South Korean broadcaster and TV actor Lee Hwi-jae is facing renewed public criticism following his return to television, as fresh allegations and lingering controversies appear to overshadow his emotional comeback.

The Chosun Daily reported that Lee appeared in KBS2's "Immortal Songs." This is considered to be his comeback since his last appearance was done about four years ago. On the program, Lee performed "As Time Goes By" and shared stories about what happened during his absence.

Before his performance, Lee shared a personal moment related to his return. "The day I received the casting call happened to be my mother's death anniversary, so I thought, 'My mother must be helping me.' I didn't realize how precious it was when I was working a lot in the past, but I really enjoy coming to the broadcasting station and I am happy to receive energy from meeting my colleagues."

He also spoke about his family during the program, particularly his twin sons, in a visibly emotional exchange with host Shin Dong-yup.

In response to a question about his children, Lee shared his feelings about his hiatus. "Since I took a four-year break due to my mistake, the children have come to understand the situation exactly. Even though they don't say it out loud, they convey their feelings through letters."

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According to DAUM, the broadcast initially led to a brief shift in public sentiment, with some viewers expressing support for Lee's return. However, that momentum was quickly disrupted by new claims circulating online.

There was an alleged eyewitness statement that circulated on the Internet by someone who knew Lee from his native Korea but now lived in Canada.

A commenter described an encounter that cast the broadcaster in a negative light. "An acquaintance asked Lee Hwi-jae, 'Aren't you Mr. Lee Hwi-jae?' but he just ignored them and walked past."

The same individual elaborated on the perceived demeanor during the encounter. "The reason that acquaintance remembers the incident so clearly is because of the look in Lee Hwi-jae's eyes. They said they felt very offended because it was a dismissive look that seemed to say, 'How dare someone like you act like you know me?'"

Another online user added to the criticism with a broader claim about his reputation abroad. "There isn't a single heartwarming story about Lee Hwi-jae, even in Canada."

The authenticity of these claims has not been independently verified, but their spread has contributed to a shift in public opinion.

Additional data cited on DAUM indicated that viewership ratings for "Immortal Songs" dropped to 3.8%, a decline of 0.9 percentage points from the previous week.

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