Why 'Running Man' Won Only One Award At The '2016 SBS Entertainment Awards'
"Running Man" staff quickly explained why the show took home only one award courtesy of Lee Kwang Soo at the "2016 SBS Entertainment Awards."
"Running Man" staff uploaded Monday on Instagram a photo of actor-comedian Lee Kwang Soo who won the Top Excellence Award for Variety Show the previous night.
"[RunningMan @ 2016SBSEntertainmentAwards]#LeeKwangSoo won the first prize on variety program at 2016 SBS Entertainment Awards. RM members expressed their willing to join in the ceremony as calmly as possible without winning prizes so RM program just won 1 prize," wrote the staff.
South Korea's longest-running variety program went through tumultuous weeks following the news of Kim Jong Kook and Song Ji Hyo's departure from "Running Man." Things quickly went out of hand when news broke that the two stars were canceled from the show and only informed about it in the last minute.
The backlash over the casting shakeup prompted the producers to issue an apology.
They called for an emergency meeting with everyone involved in the show and eventually decided to end "Running Man" in February 2017.
Song Ji Hyo and Kim Jong Kook agreed to stick to the show until its very end but decided not to take in their remaining pay from "Running Man" and to donate them instead.
They resumed filming for their Christmas episode where the producers made a public apology to the members. The latest episode of "Running Man" showed the strong bond that the cast members developed over the seven years they've been together.
The SBS awards show also witnessed the members' camaraderie as Lee Kwang Soo delivered a touching acceptance speech for "Running Man."
"I love u very much and I was very happy since I was 26 til I became 33," said the actor-comedian. "I was very happy for 7 years. Thank u for this immense award and immense love. We will finish the program well. Thank u again and I will try my best and provide a healthy laugh."
Running Man garnered 41 awards and 51 nominations since they premiered seven years ago.
