The first-ever Korean lesbian dating show, ToGetHer, has only aired its first couple of episodes but the series has already become mired in controversy. ToGetHer, which premiered its first two episodes on 25 April on Wavve, sees seven contestants move into a house together on South Korea’s largest island, picturesque Jeju. The women get to know each other and take part in romantic activities, to see if sparks fly. New episodes of the dating series were expected to be released weekly up until 20 June, but following controversy involving cast members Han Gyul and Kim Ri Won their release will take a “brief break” following episode three on Friday (2 May) and is expected resuming broadcast at a later date. According to coverage by K-Pop news outlet allkpop and other Korea media publications, Ri Won has faced accusations from viewers of queerbaiting and not really being a lesbian after it came to light that she previously worked as a streamer who shared sexual content online and dated a man in the past. It must be noted, many lesbians have dated men prior to coming out and does not detract from their lesbian identities. In a post shared on her personal Instagram account, she apologised for not disclosing her past to the show’s producers and the “disappointment and pain” it caused, but stood firm that she is a sapphic woman. “I am a woman who loves women. I became aware of my sexual orientation in middle school and had my first serious relationship—a 2.5-year one—with another woman,” she said, as translated by allkpop. She went on to state in a handwritten statement that she previously dated both men and women and her last male partner threatened to out her to friends and family. “He threatened to expose my identity to friends and family if I tried to leave. In that terrifying situation, I applied for the program because I wanted to come out on my own terms, not be outed by someone else.” “I acknowledge without excuse that my past includes inappropriate broadcasts and a brief relationship with a man before the show. I believed everything had been settled and wanted to appear on the program as someone who had finally accepted her identity as a lesbian,” she continued. “In doing so, I ended up hurting the show, its cast, and production staff. I deeply regret and apologize for the harm I’ve caused.” She added regret that that “actions could reinforce misconceptions about sexual minorities”. “Everyone involved in ‘ToGetHer,’ as well as the viewers and community, are victims. The responsibility lies solely with me,” she wrote. Following this, fellow contestant Han Gyul alleged Ri Won was “inappropriate” with her after filming completed. In a statement, quoted and by allkpop, she said their was no romantic feelings between the two of them but they “got to know each other as good friends” and they kept in touch after filming finished. “After filming the program, I kept in polite touch with this participant. Then, she suggested that we go on a trip overseas. At first, I understood it as a simple invitation,” Han Gyul said. “However, as she went further into detail about a ‘meal date’, I realized that she was making an inappropriate offer. Once I realized this, I declined the offer outright.” She added she was “not the only participant who received such an offer from this person”. In the broadcast industry, a ‘meal date’ refers to a date with a sponsor. She continued: “I believe that it is wrong to use one’s sexual orientation as a sort of mask to promote the stereotype that sexual orientation can influence one’s inclination toward certain professions, especially on the premise that one’s decisions were made in the past and that the past is now behind them. “I understand that people will have different interpretations about what is shown on broadcast. However, please also understand that I am only one participant and merely an ordinary individual.” In response, Ri Won denied the allegation and said the “accusations made by Han Gyul are completely false”. “I understand that Han Gyul, who is young and who wants to work in music, doesn’t want to associate herself with someone dirty like me. She probably feels betrayed by me,” she stated. “But a ‘meal date’? Why would I drag such a young girl into that dirty industry? No, because I sincerely cherished this person that I met through this programme.” [너의연애] 디스플레이컴퍼니입니다.를 시청해 주시는 모든 분들께 진심으로 감사드리며, 최근 프로그램과 관련해 발생한 여러 이슈로 심려를 끼쳐드린 점 깊이 사과드립니다. 이번 입장문을 통해 논란과 관련된 제작진의 입장, 그리고 향후 제작 방향에 대해 말씀드리고자 합니다. pic.twitter.com/jKgNDwbn7l— 너의연애 (@gay__zip) May 1, 2025 In a statement shared on social media, the show’s production company apologised for the “concern caused by recent developments surrounding the programme” and said the controversy “has rapidly spread through online communities and the media, raising questions about the overall direction and integrity of the programme”. “Targeted attacks, malicious comments, sexually inappropriate direct messages, misinterpretations, and unfounded claims have inflicted serious harm not only on the cast but also on the show, its audience, and the broader LGBTQ+ community,” the statement reads. The company went on to say: “We would like to clarify that allegations suggesting the production team was aware of the cast’s past and intentionally cast them despite that, which are being spread mainly on some community sites and media, are not true. “These claims are false. The production team has never conducted casting or made plans based on any specific agenda or negative intentions, nor through any unofficial or negative channels.”