Lee Yi Kyung has filed a lawsuit against individuals spreading rumors about his personal life, while revealing a discrepancy with the production team regarding the circumstances of his departure from Hangout with Yoo.
On November 21, Lee Yi Kyung announced via Instagram that he had completed filing the lawsuit against those spreading rumors about his private life.
In expressing his feelings about the situation, Lee Yi Kyung addressed his exit from MBC’s Hangout with Yoo.
On November 4, the show’s production team stated that Lee Yi Kyung has been struggling to participate in the program due to his busy schedule, including overseas commitments, and recently expressed his intention to leave. They added that after discussions, it respects Lee Yi Kyung’s decision and have agreed to support each other’s future endeavors.
Lee Yi Kyung joined Hangout with Yoo in 2022 and had been a part of the show for about three years. While the production team cited scheduling conflicts, speculation arose due to the timing coinciding with rumors about his personal life.
Lee Yi Kyung was unable to bid farewell directly to the show’s viewers. Instead, on the November 8 broadcast, Yoo Jae Suk explained that Lee Yi Kyung has been with them for three years. As many people may know from news reports, due to his packed schedule with dramas and movies, after coordinating with the team, he has decided to leave Hangout with Yoo.
Yoo Jae Suk added that unfortunately, Lee Yi Kyung couldn’t say goodbye to the viewers himself, explaining that due to a broadcast cancellation and scheduling issues, Lee’s final appearance didn’t materialize.
However, Lee Yi Kyung’s recent statements starkly contrast with the production team’s narrative. Without naming the show directly, he stated that he was told it was manipulated and disappeared in a day, but as a result, he was advised to leave the show, and he chose to depart voluntarily.
He particularly emphasized that during the previous noodle controversy, he clearly expressed his reluctance, but they insisted on using a noodle shop for his segment. His comment, “We’re doing this for entertainment!” was edited out. After the controversy erupted, the production team merely made excuses about being rushed, leaving him to bear the entire burden. His public image suffered significant damage as a result.
Regarding his exits from other shows like The Return of Superman, Lee Yi Kyung explained that for other programs, he was told he would only appear in pre-recorded segments, but he learned through news articles that he had been replaced entirely.
