Lee Hyori mourns father's passing, Lee Sang Soon halts all activities until funeral concludes

Lee Sang Soon has temporarily stepped away from his radio program following the passing of his father-in-law. His wife, singer Lee Hyori, has also canceled her scheduled broadcast appearances due to her father’s death.

According to Star News, Lee Sang Soon will not host the April 13 and 14 broadcasts of MBC FM4U’s 'Perfect Day, This Is Lee Sang Soon.' His return date has yet to be determined.

Lee Hyori had also been slated to appear in the April 14 segment “Cheong Live,” but will no longer participate due to her bereavement. The production team plans to arrange a substitute guest. An MBC official stated that “the couple will be absent until the funeral is concluded,” adding that future schedules remain undecided.

Filling in for Lee Sang Soon will be singer Thomas Cook, who will serve as a special DJ. Thomas Cook has regularly appeared alongside Lee Sang Soon on the Wednesday segment “Gen Z’s Music.”

Following Star News’ exclusive report, Thomas Cook addressed the situation during the show’s opening, saying, “Many of you may have already seen the news, but DJ Lee Sang Soon’s father-in-law passed away over the weekend, and he is currently keeping vigil at the funeral hall. I will be hosting in his place for today and tomorrow. I’ll do my best to bring you great music as usual, so please feel free to share your stories.”

Earlier, Lee Hyori’s father, the late Lee Jung Kwang, passed away on April 12. The funeral hall has been set up in Room 1 of the funeral hall at Chung-Ang University Hospital in Seoul. The funeral procession is scheduled for April 14 at 7 AM, with burial to follow at the family burial site in Eumseong County, North Chungcheong Province. Lee Sang Soon is listed as a chief mourner alongside Lee Hyori and is receiving visitors at the funeral hall.

Meanwhile, Lee Hyori previously shared autobiographical stories about her father in the track “The Barber’s Daughter” from her 2008 studio album. She also revealed details about his illness during her appearance on the tvN variety show Canada Check-In in 2022, drawing sympathy from viewers.