Lee Yi-kyung, who alleged he was advised to leave Hangout With Yoo over private life rumors, stirred controversy for omitting only Yoo Jae-suk from his acceptance remarks. As the inexplicable passing ignites debate, sympathy for Lee Yi-kyung appears at risk of disappearing.
On the 6th, Lee Yi-kyung attended the 10th Asia Artist Awards (AAA 2025) held at the National Stadium in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. He was called onto the stage as the winner of the "AAA best choice" institutional sector.
That day Lee Yi-kyung said, 2025 year-end I sincerely thank the officials who gave me my voice and this award, and he opened his mouth to say, I also want to express my gratitude to the head of my agency.
Lee Yi-kyung referred to recent private life rumors, saying, In fact, this may be an inappropriate remark for a festive atmosphere, but these days it felt like being hit by hail that wasn't in the weather forecast, and he confessed, The current suspect is sending apologies and requests for leniency to the company email. We will definitely catch them.
He suddenly said, Are you watching "SNL Korea"? I'm off on Thursdays now, indirectly referencing his withdrawal from MBC Hangout With Yoo, and added, Haha hyung, I miss Wooyae hyung at (the) company, greeting his colleagues. However, Yoo Jae-suk's name was absent from the acceptance remarks.
Some reacted that Lee Yi-kyung may have deliberately not mentioned Yoo Jae-suk. The opinion is that Yoo Jae-suk, as a central member of Hangout With Yoo, is unlikely to have been forgotten or confused.
Additionally, Lee Yi-kyung recently revealed on his personal account that his departure from Hangout With Yoo was at the producers' suggestion, and in this process Yoo Jae-suk was criticized for not protecting a junior. With Lee Yi-kyung omitting only Yoo Jae-suk from his acceptance remarks, attention is now focused on that intent.
The reason this acceptance remark controversy is more regrettable is that sympathy for Lee Yi-kyung is at risk of disappearing because of the unintended "Yoo Jae-suk passing." Lee Yi-kyung suffered after being embroiled in rumors following allegations by a person who claims to be German, and as a result he experienced being asked to leave Hangout With Yoo and a failed joining of The Return of SUPERMAN.
Although he still appears on some variety shows, public opinion has turned away after Lee Yi-kyung, who protested his innocence while the facts have not been clearly established, appeared to pass over only Yoo Jae-suk in his acceptance remarks at a time when there was a clear sympathy that it would be excessive to force him off shows.
Meanwhile, as criticism that he did not protect his junior spread, Yoo Jae-suk's agency Antenna announced on the 5th a tough response policy against malicious posts and false rumors, warning, Consuming or redistributing unverified information as if it were fact is subject to the same legal responsibility.
[Photo] OSEN DB, awards ceremony capture
[OSEN]