Actor Lee Yi-kyung will no longer join KBS-2TV's The Return of Superman as an MC, with Kim Jong-min stepping in as the new host.

On the 11th, a production official told Dispatch, "Lee Yi-kyung will not be participating in The Return of Superman. Kim Jong-min has been appointed as the new MC." The reason behind Lee's withdrawal was not disclosed.

Lee was previously confirmed last month as a new MC alongside RalRal, marking a major revamp for the long-running show. He was set to become the program's first unmarried MC, sharing his perspective as a "dad-in-training."

However, recent controversy surrounding Lee's private life surfaced when a woman claimed to have exchanged direct messages and texts with him. She later retracted the posts, admitting they were AI-generated, and publicly apologized before deleting all content.

Lee's agency has since filed a lawsuit against the woman for defamation and spreading false information, emphasizing, "There has been no settlement or compensation discussions, and there never will be."

In addition to leaving The Return of Superman, Lee has also stepped down from MBC's Hangout with Yoo. He will now focus on filming the Vietnamese movie I Am Here and TBS Japan's Friday drama Dream Stage.

Meanwhile, The Return of Superman will begin its revamped shoot on November 19, with the new episode set to air on November 26.