Actor Lee Yi-kyung has once again found himself at the center of controversy after private life rumors revealed to be AI-manipulated. What seemed like a settled incident as a hiccup has drawn attention after being linked to the preemption of the Hangout With Yoo news special.
On Oct. 30, the MBC variety program Hangout With Yoo became embroiled in an unexpected controversy. In connection with the Nov. 1 broadcast being preempted, recordings over the past two weeks were canceled, and a report by one outlet claimed the reason was the private life controversy of cast member Lee Yi-kyung.
However, a representative for Hangout With Yoo told OSEN, "It is true that this week's Hangout With Yoo broadcast is preempted, but it is not because recent recordings were canceled. The preemption was decided by MBC due to live coverage of an APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) news special, and it is unrelated to a cast member's private life controversy," the representative said in an official statement.
In fact, Lee Yi-kyung was recently caught up in a private life controversy, but it was revealed that netizens circulated AI-manipulated content, which shocked the public. Accordingly, footage of Lee Yi-kyung that aired on the Oct. 25 episode 303 of Hangout With Yoo was broadcast without edits.
Moreover, a representative for Hangout With Yoo explained, "Although the program's recording schedule is normally set for Thursdays, it has proceeded flexibly. The recent recording cancellations were measures taken after the preemption was decided and have nothing to do with the cast member's controversy." The representative added, "The ongoing 'Insamoh (meeting of unpopular people)' project will proceed with previously recorded segments, and future broadcasts will continue normally. Next week's recording is also scheduled."
Lee Yi-kyung was earlier accused of exchanging obscene messages on social media to the extent that sexual crimes were mentioned by a netizen identified as A, who claimed to be a fan. However, the posts by A, who said they were German, used Korean expressions that were difficult to understand in context, causing confusion about the content, and the pattern of posting exposures across a blog and X (formerly Twitter) and repeatedly deleting them quickly led to reactions that the claims were not credible.
The agency said there had been similar extortion cases against others in the same agency and that it had even received apologies for false reports, but because the same thing kept happening it decided to take legal action. A later admitted that the exposés had been AI-generated fabrications, and the rumors surrounding Lee Yi-kyung were thus wrapped up as a hiccup.
[Photo] OSEN DB, provided by MBC.
[OSEN]