | March 8, 2024 | "All Blue" | Heon Seo | |
| Season 3 | Part.8 | March 8, 2024 | How We Do? | Shirt | |
| Season 4 | Part.1 | October 1, 2025 | "Ruin My Life" | BoyNextDoor | |
| Season 4 | Part.2 | October 15, 2025 | "Love on the Canvas" | Sohee | |
| Season 4 | Part.3 | October 24, 2025 | "As You Wish" | Shownu | |
| Season 4 | Part.4 | October 29, 2025 | "A Day" | Suzy | |
| Season 4 | Part.5 | November 5, 2025 | "Slow Burning Fire" | Hwang So-yoon | |
| Season 4 | Part.6 | November 12, 2025 | "Still Here" | Doyoung | |
| Season 4 | Part.7 | November 20, 2025 | "Remember" | Yura | |
| Season 4 | Part.8 | November 27, 2025 | "Velvet Trigger" | Jay B | |
| Season 4 | Part.9 | December 10, 2025 | "'thinkin bout u" | HAAN and Chan | |
| Season 4 | Part.9 | December 10, 2025 | "Dream Again" | HYNGSN | |
| Season 4 | Part.10 | January 8, 2026 | "Even if we fight, can you just remember this? Make eye contact, hold each other's hands, and try not to hurt each other with a low voice and pretty tone" | Minsu |