Broadcaster Lee Hwi-jae greeted viewers for the first time in four years.
The KBS2 program 'Immortal Songs,' which aired on the afternoon of the 28th, was organized as the 2026 entertainment industry king of singers competition and featured 10 acts in total: Kim Shin-young & Chun Dan-bi, LALAL, 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, Hong Seok-cheon and others.
Lee Hwi-jae, who appeared on television for the first time in about four years since MBN's 'Battle in the Box,' which ended in January 2022, had been living in Canada with his wife and twins and had been the subject of immigration and retirement rumors.
The hosts welcomed Lee Hwi-jae, saying he had "returned after four years." Hong Seok-cheon joked, "Apologize for where you've been all this time," and Lee Hwi-jae opened by saying, "I'm sorry."
Lee Hwi-jae said, "It's been a really long time; I'm glad to see you. I'm Lee Hwi-jae." Asked how he had been, he said, "If I say I have been well, honestly that would be a lie. I spent time going back and forth between Korea and Canada with the children and my wife, and it became a period for a lot of personal reflection."
Cho Hye-lyeon complimented, "Your face hasn't changed. You look even more handsome," and Lee Hwi-jae replied, "To be honest, after I got the casting call I even got a massage once."
When asked whether the atmosphere felt very different coming to the broadcasting station after four years, Lee Hwi-jae said in amazement, "It's more than just different. During the opening the lights used to be so strong I'd sweat, but now they aren't those kinds of lights anymore."
[Photo] Broadcast screen capture
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