Lee Hyori reunites with Yoo Jae Suk on 'Happy Together' for the first time in 19 years

Singer Lee Hyori is making a grand return to the legendary variety show Happy Together as a special host.

On June 2, an official from KBS2’s upcoming variety show ‘Happy Together - Glad We Are Not Alone (literal title)’ confirmed to media outlets, "Lee Hyori participated in the recording of the very first episode as a special MC."

Lee Hyori will be lending her star power to support the show's highly anticipated revival, joining the main hosting lineup which includes Yoo Jae Suk, Jang Hang Jun, and Yoon Jong Shin. While she will not be a permanent fixture on the show, her role as the opening episode's special MC adds immense significance to the program's comeback.

The most anticipated aspect of this news is the reunion between Lee Hyori and Yoo Jae Suk. Back in May 2006, the duo served as co-hosts for Season 2 of Happy Together, earning the affectionate nickname "The Nation's Siblings" for their incredible comedic chemistry. After Lee Hyori stepped down from the show in January 2007 to focus on her music career, this upcoming episode marks their first time co-hosting Happy Together together in about 19 years.

Lee Hyori shares a deep history with the franchise. She first stepped into the world of variety show hosting in April 2002 for Season 1 of Happy Together. Partnering with comedian Shin Dong Yup, she led the show into its golden age and later maintained that success alongside Yoo Jae Suk.

The newly revamped Happy Together - Glad We Are Not Alone is a storytelling music audition program designed to highlight "the reason we sing together." It is a team-based audition with no restrictions on age, genre, or qualifications—anyone can apply as long as they are performing as a group. Rather than focusing solely on vocal talent, the judges will heavily weigh each team's unique narrative and harmony.

After coming to an end in 2020, Happy Together is making its return after six years with a completely fresh format. Happy Together - Glad We Are Not Alone is scheduled to premiere this coming July.