[Sports Seoul | Reporter Choi Seung-seop] Actor Lee Dong-hwi is set to address the so-called "pumba" fashion that had the nation buzzing.
Lee, who drew attention for his striking look on a recent MBC episode of I Live Alone, will appear on the March 11 episode of tvN's You Quiz on the Block.
In a preview released on March 9, MC Yoo Jae-suk quipped, "That pumba outfit became a huge topic." Lee, feigning indignation, replied, "I could spend an hour explaining this outfit," sending the studio into laughter.
On the Feb. 27 episode of MBC's I Live Alone, Lee took a hobby trip to Busan with close friend Code Kunst. He arrived wearing an oversized coat with roughened shoulders and an intentionally distressed texture.
Watching him, Jun Hyun-moo gasped, "No matter how you look at it, isn't that pumba style?" Code Kunst joked, "It looks like something you'd feed to the pigeons at Seoul Station," poking fun at his choice for the occasion.
After the episode aired, the coat's surprising backstory came out: it was a high-end piece from a well-known designer, retailing for about 3,860,000 KRW (approximately $2,895).
On You Quiz, Lee will reveal the shopper's anecdote behind the purchase — a sales clerk told him the coat had just arrived and only one remained, so he bought it — a typically decisive move for someone in the fashion know.
The episode won't focus solely on style. Lee will also get candid about his life and career as an actor.
He'll admit that during college he felt he had been struck by an "art syndrome," and he'll reminisce about a chance encounter with Yoo Jae-suk on the set of a vitamin commercial a decade ago. A bittersweet anecdote about losing an autograph Yoo once gave him even made Yoo wince.
Lee will also share a touching memory from his struggling days when he was moved to tears listening to the song "Malhaneun Daero," offering viewers a glimpse into the deeper person behind the flashy fashionista image.
Will Lee clear up public misconceptions about the pumba coat and earn recognition for his fashion credibility? Tune in to tvN on March 11 at 8:45 p.m. to find out. thunder@sportsseoul.com
