Actor Lee Yi Kyung has taken the entertainment world by storm in 2025, dominating both the acting scene and variety shows with his incredible talent! Who would have thought that he could surpass big names like Song Hye Kyo? Lee Yi Kyung is unstoppable this year, and fans can’t get enough of his charm.

Starting off January with a bang, Lee Yi Kyung made his return to the big screen in the highly anticipated Hitman 2 (directed by Choi Won Seop) on January 22, and he quickly proved himself as a box office powerhouse during the Lunar New Year holiday.

Hitman 2 is the sequel to the 2020 hit Hitman, which drew in over 2.4 million viewers. The story follows Jun (played by Kwon Sang Woo), a once-successful screenwriter who is wrongfully accused of a terrorist attack based on his new webtoon, setting off a hilarious action-packed adventure.

Lee Yi Kyung reprises his role as Cheol, the ace agent of the National Intelligence Service (NIS), and his performance was nothing short of spectacular. His natural comedic timing, honed from his regular appearances on How Do You Play? on MBC, made him shine alongside senior actors like Kwon Sang Woo and Jung Jun Ho.

Kwon Sang Woo even joked, “By Hitman 5, Lee Yi Kyung will probably be the main lead!” Jung Jun Ho also praised Lee Yi Kyung’s sharp wit, saying, “He’s quick-witted and has so many talents. His role in this movie was crucial!”

Thanks to Lee Yi Kyung’s standout performance, Hitman 2 achieved a major box office feat, becoming a "reverse hit" that surpassed Song Hye Kyo’s The Black Nuns to top the charts. In just eight days, the film surpassed 1 million viewers—an impressive milestone. As of January 30, Hitman 2 has racked up an incredible 1.26 million viewers, making it the first film of the year to reach this milestone.

But it’s not just the movie world where Lee Yi Kyung is excelling. He also took home the Best Male Excellence Award at the 2024 MBC Broadcasting Entertainment Awards on January 28 for his work on How Do You Play?.

Lee Yi Kyung shared his admiration for Korean variety shows, stating, "What’s amazing about Korean variety is how much content they produce every week. I visited the editing room and saw how hard the staff work. I really admire people like Kim Tae Ho and Na Young Seok PD. That’s why Korean variety is so amazing, and I hope viewers continue to be supportive."

With a successful movie release and his award-winning variety show appearance, Lee Yi Kyung has truly become the go-to entertainer of 2025.

The year is only just beginning, and we can’t wait to see what he’ll do next.

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Director Kim Hyung Joo of The Match has finally shared his thoughts on Yoo Ah In’s involvement in a drug scandal, calling it a major disappointment, especially considering the actor’s role as the lead in the film.

On March 19th, the director attended a press screening and briefing for The Match at CGV Yongsan I'Park Mall in Seoul. Alongside Kim, actors Lee Byung Hun, Ko Chang Seok, Hyun Bong Sik, Moon Jung Hee, and Jo Woo Jin were present to discuss the film.

The Match revolves around the legendary Go player Cho Hun Hyun (played by Lee Byung Hun), who, after a loss to his disciple, decides to challenge the top players again, driven by his competitive spirit. The movie is directed by Kim Hyung Joo.

Lee Byung Hun plays the iconic Go champion Cho Hun Hyun, while Yoo Ah In portrays his disciple, Lee Chang Ho.

During the event, Kim recalled the casting process, saying, "When we were casting, Lee Byung Hun was cast first. Just having him felt like we had the world, and then, getting Yoo Ah In as a bonus made me even happier."

Although filming wrapped up in 2021, Yoo Ah In's drug scandal led to the indefinite postponement of the film’s release. Now, nearly four years later, The Match is finally set to hit theaters on March 26th.

Reflecting on Yoo Ah In's scandal, Director Kim openly shared his frustration, calling it "irresponsible and disappointing" for the actor to make such a mistake as the lead.

He added, “Before being an actor, he made a mistake as a member of society and was punished, so I don’t think there’s much more to say.” Kim smiled bitterly as he spoke.

Describing the challenges he faced due to the scandal, Kim compared the experience to being trapped in "a hellish tunnel."

He said, "There was nothing I could do inside, so it was overwhelming. But now that we have the light of release, it feels like I can breathe. I’m deeply moved."

The director also shared that because Yoo Ah In was the lead actor, the film had to be released as it was, without editing. This has led some people to feel uneasy about watching the film, given the actor’s scandal.

When asked about this, Director Kim said, "Choosing and judging is up to the audience, so I can't force anything. But I hope they watch the movie as it is. I unintentionally got hurt before the release, so I hope people watch the movie warmly, as if applying ointment to a wound."

The Match will officially be released on March 26th.

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