Lee Hwi-jae’s Comeback: Is It Linked to His Twins’ Schooling? Unpacking the Controversy

Lee Hwi-jae, Um Tae-woong / Photo: DB

[Sports Today reporter Song O-jeong] The children of broadcaster Lee Hwi-jae and actor Um Tae-woong have been swept up in online speculation, prompting growing calls to rein in excessive criticism as negative perceptions of the parents spill over onto their kids.

News of Lee Hwi-jae’s return to television surfaced recently. He appears in the preview for KBS2’s Immortal Songs: 2026 Entertainment King of Kings, which airs across two weeks on the 28th of this month and April 4 — marking his first broadcast appearance in four years.

The chilly public reception to Lee’s comeback, shaped by an unfavorable image formed before his hiatus, has extended to his twin sons. Some commenters suggested his timing was linked to the twins’ eligibility for admission to an international school. They argued that because the family’s residency in Canada now satisfies the school’s admission requirements this year, Lee might be preparing a domestic return.

However, reports indicate that Lee’s wife, Moon Jung-won, and the twin boys are still in Canada. Critics say it is inappropriate to use the children as fodder for controversy beyond their father’s actions.

Actor Um Tae-woong’s daughter also found herself at the center of accusations after a video posted by Um’s wife, dancer Yoon Hye-jin, showed the girl scanning barcodes at a supermarket. The caption suggested she was doing a part-time job while waiting because her father didn’t know about the early dismissal that day.

That lighthearted family moment was interpreted by some as an illegal part-time job, since middle school students working at a supermarket can raise legal concerns. When pushback followed, Yoon explained that the girl is friends with the owner of the small market near the school and only wanted to try it while waiting for her dad. Yoon added that it was reminiscent of the corner stores they used to visit as kids — places where, without parents around, they’d chat, greet customers and even ring up purchases. She expressed regret that such a nostalgic scene was blown up into suspicion.

Observers say these incidents reflect a broader tendency to project dislike of parents onto their children. As scrutiny directed at “celebrity second-generation” kids continues simply because of their family ties, more voices are criticizing the coverage as disproportionate, asking whether it’s fair to harass children who are not criminals while real offenders continue their lives unchallenged.

[Sports Today reporter Song O-jeong ent@stoo.com]
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