Comedian Lee Hyuk-jae, who was embroiled in controversy over large tax delinquencies and an alleged drunken assault, spoke out personally about fairness concerns and criticism after becoming a judge for a youth talent discovery program organized by the People Power Party ahead of local elections.
The People Power Party released the list of judges, including Lee Hyuk-jae, while preparing a proportional representation youth audition for regional assembly members ahead of the June 3 local elections.
Afterwards, controversy over fairness and appropriateness regarding Lee Hyuk-jae erupted. In January, Jang Dong-hyeok said he would strip nomination qualifications from individuals with criminal or corrupt records, prompting questions about whether Lee Hyuk-jae was appropriate. In 2010 Lee Hyuk-jae drew controversy after striking an employee's cheek at a room salon in Yeonsu District, Incheon. He has been involved in several legal disputes over money in the past, and in 2024 he was listed as a major tax delinquent for not paying more than 200 million won in taxes.
Because of this history, criticism of Lee Hyuk-jae poured in. Still, on the 26th he attended the final judging of the People Power Party regional assembly proportional representation youth public audition held at the party headquarters in Yeouido, Yeongdeungpo District, Seoul, as a judge and said in his remarks, Today I came here carrying both the voices of concern and the looks of expectation toward me with a humble attitude. At the age of the contestants I was a broadcaster and entertainer who enjoyed a level of love I could not have imagined. But I also experienced losing the glory I had built up all at once because of a single mistake. The important thing is I never avoided responsibility at any moment. As a citizen under the rule of law I fulfilled my judicial responsibilities, and as an entertainer who received the public's love I lived fulfilling my moral responsibilities as well.
In particular, Lee Hyuk-jae added, Anyone can fail. But I think not everyone can stand up again after failure. I believe that the country I love, Korea, should be a nation that gives young people who make mistakes and fail the opportunity to stand up again. I will pour out my successes and failures and everything I have built up in my life to do my best today in judging.
We were able to hear why Lee Hyuk-jae accepted becoming a judge and his true feelings about the criticism. In a phone call with OSEN on the 27th, Lee Hyuk-jae said, How can only successful people live life? Life includes failure and overcoming it. The People Power Party asked me to come and share my experience.
Lee Hyuk-jae said, The People Power Party youth political bureau contacted me. The secretary-general asked me to be a judge for the youth public audition. I am also a party member, and my political leaning is to the right, so I did question being a judge. When I asked why, they said since this is billed as an audition program they wanted to invite judges who are experts in each field. Apparently even if broadcasters support the People Power Party, few do so openly, so they offered it to me. I also said, 'If I appear, past matters will be brought up and it might tarnish things; personally I don't mind but might I become a burden to the audition?' As expected, the controversy grew. I expressed my intention to decline, but at an internal leadership meeting including the party leader someone said, 'Are we going to evaluate only by the standard of successful people? People fail too. By that measure isn't this person the most experienced living example? Let's just go,' so I did it.
Regarding his participation as a judge, Lee Hyuk-jae said, All of those remarks were my sincere feelings. How dare I evaluate someone's life and challenge? So I approached it with an even humbler attitude and prepared for days and nights to point out parts that, as a broadcast professional, the contestants might have wanted to say but were too nervous to, or parts that I could mention to help. The response was very positive, and I felt very rewarded. Since I was going anyway, I thought I should show skill, and fortunately the live reactions were so good that the People Power Party youth bureau told me in the morning it was 'a response beyond expectations.' That was enough. I felt rewarded there.
He also spoke candidly about the critical voices. Lee Hyuk-jae said, This isn't something from yesterday but an incident from 10 years ago that people call a scandalous entertainer. I'm not broadcasting now; I declared I would stop broadcasting and live as a private citizen, so why are they so eager to destroy me?
Meanwhile, Lee Hyuk-jae debuted in 1990 as an MBC open-recruit comedian. He appeared in entertainment programs such as Ilbam, Yashim Manman, Sponge, and Happy Sunday, and in dramas such as The Rustic Age and Run, My Mother.
[OSEN]