"2025 MBC entertainment awards" broadcaster Yu Jae-seok received the grand prize, and his one remark put an end to the rumors of discord surrounding him.
At the 2025 MBC entertainment awards broadcast on the 29th, Yu Jae-seok, who was announced as the grand prize winner, immediately after receiving the award said, "I don't know how to express my gratitude," and first thanked his parents and family. He mentioned his wife Na Kyung-eun, saying, "I am grateful to Na Kyung-eun, who has always been a thankful presence," and he credited the production team and members of Hangout With Yoo, showing his unchanged
In particular, Yu Jae-seok said, "I sincerely thank Haha and Woojae who were with me on 'Hangout With Yoo,'" and added, "I want to be sure to say that Jinju, Mijoo and even Lee Yi-kyung, who sadly left the show this year, all worked very hard and I am grateful," drawing attention. The passage that directly mentioned Lee Yi-kyung, who became the center of controversy after leaving the program, was especially noted among viewers.
This took on added meaning as it coincided with the so-called "Yu Jae-seok targeting controversy" that recently erupted around Lee Yi-kyung. Earlier, on the 6th, Lee Yi-kyung won the "AAA best choice" category at the Asia Artist Awards 2025 held at the Kaohsiung National Stadium in Taiwan. In his acceptance speech, he shared his gratitude and spoke about his feelings regarding personal life rumors, and afterward his remark "I miss Haha hyung, Woojae hyung" spread among some netizens as an interpretation that he was indirectly referring to Hangout With Yoo and Yu Jae-seok, sparking controversy.
In particular, because Yu Jae-seok's name was not mentioned, speculation continued that "it was an intentional passing" and "wasn't it a veiled complaint about leaving the show." However, Lee Yi-kyung's agency, Sangyoung ENT, strongly denied this. The agency told OSEN, "Please accept Lee Yi-kyung's acceptance speech as it was," and said, "There was absolutely no intention to target or mock Yu Jae-seok." It added, "The notice of leaving the show was received at a production meeting, and there was no asking whether that decision reflected Yu Jae-seok's opinion or any raising of issues."
It also emphasized, "On the day the notice of leaving was given, Lee Yi-kyung called Yu Jae-seok and they shared their mutual regret and exchanged words of encouragement saying 'let's meet later and talk,'" and stressed, "There was not a single instance of negative remarks about Yu Jae-seok afterward." The agency warned against overinterpretation, saying, "The acceptance speech was simply a sincere expression of feelings on an official stage after a long time, not an intention to target a specific person."
Meanwhile, the moment when Yu Jae-seok directly mentioned Lee Yi-kyung's name in his grand prize acceptance speech and said, "You worked very hard and thank you," is being regarded as the decisive scene that effectively ends the ongoing discord and targeting suspicions.
Yu Jae-seok's heartfelt remarks, who has proven relationships through actions and consideration rather than words, were a weighty show of support for a junior who had been the subject of misunderstandings and speculation, and once again demonstrated the dignity befitting the "national MC."
[Photo] "2025 MBC entertainment awards, OSEN DB"
[OSEN]