Lee Yi-kyung draws a clear line on the 'Yu Jae-seok targeting controversy'... "a misunderstanding without intent"
Actor Lee Yi-kyung has been embroiled in a 'Yu Jae-seok targeting controversy' over remarks made in his acceptance speech, and his agency has issued a direct explanation. The agency says that Lee Yi-kyung did not intentionally mention broadcaster Yu Jae-seok's name and that the situation is merely an overinterpretation.
Lee Yi-kyung's agency Sangyoung ENT officially said through OSEN on the 7th, "Please accept Lee Yi-kyung's recent acceptance remarks as they are," and "There was absolutely no intention to target or mock Yu Jae-seok."
Earlier, on the 6th, Lee Yi-kyung won the 'AAA best choice' category at the 10th Asia Artist Awards 2025 (AAA 2025) held at the Kaohsiung National Stadium in Taiwan. He went on stage, greeted, "I sincerely thank the officials and the head of my agency," and then mentioned recent personal life rumors surrounding him.
Lee Yi-kyung said, "Lately it felt like hail was falling on me that wasn't in the weather forecast," and, "The current suspect has sent an apology and a plea for leniency to the company email, and we will hold them accountable to the end," drawing applause from the venue. However, a subsequent remark sparked an unexpected controversy. He said, "'SNL Korea,' are you watching? I now have Thursdays off. Haha hyung, Wooin hyung, I miss you," and this remark led to interpretations that he was indirectly referring to his past appearance on the MBC variety show 'Hangout With Yoo.'
Especially because the name of Yu Jae-seok, the central figure of 'Hangout With Yoo,' was not mentioned, some netizens reacted, "Isn't this an intentional passing over?" and "It seems like he indirectly expressed dissatisfaction about leaving the show."
In response, the agency dismissed the controversy. Sangyoung ENT said in an official statement on the 16th, "We want to correct the spread of speculative reports and rumors that are different from the facts regarding the process of leaving 'Hangout With Yoo.'" The agency added, "We received notice of dismissal at a meeting with the production team, and at the time the production team conveyed that 'this was a decision made from above and it is difficult to reverse.'" It explained, "At no point in this process did anyone ask whether that decision was Yu Jae-seok's opinion or raise that as an issue."
The agency continued, "On the day the dismissal notice was given, Mr. Lee Yi-kyung spoke with Mr. Yu Jae-seok by phone, and after sharing mutual regret they ended the conversation with words of encouragement, 'Let's meet later and talk,'" and emphasized, "After that, Lee Yi-kyung never once mentioned Yu Jae-seok." The agency added, "The acceptance remarks were simply a candid expression of feelings and gratitude at a public event after a long time, and there was no intention to target a specific individual," and "It is regrettable that the situation is escalating into a controversy."
Meanwhile, Lee Yi-kyung recently suffered great embarrassment over a personal life exposé raised by an overseas internet user. That person initially apologized, saying, "The post was manipulated by AI," but later reversed their position, saying, "All the evidence is true." In response, Lee Yi-kyung's side filed a complaint on charges of spreading false information and defamation and took a firm stance.
Afterward, the 'Hangout With Yoo' production team said, "Lee Yi-kyung had many concerns about participating in the program due to overseas schedules and personal commitments, and he expressed his intention to voluntarily leave," but when Lee Yi-kyung wrote on SNS that "there was an encouragement from the production team," the controversy reignited. The production team later explained the leaving process and apologized.<
[Photo] 'OSEN DB'
[OSEN]