A Decade of Laughter: Running Man Fun Facts
One of the longest-running and award-laden Korean variety shows, Running Man has been well-loved by fans not only in South Korea but also in many other parts of the world, especially in Asia. Throughout the span of a decade, it has garnered a huge following in the Philippines. And now, for the first time ever, the cast of Running Man is coming to Manila this February for the A Decade of Laughter Tour, brought by PULP Live World.
IMAGE sbs_runningman_sbs on Instagram
Before their show on February 9, 2020, at the SM MOA Arena, here’s a refresher on some of the most fun facts about the show. For the uninitiated, here’s your chance to get to know the 10-year-old Korean variety program in one read!
500 episodes
Well, not yet. But Running Man isn’t showing any sign of slowing down, so we can be sure that they will soon hit the 500-episode mark. If you are a new fan, that’s a lot to catch up on!
Name tags
Tom Cruise, Henry Cavil, and Simon Pegg get their own name tags during their guest appearance in episode 410 (July 2018). /IMAGE sbs_runningman_sbs on Instagram
The name tags are the most symbolic item for Running Man, which became popular for its exciting name tag ripping games. They are also very expensive.
In one of the shows of SBS (Seoul Broadcasting System) network, Night of TV Entertainment, it was revealed that each name tag costs almost 60 USD (60,000 KRW).
Song Joong Ki in the premiere cast
Running Man premiered on July 11, 2010, with the original cast members, Yoo Jae Suk, Kim Jong Kook, Ji Seok Jin, Lee Kwang Soo, Haha, Kang Gary, and—yes, the global Korean icon Song Joong Ki, who reached the zenith of fame after his return from military enlistment when he starred in Descendants of the Sun.
Song Joong Ki, who is best known in the Running Man world as Lee Kwang Soo’s best friend, left the show after the 41st episode although he appeared later on as a guest in episode 66, which aired in October 2011.
The members now
The current Running Man cast is composed of (L-R) Yoo Jae Suk, Ji Seok Jin, Haha, Lee Kwang Soo, Song Ji Hyo, Yang Se Chan, Jeon So Min, and Kim Jong Kook. /IMAGE sbs_runningman_sbs on Instagram
Only five of the current Running Man members were in the starting cast of the show. It may seem like Song Ji Hyo has been in the show forever, but she actually first joined Running Man as a guest. She became a regular member in the 6th episode. Kang Gary, with whom Ji Hyo formed a love line as the Monday Couple, officially bid goodbye on episode 324 but still appeared in the two episodes that followed.
Jeon So Min, an actress, and Yang Se Chan, a comedian, officially joined the cast in April 2017, episode 346. Both of them first appeared as guests in previous episodes.
Member nicknames
Each member has their own distinct character, which makes the show a lot more dynamic! /IMAGE sbs_runningman_sbs on Instagram
Throughout the years, the members of Running Man, with their diverse and dynamic characters, have gained themselves some pretty hilarious nicknames.
Yoo Jae Suk as Yoo-mes Bond /IMAGE sbs_runningman_sbs on Instagram
For resembling a grasshopper and often wearing green, Yoo Jae Suk has officially been the show’s Grasshopper. His other popular nicknames are Yoo-mes Bond and Yooruce Willis because he often played as a spy during the games.
Ji Seok Jin receives punishment for failing in a Running Man game. /IMAGE sbs_runningman_sbs on Instagram
Lee Kwang Soo shares the same fate. /IMAGE sbs_runningman_sbs on Instagram
The oldest member, Ji Seok Jin, gained the nickname Big Nose due to his most distinguishable facial feature. He is identified as the show’s Impala because he is the group’s weakest link during physical games. Another top prey is Lee Kwang Soo, who is the Giraffe of the group. He has also been dubbed as the Prince of Asia due to his international fame, and Betrayer Icon due to his treacherous character. Seok Jin and Kwang Soo together are known as the Easy Brothers because they are often the first ones who get tagged out of the games.
Kim Jong Kook, the Commander. /IMAGE sbs_runningman_sbs on Instagram
Haha, also known as Haroro. /IMAGE sbs_runningman_sbs on Instagram
If there’s a prey, there’s a predator—and that’s Kim Jong Kook, who is the show’s Tiger. Being the strongest in the group, he also goes by the nicknames SpartaKook and Commander. Meanwhile, his known sidekick, Haha, whose real name is Ha Dong Hoon, is the Penguin of the group. He got this image from an episode where he came dressed in a hat and eyeglasses that made him look like the cartoon character, Pororo (a penguin)—which also got him the nickname Haroro. When he was still single, Haha was also known as the show’s playboy.
Song Ji Hyo, the Running Man Ace. /IMAGE sbs_runningman_sbs on Instagram
Aside from Jong Kook, Song Ji Hyo is also a strong character among the members. While she is known as the Ace, she is also nicknamed Mong Ji Hyo or, in English, Blank Ji Hyo due to her blank and clueless expression during mental games. As for her animal character, she may be the Cat with her cunning nature or an Angry Bird with her hot temper.
Jeon So Min exhibits a weird talent. /IMAGE sbs_runningman_sbs on Instagram
New member Yang Se Chan is given a warm welcome? /IMAGE sbs_runningman_sbs on Instagram
Jeon So Min and Yang Se Chan have also easily earned themselves nicknames. Jeon So Min is now known as Jeon Sobari, which is said to be a play of her name and a Korean slang that means awkward or clumsy. Yang Se Chan’s most prominent nickname is Number 8, which refers to his ranking in the group in terms of looks. As animal characters, So Min is the Frog and Se Chan is the Catfish.
International celebrities
Running Man became such a big hit that even international stars have come to the show. Most notably, Jackie Chan actually came to the show and joined the show’s trademark name-tag-ripping game, which aired in March 2013 (episode 135). Other Hollywood celebrities that have come to the show are Mission Impossible stars Tom Cruise, Henry Cavil, and Simon Pegg, and 6 Underground stars Ryan Reynolds, Melanie Laurent, and Adria Arjona.
Legit streaming
If you have SBS on your cable TV subscription, you can watch Running Man every Sunday, 5 p.m. (KST). However, that would be in pure Korean. Don’t worry though, because you can also watch the show with English subtitles on the Viu website or app. Every new episode is available on Viu one day after its original airing.
Visit the Viu website at www.viu.com/ott/ph/ or download the app on the App Store or Google Play.
First Manila show
The first-ever Running Man tour was held in 2013 where they visited Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, and Singapore. Every year since then, they have been holding fan meetings in various parts of Asia. However, it is the first time for them to visit Manila. It took fans in the Philippines 10 years to get a chance to meet their Running Man idols—but for any good fan, the wait is worth it!
Ready to meet the Running Man members? Catch them live at the SM Mall of Asia Arena this February 9, 2020.
Also read: South Korea’s Running Man Brings ‘A Decade of Laughter’ Tour in Manila
For more information and further show details, visit PULP Live World’s website at www.pulp.ph or follow their social media pages on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Details
What: Running Man ‘A Decade of Laughter’ Tour in Manila
Where: Mall of Asia Arena
When: February 9, 2020, 6 p.m.
Tickets: Tickets outlets nationwide and online
Website: pulp.ph
Facebook: facebook.com/PULPMagazine
