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| Lee Hwi-jae / Photo: DB |
[Sports Today reporter Song O-jung] Speculation over the timing of Lee Hwi-jae’s return — and public shows of support from colleagues — have fueled debate as the broadcaster prepares for an on-air comeback.
On March 5, news broke that Lee will return on KBS2’s Immortal Songs, sending ripples through the entertainment community. He is slated to appear on a “2026 Entertainment King of Kings” special alongside versatile performers including Kim Shin-young, Moon Se-yoon, Park Sung-kwang, Song Il-gook, Oh Man-seok, Jo Hye-ryeon and Hong Seok-cheon.
Lee stepped away from activities in 2022 and moved to Canada with his family; this marks his first on-air appearance in four years. Though he was once a fixture on popular shows and awards stages, public sentiment has remained cool, as several controversies predating his hiatus still linger in many viewers’ memories.
Reflecting that atmosphere, reactions to Lee’s comeback have been mixed.
In a recently released teaser, Lee returned to the camera with tears in his eyes after four years away. Some viewers who oppose his comeback flooded the teaser’s comments with accusations that the production staged the moment to rehabilitate his image, calling it “image laundering.”
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| Photo: KBS2 Immortal Songs teaser capture |
On online forums and social media, users have even suggested Lee timed his return so his twin sons could enroll in an international school — the theory being that the twins, born in 2013 and now middle-school age, will meet residency requirements this year to qualify as domestic applicants. Lee’s wife, Moon Jung-won, and the two boys are reportedly still in Canada.
Lee’s comeback has emerged as a hot-button issue in the entertainment industry, spawning unverified claims and rampant speculation.
By contrast, friends and colleagues close to Lee have publicly rallied behind him.
Broadcaster Sayuri commented on a social media post about Lee’s return, writing, “The man I know is warm, considerate, looks after fellow cast members and never comes across as arrogant — he felt like the kind of neighborhood brother you’d have.” She screenshotted the comment and shared it on her account in an active show of support, adding that it pains her to see people who haven’t met him speak as if they fully know his character.
Comedian Yoon Hyung-bin also asked for understanding, saying, “I may not know everything, but the senior I’ve always known, both offstage and on air, is genuinely a good person,” and urged others to give him a chance.
[Sports Today reporter Song O-jung ent@stoo.com]
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