On February 2, Kwak Sun-hee uploaded the photos and wrote a short but meaningful caption: “Peaceful and safe love, sincere from the heart.” His partner responded with equal affection, saying: “With the most beautiful autumn bride, in Jeju. No matter what others say, we are one.”
Kwak Sun-hee is a former lieutenant of the 53rd Infantry Division (Reserve) and gained public recognition after appearing on the Channel A reality show The Iron Squad Wwhich ended in December 2024. After the show, he openly declared himself a member of the LGBTQ+ community by sharing photos with his partner, becoming one of the few Korean television personalities to do so publicly.
He later clarified that his recent trip to New York was not for a wedding ceremony but to run a marathon and file wedding-related paperwork. “There are no plans for a wedding ceremony for now, but we plan to hold one in Korea in the future,” he explained, adding that he will gladly share the news when the time comes. Kwak also addressed the malicious comments head-on, warning that excessive harassment would be addressed with legal action and wryly noting that he would use the settlement money to enjoy another trip to New York.
Reflecting on a particularly emotional day, Kwak recounted how her partner woke up before dawn to help her prepare for a competition, drove her to the venue, encouraged her throughout the event and eventually proposed to her. “It was such a special day that it seemed radiant,” he wrote. “I almost burst into tears when I received the ring, but I held back because my makeup might have smudged 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 request, she was told that same-sex couples could not be registered as married in Korea, resulting in her partner being listed as a domestic partner instead. He added that they planned to travel together to New York for the marathon in November and hoped to make a wedding vow there if he had the opportunity.
Address misconceptions about its appearance on The Iron Squad WKwak pointed out that she joined the show as a soldier, not until today. “Even after filming ended and until the show aired, people thought I was heterosexual. I wasn’t there to meet women: I was there as a military officer,” he stated.
By openly sharing her story, Kwak Sun-hee has sparked a conversation about love, identity and visibility, while firmly maintaining her message: regardless of public opinion, the two of them remain united as one.
Sources: Nate
