As of November 6, the program’s introduction page on the official Hangout with Yoo website features a new poster—this time, notably absent of any cast members’ faces. Previously, the poster prominently displayed regular members including Yoo Jae Suk, Haha, Joo Woo Jae, and Lee Yi Kyung. Now, only the show’s logo remains.
The change coincides with Lee Yi Kyung’s confirmed departure. He will not appear in episode 304, the “Association of Unpopular People” special airing on November 8. Due to a recent broadcast interruption caused by APEC news coverage, Lee Yi Kyung’s final episode was episode 303, aired on October 25. This marks the end of his three-year run on the show.
Although Lee Yi Kyung did not participate in a formal farewell recording, a short message from the remaining cast members is expected to air during the episode’s opening.
The production team previously released a statement: “Due to scheduling conflicts, including overseas commitments, Lee Yi Kyung expressed his intention to step down. After discussion, we agreed to support each other’s paths. We thank him for his enthusiasm despite a packed schedule.”
His agency, Sangyoung ENT, echoed the reason, citing scheduling difficulties. Lee Yi Kyung is currently filming the movie Generational Regret and is preparing for international projects, including the Vietnamese film I Am Here and the Japanese TBS Friday drama Dream Stage. Given the demanding weekly shoot schedule of Hangout with Yoo, balancing both domestic and international commitments proved challenging.
Meanwhile, Lee Yi Kyung recently faced online rumors regarding his personal life. His agency confirmed receiving a threatening email five months ago but denied the allegations, labeling them as false. The accuser later admitted that the content was AI-generated fabrication. Legal proceedings are underway for defamation and spreading false information.
Sources: nate
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