MBC's 'Hangout with Yoo' Production Team Addresses Lee Yi-kyung's Departure and Controversy

Actor Lee Yi-kyung has expressed his frustration regarding his departure from MBC's 'Hangout with Yoo' (hereafter referred to as 'Hangout'), prompting the production team to release a statement.

On the 22nd, the 'Hangout' production team issued an official statement, saying, "We apologize for causing concern to everyone who loves 'Hangout'. We will address the issues related to 'Hangout' mentioned in Lee Yi-kyung's post on Friday, the 21st."

Regarding the circumstances of Lee Yi-kyung's departure, the production team explained, "Given the nature of a variety show that aims to bring laughter every week, it was deemed difficult to continue working together amid the spread of rumors about Lee Yi-kyung's personal life. As Lee Yi-kyung mentioned, the production team first suggested his departure to his agency, and we conveyed that we would respect their decision to publicize it. Subsequently, we received a notification from the agency that he would voluntarily step down due to scheduling reasons."

The production team further stated, "Since we suggested his departure, we requested the cast to refer to it as a 'voluntary departure due to scheduling' in agreement with the agency, which was communicated on the broadcast. The cast members followed our request out of consideration for Lee Yi-kyung, so we ask that there be no criticism or speculation directed at them."

The production team also promised, "We will pay closer attention to the entire production process to ensure that the efforts of the cast to bring laughter are not distorted."

They also addressed the 'noodle-slurping' scene that Lee Yi-kyung raised as an issue. The production team admitted, "It was a mistake on our part for not adequately protecting the cast member. During the filming of the Hong Kong and Japan episodes, Lee Yi-kyung spontaneously performed the noodle-slurping scene, and we initially judged the reaction to be positive."

They continued, "We later asked him to perform the noodle-slurping again for entertainment purposes, which was our overreach. Lee Yi-kyung's comment, 'It's for entertainment!' was edited out during the filming process, and we failed to accurately gauge the viewers' sentiments, causing discomfort to both Lee Yi-kyung and the audience. We attempted to convey the comedic context through the expression 'for fun again...' and subtitles, but it was insufficient."

The production team stated, "After the controversy arose, we apologized to Lee Yi-kyung and quickly edited the noodle-slurping explanation from the opening of the next week's broadcast. However, we acknowledge our shortcomings in fully resolving the controversy and apologize once again to Lee Yi-kyung and everyone who felt uncomfortable." They concluded by saying, "We sincerely apologize to Lee Yi-kyung and everyone affected."

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Official Statement from MBC's 'Hangout with Yoo'

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Hello, this is the production team of 'Hangout with Yoo'.

We apologize for causing concern to everyone who loves 'Hangout'. We will address the issues related to 'Hangout' mentioned in Lee Yi-kyung's post on Friday, the 21st.

Firstly, the noodle-slurping situation mentioned by Lee Yi-kyung was a failure on our part to protect the cast member. During the filming of the Hong Kong and Japan episodes, Lee Yi-kyung spontaneously performed the noodle-slurping scene, and we initially judged the reaction to be positive.

We later asked him to perform the noodle-slurping again for entertainment purposes, which was our overreach. Lee Yi-kyung's comment, 'It's for entertainment!' was edited out during the filming process, and we failed to accurately gauge the viewers' sentiments, causing discomfort to both Lee Yi-kyung and the audience. We attempted to convey the comedic context through the expression 'for fun again...' and subtitles, but it was insufficient.

After the controversy arose, we apologized to Lee Yi-kyung and quickly edited the noodle-slurping explanation from the opening of the next week's broadcast. However, we acknowledge our shortcomings in fully resolving the controversy and apologize once again to Lee Yi-kyung and everyone who felt uncomfortable.

Regarding the departure situation, we determined that it was difficult to continue working together amid the spread of rumors about Lee Yi-kyung's personal life, given the nature of a variety show that aims to bring laughter every week.

As Lee Yi-kyung mentioned, the production team first suggested his departure to his agency, and we conveyed that we would respect their decision to publicize it. Subsequently, we received a notification from the agency that he would voluntarily step down due to scheduling reasons.

Since we suggested his departure, we requested the cast to refer to it as a 'voluntary departure due to scheduling' in agreement with the agency, which was communicated on the broadcast. The cast members followed our request out of consideration for Lee Yi-kyung, so we ask that there be no criticism or speculation directed at them.

The 'Hangout' production team will pay closer attention to the entire production process to ensure that the efforts of the cast to bring laughter are not distorted.

We sincerely apologize once again to Lee Yi-kyung and everyone affected.

Lee So-jung, Ten Asia Reporter forusojung@tenasia.co.kr