On February 2, Kwak Sun-hee uploaded the photos and wrote a short but meaningful caption: “Peaceful, safe love—sincere from the heart.” Her partner responded with equal affection, saying, “With the most beautiful autumn bride, in Jeju. No matter what anyone says, we are one.”
Kwak Sun-hee is a former first lieutenant of the 53rd Infantry Division (Reserve) and gained public recognition after appearing on Channel A’s reality show The Iron Squad W, which concluded in December 2024. After the show, she openly came out as a member of the LGBTQ+ community by sharing photos with her partner, becoming one of the few Korean TV personalities to do so publicly.
She later clarified that her recent trip to New York was not for a wedding ceremony but for running a marathon and filing marriage-related paperwork. “There are no plans for a wedding ceremony for now, but we plan to hold one in Korea in the future,” she explained, adding that she would gladly share the news when the time comes. Kwak also addressed malicious comments head-on, warning that excessive harassment would be met with legal action and humorously noting she would use any settlement money to enjoy another trip to New York.
Reflecting on a particularly emotional day, Kwak shared how her partner woke up before dawn to help her prepare for a competition, drove her to the venue, cheered her on throughout the event, and finally proposed. “It was a day so special it felt radiant,” she wrote. “I almost burst into tears when I received the ring—but I held back because my makeup might smudge, and there were too many people around. Looking back, it’s still incredibly touching.”
Kwak also revealed that the couple is already living together. While attempting to register her partner as a spouse during a change-of-address filing, she was told that same-sex couples could not be registered as married in Korea, resulting in her partner being listed as a cohabitant instead. She added that they planned to travel together to New York for the November marathon and hoped to make a marriage vow there if given the opportunity.
Addressing misunderstandings about her appearance on The Iron Squad W, Kwak emphasized that she joined the show as a soldier, not to date. “Even after filming ended and until the show aired, people assumed I was heterosexual. I wasn’t there to meet women—I was there as a military officer,” she stated.
By sharing her story openly, Kwak Sun-hee has sparked conversation about love, identity, and visibility, while standing firmly by her message: regardless of public opinion, the two of them remain united as one.
Sources: Nate