News that actor Lee Dong-gun has been selected as a fixed panelist for JTBC’s ‘Divorce Meditation Camp’ following Jin Tae-hyun has been a hot topic for several days. However, there are more concerns than positive reactions, with some critics sharply asking, “Who is teaching whom?”
On the 29th, the ‘Divorce Meditation Camp’ team told Star News, “It is correct that Lee Dong-gun is joining the show. Filming has already been completed, and the episodes featuring him are scheduled to air starting in July.” The production team also announced Jin Tae-hyun’s departure, stating it was for “program reorganization and change.”
This has led some to wonder what commonalities exist between Jin Tae-hyun and Lee Dong-gun for the latter to take over the former’s role. However, the public was quicker to notice the difference: Jin Tae-hyun is famous for being a devoted husband, while Lee Dong-gun is a divorcee.
The ‘Divorce Meditation Camp’ team explained their reason for casting Lee Dong-gun, stating, “Lee Dong-gun has experience with divorce and has shown great affection for his daughter through various broadcasts.” Having experienced divorce can be a qualification for the show, as the main MC, Seo Jang-hoon, is also a divorcee. Participants and viewers can receive positive messages by listening to the advice of those who have been through divorce and using their experiences as a lesson.
Lee Dong-gun’s father previously appeared on SBS’s ‘My Little Old Boy’ in 2024 to express frustration over his son’s “King Uija” image. He revealed, “I think my son had about five public relationships. Whenever he dated, he made it public immediately. I once asked him why a celebrity would disclose everything when others hide it, and my son said that making it public was a way of respecting the other person. That’s how he got the nickname ‘King Uija.’ He argued, ‘I disclosed it honestly, so why am I called King Uija?'”
While Lee Dong-gun may have felt he was being courteous to his partners, Korean society still finds his way of thinking difficult to fully embrace. Many are expected to keep a close eye on what kind of wise advice he will offer on ‘Divorce Meditation Camp.’
