Kyuhyun Loses His Phone While Filming in Kenya, Says a Year of Diaries Is Gone

On January 2, Kyuhyun addressed fans’ concerns through his personal YouTube channel, saying many people had sincerely asked whether he ever managed to recover the lost phone.

Kyuhyun explained that the incident actually happened around seven months ago and that the phone is truly gone. Describing himself as an MBTI “T” type, he joked, “I think someone in Kenya might be using it now. I hope they’re using it well.” Despite his lighthearted tone, he admitted the loss came with real emotional weight.

Kyuhyun said he switched back to an old Z Flip phone after returning home, only for its screen to suddenly break as well. As a result, what was initially thought to be eight months’ worth of lost data turned into a total loss of about one year and two months. While photos sent through KakaoTalk were partially recovered, his personal diary entries covering more than a year were permanently erased. “I was really shocked,” he confessed, adding that he has since stopped writing a diary altogether.

Despite the frustration, Kyuhyun spoke warmly about his time in Kenya. He said it felt like a place worth visiting at least once in a lifetime, praising the food, the kindness of the people, and how his unfounded anxieties about Africa completely disappeared. He strongly recommended the safari experience, calling Kenya an unforgettable travel destination.

Kyuhyun first lost his phone shortly after arriving at a local airport during the early stages of filming Three Idiots in Kenya. Footage from the show captured his stunned reaction, while fellow cast members Lee Soo Geun and Eun Ji Won teased him playfully, turning the mishap into a humorous moment. Producer Kim Ye Seul later shared that the crew initially thought the phone would be found quickly and considered it just another episode, expressing gratitude that Kyuhyun handled the situation professionally and turned his distress into comedy.

Following the broadcast, online reactions poured in, with netizens joking that searching Kyuhyun’s name automatically brings up “lost phone,” and others saying people everywhere were asking whether he really lost it. Some even quipped, “I would’ve gone home already,” highlighting how memorable the incident became among viewers.

Sources: Daum