Broadcaster Lee Hwi-jae's comeback is still noisy. From being approached for broadcasts he was engulfed in negative public opinion, and after the preview was released various rumors have been added. Can Lee Hwi-jae's return after about four years proceed smoothly amid colleagues' support?
Lee Hwi-jae will appear before the public for the first time in about four years through KBS 2TV's entertainment program "Immortal Songs," which airs on the afternoon of the 28th. He is a special guest for a segment that recruited entertainers who have released albums, and it is a one-time appearance for now.
Amid mixed opinions about Lee Hwi-jae's appearance, a preview was released through "Immortal Songs," which aired on the afternoon of the 21st, drawing great interest. Lee Hwi-jae appeared for about five seconds and opened his remarks by saying, "Hello, I'm Lee Hwi-jae. It's been a long time since I greeted you."
In the preview Lee Hwi-jae appeared nervous before going on stage. He moistened his lips as if they were dry and took the stage with a calm yet tense atmosphere. Eventually a moment was captured where he seemed to wipe his eyes with his hand as if he had shed tears. Meeting the public in front of the camera after a long time, he appeared to be nervous and emotionally complex.
But even after the preview was released his mind was likely not at ease. Negative views about Lee Hwi-jae's comeback still existed on viewer boards and online communities. The controversy over his broadcasting behavior before he suspended activities and family-related issues still held him back. In the preview Lee Hwi-jae's demeanor seemed to fully acknowledge such public opinion.
But colleagues cheered him on. In particular, broadcaster Sayuri posted a video featuring Lee Hwi-jae with the comment, "Oppa, I missed you!" on her social media, and later wrote, "The oppa I know was warm, considerate, took good care of the participants, and was not arrogant at all — like a neighborhood oppa. My heart aches every time I see comments from people who haven't met him or don't know him well acting as if they know his whole life."
Amid Sayuri's support, Lee Hwi-jae became embroiled in unconfirmed rumors about the timing of his comeback. An allegation arose that his return now was because "he met the foreign school admission criteria for his twins."
Lee Hwi-jae's twins, Seo-eon and Seo-jun, born in 2013, reached the time to enter middle school this year. Under current regulations, regardless of parents' nationality, a domestic student who has lived abroad for a total of three years or more can enroll in a foreign school. The Lee family is known to have departed for Canada in September 2022 and to be staying there. Although it coincides with the twins' school entrance timing and thus the claim that they met foreign school admission criteria has been made, Lee Hwi-jae's side has not officially confirmed this, and reactions say it is an overinterpretation.
Lee Hwi-jae is reportedly preparing his comeback without a separate agency or manager. His wife Moon Jung-won and the twins are still staying in Canada, and the "foreign school admission theory" has not been confirmed. It was just one of many rumors about Lee Hwi-jae's return.
Amid public criticism and suspicion, attention is focused on whether Lee Hwi-jae's comeback plan, which began with tears, can lead to laughter.
[Photo] KBS 2TV broadcast screen capture.
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