While several Korean stars have publicly come out as part of the LGBTQ+ community, only a handful have remained active in the entertainment industry. Many have instead chosen to step away from the spotlight to avoid backlash and invasions of privacy.
This retired K-pop star has kept a very low profile since departing from his group, making it all the more surprising when he recently revealed that he is in a relationship with a much younger man. Here’s the full story:
Yoo Dong Ho (동호) was formerly a member of Apeace (에이피스), South Korea’s largest boy group, which debuted in 2011 with 21 members. The rapper left the band in 2014 and has since appeared to lead a fairly normal life. It was only recently that the former idol revealed that he is in a relationship with a Taiwanese-Canadian man named Zilong, who, according to his Instagram page, works as a baker and may also be the owner of a pastry shop.
The couple have a 16-year age gap, with Dong Ho aged 40 and his partner 24. The pair confirmed their relationship after sharing a photo of themselves kissing and embracing in a photobooth on their joint Instagram account. They also launched a YouTube channel together. In their first video, which was uploaded earlier this month, Zilong is seen flying from Taiwan to South Korea to meet Dong Ho and confessing his feelings.
While their first in-person meeting took place on 31st October, the two had reportedly known each other for some time prior, communicating regularly and sharing their daily lives. It was only after meeting in person that they decided to make their relationship official. In subsequent videos, the couple have shared glimpses of their daily lives with viewers, offering a look at what they do together.
It remains unclear how Dong Ho and Zilong first met or how long they had been in contact, though the videos suggest they are still learning each other’s languages, as they appear to communicate mainly in English. Fans were initially surprised by the couple’s age gap but remained supportive of their relationship, expressing interest in learning more about their story in the near future.
Watch the video of their first meeting below:
