Yoo Jae-suk Is Caught in the Middle as 'Teukmanyamyeon' Season 5 Premieres Amid Co-host and Guest Controversies

'Teukmanyamyeon' Season 5 premieres on SBS on the 11th with returning MCs Yoo Jae-suk and Yoo Yeon-seok, but the lead-up to the broadcast has been anything but routine. Two of the show's four headlining cast members are navigating separate controversies, casting an awkward shadow over what is normally a lighthearted variety format.

The first-episode guests are actor Hwang Jung-min, known for his upcoming film Hope directed by Na Hong-jin, and model-turned-actress Jung Ho-yeon. A preview released on SBS's YouTube channel on the 5th showed all four appearing in good spirits, playing games together in a relaxed setting. The clip gave little indication of the turbulence that was already building offscreen.

Hwang Jung-min is currently at the center of a personal dispute that became public before the premiere. An individual identified only as A has alleged a prior private relationship with the actor. Hwang Jung-min's side has countered by filing a complaint designating A as a stalking suspect. The back-and-forth has continued publicly, with additional claims from A and legal proceedings from both parties still ongoing.

Because Hwang Jung-min completed filming before any of this became public, the question of whether his episode would air as scheduled attracted considerable attention. SBS confirmed it would proceed with the original broadcast plan.

The situation with co-MC Yoo Yeon-seok is different in nature but adds to the noise surrounding the premiere. Korea's National Tax Service determined that the single-person agency corporation Yoo established to manage his entertainment income did not provide substantive professional support, and issued a tax assessment of approximately 7 billion won. After adjustments for double-taxation considerations, Yoo paid a final amount of around 3 billion won and filed for a tax tribunal review, which was rejected.

His agency, Kingkong by Starship, told Xports News on the 5th that the matter "stems from a difference of opinion regarding the interpretation and application of tax law" and that not all related procedures have been concluded. The agency added it would review the factual and legal issues carefully and cooperate with any remaining proceedings.

The single-person agency structure Yoo Yeon-seok used is common among high-earning Korean entertainers as a way to manage income and expenses through a corporate entity. Tax authorities have scrutinized several such arrangements in recent years, questioning whether the corporate structures serve a genuine business function or primarily serve as a tax-efficiency vehicle.

With both the first-episode guest and the co-host drawing scrutiny, Yoo Jae-suk finds himself in the uncomfortable position of being the one cast member untouched by controversy in a season that has not yet broadcast a single minute. Fans who had been anticipating the new season are now watching to see whether the actual show manages to separate itself from the offscreen noise once it gets underway.