Broadcaster Lee Hwi-jae's comeback after four years has been swept up in an unexpected aftershock. On the broadcast it began with tears and ended with laughter, but reactions outside the broadcast remain sharply divided. Not only did the ratings for the episode he appeared in decline, but there is a mood of exhumation of past actions from his time in Canada.
Lee Hwi-jae returned through KBS2's Immortal Songs '2026 entertainment industry king of singers' that aired on the 28th of last month. He said "It would be a lie to say I was fine" as he opened up about his feelings during the hiatus, and on stage he showed nervousness and tears, revealing the burden of returning.
In the second part of the broadcast he appeared more relaxed and displayed his characteristic hosting skills, carrying the atmosphere. Colleagues also chimed in with "as expected, the MC is Lee Hwi-jae." A mood formed in which fellow entertainers lifted him up as he sat at the MC's table again.
But public opinion after the broadcast was mixed. Some viewers sent support saying "nice to see you after a long time" and "you could feel sincerity in the talk about the children," while others remained chilly, mentioning past attitude controversies and suggesting a lingering unfavorable image.
Ratings trends have also drawn attention. Immortal Songs fell from 4.7% to 3.8% after Lee Hwi-jae's appearance, showing a downward trend. Some analysts say this may be due to insisting on airing a controversial figure, while others argue it is just a segment within an overall downward trend for the program.
Additionally, on the 12th various online communities revisited eyewitness accounts from his time living in Canada, and the controversy appears to be spreading. Recently, an online community has shared accounts from compatriots saying they saw Lee Hwi-jae while he was living in Vancouver. Some relayed negative reactions such as "he ignored greetings," and one comment said, "I heard he lived in North Vancouver; when an acquaintance accidentally met him on the street and asked, 'Aren't you Lee Hwi-jae?' he just ignored them and walked on." There were claims that the dismissive look made them very uncomfortable. Similar posts such as "there are no good anecdotes" followed and attracted attention.
However, all of these accounts are based on online posts and are unverified hearsay, so some say a cautious approach is needed. In fact, many responded that "piling on with unconfirmed stories is a problem."
During that time Lee Hwi-jae suspended activities amid past controversies and family-related issues and lived in Canada. Now he has announced his return after four years, and public judgment is still underway. Regardless of truth or falsity, there is a continuing atmosphere of damage being found. Although the restart of his comeback has begun, it appears it will take some time to regain public sentiment and trust.
[Photo] OSEN DB, broadcast screen capture
[OSEN]