Broadcaster Noh Hong-chul recently sparked controversy by releasing photos taken with a lion during his trip to Africa. The photos show a lion lying on an outdoor grassland, and include images of Noh Hong-chul posing with the lion.

After the photos were made public, some netizens raised suspicions that the lion might have been under the influence of drugs, leading to allegations of animal abuse. In response, Noh Hong-chul addressed these opinions on his SNS, calling them "valuable opinions," and explained the inquiries he made with the facility used and the local travel agency. It is reported that he deleted the original post and uploaded a new one to express his stance on the controversy.

Meanwhile, regarding this issue, Noh Hong-chul emphasized his interest in and responsibility for animal protection through the released photos and his statement, expressing his intention to maintain a cautious attitude going forward. Currently, the controversy is sparking active discussions among domestic and international fans and netizens.