Update on Lee Yong-jin rejoining 2 Days & 1 Night after the legendary streak of bad luck 7 years ago

In December 2018, when the main PD of 2 Days & 1 Night Season 3 was changed from PD Yoo Il-yong to PD Kim Sung, a new change was introduced:

The recruitment of Lee Yong-jin as an intern member.

Although he was called an "intern," it was essentially a trial period—similar to how Jun Jin, Gil, and Yang Se-hyung were handled in Infinite Challenge—and it was practically a given that he would become a permanent member. The viewers' reaction at the time was positive regarding both the PD change and Lee Yong-jin's recruitment.

However, in March 2019, three months after he joined as an intern, a huge scandal broke out when it was revealed that member Jung Joon-young had produced and distributed illegal filming material. While they initially tried to resolve it by simply removing Jung Joon-young, allegations of illegal gambling golf involving members Kim Jun-ho and Cha Tae-hyun (who were later cleared of all charges) emerged from Jung Joon-young's phone. Consequently, 2 Days & 1 Night Season 3 was put on indefinite hiatus, and in December of that year, it transitioned into Season 4—which continues to this day—with an entirely new cast except for Kim Jong-min.

This led to a wave of sympathy for Lee Yong-jin, who suddenly lost his job. Furthermore, because Season 3 ended so abruptly, there was one special episode that had a teaser released but remained unaired...

Two years after the show ended, Kim Jong-min revealed the behind-the-scenes story.

He said that the unaired special was actually the welcome party for Lee Yong-jin becoming a permanent member.

Moreover, they had even proceeded with filming as a 6-member team after Jung Joon-young left, but given the severity of the situation, filming was halted after only five hours. It seemed as though we would never get to see Lee Yong-jin's activities as a permanent member of 2 Days & 1 Night.

However, following Jo Se-ho's departure last December and Yoo Sun-ho's departure this May, leaving only four members in Season 4, Lee Yong-jin has returned as a permanent member along with actor Lee Ki-taek. Seven years later, he is finally being compensated for the misfortune he suffered during Season 3.

Source: https://www.fmkorea.com/best/9904968971