Broadcaster Lee Hwi-jae completed the recording of Immortal Songs for Korean broadcast after four years, finishing the recording alone without his agency or anyone specially assisting him. In particular, it emerged that his family — his wife Moon Jung-won and their twin sons — are still staying in Canada.
On the 17th, OSEN reported that Lee Hwi-jae attended the recording of KBS 2TV entertainment program Immortal Songs (abbreviated as Immortal) held on the 16th and completed the schedule alone without the help of a manager or family. This appearance was his first on an entertainment program in four years, so there was anticipation that his appearance on Immortal might mark his comeback. However, his wife Moon Jung-won and the twin sons are still staying in Canada, and he participated cautiously in the Immortal recording without an exclusive agency or manager currently under contract.
The Immortal Songs recording held that day was staged as an "entertainment industry king" special. In addition to Lee Hwi-jae, comedians Cho Hye-lyeon, Kim Shin-young, Park Joonhyung, and Park Sung-kwang, as well as actors Hong Seok-cheon, Song Il-guk, and Oh Man-seok — performers who are not singers but have released songs or are active in musicals — gathered to compete, the concept was reported to be.
For this, the production team put great effort into casting and succeeded in securing Lee Hwi-jae's appearance. In particular, because this marked Lee Hwi-jae's first formal domestic appearance in four years since MBN's Battle in the Box ended in 2022, there was anticipation that he might be returning to the entertainment industry through Immortal.
However, multiple entertainment industry insiders told OSEN, "Former managers visited the waiting room a lot to greet and cheer Lee Hwi-jae, but to our knowledge there is currently no one with an exclusive contract or an actual contractual relationship as his manager," they said in unison. They said Lee Hwi-jae carried out the Immortal Songs schedule independently without the presence of a manager, which is essential for full-fledged entertainment activities.
The sources also said, "The family was not at the site. If they had been in Korea, surely they would have come to show their support," "I understand the wife and the children are still staying in Canada," and "We have not heard about any plans for returning to the country," they said.
Meanwhile, Lee Hwi-jae approached the Immortal Songs recording cautiously. He chose Choi Ho-seop's "When Time Passes" and performed on stage while showing signs of nervousness. Although he is a top entertainer who once won the grand prize at the KBS Entertainment Awards, it would not have been easy to face the live audience after such a long absence.
Nevertheless, the recording was completed. Now only waiting for the broadcast remains. One source who cheered on Lee Hwi-jae's comeback recording cautiously added, "Isn't it still a stage where we have to wait and see the reaction after the broadcast? Please watch it kindly."
[Photo] OSEN DB.
[OSEN]