Massive Age Gap on Korea’s First Lesbian Dating Show “ToGetHer” Sparks Heat Debate Among Viewers

South Korea’s first lesbian dating show ToGetHer has quickly captured the public’s attention—not just for its groundbreaking concept, but also for sparking heated controversy over a massive age gap between contestants.
K-Netizens’ Reactions on Theqoo
The show, which premiered this week on Wavve, features seven women—Mirang, Dagyo, Jinah, Seoyeon, Riwon, Heeyoung, and Hangyul—who have already drawn praise for their stunning visuals. However, beyond the surface, Korean viewers were stunned when it was revealed that Hangyul, a singer-songwriter and the youngest contestant, was born in 2006.

Depending on her exact birthday, Hangyul is only 18 or 19 years old, a fact that has unsettled many fans. According to Koreaboo, on Korean community forums like Theqoo, reactions ranged from shock to concern.

Netizens expressed their disbelief through comments like:
- “Oh gosh, such a baby.”
- “They really brought in a baby if she’s ’06-born ㅋㅋㅋㅋ.”
- “Can anyone even handle someone born in 2006?”
- “She’s totally my type, but she’s just a baby. After learning her age and rewatching the clips, she really does come off super young ㅋㅋㅋ.”
- “A baby showed up.”
- “She’s a baby, isn’t she?”
- “The age gap between her and the other contestants is huge.”
Netizens’ Reaction on X (Formerly Twitter)
International viewers shared similar sentiments. One user on X (formerly Twitter) tweeted, “What is a 06 doing in a dating show?”
Meanwhile, Korean users on X were even more critical, with sharp comments like:
“Is it for real that Hangyul was born in ’06? They must’ve really been short on people.”
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Adding fuel to the controversy, it was reported that Heeyoung, a tattoo artist and presumed eldest contestant, was born in 1993—potentially making her 32 years old. With a 13-year age gap between Hangyul and Heeyoung, many questioned the appropriateness of their joint appearance on a dating show where romantic interactions are possible.

One viewer remarked, “Apparently there’s a ’93-born tattoo artist too. Is it even okay for a ’93 and a ’06 to be together on the same dating show??? That’s insane. Seriously, were they really that short on people, that they stuck an ’06 between all the ’93s?”
However, some netizens were less concerned, emphasizing that Hangyul, being a legal adult, had the right to participate. One user defended the casting by saying, “Yeah, but the ’06 could probably still date a ’93 though.”
While ToGetHer set out to break new ground in Korea’s entertainment industry, its casting decisions have now sparked broader discussions about age dynamics, ethics, and consent in reality TV. As ToGetHer continues airing, many are watching closely to see if the controversy will escalate—or if the show will simply move forward as planned.