Is the standard for Lee Hwi-jae's comeback particularly high? It shows no sign of quieting down. Amid controversy over casting even before recording, his name has continued to circulate online day after day after the preview was released. Now an unconfirmed "enrollment at a foreign school" rumor has been added, and noise over his comeback continues.
Lee Hwi-jae will appear before the public for the first time in about four years through KBS 2TV's "Immortal Songs" airing on the 28th. He participated in a special stage centered on entertainers who have a history of album activities, and for now it is a one-time appearance.
In the preview released at the end of the broadcast on the 21st, Lee Hwi-jae left a short but strong impression. With the greeting "It's been a while, I'm Lee Hwi-jae" he took the stage, seemed nervous as he wetted his lips, and then wiped his eyes. It was a scene that revealed complex feelings intact, since it was his return after a long hiatus.
But public opinion remains divided even after the preview was released. Past controversies over his on-air behavior and family-related issues have been resurrected, and some viewers question the appearance itself. On the other hand, opinions such as "It's excessive criticism when there was no illegal act" have also continued, showing a sharp difference in temperature. Support and opposition confront each other on viewer boards and online communities, and the atmosphere is not calming easily.
Meanwhile, public support from colleagues has become another variable. Close juniors, including Sayuri and Yoon Hyung-bin, defended Lee Hwi-jae, calling him a "warm and considerate senior." As "on-site testimony" different from the image shown to the public has been conveyed, a subtle crack has formed in how people view his comeback.
Recently, speculation has even appeared about his twins' enrollment at a foreign school. Because the Lee Hwi-jae family left for Canada in 2022 and are staying there, and the children's school ages coincide, an interpretation emerged that "they may have met the admission criteria." However, this is an unconfirmed story, and critics also point out that it is an excessive stretch of interpretation.
With controversies and rumors about his comeback trailing on like this, Lee Hwi-jae's trajectory shows an especially "stormy" flow. It is hard to gauge whether his tearful return will be accepted as sincere or will remain under cold evaluation.
In the end, the key is restoring the public's trust. Beyond colleagues' support, the producers' choice, and various interpretations and rumors, how his attitude and sincerity shown on the actual broadcast are evaluated is expected to determine the future course. More important than the comeback itself is the sincerity he will show afterward, and attention is focused on Lee Hwi-jae's next move.<
[Photo] OSEN DB, Immortal Songs
[OSEN]