The breast cancer awareness campaign Love Your W, hosted by fashion magazine W Korea, has been embroiled in controversy over the amount of donations and the way events are run.
According to materials that Lee Su-jin, a member of the National Assembly's Health and Welfare Committee from the Democratic Party of Korea, received from the Ministry of Health and Welfare on the 17th, the cumulative amount W Korea donated to the Korea Breast Health Foundation from 2007 through Nov. of this year was confirmed to be about 315,690,000 won. This shows a large discrepancy with the "cumulative donations of 1.1 billion won" that the magazine has publicized on its official website and promotional materials.
In particular, W Korea has not disclosed detailed information about other donation recipients besides the Korea Breast Health Foundation, raising questions about the basis for the "1.1 billion won."
Looking at donations by year, they were 34,900,000 won in 2007; 14,080,000 won in 2010; 32,530,000 won in 2011; 42,820,000 won in 2012; 13,700,000 won in 2013; 29,940,000 won in 2014; 17,400,000 won in 2015; 5,000,000 won in 2016; and 125,300,000 won in 2024. There were no donation records for 2008 and 2009, and from 2017 through 2023.
Until now, W Korea has promoted the event as "cumulative donations of 1.1 billion won, providing specialized screening opportunities for about 500 women," positioning Love Your W as a leading domestic charity event. However, the gap with the newly released official figures has sparked credibility concerns.
On Oct. 15, the Love Your W 2025 event held at the Four Seasons Hotel in Jongno District, Seoul, drew numerous celebrities and influencers. A glamorous fashion parade on the photo wall and a brand-sponsored party stage followed, and scenes of people holding drinks and chatting and performance videos were shared on official social media. But critics said there was relatively little content that directly reflected the event's original aim of "raising breast cancer awareness."
The controversy grew especially after singer Jay Park performed the song "Mommae" at the after-party stage. The song's lyrics contain many expressions that describe women's bodies, prompting criticism that it was not appropriate for a breast cancer awareness campaign.
Meanwhile, W Korea has not yet issued an official statement regarding the discrepancy in donated amounts and the controversy over event operations.
[Photo] W Korea SNS
[OSEN]