The production team of the popular drinking-themed talk show 'Zzanbro' has scrubbed a controversial episode featuring actors Lee Jae Ryong and Ahn Jae Wook from its platform following an intense public backlash. The decision to set the video to private and eventually delete it entirely comes after Lee Jae Ryong was apprehended in a new drunk driving incident on the night of March 6, 2026. The timing of the arrest, occurring just weeks after the program aired, has reignited a fierce debate over the media's role in glorifying alcohol consumption among individuals with a history of irresponsible behavior.
In the episode originally released on February 23, host Shin Dong Yup was seen sharing drinks with Lee Jae Ryong, Ahn Jae Wook, Yoon Da Hoon, and Sung Ji Roo. Even prior to the latest scandal, the casting choice had drawn sharp criticism because both Lee Jae Ryong and Ahn Jae Wook possess multiple past DUI records dating back to 2003 and 2019. Despite these backgrounds, the production team utilized captions such as "drinking like they are in their 20s" and "never-ending rounds of drinks," which many viewers interpreted as an inappropriate glorification of a dangerous habit.
The scandal has also brought past comments from his wife, actress Yoo Ho Jung, back into the spotlight. During a 2015 appearance on the SBS show 'Healing Camp', she expressed deep distress over her husband’s drinking, revealing that they had fought frequently since their dating years and even separated for three weeks at one point. She shared that Lee Jae Ryong had signed formal pledges—complete with thumbprints—promising to limit his drinking and return home by a certain time, but consistently broke those promises. "It’s infuriating," she stated at the time, "even so, he doesn’t change." With this latest criminal offense, the public response has shifted from mere disappointment to a forceful demand for accountability and a change in how the industry portrays heavy drinking.
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