South Korea’s groundbreaking lesbian dating show, To Get Her, has hit a rough patch after controversy surrounding contestant Kim Ri-won. The production team announced they will remove most of her scenes due to public criticism over her past, delaying episodes and sparking debates about transparency and representation.
Show Faces Controversy Over Contestant’s Past
To Get Her premiered on Wavve on April 25, 2025, marking a historic moment for LGBTQ+ visibility in South Korean media. The show follows seven women—Riwon, Seoyeon, Jin Ah, Hangyul, Heeyeong, Dagyo, and Mirang—as they explore romantic connections in a shared house on Jeju Island. Filming took place after open casting calls in 2024, with the series aiming to highlight authentic lesbian relationships.
Trouble began shortly after the premiere when netizens uncovered Kim Ri-won’s past as a broadcast jockey (BJ), a term often linked to provocative or adult-oriented streaming in South Korea. Screenshots and rumors spread online, alleging she had hosted “racy” streams from 2016 to 2018, 2021 to 2022, and February to September 2024. Some claimed she went on six “dinner dates” with high bidders, a common practice among streamers, though she insisted these were platonic and recorded for transparency.
The backlash grew when netizens questioned Kim Ri-won’s sexuality, accusing her of queerbaiting by allegedly faking her lesbian identity for fame. Posts on X and Korean forums fueled speculation, with some users citing her past relationships with men as evidence. This led to her deleting all posts from her Instagram, which had around 293,000 followers, as the controversy intensified.
Kim Ri-won’s Apology and Clarification
On April 29, Kim Ri-won addressed the allegations in a handwritten apology shared on Instagram. She admitted to her streaming past and confirmed the six dinner dates, emphasizing they involved no physical contact. She expressed regret for not disclosing this to the production team, calling it a “selfish” decision.
It is true—without excuse—that I previously hosted inappropriate broadcasts and saw a man before filming began. I now have a different job, and I believed all traces of my past broadcasts were erased. Wanting to finally accept myself as a lesbian, I selfishly decided to appear on the show.
As a result, I ended up causing harm to the show and deeply hurting the cast members and production staff. For that, I am truly and deeply sorry. The cast and production team knew nothing about my past. They, too, are victims.
She clarified her identity, stating, “I am a woman who loves women.” Kim Ri-won shared that she realized her attraction to women in middle school and had a two-and-a-half-year relationship with a woman. However, she admitted to dating men during periods of self-doubt, including a brief relationship with a man in August 2024. She described this relationship as abusive, alleging he threatened to out her, used violence, and hacked her accounts. She applied for the show to come out on her own terms.
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.
Kim Ri-won has since hired a lawyer to pursue legal action against her ex-partner and apologized for any harm to the LGBTQ+ community, fearing her actions might reinforce stereotypes.
Production Team’s Response and Episode Delays
The controversy prompted Display Company, the show’s producer, to issue a statement on May 1, apologizing for the concern caused. They denied knowing about Kim Ri-won’s past, explaining that casting involved three rounds of in-depth interviews and background checks. They admitted limitations in verifying all aspects of applicants’ histories.
On May 4, Display Company announced they would re-edit the show to remove most of Kim Ri-won’s scenes, following viewer backlash. They noted that some scenes are essential to other contestants’ storylines and will only be kept with the cast’s consent.
We are currently re-editing the program with the principle of removing as many of the contestant’s scenes as possible. These adjustments have been made through discussions with the cast, and future editing will also proceed with care to maintain the narrative flow.
Episodes 3 and 4, originally set for May 2, were postponed to allow time for re-editing. The team also condemned online harassment, including malicious comments and inappropriate messages directed at the cast, urging it to stop.
Additional Tensions with Contestant Hangyul
The situation escalated when fellow contestant Hangyul alleged Kim Ri-won made inappropriate suggestions about traveling abroad together after filming. Hangyul clarified there were no romantic feelings but said they had become friends. She felt betrayed by Kim Ri-won’s undisclosed past.
Kim Ri-won denied these claims, insisting she cherished Hangyul as a friend and would not involve her in anything inappropriate.
I understand that Hangyul, who is young and wants to work in music, doesn’t want to associate herself with someone dirty like me. She probably feels betrayed by me. 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.
The production team investigated Hangyul’s allegations but found no definitive evidence, addressing the issue in a group meeting in early April.
Public and Fan Reactions
Reactions have been mixed. Some Korean netizens criticized Kim Ri-won, questioning her motives and the impact on the show’s credibility. Comments on forums like TheQoo included:
She made money satisfying men’s sexual desires, and now she wants to show up on a lesbian dating show? What kind of mindset is that?
Did she think she wouldn’t get caught? How did she even think she could go on a dating show?
Others defended her, arguing that her past doesn’t invalidate her identity. International fans, in particular, expressed support on X, praising her honesty and condemning the backlash as misogynistic and homophobic.
riwon is so articulate with her words and handled everything with so much grace despite thousands of men mocking, harassing, and outright discriminating her bc of her past, i wanna give her the tightest hug bc she really doesn’t deserve all the nonsense backlash
i feel so bad about riwon and the all #ToGetHer casts. they’ve been harrased by korean cishet hannams constantly and riwon got accused being camgirl then suddenly questioning her sexuality…? damn being women specifically LESBIAN are so hard in korea FREE MY WOMEN
Some fans criticized the production for not supporting Kim Ri-won more strongly, with one X user stating:
i cannot support a show that claims to be for queer women but prioritises male opinions, so i will stop watching shame on you. riwon and the queer women of south korea deserve better.
Show’s Significance and Viewing Details
To Get Her is a landmark for South Korean television, following the success of Wavve’s gay dating show His Man. The series, filmed on Jeju Island, features activities like dates and letter-writing to foster connections. It streams on Wavve at 11 AM KST (2:30 PM IST) every Friday, with international access on Rakuten TV and free episodes on Dailymotion. The show is set to run for 10 episodes until June 27, 2025, though the controversy has raised questions about its future.
The production team emphasized that unauthorized sharing of content on social media violates contracts and will face consequences. They remain committed to protecting the cast and maintaining the show’s narrative integrity.
Also Read: ToGetHer Faces Backlash as Contestant Hangyul Accuses Riwon of Inappropriate Proposal
As of May 4, 2025, Display Company is actively re-editing episodes to minimize Kim Ri-won’s presence while ensuring the storyline remains coherent. The team has not confirmed when episodes 3 and 4 will air but expects to resume broadcasting soon. Kim Ri-won continues to face online scrutiny, but her supporters argue she deserves a chance to move forward. The show’s handling of the controversy will likely shape its reception as it navigates this challenging period.
CREDITS: Daum
