Lee Yi-kyung to leave ‘Hangout with Yoo’ after 3 years
Actor Lee Yi-kyung is leaving MBC variety show “Hangout with Yoo” after three years. Courtesy of MBC
Agency says departure due to schedule conflicts amid recent personal life rumors
Actor Lee Yi-kyung is stepping down from MBC’s long-running variety show “Hangout with Yoo” after three years as a regular cast member, his agency said Tuesday.
“Lee Yi-kyung has decided to leave the program due to scheduling conflicts," his agency, Sangyoung ENT, told the Hankook Ilbo.
Earlier that day, local media outlet SPOTV News reported that Lee had informed the production team of his decision to withdraw because of overlapping commitments, and that the show’s producers agreed to respect his wishes.
According to the report, he will not take part in the filming scheduled for Thursday.
The news comes after Lee recently faced public scrutiny over false online rumors about his private life. Screenshots of alleged explicit messages between him and a woman had circulated online.
Lee’s agency firmly denied the claims as baseless and indicated plans for legal action. The individual who first posted the allegations later admitted the messages were fabricated and said the post “started as a joke.”
Sangyoung ENT reiterated its position Monday, saying it had filed a formal complaint with Gangnam Police Station in Seoul against those responsible for spreading false information and defamation.
“There have been no attempts at settlement or compensation, and there will be none going forward,” the agency said.
Lee, who has built a steady career in both dramas and entertainment shows, joined “Hangout with Yoo” in 2021 and quickly became a popular fixture on the program.
This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.