Yoo Jae-suk returns to filming looking gaunt after first-ever sick day — with singer Lee Gi-chan and his hit song 'Cold'

Yoo Jae-suk, 54, widely known as "the nation's MC," was photographed returning to filming looking visibly gaunt — just one day after missing a recording session for the first time since his debut due to a cold.

Singer Lee Gi-chan posted on his official Instagram on Wednesday: "I'm not sure if this is really happening… I'm so grateful that 'Yu Quiz' (tvN's 'You Quiz on the Block') called me in, and I got to film with brother Jae-suk for the first time in over a decade. Thank you."

He then corrected himself, writing: "Oh wait! We did 'Sugarman' together in 2018. So it's been eight years, not over a decade."

Lee also shared photos of himself filming alongside "You Quiz on the Block" host Yoo Jae-suk. Yoo, who had canceled a recording session Wednesday due to illness, was seen sitting and looking noticeably pale, while Lee appeared to be singing in front of him.

According to Yoo's agency Antenna, Yoo canceled his scheduled recording for SBS's "Tteummanyamyeon" on Tuesday due to a sudden high fever brought on by a cold. The cancellation drew wide attention as it marked the first time Yoo had called off a same-day recording for health reasons since his debut in 1991.

Online commenters have noted the coincidence that Yoo's return to filming happened to be with Lee Gi-chan — whose hit song is titled "Cold." Lee recently resumed activities by releasing a remake of the song 24 years after its original release, and has been generating buzz through a clever promotional campaign in which he performs busking sets at pharmacies. Speculation has also emerged that the song Lee sang in front of Yoo during filming was none other than "Cold."

Commenters wrote: "Singing 'Cold' in front of a Yoo Jae-suk who actually has a cold," "Get well soon, Jae-suk, and may you thrive, Gi-chan," and "He must have been really sick — he looks like he's pouting ㅠㅠ."