Comedian Heo Kyunghwan gave an update saying he is "under national review" over whether he will join as an MC on 'You Quiz'.
On the 10th, MBC's Hangout With Yoo was presented as a celebration for Lee Gwang-gyu's 60th birthday. In the opening that day, the members congratulated Yu Jae-seok, who won his 21st daesang overall at the 2025 MBC Entertainment Awards.
Yu Jae-seok thanked the members and production staff, saying, "We all suffered a lot thinking this was our daesang." In response, Joo Woo-jae shared a good story, saying, "And that day (Yu Jae-seok) bought us delicious food," and Yu Jae-seok said, "Isn't it obvious I should buy it?"
At one point Yu Jae-seok turned to Heo Kyunghwan, who was not joining the conversation, and said, "You didn't come to the awards ceremony," and Heo Kyunghwan explained, "I watched the live broadcast. I immediately took and sent a photo." Yu Jae-seok asked, "Wouldn't you come to a gathering?" and Haha delivered a blunt line, "Is it still ambiguous?" which drew laughter.
Yu Jae-seok also asked, "Is it still a bit ambiguous?" and Heo Kyunghwan explained, "Because I didn't go to the awards ceremony but only went to the gathering. Of course I could have gone. I was watching the live broadcast." Hearing this, Haha suspected, "It kind of feels like it's moved over to You Quiz, right?" Last year, Cho Sae-ho left variety shows he was appearing on, such as tvN's 'You Quiz on the Block' and KBS2's 2 Days & 1 Night season 4, amid allegations of ties to organized crime, and because Yu Jae-seok continued to host 'You Quiz on the Block' alone, Heo Kyunghwan has been mentioned as a strong candidate to fill Cho Sae-ho's vacancy.
In response, Heo Kyunghwan denied, saying, "No," and Haha and Joo Woo-jae asked back, "No?" Heo Kyunghwan revealed, "You Quiz is now having the judges' national interview videos start circulating." Yoo Jae-eun mentioned the public's high interest in Heo Kyunghwan joining 'You Quiz', saying, "They said it's an interview video the person doesn't know about," and Heo Kyunghwan candidly said, "But surprisingly, after the broadcast the articles decreased sharply."
Joo Woo-jae said, "The time when the most articles came out was during the pre-release," and Heo Kyunghwan said, "There were an enormous number of articles at pre-release and it subsided rapidly after the broadcast." Yu Jae-seok said, "He was on 'You Quiz' yesterday and watched his own show standing up," and Heo Kyunghwan revealed a reverent attitude, saying, "I watched it standing diagonally like this."
Regarding whether he would join 'You Quiz', Heo Kyunghwan said, "It's a process of conducting a national review." Yu Jae-seok also reiterated, "It's the review process now," and Haha fired a blunt question: "Then I'll ask the last question. Are you 'You Quiz' or Hangout With Yoo? If you had to choose right now."
But Heo Kyunghwan lamented, "Actually I think we should talk about Hangout With Yoo now," and complained with laughter, "What am I going to do? What are you going to do with me. I held on until 2025. I almost talked about it at the end of the year. What are you going to do with me, quickly. Ah let's play together a bit. Me too now," which caused uproarious laughter. He said, "Please say something until it ends," and when Yu Jae-seok asked, "Until when?" he exclaimed, "What are you going to do with me! Are you going to leave me like this!" which added to the laughter.
Afterward, Yu Jae-seok, Haha, Joo Woo-jae and Heo Kyunghwan offered New Year's greetings to viewers for 2026, and Yu Jae-seok expressed determination, saying, "Anyway, this year I'll work harder and make it even more fun." Joo Woo-jae stated the goal, "This year let's go for program of the year," and Yu Jae-seok, saying, "Program of the year is ours," shouted "Fighting!" together with the members.
At that time Joo Woo-jae, conscious of Heo Kyunghwan, asked, "But shouldn't we decide in advance whether to cheer together?" and Haha asked the production staff, "I'm confused too. What are you going to do. Give a yes or no?" Yu Jae-seok urged Heo Kyunghwan, "Talk to this side (the production staff) and sort it out," and Heo Kyunghwan expressed his grievance, saying, "No, because they don't talk. 'He's a member'—is that so difficult? Three syllables. I held on until 2025."
Then Yu Jae-seok said, "Let's go with 'Assume Kyunghwan became a member'," and with the members chanted Heo Kyunghwan's catchphrase, "Assume he became a member, full effort," and Haha frankly said, "I really feel awkward. Assume he became. It's not 'became,' it's 'assume he became'," and Heo Kyunghwan also expressed bitterness, saying, "It's my catchphrase but I still feel awkward," which drew laughter.
[Photo] OSEN DB, MBC
[OSEN]