Is 'Running Man' In Danger Of Cancellation After Hitting Ratings Low? Controversies Continue To Plague Cast Members

Long running variety show "Running Man" is currently initiating measures to save the show after it hit its all-time ratings low last month. However, it seems that even the addition of new runners is not pulling the numbers that the show was hoping to reach.

According to a report from Soompi, "Running Man" hit its lowest viewership for its April 9 episode when it pulled in only 2.8 percent ratings for the first half and 3.4 percent for the second half. The figure was considered alarmingly low compared to its competitors for the same slot. MBC's "King of Masked Singer" posted 8 percent and 13.6 percent for its first and second halves and  and KBS 2TV's "Happy Sunday" recorded 11.8 percent in viewership ratings.

As a result, the show introduced two new runners to beef up their six-man cast of Yoo Jae-suk, Haha, Ji Suk-jin, Kim Jong-kook, Lee Kwang-soo and Song Ji-hyo. Actress Jung So Min and Yang Se Chan were added to the cast and has joined the original members as they went on a world tour to promote "Running Man" in a series of global challenges.

It has earlier been rumored that SBS is planning to pull the plug on the shows amid its dwindling ratings. However, the addition of more cast members seem to be a sign that the network is not yet giving up on the variety show which has been on air to entertain viewers for the past seven years.

Aside from being plagued with ratings issues, "Running Man" cast members have also not been exempt from controversy. Recently, it was revealed that former cast member Kang Gary of Leessang got married and did not tell any one of his former cast mates about the marriage beforehand. Most recently, Kim Jong Kook came under fire for a comment he made that tall women were not very ladylike, Korea Portal reported.