Heejin forms 'Standby Me' first same-sex couple with model Tae Eun-chae

An unexpected same-sex couple has emerged on the Wavve original dating reality show 'Standby Me.' Hee Jin Jeong, whose feelings were unpredictable until the very end, made her final choice by selecting freelance model Tae Eun-chae, who is nine years younger, resulting in the program's first same-sex couple.

In the final episode of 'Standby Me,' released on the 7th, the eight cast members—consisting of four men and four women, including Soojin, Yong-gyu, Seungho, Eunchae, Jin-woo, Chae-be, Kang Hyeyeon, and Hee Jin Jeong—participated in the final selection.

During the 'Rewind Date' held ahead of the final episode, the participants met the person they wanted to return to from their past moments to resolve lingering emotions and misunderstandings. It was a time to settle the tangled relationships formed during the short one-week period and to confirm where their hearts were leading them until the very end.

Seungho and Jin-woo, who were called a 'certain couple' from the beginning, attempted to talk once more but ultimately failed to narrow the difference in their positions. Soojin requested a date with Hee Jin Jeong, expressing her feelings honestly once again and reigniting a fading love line.

Kang Hyeyeon and Hee Jin Jeong also had a sincere conversation to resolve the misunderstandings that had built up between them. The two moved past their competitive relationship and settled into a relationship where they support each other's choices.

After the final night passed, the long-awaited final selection began.

First, Jin-woo and Kang Hyeyeon each chose Seungho, creating a peculiar love triangle centered around one man. Facing the three of them, Seungho confessed, "To be honest, I don't even know my own heart well," showing his hesitation until the final moment.

Ultimately, the person Seungho chose was Kang Hyeyeon.

Seungho stated, "I have no regrets about my choice. I want to continue a relationship that lasts a long time, even if it is slow," and Kang Hyeyeon, who had pursued Seungho until the end, shared her thoughts after being chosen, saying, "Since we are a couple that formed with difficulty, we should be happy together."

However, the biggest twist of the final episode appeared at the very end.

While Yong-gyu, who was chosen by Chae-be, expressed his refusal and simultaneously gave up on the final selection, two 'straight-forward women,' Soojin and Tae Eun-chae, approached Hee Jin Jeong, whose heart had been difficult to read until the end.

Hee Jin Jeong expressed her apologies to Soojin and then took Tae Eun-chae's hand.

In this way, Hee Jin Jeong and Tae Eun-chae were born as the final same-sex couple of 'Standby Me.'

Hee Jin Jeong expressed her gratitude to Tae Eun-chae regarding the unexpected result, saying, "I never dreamed in my wildest dreams that I would become a 'final couple' with Tae Eun-chae, so it's just amazing." Tae Eun-chae also conveyed her intention to continue the relationship without rushing, telling Hee Jin Jeong, "Let's continue to look at each other slowly, just as we have been doing."

The age difference between the two also drew attention. Hee Jin Jeong, born in 1996, is a graphic designer, while Tae Eun-chae, born in 2005, is a freelance model. Beyond their nine-year age gap, the two opened their hearts to each other little by little within the program and eventually developed into a romantic relationship during the final selection.

Following the broadcast, their relationship has continued outside the program. Hee Jin Jeong recently showed her special affection by leaving comments such as "Hmm, she's so pretty" on Tae Eun-chae's SNS posts. This appears to show that the emotions started on the show are evolving into a real-life relationship.

In particular, the final selection of 'Standby Me' drew even more attention because it did not remain within the typical heterosexual romance narrative. As Hee Jin Jeong's feelings, which were difficult to predict at first, headed toward Tae Eun-chae at the last moment, it dramatically demonstrated the 'unpredictable movement of emotions,' which is the core of dating reality shows.

Ultimately, what the short one-week meeting left behind was not just the birth of a couple. It decorated the final scene of 'Standby Me' by showing that one's heart can move toward an unexpected person, transcending differences in gender, age, and the boundaries of relationships.