Lee Yi-kyung Departs 'How Do You Play?' After 3 Years, Leaving Fans With Unsaid Goodbyes

Actor Lee Yi-kyung, who had been a rising star in variety shows, has left the audience of 'How Do You Play?' without a proper farewell. After facing personal rumors, he announced his departure due to his packed schedule with drama and film projects, but the inability to bid adieu left a lingering sense of regret.

The broadcast of 'How Do You Play?' on the 8th featured a special titled 'The Gathering of Unpopular People,' with only the remaining MCs Yoo Jae-suk, Haha, and Joo Woo-jae greeting viewers. Yoo Jae-suk explained, "Lee Yi-kyung, who worked hard with us for about three years, had an overwhelming number of drama and movie schedules. After coordinating with the production team, he decided to leave 'How Do You Play?' following his other commitments." He added, "Yi-kyung worked very hard during his time here."

Joo Woo-jae mentioned, "He's had too many schedules these past few months." Haha elaborated on the reason for the unceremonious exit, "We should have been able to say goodbye, but even 'Insa-mo' (Gathering of Unpopular People) got postponed due to a broadcast interruption." Yoo Jae-suk concluded, "Due to a sudden schedule change and fixed dates, he couldn't personally say his final goodbye to our viewers. We will continue to support Lee Yi-kyung's active career."

Lee Yi-kyung, who joined 'How Do You Play?' in September 2022, garnered immense popularity for his unique camaraderie and energetic personality. Despite recent cast changes and program reorganizations, he remained a driving force. However, personal rumors and an intense schedule ultimately led to his decision to step down.

Recently, Lee Yi-kyung was embroiled in personal rumors when a netizen shared screenshots of allegedly inappropriate text messages. His agency stated at the time that they were preparing legal action against the spread of false information and malicious rumors. The netizen later confessed that the photos were AI-generated.

Despite weathering the personal storm, Lee Yi-kyung's departure from 'How Do You Play?' is a poignant one. Given his strong connection to the show, the inability to have a proper farewell amplifies the sense of tiếc nuối (regret).

While Lee Yi-kyung is leaving 'How Do You Play?', he will continue to appear on SBS Plus's 'I Am Solo' and the channel 'Brave Detectives'.

Korean netizens expressed their disappointment and regret over Lee Yi-kyung's abrupt departure. Comments included: "Lee Yi-kyung, you were so funny! It's even more disappointing that you couldn't say goodbye properly ㅠㅠ", "He must have gone through a lot with personal issues, and now he has to leave the show... It's regrettable. Please show us a better side of yourself in the future!", and "He was the funniest MC. It's going to feel empty without him from the next episode." The sentiment highlights the void his absence will create.