, singer and television personality Kim Jong-min will join KBS2 variety show "The Return of SUPERMAN" (hereafter The Return of SUPERMAN) as a new MC.
Actor Lee Yi-kyung, who endured hardship after fabricated personal life rumors, ultimately stepped down, and Kim Jong-min is expected to fill the vacancy and bring fresh vitality to the program.
OSEN reporting on the 11th found that KOYOTE member Kim Jong-min will hold his first recording as the new MC of "The Return of SUPERMAN" on the 19th. He is scheduled to work alongside existing MC Lalal, and the episode will be edited and first released on the 26th.
Earlier, the production team of "The Return of SUPERMAN" selected Lee Yi-kyung and Lalal as new MCs, following existing MCs Choi Ji-woo, Ahn Young-mi and Park Soo-hong for the fall lineup change. In particular, Lee Yi-kyung attracted attention as the show's first unmarried MC. However, after a recent incident in which personal life rumors were revealed to have been fabricated,
he ultimately left the program.
On the 20th of last month, a post exposing Lee Yi-kyung's personal life was published on an online community, stirring controversy. But later the post's content was shown to be false, created by AI synthesis and manipulation, and the author posted an official apology saying, "It started as a joke but felt real." Lee Yi-kyung's agency, Sangyoung ENT, immediately said, "This is a complete falsehood, and we have filed a complaint with Gangnam Police Station," and added, "There will be no attempt at any settlement or compensation, and we will pursue legal action without leniency."
Even though the truth was revealed, due to the psychological burden and image damage caused by the rumors, Lee Yi-kyung appears to have decided to leave "The Return of SUPERMAN."
Netizens expressed great regret over Lee Yi-kyung's departure. "A fake rumor stole someone's opportunity," "Lee Yi-kyung, the truth has been revealed, so I hope you get back up," and other reactions followed. Especially as the recent "AI synthesis controversy" spreads across the entertainment industry, Lee Yi-kyung's case has been called "a symbolic incident showing the harms of irresponsible online exposés."
With Lee Yi-kyung's departure leaving a vacancy on "The Return of SUPERMAN," Kim Jong-min will be newly added. Loved for his long experience in variety shows and his characteristic pure reactions, he is taking on "The Return of SUPERMAN" following "2 Days & 1 Night," and has been described as "continuing this year's rise in the variety world." Although he stepped down from "The Return of SUPERMAN," messages of support for Lee Yi-kyung continue.
The distress of one actor hurt by false rumors, and another entertainer warmly taking over that role. "The Return of SUPERMAN" begins a new journey again with a story of truth, recovery and laughter.
[photo] OSENDB
[OSEN]