Actor Lee Yi Kyung (36) is set to depart from MBC’s variety show 'Hangout with Yoo' (놀면 뭐하니?) without a formal farewell.
An official from the program confirmed on November 4 KST, “Lee Yi Kyung recently expressed his intention to step down due to scheduling conflicts.” The production team decided to respect his decision, making his departure effectively final.
There will be no separate final recording for his exit. Lee will not participate in the upcoming filming on November 6, marking the end of his three-year run on 'Hangout with Yoo,' which he joined as a fixed cast member in September 2022.
Recently, the show faced a temporary hiatus due to scheduling issues among cast members and the preemption of broadcasts caused by special news coverage of the APEC Summit. With filming set to resume soon, Lee Yi Kyung’s decision to leave means he will not return for the next recording.
Having recently wrapped up filming for the movie 'Generation Gap' (working title), Lee is now preparing for additional film and drama projects. It was reportedly difficult for him to continue the weekly Thursday shoots for 'Hangout with Yoo' while balancing his growing acting schedule, leading him to step away from the show.
Meanwhile, Lee Yi Kyung recently faced controversy after being embroiled in false rumors about his private life. His agency firmly denied the allegations, labeling them as “baseless and untrue.” On November 3, the agency stated, “Through our legal representatives, we have filed complaints with the Gangnam Police Station against those who created and spread the false posts, on charges of defamation and spreading false information.”
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