Togeworl's Do Dae-yoon opens up about bipolar disorder and forced hospitalization

Togeworl's Do Dae-yoon candidly shared his experiences with mental illness and forced hospitalization—the factors that led to his long hiatus—while expressing long-held feelings of apology and gratitude toward Kim Ye-rim.

On the KBS2 variety program 'Happy Together: Glad We're Not Alone' broadcast on the 17th, Togeworl reunited as a full group for the first time in approximately 13 years to discuss their hiatus and the significance of their comeback.

Togeworl, who gained significant popularity after placing third on the 2011 Mnet audition program 'Superstar K3', debuted under MYSTIC STORY, but their period of activity lasted less than a year. Following Do's return to the United States, the group's activities effectively ceased.

Regarding the reason he was forced to stop activities for such a long period, Do revealed, "I suffered severely from bipolar disorder. That is why I had no choice but to take a break."

He previously drew significant attention during a 2024 broadcast when he revealed he had been forcibly hospitalized in a psychiatric ward due to his family's decision while struggling with extreme mental health challenges.

Kim, who appeared alongside him, recalled the situation, saying, "Schedules like events and 'Superstar K3' concerts continued one after another. We had to handle multiple schedules a day, and since we were still high school students, we were in no state to handle such an environment. At some point, I could see Dae-yoon changing little by little."

In response, Do confessed his feelings at the time, saying, "The overall pressure was too great. I was going through puberty at the time, and I didn't even have the courage to confide in anyone about those worries. Stress kept accumulating, but I didn't know how to relieve it, and eventually, I developed bipolar disorder. That is why I decided I had to leave Korea and return to the United States."

After returning to the United States, he experienced various aspects of life outside of music.

Do said, "I thought that music might not be the only answer. I worked in a jewelry shop warehouse, did quality inspection work, and experienced various jobs including office work and being a bartender." He added, "Until last year, I also worked as the manager for singer Jang Beom June."

However, his lingering attachment to music never truly disappeared.

He explained the motivation for their reunion, saying, "I gathered my courage and came back to Korea, but the name Togeworl kept staying in my head. So, I contacted Ye-rim and asked her to try again together."

The two performed "Yeouya," a track that garnered much attention during their 'Superstar K3' days, showcasing their chemistry for the first time in years.

Watching the stage, Director Jang Hang Jun shared his thoughts, saying, "I kept watching Do Dae-yoon's expression while he sang. Since he left due to personal circumstances, he must have lived with feelings of apology for a long time, and today's stage felt like an apology being delivered to Kim Ye-rim, which was touching."

After the performance, Kim also reflected on the meaning of the reunion.

She said, "I have sung with many people, but while performing today, I thought, 'Dae-yoon was someone who truly supported my voice well. We were such a good team.'"

Do could not hide his overwhelming emotions.

"It was a feeling that is difficult to explain. I even thought, 'Is this really reality?'" he said, expressing his sincere apology and gratitude: "I am truly grateful to Ye-rim. It couldn't have been easy for her to promote alone while I was in the United States. I felt so sorry, and you really went through a lot during that time."