Comedian Lee Hwi-jae will appear on a broadcast, ending an approximately four-year hiatus. However, when some interpreted this as a "major comeback," the production team cautioned against overinterpretation, drawing a line by saying, "participation as one of the contestants."
A representative from KBS 2TV variety show Immortal Songs told OSEN on the 5th, "Lee Hwi-jae will appear as a contestant in the Immortal Songs 2026 entertainment industry king special. The recording is scheduled to be held on the 16th." Lee Hwi-jae's broadcast appearance comes about four years after he suspended activities in 2022.
In September 2022, Lee Hwi-jae temporarily suspended broadcast activities as he left for Canada with his wife Moon Jung-won and their twin sons Seo-eon and Seo-jun. After his exclusive contract with his agency expired, there were even retirement rumors in some quarters, but at the time close aides drew a line by saying, "It is not retirement."
Meanwhile, recently his wife Moon Jung-won's resumption of SNS activity also attracted attention. On the 3rd, Moon Jung-won posted a recent photo on her personal SNS for the first time in about four years and wrote, "Already March, 2026." Daily life in Canada and images of the much-grown twins were revealed, leading to speculation that this might signal a comeback.
Amid such interest, when news of Lee Hwi-jae's appearance on Immortal Songs was reported, some interpreted it as effectively signaling his return to broadcasting. However, the program's producers said there is no need for such an overinterpretation. The Immortal Songs producer told OSEN by phone, "The contact was made in the process of planning a variety entertainer king special," and added, "It does not mean Lee Hwi-jae is opening the door to a comeback. He is simply participating in the contest as one of the 10 contestant teams."
He went on, "Originally, Immortal Songs is not a program where only singers appear; various people with experience in recording activities have participated," and added, "He was recruited considering his nationwide recognition and past recording activities." On whether Lee Hwi-jae has been preparing for a comeback, he cautiously said, "It is speculative, but perhaps because there was such a will, contact was made."
In this "2026 entertainment industry king" special, various entertainers including Lee Hwi-jae, Park Joonhyung, Hong Seok-cheon, Song Il-gook, Kim Shin-young, Park Sung-kwang, Cho Hye-lyeon and Oh Man-seok are scheduled to appear and compete. The recording will be held on the 16th. Interest is focused on what kind of performance Lee Hwi-jae, who returns to the broadcast stage after a long hiatus, will show through this appearance.<
[Photo] 'OSEN DB'
[OSEN]