Running Man is a South Korean variety show, formerly part of SBS’ Good Sunday lineup. It was first aired on July 11, 2010.
Running Man was originally classified as an “urban action variety”; a genre of variety shows in an urban environment. The MCs and guests were to complete missions at a landmark to win the race. The show has since shifted to a more familiar reality-variety show concept focused on games. It has garnered attention as being the comeback program for Yoo Jae-suk, the main MC of the program, after leaving Good Sunday‘s Family Outing in February 2010.
The show has become popular in other parts of Asia, and has gained online popularity among Hallyu fans, having been fansubbed into various languages, such as English, Persian, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Italian, Thai, Vietnamese, Chinese, Malay, Indonesian, Burmese, Arabic, Russian, and Turkish.
The show has made it to the list of Business Insider‘s 20 TV Shows of 2016.
Since April 2017, Running Man is airing as the first part of Good Sunday at 4:50 pm KST and competing against KBS2’s The Return of Superman and MBC’s King of Mask Singer. Running Man previously aired at 6:25 pm KST on Sundays, as the second part of Good Sunday, competing against KBS2’s 2 Days & 1 Night. The show had its special episode on Sunday, July 12, 2020 in celebration of their 10th anniversary.
Format
Current
As of episode 48, the members have taken part in a series of missions to become the winner(s) at the end of the race. Missions form the basis of Running Man as members try to avoid punishment in earlier episodes or to win prizes. Multiple missions are presented in each episode, with the highlight of Running Man being race missions. The format of the show has veered away from the “race mission + others” to “one continuous race + missions”.
Previous
| showEp(s) | Airdate(s) | Notes |
|---|
Personnel
Production staff
The staff run the games, often showing up on camera either by actively participating in the game or influencing the outcome of various missions.
This includes the personal cameramen (VJs), production directors (PDs), floor directors (FDs), stylists, boom operators, etc.
Chief producer, Nam Seung-yong, is responsible for the production of the program, with PD Jo Hyo-jin, Im Hyung-taek, and Kim Joo-hyung mainly responsible for the directing and production of the recordings of the program since inception. Other PDs have joined the program to assist as the program shifts from a single landmark to multiple locations for recording, notably Hwang Seon-man and Lee Hwan-jin. FD Go Dong-wan assists in the recordings of the program and is known to be shown on camera many times, as well as delivering and assisting the members in missions. Producer Kim Joo-hyung has left the show as of episode 182 as he was reassigned to Inkigayo.
Each member has their own personal cameramen who follow them around exclusively during recordings. Notable cameramen include Ryu Kwon-ryeol (Yoo Jae-suk’s primary VJ), Kim Yoo-seok (Jee Seok-jin’s primary VJ), Choi Yoon-sang (Lee Kwang-soo’s primary VJ), Yoon Sung-yong (Haha’s primary VJ), Sung Gyu (Song Ji-hyo’s primary VJ), Jo Seong-Oh (Gary’s primary VJ, now Yang Se-chan’s primary VJ), Kim Ki-jin (Kim Jong-kook’s primary VJ), and Kim Si-yeon (Jeon So-min’s primary VJ).
On November 19, 2014, the show’s head director, Jo Hyo-jin, announced his departure from the show after working with the members for four years.
On March 20, 2016, the show’s main PD, Im Hyung-taek left the show (as of episode 291) as he became the producer of Hurry Up, Brother, resulting in new generation PDs to take over, notably PD Lee Hwan-jin, PD Jung Chul-min, and PD Park Yong-woo. FD Go Dong-wan also announced his leave via his Instagram.
On July 3, 2016, SBS confirmed the return of producer Kim Joo-hyung to the show. That same month, it is confirmed that he will be the new main PD of the show. However, it didn’t last long as PD Kim Joo-hyung announced that he is leaving the show shortly after. Subsequently, PD Lee Hwan-jin has taken over as the main PD of Running Man until March 2017. As of April 2017, Running Man main PD is Jeong Cheol-min. In July 2018, PD Jeong Cheol-min took a break and PD Lee Hwan-jin would temporarily take over as main PD of the show. PD Jeong Cheol-min returned to the show as main PD in May 2019 after taking a break and producing two seasons of SBS show Village Survival, the Eight, while PD Lee Hwan-jin takes a break.
On February 5, 2020, SBS confirmed that PD Jeong Cheol-min will be leaving the show and the company. PD Choi Bo-pil will be taking over as the main PD of the show.
Guests with the most appearances
During its run, some of the guests were occasionally featured or invited to the show. These guests were notable for their constant appearances and were often considered to be the “8th/9th/10th Running Man”. The following list are guests who appeared the most often as of November 22, 2020.
| Rank | Name | No. of episodes | Episodes | Occupation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kang Han-na | 21 | 343, 380, 392–396, 399–400, 406–408, 426–427, 476–477, 480, 486, 490–491, 509 | Actress |
| 2 | Hong Jin-young | 20 | 205, 221, 266, 299, 356–357, 392–396, 399–400, 406–408, 439, 442, 469, 499 | Singer |
| 3 | Lee Sang-yeob | 16 | 381, 390–396, 399–400, 406–408, 415, 453, 509 | Actor |
| 4 | Yoon Bo-mi | 13 | 202–203, 255, 344, 372, 458–459, 467–469, 500, 529-530 | Member of Apink |
| Son Na-eun | 162, 202–203, 356–357, 360–361, 424, 458–459, 467–469 | Member of Apink | ||
| 6 | Jung Yong-hwa | 12 | 7, 11, 17, 35–36, 72–73, 104, 127, 129, 186, 242 | Member of CNBLUE |
| Heo Kyung-hwan | 202–203, 339, 390–392, 477–478, 483–484, 490–491 | Comedian | ||
| Lee Da-hee | 388–389, 392–396, 399–400, 406–408 | Actress | ||
| 9 | Nichkhun | 11 | 4–5, 19, 40, 50–51, 104, 195, 248, 256, 306 | Member of 2PM |
| 10 | Seungri | 9 | 30, 84–85, 163, 190, 250, 416–417, 436 | Former member of BIGBANG |
| Park Ji-sung | 96–97, 152–154, 199–200, 283–284 | Former football player | ||
| Jo Se-ho | 305, 360–361, 367–368, 374–375, 499, 510 | Comedian |
List of episodes
| Year | Episodes | Originally aired | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First aired | Last aired | ||||
| 2010 | 23 | July 11, 2010 | December 26, 2010 | ||
| 2011 | 51 | January 2, 2011 | December 25, 2011 | ||
| 2012 | 52 | January 1, 2012 | December 30, 2012 | ||
| 2013 | 52 | January 6, 2013 | December 29, 2013 | ||
| 2014 | 49 | January 5, 2014 | December 28, 2014 | ||
| 2015 | 52 | January 4, 2015 | December 27, 2015 | ||
| 2016 | 52 | January 3, 2016 | December 25, 2016 | ||
| 2017 | 52 | January 1, 2017 | December 31, 2017 | ||
| 2018 | 49 | January 7, 2018 | December 30, 2018 | ||
| 2019 | 51 | January 6, 2019 | December 29, 2019 | ||
| 2020 | 52 | January 5, 2020 | December 27, 2020 | ||
| 2021 | TBA | January 3, 2021 | TBA | ||
List of guests
Five of Running Man’s permanent cast (Haha, Lee Kwang-soo, Song Ji-hyo, Kim Jong-kook and Jee Seok-jin) in Malaysia at a fan meeting
Many guests have taken part in Running Man. The following is a compilation of guests and the number of times they have been on the show. With regards to guest-turned-members (Song Ji-hyo, Jeon So-min, Yang Se-chan) or former members of the show (Lizzy, Song Joong-ki, Gary), only the times they were a guest are counted. The guests were sorted according to their appearances and the number of episodes appeared.
| showRank | Guest | Episode(s) | No. of episodes |
No. of appearances |
|---|
Reception
Kim Jong-kook (middle) and Haha (right) in Dallas in 2014, at a Running Man Brothers concert
The first episode of the show received mixed reviews. According to Asiae, the show concept was promising, but the crew could not use the location to full potential, and the pace was not fast and dynamic enough.
Despite a slow start, Running Man became increasingly popular in South Korea and throughout Asia. In its home country the show is watched by 2.1 million people on average. Due to the existence of fansubs, it is watched outside of Asia as well, being translated into English, Spanish and Arabic, among others.
According to The Straits Times (an English language daily newspaper in Singapore), the popularity of the show is due to its unpredictability, the comedy involved, the celebrity guests and the chemistry between the regular cast members. Assistant professor Liew Kai Khiun at the Nanyang Technological University (Singapore) attributes the appeal of Running Man to the ability of using public space in a creative way: “Running Man is about taking audiences to the various corners of not only South Korea, but the region as well. In the rather fast-paced urban societies in Asia, the show helps to provide release from the daily tensions that such streets and buildings are associated with.” Liew thinks that the cast members are not particularly good looking, thus have nothing to lose, even if they “wrestle with one another like children”.
According to producer Jo Hyo-jin, the show is popular because the concept of having to choose a winner is culturally easy to understand. He also named the good relationship between the regular members as one of the reasons for the show’s success. Celebrity guests like Super Junior, Girls’ Generation and f(x) play an important part in the success as well, although they sometimes induce criticism. For example, after the airing of the Big Bang episodes, some viewers complained that the band won too easily. Jo Hyo-jin, however, denied any special treatment of the celebrities. Jo explained that fans are also highly critical of the games, therefore it is not possible for the crew to reuse games without changing them.
The regular members of Running Man have held several fan meetings throughout Asia. In October 2013, their Singapore fan meeting drew a crowd of 3,000. When the cast arrived for shooting in Vietnam and other countries, they were greeted by thousands of fans at the airport.
Discography
In conjunction with the 9th year of show, they held their first ever fan-meeting in Korea. During the fan-meeting, they collaborate with the different singers. On September 22, 2019, they officially released the album on all major Korea music portals.
| No. | Title | Artist | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | “HOLLYWOOD” | Super-X (슈퍼-X) (Yoo Jae-suk and Haha) |
3:08 |
| 2. | “PARTY” | Pink Nose Light (핑코빛) (Jee Seok-jin, Lee Kwang-soo and Apink) |
3:06 |
| 3. | “Bonjour, Hi (ft. Yoon Mi-rae)” (봉주르 하이) | Hyo Chan Park (효찬공원) (Song Ji-hyo, Yang Se-chan, Code Kunst and Nucksal) |
3:15 |
| 4. | “Confess Already” (이제 나와라 고백) | JeonSoran and Yoo Jae-suk (전소란과 유재석) (Yoo Jae-suk, Jeon So-min and SORAN) |
4:03 |
| 5. | “Raise your voice” | F-Killer (Haha, Kim Jong-kook and Gummy) |
3:25 |
| 6. | “I Like It” (좋아) | Running Man (런닝맨) (Yoo Jae-suk, Jee Seok-jin, Kim Jong-kook, Haha, Song Ji-hyo, Lee Kwang-soo, Jeon So-min, and Yang Se-chan) |
4:03 |
| Total length: | 21:00 | ||
Ratings
In the ratings below, the highest rating for the show will be in red, and the lowest rating for the show will be in blue each year.
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Tours
Other works
Merchandising
The Running Man 300th Anniversary Special hats and socks on display
In order to “relay the feeling of Running Man“, Running Man has made merchandises available on sale since 2015. The products ranging from stickers, socks, hats, shirts, and shoes.
On May 26, 2015, a special project called the “Running Man Challenge” was made in collaboration with a footwear co-created platform, ROOY. Its main objective is for the fans to design a shoe that “would unify and coordinate between the cast members.” 777 submissions were made, and in June 2015, a design made by a fan named Noh Seung-soo was selected to be the official design for the shoes. The shoes went on sale on February 22, 2016. Currently, a second “Running Man Challenge” is held. The winner for this challenge will have their design to be the new shoes.
In 2016, Running Man collaborated with NBA to make a 300th Anniversary special hats and shirts.
Animation
The Soul Tree, the great source of our race. But for its ultimate power and by those whose minds were blinded by it, it also became the catastrophic cause that had brought never-ending wars between the tribes. Tortured by the agonies of the wars, the leaders of the tribes finally came to a peace agreement that they would instead open a competition. Players, equipped with special watches and shields, compete against each other as winner’s tribe would be awarded with Materion, the sacred fruit of the Soul Tree. These brave players, who throw themselves in this fierce fight, we call them the Running Man.
— Running Man WORLD VIEW
On June 14, 2017, it was announced that Running Man will be adapted into a half-hour animated show. It will features the original seven members, including former member Gary, in animal form. The show will have 24 episodes and EXO-CBX will provide the theme song for the show. Additionally, the animated show will be the first show to be broadcast in UHD in South Korea. On August 11, 2018, the animated show has been premiered on Cartoon Network in Southeast Asia as an English dub.
On December 5, 2018, “Running Man, 2018” animated series was released in the theaters. On December 19, 2020, an animated movie, originally serving as a six-episode preview of the new season, has been premiered on Cartoon Network in Southeast Asia as an English dub within the title “Running Man: The Ultimate Challenge”.
Comic book
In March 2013, a comic book adaptation of the series was published. The series, titled Running Man: How do I Find the Kidnapped Idol?, is written by Hong Yong-hoon and illustrated by Kim Moon-shik. The comic book, which is aimed for children, was released on March 25, 2013.
Musical
On March 30 and 31, 2019, a play which was titled, “The Musical Running Man” was performed at Busan Citizen’s Hall.
Other appearances
| Year | Title | Network | Member(s) | Notes | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Keep Running | ZRTG | All | Guest Appearance | |
| 2015 | A Girl Who Sees Smells | SBS | All | Cameo (episode 1) | |
| Game of Dice | N/A | Gary, Jee Seok-jin, Kim Jong-kook, Lee Kwang-soo, Song Ji-hyo | Commercial film | ||
| 2016 | Keep Running | ZRTG | All | Guest Appearance |
International versions
Running Man had first sold the franchise to China which became Running Man China in 2014. They later sold the franchise to Vietnam and Indonesia in 2019.
As of June 6, 2019, there have been aired 9 seasons within 3 franchises of Running Man.
- Currently airing (2)
- An upcoming season (2)
- Status unknown (0)
- No longer airing (0)
| Country/Region | Local title | Network(s) | Season(s) & Winner(s) | Member(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 South Korea |
Running Man 런닝맨 (Flagship/Original Edition) |
SBS | (no season, airing from July 11, 2010 to present) |
|
 China |
Running Man China 奔跑吧兄弟 Hurry Up, Brother |
Zhejiang Television |
|
|
| Keep Running 奔跑吧 |
Zhejiang Television |
|
||
 Vietnam |
Running Man Vietnam Chạy đi chờ chi |
HTV7 |
|
|
 Philippines |
Running Man Philippines | GMA | 2021 (Upcoming) | TBA |
 Indonesia |
Running Man Indonesia | TBA | 2021 (Upcoming) | TBA |
Controversy
Gary’s departure
In September 2012, Gary made a surprising announcement on social media about his intention to leave the program. It is believed that his intention came from the recent criticism concerning the “Super 7 Concert” which his company, Leessang Company, was producing. Gary decided to take responsibility for its failure by resigning himself from any activities. Due to this, Running Man production staff and the members decided to postpone their filming schedule on September 24–25, 2012 to convince him to stay in the program. A week later, Gary officially apologized due to the controversy that he created and confirmed his decision to remain as a member of the program. In 2016, Gary again announced that he will be leaving Running Man for good due his main focusing towards music career. This caused Running Man to have a 6th member cast for few months before two new members were recruited, Yang Se Chan and Jeon So Min to replacing him. Gary returned on episode 336 as a surprise guest.
Season 2 proposal
On December 14, 2016, it was announced that Kim Jong-kook and Song Ji-hyo were leaving the show, as a new season with a new format starring the remaining cast members and new member Kang Ho-dong would air in January 2017. Initial reception was mixed. However, it was revealed that Song Ji-hyo and Kim Jong-kook were not given any notice about their removal, resulting in an overwhelming negative reaction. In addition, news of Kang Ho-dong refusing the offer to join the new season resulted in a possible cancellation of Season 2 of Running Man.
On December 16, 2016, an emergency meeting was held with the consensus reached that all members would leave, ending the program altogether in February 2017 with a subsequent program taking its place.
However, on January 24, 2017, SBS announced that the show will continue airing with all of the remaining cast members. The decision came after Nam Seung-yong, the new Vice President of SBS Entertainment Headquarters, who was involved in conceiving Running Man, had further conversations with every member in regards to the show’s future. Subsequently, after apologizing to Kim Jong-Kook and Song Ji Hyo for all of the issues regarding the program, the former then became actively involved in convincing the other members to continue working on the program.
Depiction of Taiwan
During an episode aired on December 7, 2020, the show depicted China and Taiwan as separate countries when playing a board game, this causes outrage and call for boycotts in China.