Lee Kyung-kyu Revives 'Conscience Refrigerator' on MBC's 'How Do You Play?'

On March 8, 2025, MBC's 'How Do You Play?' featured a special segment titled 'Lee Kyung-kyu is Back,' where the show revisited the concept of hidden conscience in today's society, 29 years after its original airing. The segment resonated with viewers, blending emotional moments, humor, and a public service message, leading to a strong viewer response.

The episode achieved a 2.2% rating in the key demographic of viewers aged 20-49, making it the top-rated Saturday variety show. In the Seoul metropolitan area, the household rating reached 4.4%. The peak moment of the episode occurred when Lee Kyung-kyu expressed his determination to revive 'Lee Kyung-kyu is Back,' hitting a high of 6.6% in viewership.

As a legendary figure in Korean entertainment, Lee Kyung-kyu brought back 'Conscience Refrigerator,' a segment that originally aired in 1996, which focused on finding individuals who uphold moral standards, particularly at traffic stops. He shared, "Initially, it was a TV, but I suggested we give away a large refrigerator instead. The idea was that 'putting your conscience in the refrigerator keeps it fresh.'" He humorously noted, "Sometimes when I drive and see a car stopping at a traffic line, I feel emotional. I created that!"

During the episode, cast member Joo Woo-jae playfully provoked Lee Kyung-kyu, leading to a humorous exchange where Lee declared a boycott against him. Joo Woo-jae had recently been named on Lee's 'blacklist' of 11 individuals in the entertainment industry. Despite Lee's ban on talking, Joo Woo-jae continued to interject, leading to more laughter as Lee exclaimed, "You don’t understand the meaning of life. Just eat your refrigerated food!"

The cast split into teams to search for acts of conscience on the roads and in the subway. They prepared various household appliances as prizes for the segment. The first task involved finding someone who stops at a red flashing light in a children's safety zone, while the second focused on locating a person who would return a lost wallet to the lost and found in the subway.

In the bustling subway, Joo Woo-jae, Lee Yi-kyung, Park Jin-joo, and Mi-joo began their search. Many passersby ignored a wallet, assuming the owner would return for it. Eventually, a couple from Hong Kong, Jacob and Tracy, discovered the wallet and took it to the lost and found, further enhancing the heartwarming atmosphere by stating they would donate the prize instead of keeping it. Joo Woo-jae expressed his emotional response, saying, "My faith in humanity is restored," while Lee Yi-kyung felt teary-eyed.

Lee Kyung-kyu, Yoo Jae-suk, and Haha expressed concern that many people might not know they are required to stop at red flashing lights. An expert's prior test revealed that only 1 in 50 drivers complied. The disappointment grew as cars sped through the children's safety zone, ignoring pedestrians. However, the first moral individual appeared: Park Yoon-sik, a representative from an air conditioning company, who stated, "I always stop because children need to cross safely." He also promised to donate his prize to those in need.

The second moral individual, Kim Sa-gon, who runs a café, shared that he grew up watching Lee Kyung-kyu's 'Conscience Refrigerator.' Lee expressed pride, saying, "I’m so happy to see the children I raised doing well." Yoo Jae-suk was moved by Kim's understanding of the red flashing light's significance, exclaiming, "Wow! I’m touched!" Lee Kyung-kyu expressed his joy at reviving 'Conscience Refrigerator,' stating, "'How Do You Play?' is truly a great program. I’m ready for any Thursday recording!" Yoo Jae-suk promised to return with 'Lee Kyung-kyu is Back,' affirming that "conscience is alive."

Viewers reacted positively, stating, "This episode was necessary and raised awareness," and "In a world where people honk even when crossing slowly, meeting such individuals warmed my heart." Others noted, "I didn’t know about stopping at red flashing lights. I’ll be more careful in the future," and praised the Hong Kong couple for their unexpected generosity.