On December 16, Lee Jin-ho posted a long statement on his YouTube channel, directly refuting the official response from Lee Yi-kyung’s agency, Sangyoung Entertainment. The agency had previously denied that Yoo Jae-suk’s name was ever mentioned during discussions about Lee Yi-kyung’s departure.
“After seeing the official statement, I was deeply shocked,” Lee Jin-ho wrote. “I never imagined that the agency, which had confirmed my report during the investigation, would then issue such a position.”
Lee Jin-ho reiterated that Yoo Jae-suk’s name was mentioned during the exit process, stressing that he personally verified the information several times.
“I couldn’t believe it either, so I confirmed once and then called again on another day,” he stated. “With clear rationale and materials in hand, I cannot understand why the agency would issue this type of official response.”
He explicitly added, “Lies can temporarily hide people’s eyes, but they cannot hide the truth” before revealing that it is considering whether to make its reporting materials public after further deliberation.
According to Lee Jin-ho’s previous statements, when Lee Yi-kyung was involved in a controversy over his private life, the Hangout with Yoo the production team reportedly postponed regular filming and met with the actor separately to inform him of his removal from the show. During this meeting, the production staff would explain where the decision came from “on the upper floors”.
Lee Jin-ho said that Lee Yi-kyung repeatedly questioned whether those “superior” turned to Yoo Jae-suk, suspecting the star MC’s involvement in the decision.
In response, Sangyoung Entertainment released an official statement on the same day, confirming that Lee Yi-kyung had been informed of his departure during a meeting with the production team. The agency acknowledged that producers described the decision as coming from “Above” and emphasized that it was final.
However, the agency drew a clear line against Yoo Jae-suk. “Let us make it absolutely clear that we never asked or questioned whether the decision reflected Yoo Jae-suk’s opinion,” the statement said.
The agency also clarified that Lee Yi-kyung then spoke by phone with Yoo Jae-suk on the day he was notified of his exit, describing the call as a brief exchange of regret and encouragement that ended with “We’ll talk about it again when we meet.” The agency pointed out that Lee Yi-kyung has never publicly mentioned Yoo Jae-suk since then.
At the heart of the controversy are two unresolved questions: whether Yoo Jae-suk’s name was raised by Lee Yi-kyung or his representatives during exit discussions, and whether Lee Jin-ho actually possesses materials that confirm his claims.
With Lee Jin-ho openly referencing it “clear evidence” and hinting at a possible disclosure, the focus remains firmly on whether further information will emerge and how the escalation of the dispute could impact those involved.
Sources: Naver
