Broadcaster Lee Hwi-jae returned to Immortal Songs after about four years of laying low. He offered a tearful apology and updated viewers on the condition of his twin sons, prompting mixed reactions from viewers. But it is true that there are now somewhat more supportive responses than before.
Lee Hwi-jae returned on the Jan. 28 broadcast of KBS 2TV's Immortal Songs as part of the "2026 entertainment industry king of singers" special. After appearing on MBN's Battle in the Box, which ended in January 2022, Lee Hwi-jae appeared on television again after about four years. During that time he lived in Canada with his wife and twins and was swept up in speculation about emigration and retirement.
Lee Hwi-jae greeted the audience, "It's been a while. Nice to see you. I'm Lee Hwi-jae." Asked how he had been, he said, "To say I've been fine would honestly be a lie. Going back and forth between Korea and Canada with the kids and my wife gave me a lot of personal time to think."
Lee Hwi-jae had suspended his broadcasting activities amid various controversies. Because of disputes such as complaints about noise between floors and allegations of dining-and-dashing at an amusement park, he could no longer continue broadcasting, and the Lee Hwi-jae family went to live in Canada.
When news broke that Lee Hwi-jae would return to broadcasting after four years, heated debate followed. Although he was not a criminal who caused social unrest, public reaction was cold because his old-fashioned hosting style and his unlikable image of putting others down for laughs were so strong.
Unfortunately, Lee Hwi-jae's twin son, now in the first year of middle school, knew about the situation. Lee Hwi-jae said, "Actually those kids are now old enough to know exactly what their dad does. When they were little they didn't know. They said they thought I was going to exercise. Over the four years they came to understand exactly that I was resting because of various mistakes of mine. They didn't say it aloud but wrote me letters. They said they hoped I would work."
Lee Hwi-jae shed tears talking about his twin sons and performed the song 'As Time Goes By.' Afterward, various reactions poured in on the Immortal Songs bulletin board directed at Lee Hwi-jae.
Some netizens expressed support, saying, "Lee Hwi-jae fighting. I hope we see his face often," "He didn't commit a major crime, he's just down. I support him," "I was so glad to see Lee Hwi-jae return," "I hope things go well for Lee Hwi-jae, fighting," and "He had the courage to admit his mistakes."
On the other hand, cold reactions continued. Some netizens expressed negative responses such as, "It feels unpleasant, like he came out to gauge viewers' reactions," "I was shocked he appeared on 'Immortal,'" "I'm disappointed that 'Immortal' brought him back," "Memories of discomfort when Lee Hwi-jae appeared came back and it was very hard," and "I don't want to see Lee Hwi-jae again."
But whereas criticism of Lee Hwi-jae dominated before, supportive reactions after the broadcast have increased. /kangsj@osen.co.k
[Photo] broadcast capture
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