Actor Lee Yi Kyung’s agency has denied rumors suggesting that Yoo Jae Suk was involved in his departure from MBC’s variety program 'Hangout With Yoo,' clarifying that Lee never mentioned Yoo in relation to the decision and later shared a supportive phone call with him.
On December 16, Lee Yi Kyung’s agency Sangyeong ENT released an official statement addressing what it described as “speculative reports and unfounded rumors” surrounding the actor’s exit from the program.
“We are issuing this statement to correct the spread of inaccurate and speculative reports regarding our actor Lee Yi Kyung’s departure from MBC’s variety program ‘Hangout With Yoo,’” the agency said.
According to the statement, the agency was informed of Lee Yi Kyung’s removal during a meeting with the program’s production team. “At the time, the production team explained that the decision had been made by upper management and that it would not be reversed,” the agency stated. “While we expressed our disappointment, we clearly state that we never asked or questioned whether this decision reflected Yoo Jae Suk’s opinion.”
The agency further revealed that on the same day Lee Yi Kyung received notice of his departure, he spoke with Yoo Jae Suk by phone. “The two shared a conversation expressing regret, which ended with words of encouragement, including ‘Let’s talk when we meet later,’” the statement read. “Since then, Lee Yi Kyung has not mentioned Yoo Jae Suk even once.”
Sangyeong ENT concluded by urging restraint. “We respectfully ask that people refrain from spreading speculative reports or rumors that are not based on verified facts.”
The clarification comes after a YouTube channel, Entertainment President Lee Jin Ho, claimed that Lee Yi Kyung repeatedly asked whether Yoo Jae Suk was behind the decision following his removal from the show, a claim the agency has directly refuted.
Lee Yi Kyung was also recently swept into controversy after mentioning HaHa and Joo Woo Jae, but not Yoo Jae Suk, during his acceptance speech at the 'AAA awards,' which some interpreted as a subtle jab. The agency’s statement appears aimed at shutting down such interpretations.
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