Runningman
Variety Korean Show
Running Man (
Korean:
런닝맨) is a
South Korean variety show; forming part of
SBS's
Good Sunday
lineup. It first aired on July 11, 2010, and as of 2016, it is one of
the longest-running variety programs in South Korean history, currently
at six years, surpassing the channel's previous variety show,
X-Man (at three and a half years), and behind
MBC's
Infinite Challenge (11 years), and
KBS2's
1 Night 2 Days (9 years).
Running Man was originally classified as an "urban action variety"; a genre of variety shows in an
urban environment.
[1] The
MCs and guests were to complete missions at a
landmark to win the race.
[2] 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.
[3]
The show has become popular in other parts of Asia, even reaching its
popularity outside Asia, has gained massive online popularity among
Hallyu fans, and having been
fansubbed
into a number of languages by international audiences, such as English,
Spanish, French, Thai, Malay, Vietnamese, Chinese, Indonesian, Burmese
(Myanmar), Arabic, Brazilian Portuguese, Russian and Turkish.
Current cast
| Name |
Nickname(s) |
Duration |
Notes |
| Yoo Jae-suk |
Yoo-ruce Willis (유르스 윌리스)
Yoo Hyuk (유혁)
Yoo-mes Bond (유임스 본드)
Grasshopper (메뚜기)
Cicadanem (매미넴)
Ddakji King (딱지왕)
Yoda (요다) |
Episode 1 – present |
The main host of the show and known during the race missions for his
escaping abilities and quick thinking. As a main host, he has been
featured as a protagonist in many special episodes, which presented him
with a nickname of Yoo-mes Bond. He is shown to have a closer
relationship with a lot of the guests on the show, which he often boasts
about to the other members. He is also often referenced to the color
green throughout the show and is also known for his nickname
"Grasshopper" from his first television appearances. He started off as a
weak player during the race missions, but later becomes one of the
strongest players in the series, and is, along with Kim Jong-kook,
considered to be one of the two main powers in the race missions. His
theme songs are "Step by Step" by New Kids on the Block and "Extreme Ways" by Moby. |
| Gary |
Peaceful Gary (평온개리)
Straight-Going Gary (직진개리)
Tycoon (태풍)
Monday Boyfriend (월요남친)
Mr. Gary (개리 쒸)
Wild Gary (야생개리)
Sudden Commander (뜬금 능력자)
Random Mr. Capable (임의 씨 가능)
Squid (오징어) |
Episode 1 – present |
Introduced alongside Lee Kwang-soo and Song Joong-ki as one of the
"variety rookies" due to his lack of experience on variety shows prior
to Running Man. He is shown as the most gullible but honest
member. Throughout the series, he has been involved in the official
loveline of the show alongside Song Ji-hyo, as well known to be rivals
with Haha. Although shown to be quite clueless at times, he is known as
"The man full of surprises" and the "dark horse" of Running Man during race missions, highlighted when the show held the Best of the Best Match
with him winning the match twice in a row. He is also known to be
easily irritated whenever the members, particularly Haha called him a
"squid" (as the byword for being ugly), which often leave him depressed.
His theme songs are his various Leessang songs. |
| Haha |
Haroro (하로로)
Roro (로로)
Penguin (펭귄)
Playboy (난봉꾼)
Kid (꼬마)
Schemer (모사꾼)
Ha-Rad Pitt (하래드 피트)
Octopus (주꾸미)
Spaghetti (스파게티) |
Episode 1 – present |
The primary joker of the cast and is usually picked on by other members because of his height and his similar appearance to Pororo the Little Penguin.
He also has a tendency to feel as though he is the main lead in a movie
created by his imagination. When things don't go his way, he lashes out
verbally, causing great laughter among the cast. He is also the playboy
of the cast, as he always confesses his love to female guests. However,
this ended when he became engaged to singer Byul,
changing to a "married man" and becoming very rough to female guests.
He was initially a weak player during the race missions, occasionally
being picked on even while on the chasing team, however he has improved
over the course of the show, highlighted when he won the Best of the Best Match
2 times, along with Gary, who also held the same title. He is currently
involved in the rivalry of the show alongside Gary. His theme song is
"Perfect Love" by Lutricia McNeal and the theme song of Pororo the Little Penguin. |
| Ji Suk-jin |
Big Nose (왕코)
Impala (임팔라)
Race Starter (레이스 스타터)
Yoo Jae Suk's Sunflower (유재석 의 해바라기)
Celebrity Paparazzi (연예인파파라치)
Suk-ja (석자) |
Episode 1 – present |
The oldest member of the show and one of Yoo Jae-suk's closest
friends, knowing each other for more than 20 years. He is shown to be
jealous of the good relationship between Yoo Jae-suk and Kim Jong-kook.
He is also sometimes shown to be smart, particularly towards Korean
history. Dubbed the " Race Starter" during the race missions, he is
shown to be one of the weakest members and is the easiest and most
frequently eliminated out of the cast, so easily that the other members
would declare that the race has officially started after his
elimination. He is also the most gullible among the cast, as he get
easily tricked, particularly towards business investments. His theme
song is "House You Live In" by Park Jin-young. |
| Kim Jong-kook |
Sparta-kook (스파르타국)
Commander (능력자)
Kookie (꾹이)
Tiger (호랑이)
Coach Kook (꾹코치)
Mr. Capable (능력 씨)
Father-in-law (시아버지)
Kook-minator (꾹네이터)
Jong-sook (종숙) |
Episode 1 – present |
The strongest member of the cast, Kim Jong-kook is known for his
strength and skill during the race missions. During the missions, he is
known for his sudden appearances that are often accompanied by the
soundbite "This is Sparta!" taken from the movie, 300.
His smart tactics are often successful to eliminate the other members
and as a result, he is known for having both brains and brawn. He is
also shown at times to act cute and show off his aegyo. His only apparent weakness is women and he is often teased for having a particular fondness towards Yoon Eun-hye. His theme song is "What We Need Is A Hero" by Alan Silvestri and his own song, "One Man". |
| Lee Kwang-soo |
Framer Kwang-soo (모함광수)
Giraffe (기린)
Giraffe's Tricks (꼼수 기린)
Kwangvatar (광바타)
Betrayer Kwang-soo (배신광수)
Icon of Betrayal (배신의 아이콘)
Icon of Bad Luck (불운의 아이콘)
Prince of Asia (아시아 의 왕자)
God of Variety (예능신)
KwangToad (광두꺼비)
Kwang-ja (광자) |
Episode 1 – present |
The tallest and currently the youngest member of the cast and
initially introduced alongside Gary and Song Joong-ki as one of the
"variety rookies" due to his lack of experience on variety shows prior
to Running Man. During the earlier episodes he was known for
framing his fellow members with embarrassing and often absurd rumours.
He is often picked on by the rest of the cast, particularly Kim
Jong-kook, due to his timid nature. He is one of the weakest players,
often the first to be eliminated during race missions. However, he has
grown to easily betray his fellow members without hesitation. He is also
known to be one of the most unluckiest member, having earned the worst
results in nearly every luck-based missions. His theme song is "Saint
Agnes and the Burning Train" by Sting.
It was revealed that he is one of the most popular member and earned a
great reputation in various regions of Asia through the series, which
left the others in shock. |
| Song Ji-hyo |
Blank Ji (멍지)
Ace (에이스)
Bad Ji-hyo (불량지효)
Monday Girlfriend (월요여친)
Song Ji-yok (송지욕)
Beardy Ji-hyo (수염지효)
Gold Ji-hyo (금지효)
Goddess of Luck (행운의 여신)
Goddess of Sleep (잠의 여신)
Hell Ji-hyo (헬지효) |
Episode 2 – 5 (guest)
Episode 7 – present (regular) |
The only current female member of the show and initially only
appeared as a guest but was added to the main cast in episode 6. During
the earlier episodes, Song Ji-hyo was often known to swear during
broadcasts especially towards Haha and Lee Kwang-soo. She is also known
to be often seen with confused or blank facial expressions a lot of the
time. Throughout the series, she has been involved in the official
loveline of the show alongside Gary. She is one of the strongest players
during race missions with similar running and catching capabilities as
well as comparable intelligence to Yoo Jae-suk and Kim Jong-kook. Her
theme song is the Angry Birds theme song. |
