SBS To Release Star-Studded 'Running Man' Vietnam Version In April
South Korea's highly-rated variety show, Running Man, is getting a Vietnamese version. SBS has signed a partnership with Vietnam's HTV7 to create a local remake of their show.
Reports indicate that the filming for Running Man Vietnam will begin in late January. The TV program is set to premiere in Vietnam on April 6 at 7:30 PM VST and will air every Saturday.
The upcoming show is already gathering attention in the country as it was able to cast some of the most popular celebrities in Vietnam. The cast includes actors Tran Thanh, Ngo Kien Huy, Lien Binh Phat, Jun Pham, Truong The Vinh, comedian BB Tran, and actress Ninh Duong Lan Ngoc.
According to AllKpop, SBS is also planning to get Vietnamese soccer coach Park Hang Seo as a special guest once the 2019 AFC Asian Cup in the United Arab Emirates concluded. The men's football championship of Asia kicks off on January 5 and will run until February 1.
The production crew of the Vietnamese version of Running Man aims to produce a high-quality TV program that is customized according to the preference of the local viewers. But the staff has assured that the nature of the original Korean program will not be lost in their version.
"We've previously worked with SBS to make the variety program Oh! My Baby a success, building local know-how in the process. We will do our best with the Korean production staff to make Running Man also a success," Soompi quoted co-production company Lime Entertainment's representative Yoon Sang Seob as saying.
Vietnam is not the first country that adapted Running Man. China already has its own version which is also a huge hit in the country. Additionally, the Korean variety show also released in theaters last month the animated series, Running Man, 2018.
The original Running Man had aired 431 episodes since its debut in July 2010. The show just took a one-week holiday break and is set to resume airing on January 6, 2019
Meanwhile, Running Man Vietnam is not the only one that is grabbing the headlines this week. The agency of cast member Lee Kwang Soo has officially confirmed that the actor and actress Lee Sun Bin have been dating for five months and Running Man plays an important part in their relationship.
King Kong by Starship said the two first met on the set of Running Man in 2016. At the time, they have already expressed interest to each other. Since then, they become close friends and their relationship eventually developed into a romantic one.
