After four years away, TV personality Lee Hwi-jae is back―but the overall reaction remains chilly, even as colleagues who’ve worked with him on set are stepping up to show support.
In the newly released teaser for KBS2’s "Immortal Songs" “2026 Entertainment Industry King of Singers” special, Lee said, “It’s been a while―nice to see you again,” then took the stage with eyes welling up. His return to the camera after a long hiatus instantly became a hot topic.
Tension reportedly ran high at the taping. Lee arrived alone without a manager or family and entered via a separate route to avoid press. Word from the set says he broke down in tears during rehearsal as emotions surged.
Public sentiment toward the comeback, however, hasn’t been kind. Once his appearance was announced, viewer boards and online communities filled with comments like, “This comeback doesn’t make sense,” and “Why now, of all times?”
Amid the backlash, colleagues voiced support. On the 23rd, Sayuri wrote on her social media, “The oppa I know is warm, considerate, and looks after fellow cast members―a neighborhood oppa type who’s not arrogant at all.” She added, “It hurts every time people who haven’t met him and don’t really know him leave comments as if they know his entire character.” Sayuri previously appeared on variety shows Lee hosted, including "Three Wheels."
That same day, Yoon Hyung-bin also shared, “Maybe I don’t know everything, but at the very least, the senior I’ve always seen is truly a good person. So many people say otherwise that it makes me wonder if there’s something I don’t know,” adding, “Whether off-camera or on set, the senior I met was genuinely a good person. Please cheer him on.”
Some argue the overall criticism of Lee is excessive. Since there wasn’t a criminal act that caused social scandal, they say it’s too much to take issue with the comeback itself. There’s also the view that his forceful MC style on past variety shows like "Three Wheels"―especially when drawing out cast members’ bits―was consumed as a made-for-TV “villain” persona.
Still, even with these defenses, flipping public opinion may be an uphill battle. Past on-air conduct controversies, plus everyday-life issues surrounding his wife Moon Jung-won―like a noise dispute between floors and alleged “meoktwi” (leaving without paying)―have stacked up, leaving a lingering negative image. All eyes are on whether his tearful return onstage can shift the narrative.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)