Broadcaster Lee Hwi-jae will stand before the judges.
KBS2 Immortal Songs, airing on the 28th, is staged as a "2026 entertainment industry king of singers" special, featuring a total of 10 teams ranging from comedians to actors and creators, including Kim Shin-young·Cheon Dan-bi, Lalala, Moon Seyoon, the Gag Concert "Chatflix" team, Park Joonhyung, Song Il-gook·Oh Man-seok (musical "The Hague" team), Lee Chan-seok, Lee Hwi-jae, Cho Hye-lyeon, and Hong Seok-cheon.
The song selection list is as varied as the lineup. Kim Shin-young·Cheon Dan-bi selected Seoul Family's "Now," Lalala chose Shim Kyu-sun's "Arari," Moon Seyoon picked Kim Dong-ryul's "Replay," the Gag Concert "Chatflix" team selected KOYOTE's "Our Dream," and Park Joonhyung chose Kim Sang-bae's "No, no," offering a rich and captivating show for the eyes and ears.
Also, Song Il-gook·Oh Man-seok (musical "The Hague" team) selected Cho Yong-pil's "Dream," Lee Chan-seok chose Wooyeon's "By chance," Lee Hwi-jae picked Choi Ho-seop's "When time passes," Cho Hye-lyeon selected Im Hee-sook's "My one person has gone," and Hong Seok-cheon chose Ailee's "I'll show you," promising uniquely charming and distinctive stages.
More than anything, the most attention-grabbing is Lee Hwi-jae's stage. It has been about four years since Lee Hwi-jae appeared on domestic broadcasts, following the end of MBN's "Battle in the Box" in January 2022. Living in Canada with his wife and twins and having been embroiled in immigration and retirement rumors, Lee Hwi-jae is expected to use Immortal Songs to test whether he will continue broadcasting activities going forward.
Lee Hwi-jae's appearance became a subject of heated debate from the moment the news was announced. Although he is not a criminal who caused social controversy, the public's reluctance to welcome his return was due to an unpopular image. His old-fashioned hosting style and attempts to get laughs by putting others down were seen as off-putting, and as he drifted away from the broadcast world, Lee Hwi-jae headed to Canada due to family-related issues.
There was even speculation that Lee Hwi-jae's return after four years was because his twin sons were entering foreign schools. That suggested the public's view of his comeback was largely negative.
On the other hand, colleagues in the entertainment industry supported Lee Hwi-jae's return. Yoon Hyung-bin said, "I may not know everything, but at least the senior I have known was a good person. So many people say otherwise that I wonder if there's something I don't know. But he was always a good person both privately and on air. Please support him," and Sayuri also said, "The brother I know is warm, considerate, looks after the participants well and is not arrogant at all — like a neighborhood brother. It pains me every time I see comments from people who have neither met him nor know him well acting as if they know everything about his character," expressing support for Lee Hwi-jae.
As such, Lee Hwi-jae's comeback, still a subject of heated debate, was hinted at in the trailer revealed at the end of the broadcast on the 21st. Lee Hwi-jae greeted, "I will greet you after a long time. Nice to meet you. I am Lee Hwi-jae." Attention is focused on what his stage, which looked as if he might burst into tears at any moment, will look like.
KBS2 Immortal Songs will air on the 28th at 6:05 p.m.
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