Jin Tae-hyun Instagram

JTBC ‘Divorce Deliberation Camp’ has come under scrutiny over changes to its cast.

On the 27th, the team behind ‘Divorce Deliberation Camp’ announced the departure of fixed panelist Jin Tae-hyun, stating, “It is a decision to bring change, as the program has run for about two years since 2024.”

After the show received a regular timeslot in August 2024, Jin Tae-hyun appeared from the first episode as a household investigator representing husbands, and his realistic yet warm advice to the participating couples resonated with viewers.

However, with incumbent panelists Seo Jang-hoon and Park Ha-sun continuing without changes, the announcement that only Jin Tae-hyun would depart led to speculation about the reasons, including possible health issues or personal matters.

Amid this, a post Jin Tae-hyun shared on social media on the 28th about how he felt about leaving drew attention by hinting at the background of his exit.

Jin Tae-hyun. JTBC ‘Divorce Deliberation Camp’ broadcast still

Jin Tae-hyun explained, “Through my manager, I heard the production team's explanation and decision regarding my departure, and I ended up leaving after a final recording in early April.”

He continued, “Because my life experience is limited and subjective, when I look back on whether my advice helped viewers and the participating couples, I feel ashamed. Even so, in 25 years as an entertainer I worked harder on this than on any other shoot and approached it with sincerity,” adding, “Thank you to Jang-hoon for recommending me despite my shortcomings. From now on, I will live with my wife as a ‘marriage-promotion couple’.”

Though not written in a tone of resentment or blame toward the production team, the phrasing that he “heard about the decision to have him leave through his manager” suggested that the departure was neither his wish nor one reached through consultation.

Lee Dong-gun. Courtesy of KBS

In addition, some pointed out a lack of consideration in reporting the departure while episodes featuring Jin Tae-hyun still have more than two months left to air.

Revealing his feelings in the post, Jin Tae-hyun also said, “There is still a lot of footage left to air, but an official article has gone up. I was going to offer my thanks after the final broadcast, but with so many articles coming out, I will greet you in advance with a note I had prepared.”

Meanwhile, news that Lee Dong-gun had been selected as the successor to Jin Tae-hyun added fuel to the negative reaction.

JTBC said on the 29th, “Lee Dong-gun completed recording last Saturday. It will begin airing in July.”

However, because the program’s concept has couples considering divorce joining a live-in camp to experience a deliberation period and mediation process as they try to reset their lives, opinions continue to question whether, given Lee Dong-gun’s history of divorce, he is the right fit for that seat.

As criticism grows that the cast overhaul on ‘Divorce Deliberation Camp’ is hard to understand, attention is on whether it can continue with its existing audience without a parting of ways.