‘Running Man’ Fans Angry Over Song Ji Hyo’s Torture Mission
The recent episode of the SBS variety show "Running Man" caught the attention of avid viewers given the mission that Song Ji Hyo was forced to endure. Netizens expressed their anger and frustration online after seeing the South Korean actress' reaction to the said challenge.
"Running Man" continued with its "Member Week" special with a fourth installment that focused on Haha weakness. Given the musician's indecisiveness, the SBS show's production team came up with several challenges where Haha is asked to save one cast member from a gruesome fate.
Aired on Feb. 5, Sunday, the said episode featured several missions that preyed on the cast members' phobias. Yoo Jae Suk was asked to confront his fear of heights by doing a bungee jump, while the health advocate Kim Jong Kook was forced to eat ramen and cake.
However, it was Song's mission that angered many "Running Man" fans. Despite the actress' fearlessness, there are two things that frighten the South Korean celebrity namely bugs and ghosts.
In the said "Running Man" episode, Song was asked to put her hand inside a glass box that contained several large bugs and other creepy looking crawlers. With her hand fastened on a table while the bug-filled box slowly neared the actress, Song tearfully begged Haha to choose her over Kim and Lee Kwang Soo whose heads were inside a torture box.
Haha eventually chose to save the traumatized actress who immediately ran away from the bug-filled box and even tripped several times. Song's reaction sparked a slew of online criticisms from concerned viewers, according to Koreaboo.
Netizens commented that the SBS show's crew members went too far with Song's punishment and even slammed the production team for organizing a mission where Haha had no say whatsoever. Other fans also highlighted how the staff members could have expected the viewers to remain entertained in seeing the pain and torture that cast members had to go through.
In other news, Asian fans will soon see their favorite "Running Man" cast members in a special meet and greet event. Dubbed "Running Man 2017 Live," the said event will take Haha, Song, Kim, Lee and Ji Suk Jin to travel to Taipei, Macau, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, as well as Hong Kong, Korea Herald reported. However, Yoo will not be able to join the said activity given his busy schedule.
The "Running Man" fan meeting tour will run from February until end March.