Actor Lee Kye-in shares story of police intervention over rotting fish

Actor Lee Kye-in revealed on the JTBC show "Knowing Bros" that police were called after 200 crucian carp and catfish rotted in his car trunk following a two-day overnight stay. The actor also recounted fainting after fishing on a cliff for six days and releasing dozens of fish into an MBC fountain in Yeouido.

Actor Lee Kye-in has revealed a bizarre anecdote where his intense passion for fishing led to a police intervention. Because he did not want to waste the fish he had caught, he stored them in his car trunk, only to have 200 crucian carp and catfish rot inside. The resulting overwhelming stench eventually led to a report being filed, highlighting his extraordinary obsession with fishing.

Lee appeared on the JTBC show "Knowing Bros" on the 17th alongside singers Hyeon Suk and Kim Yeon-ja. During a "Build-up Game" where guests must identify one lie among three stories, he shared the tale, "I once had the police called because of crucian carp." While it initially sounded unbelievable, all the anecdotes he shared turned out to be true.

The incident began with fish caught during a summer fishing trip. Lee explained that while he sometimes shared crucian carp with others, he kept some in his car trunk because he felt they were too precious to waste. After stopping at home for a short time and staying overnight for two days, he returned to an unexpected situation: an unbearable stench was emanating from the car, prompting passersby to report the smell to the police.

"Passersby imagined the situation and reported it, saying, 'It's impossible for such a smell to be coming from here,'" Lee recounted. The police demanded he open the trunk, revealing the source of the odor: 200 rotten crucian carp and catfish. What started as an attempt to save the fish ended in a police report, a ridiculous experience that demonstrated just how deep his affection for fishing runs.

Lee's fishing stories did not end there. He also disclosed his experience with "cliff fishing," a legendary tale in the broadcasting industry. He described a prime fishing spot located beneath a cliff with no place to stand, where he took risks by bringing a rope from the city. He explained that he tied the rope to a pine tree behind him and secured his own body to the rope while casting his line. His passion for catching fish remained unshaken even in such dangerous environments.

Even more surprising was his account of fishing on the cliff for five nights and six days. Lee recalled, "I thought, instead of just the bait eating the crucian carp, let me eat the bait too," and continued fishing for six days while consuming the bait. He eventually stayed one more day before fainting; he was then reported by a passing fisherman and transported to a hospital by the police. He even surprised the cast with a postscript that while in the hospital, unable to regain full consciousness, he muttered, "There's a bite."

His love for fishing even extended to the fountain at MBC in Yeouido. Lee revealed that he had been asked by the facility management bureau to put a few dozen crucian carp into the fountain because it looked empty. Every time he went fishing, he would catch fish and release them into the fountain. He explained that he would catch 50 to 100 fish in a single cooler and pour them into the fountain in the early morning.

While he believed he was faithfully fulfilling the request, unexpected problems arose as the number of fish increased. Following complaints that the fountain smelled of fish, the facility management official eventually demanded that Lee stop adding crucian carp and take away all the fish he had already released. Lee expressed his frustration, saying, "They told me to put them in, so why this now?" It was an absurd conclusion to an act intended with good intentions.

From the car with 200 rotting fish to fainting on a cliff and releasing large quantities of crucian carp into the Yeouido MBC fountain, Lee's stories vividly illustrate a fishing passion that goes beyond a mere hobby. His storytelling, which turned dangerous experiences and absurd mistakes into laughter, drew significant attention from viewers.

The broadcast, which aired a week ago, is drawing renewed interest from viewers due to reactions suggesting that Lee's stories reflect a disregard for life. Some have raised criticisms that his actions stem from excessive anthropocentrism, showing a complete lack of a respectful attitude toward other living beings.

Read the original (Korean)