Controversy Halts Korea’s First Lesbian Reality Show ‘Love Is Love’

The groundbreaking Korean LGBTQ+ dating show ‘Love Is Love’ (original Korean title: 너의 연애), which had launched to much fanfare as the country’s first lesbian reality series, has been temporarily suspended following a series of controversies involving cast members.

Display Company, the production team behind the show, announced the hiatus on its official social media on May 1. In a public statement, the company apologized for causing public concern and addressed circulating rumors related to the show’s casting process and interpersonal issues between participants.

“We sincerely apologize for the distress caused by recent incidents related to the program. Due to these issues gaining traction across media and online communities, doubts have emerged regarding the show’s direction and authenticity,” said the company. “Rumors claiming that production knowingly cast a participant with a questionable past are unfounded and baseless.”

Among the allegations is a report that one of the cast members suggested an overseas trip to another contestant with inappropriate intentions. Display Company clarified, “Upon learning of the concern, we conducted a face-to-face investigation with all involved parties in early April. The individuals involved have denied the allegations, and there is currently no verifiable evidence to suggest otherwise.”

The statement continued, “As producers, we can only rely on statements from participants unless we obtain substantiated material. We do not wish for unverified speculation to further fuel negative public perception. However, should concrete evidence surface, we will take firm action.”

The company also announced that the third and fourth episodes, which were scheduled to air on May 2, will be postponed. “We will take this time for internal review and editorial adjustments while reflecting viewers’ various opinions and criticisms. Our goal remains to authentically convey the experiences and emotions of the participants during filming,” they noted.

Display Company reaffirmed its commitment to representing LGBTQ+ narratives. “We’ve developed ‘Love Is Love’ with sincerity and a deep sense of social responsibility, not just as entertainment but as an impactful story. To all viewers who have supported us, we apologize once again and vow to complete the show with integrity,” the company concluded.

The show debuted on April 26 with its first and second episodes. In the days following the release, one contestant, known as Ri-won, faced backlash for her past as an adult broadcast host allegedly presenting heteronormative content. While she confirmed some of the claims—acknowledging that she dated a man in the past—she affirmed her sexual identity as a lesbian and revealed that she is pursuing legal actions due to threats from an ex-boyfriend.

Further claims suggested Ri-won proposed an inappropriate overseas trip to fellow cast member Han-gyul. Ri-won has denied any wrongdoing.