The 2025 MBC Entertainment Awards closed Monday on a subdued note as veteran host Yoo Jae-suk captured the ceremony’s top honor, capping a year marked by controversy across the broadcaster’s variety programming. Yoo was named the grand prize winner at the year-end awards ceremony held at MBC’s Media Center in Sangam-dong, western Seoul. The win marked his ninth grand prize at MBC and the 21st of his career. “I received my first grand prize in 2005, and this one in 2025,” Yoo said in his acceptance speech. “No one knows what the future holds, but if it’s possible, I will keep doing my best and aim for 30.” He thanked fellow cast members and staff of “Hangout With Yoo,” including HaHa and Joo Woo-jae, and also expressed gratitude to former cast members Park Jin-joo, Lee Mi-joo and Lee Yi-kyung, who recently left the program. Yoo’s mention of Lee Yi-kyung drew attention, as the actor’s departure has remained a point of controversy. Lee stepped down from “Hangout With Yoo” last month following allegations related to his private life and later claimed that the prod