Comedian Lee Hwi Jae’s controversial return to variety TV is stirring heated debate, and YouTuber-turned-reporter Lee Jin-ho has now weighed in with claims about Lee’s comeback attempts.
On the 24th, Lee Jin-ho uploaded a video to his YouTube channel detailing Lee Hwi Jae’s path back to television, asserting that Lee has tried for years to make a comeback. "Lee Hwi Jae has steadily worked to return for the past one to two years, but it hasn’t been easy," he said, adding, "Even the show he’s set to appear on is a one-off guest spot, with no additional bookings yet."
In fact, Lee is set to appear on KBS2’s variety show Immortal Songs: Singing the Legend for the 'Entertainment King of Singers' special, marking his first broadcast appearance in about four years. The teaser, which shows him saying "It’s been a while" with tears in his eyes, has already drawn major attention.
Allegations that Lee’s return was secured through connections also faced pushback. According to Lee Jin-ho, "Despite his long career and broad network, coming back wasn’t easy," suggesting it’s hard to chalk this up to simple favoritism.
Family-related rumors were addressed as well. Regarding speculation that Lee stayed in Canada to enroll his twin children in a foreign school, the explanation given was that it began as a short break rather than a long-term stay, but the trip ended up being extended. Currently, only Lee has returned to Korea, and the children’s return schedule has not been confirmed.
Meanwhile, fellow comedian Yoon Hyung-bin publicly voiced support for Lee in a phone interview, saying, "With so much excessive criticism, he must have felt very lonely and exhausted," and describing Lee as "a senior who’s considerate and well-mannered, always looking out for juniors." He added that it’s regrettable some critics are "judging based on an unverified image."
Debuting in 1992, Lee Hwi Jae rose to fame across numerous variety programs but halted activities amid a high-profile apartment noise dispute and other controversies, leaving for Canada with his family in 2022. Now, roughly four years later, his planned comeback is splitting public opinion over what comes next for the star.