After leaving for Canada, rumors of broadcaster Lee Hwi-jae's retirement from the entertainment industry surfaced, and specific circumstances regarding his actual whereabouts have been revealed.
On the 4th, the YouTube channel Entertainment President Lee Jin-ho posted a video discussing the reasons Lee Hwi-jae was recently spotted in Korea and the background behind his choice to go to Canada. On the 3rd, his wife Moon Jeong-won resumed her social media activities after about 3 years and 7 months, drawing public attention, and the couple's previously hidden activities have come to light.
According to the video, it has been confirmed that Lee Hwi-jae's family left for Canada in September 2022 not for permanent immigration but for a temporary break. At that time, Lee Hwi-jae was experiencing a severe slump due to various controversies and criticisms surrounding him, and after stepping down from the program he was appearing on, he decided to go to Canada with his family as his schedule became free.
The initial plan was to return by the end of 2022 or early 2023, but a sudden bereavement of his mother during his stay in Canada delayed his return. Additionally, issues regarding the education of his twin sons compounded the situation, extending their stay in Canada, and during this process, communication with the outside world was cut off, leading to the natural spread of retirement rumors.
However, according to Lee Hwi-jae's close associates, he is still known to have a strong will to continue broadcasting activities in Korea. In fact, Lee Hwi-jae has often returned to Korea to hold regular meetings with broadcasting officials, and it has been confirmed that he entered the country in January to handle pending work. His wife Moon Jeong-won also stayed in Korea for personal reasons before recently departing for Canada again.
Currently, Lee Hwi-jae is scheduled to leave for Canada again to take care of his children's education, but he is keeping the possibility of returning to broadcasting open by contacting officials, so his future actions are drawing attention. There is growing interest in how Lee Hwi-jae, who has taken a long break rather than retiring, will present himself to the public again.
