Actor Lee Yi Kyung‘s acceptance speech at a major awards show has sparked online debate and required a formal explanation from his management. The actor won the AAA Best Choice Award at the 10th Asia Artist Awards (AAA) 2025 in Kaohsiung on December 6, 2025. During his speech, Lee thanked specific colleagues from a popular variety show but did not mention its main host, Yoo Jae Suk, leading many to question if the omission was intentional.
In his remarks, Lee Yi Kyung directly addressed recent personal controversies, comparing the experience to being “hit by hail not predicted in the weather forecast”. He stated that the person behind the allegations had sent apologies to his company and vowed, “I’m determined to catch them”. He then shifted to a lighter note, asking, “Are you watching SNL Korea? I’m taking Thursdays off now”. This comment was seen as a clear reference to MBC’s “Hangout With Yoo,” which films every Thursday. He followed this by saying, “Haha hyung, Woo Jae hyung, I miss you,” naming two of the show’s fixed cast members but not its leader, Yoo Jae Suk.
The Source of the Controversy and Public Speculation
The speech quickly drew attention because of Lee Yi Kyung’s recent and sudden departure from “Hangout With Yoo.” The actor had been a fixed member of the show since September 2022 but left the program in early November 2025. While his agency initially cited scheduling conflicts, Lee later clarified on social media that his exit was following a suggestion from the production team. This happened amid a swirl of online rumors about his personal life.
The context of his exit made the omission of Yoo Jae Suk’s name feel loaded to many viewers. Some online commentators had previously criticized Yoo Jae Suk, suggesting he should have done more to support his junior colleague during the controversy. In response to these growing rumors, Yoo Jae Suk’s agency, Antenna, announced on December 5—just one day before the AAA ceremony—that it would take legal action against the spread of false information and malicious posts about the veteran host. Against this tense backdrop, Lee’s speech was interpreted by some as a deliberate “targeting” or “passing over” of Yoo Jae Suk.
Agency’s Official Statement Denying Malicious Intent
As speculation spread across Korean entertainment news sites and social media, Lee Yi Kyung’s agency moved to address the controversy directly. On December 7, a representative from Sangyoung Entertainment spoke to the media outlet OSEN to provide clarity.
“Please take actor Lee Yi Kyung’s recent acceptance speech as it is. There was absolutely no intention or reason to target or attack Yoo Jae Suk.”
The agency representative urged the public to avoid overinterpreting the actor’s words, emphasizing that the speech was simply an expression of his genuine feelings at the moment and was not meant as a message aimed at any specific person.
Lee Yi Kyung’s Recent Professional Challenges
The awards speech controversy is the latest chapter in a difficult period for the actor. Prior to the AAA ceremony, Lee Yi Kyung was involved in a scandal where an overseas netizen made serious allegations against him via social media messages. The situation was chaotic, with the accuser first apologizing and claiming the posts were manipulated by AI, then reversing that stance and insisting on their innocence. In response to this, Lee Yi Kyung’s agency has filed a defamation lawsuit regarding the spread of false information, and the case is currently under investigation.
His departure from “Hangout With Yoo” was officially confirmed by MBC in early November 2025. The network stated that the remaining members of the show would film a special farewell segment for him. Lee Yi Kyung remains active in other programs, including his role as a host on the dating reality show “I Am Solo”.
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