User reviews

Running Man is a long running Korean variety show that began in 2010 and is still airing today as of this review. It has become extremely popular all across Asia over its roughly 160 episode run time to date, and, it doesn't take long to see its universal appeal once you start watching it.

SPOILERS AHEAD!

There's nothing to spoil here; there's no linear story or end goal. More or less, it's just a simple comedy/reality/variety/entertainment/game show that airs on a weekly basis. I can't think of any show being televised in the west that's quite like it. It's a bit similar to Amazing Race, but its closest comparison is to other past KTV variety shows; X Man, Family Outing, & Infinite Challenge come to mind for obvious reasons.

Basic premise: Seven regular cast members get together with a few different guest stars each week to compete in various missions that result in the loser(s) being embarrassed &/or the winner(s) being rewarded. There's a heavy chase/tag element to the show, along with a varying array of games, role playing, puzzle solving, and daring challenges. The cast use their wits, bravery, and/or intuition in order to come out on top. It's usually very simple and silly stuff, but it does serve as an effective mechanism to deliver some solid entertainment along the way.

The cast members are outstanding in their designated roles; they originally consisted of 7 dudes who were slotted to play various personas within the bigger picture of entertaining viewers. In addition, there's one female cast member who hopped on board, and she is awesome. Other than a few early adjustments, the original cast has mostly remained intact, and they work very well together as whole In order to make this show work. They all have their own successful careers as MC's, actors, singers, rappers, etc., but they all dutifully clock in each Monday morning to play their parts on this show. They really seem to enjoy each other's company as well, and they collectively exude a clear bond as some sort of secondary working family. Search any of the regular cast members if you need more info regarding them and/or their specific roles on this show.

I've been watching this show regularly since the very first episode. It was raw and had a very limited budget in the beginning, but you could clearly see its potential; it soon found its footing, started ascending the coveted KTV ratings chart, and it has been off and "running" ever since. It has evolved & diversified over time, namely; several new concept themes were added, and the show has been taken out of its confined late night settings in favor of operating in broad daylight in full view of the public. Otherwise, its basic original premise has mostly remained unchanged.

This show doesn't have a fixed script per se, but it is produced and directed in such a way to achieve a desired outcome, so it's not "reality" by any means. The cast is basically informed as to what needs to be accomplished, then they set out to get the job done while hamming it up in typical KTV variety fashion. If need be, the show is nudged back in the right direction or a new direction, according to what's best for any given episode; fortunately, this is all done with as minimal heavy handedness as possible, so as not to disrupt the overall free flowing feel of the show. There's also a unique balance & symmetry at play with these Korean variety/reality shows between directors, cast, crew, guests, production teams, editing dept., etc...Everybody seems to be on the same page to try to achieve what is best for the overall good of the show.

There is a lot to like here. The show is packed full of fantastic guest stars on a regular basis, and the way it engages itself with the general public is fascinating to watch play out; normal citizens going about their everyday lives could soon find themselves involved in helping out the cast members accomplish whatever silly mission is at hand for that day. It also serves as sort of a Korean tourism guide and cultural experience; if you were ever planning on visiting Korea, you could literally use this show as your travel itinerary as to where to go and what to do, see, eat, experience, etc.

On the down side, the cast (who I dearly love) can be a tad annoying with their antics and clamoring for screen time (particularly the MC, who's otherwise very effective when not acting too much the clown), and it's sometimes hard to make all 90+ minutes of a particular show entertaining when you only have 12+ hours of footage to edit. The show has likely already peaked as well, and it's hard to imagine it getting any better or sustaining its pace; it's simply becoming increasingly difficult to keep the show fresh & I'm not sure how long everyone involved can keep this phenomenon going. Inevitably, all good things must come to an end, but if &/or when they ever call it quits, or various cast and/or crew members have to move on in life, etc., there is no doubt that this show will have had an incredibly successful run!

Summary; this show has been consistently entertaining and often wildly hilarious throughout its duration. Once it finds its rhythm, there are very few episodes that have disappointed in delivering very family friendly fun and entertainment on a weekly basis. If you have not been watching Running Man, you have missed out on one of the best TV shows, from any country, in years.

Bottom Line: Don't Walk, Run to watch this show before it's too late!...9 out of 10 stars!... HIGHLY, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

I've always been a fan of Running Man, even after Gary left. I love each members and it doesn't really matter if they're funny or annoying, all of them have their own roles and it's a perfect mixture for the atmosphere when they're playing games. I heard this show is getting less rate recently and thinking about the show might get cancelled is hard for me to accept. And so I'm trying my best to leave the best review for this show, I don't want it to disappear. Even if I'm too old to watch it, I'll still enjoy it because it is part of my childhood.

No need to hide the fact that a lot variety shows have evolved since Infinity Challenge (Muhan Dojeon). And to be honest I do think Running Man was inspired by it. The chasing game, action-blockbuster style was first done on Infinity Challenge but of course, Running Man bring their own creativity to the table.

The show started out with 7 Running Men but added Song Ji-hyo as the 8th but then Song Joong-ki left and so it's still 7 members till this date.

This show is certainly a must watch. It dwells in humorous psychological battle and then comes the physical war and in between you've got romance/bromance and family.

The show also offers themed-episode to match the current trending movie or drama. They've also pay tribute to all-time favorite movies which makes me find myself reminisce.

The solid performance from the Nation's MC, Yoo Jae-suk has brought the show to a new level in variety world. Kim Jong Kook is certainly a tough guy on the outside but vulnerable on the inside. Haha with vast variety experiences has no problem standing proud with his wits. Ji Suk Jin first attempt at outdoor variety show does have it flaws but he's done great given his age. Newcomers Lee Kwang-soo, Kang Gary and Song Ji-hyo are not afraid to go all out and give their everything to entertain the viewers.

I know that Running Man started out with determination making their own flavor and style but recently I find most episodes a bit repetitive and lost it poise. Members' characters has become stagnant. Since everyone is now doing more jobs (thanks to Running Man popularity), it feels like they don't try to make improvement in this show. I know it's not easy to make people laugh but I wish something more and new on other departments; action, romance.

I give a 9 because there's still room for improvement. I hope Running Man will survive just like IC and continue to save me from my weekly distress.

Last year, when SBS said that this program will be stopped. I understood that It is a big change and development. But, it survived! From my time of senior school, and nowadays, when I watch it, I know that I can't leave it......

Easily my favorite television show of all time. Every Sunday night I have a special treat where i log on and watch my 90 min Running Man show. I have a smile on my face for an hour and a half. Each show is unpredictable. The members show up for work and are given missions. They might work together or individually or break up into teams. They often have guests. Just appearing on running man can turn a previously unknown into a beloved member of the running man family. So how did i get from watching American television to watching a foreign (South Korean) television show with subtitles? Well bored one night from the usual tv, i googled indie film festival winner. and a Korean movie came back as the result. I watched it and to my surprise the actors lips weren't moving independent of their voices .. they weren't flying thru the sky in impossible kung foo leaps on a grainy tv picture.. what i watched was a drama with as high quality filming acting and writing as i have ever seen. So i watched two more, then completely captivated went for gold and googled best Korean movie. That came back as jewel in the palace. watched that and to this day i watch more Korean TV than American. I don't even notice subtitles anymore unless they are missing. Back to running man. So i wanted to see more of my now favorite movie stars (who were/are South Korean) i came across "running man" as it had guests on the shows. I could watch my favorite stars outside the box you might say. Next thing i knew my favorite stars included the running man cast. They went to Dubai where i shared my amazement with theirs at the gold vending machines, the great barrier reef in Australia where they dove for treasure chests to Hong Kong and the great wall of china. Not to mention fantastic places all over South Korea. I learned a lot of parlor games and games which could be used at birthday parties. I love some of the running side themes which carry over between episodes, such as the James Bond like cast member. the spartan and the betrayer. Sometimes they acquire super powers.. or travel through time or even visit Alice in wonderland. There are missions with Korean food and culture. some of the funnier episodes have a public mission with one or more "spies" who have a "secret" mission, their own path to victory.

I watched episode 1 until the last episode, every episode brings you to laugh, they are legend in variety show industry.

I hope running man will lasts forever.

I have watched every single episode of Running Man. It is now an essential part of my Sunday routine. I am laughing with tears on almost every episode (most often courtesy of Kwangsoo). I first started watching the show because of the idol guests, but soon I found myself tuning in every Sunday even if I had no idea who the guests are. The cast members are pure gold. Each one of them has their own narrative and personality but they shine the brightest when they interact with each other. They've provided us with so many awesome pairings - SpartAce, Easy Brothers, The Betrayers Club, Tiger Moth Siblings etc etc. Gary's departure is 2016 and the near cancellation in 2017 hit the fans very hard, but I'm glad Running Man managed to bounce back and still have decent ratings in Korea (although I think the international audience is the one keeping it still alive). I dread the day Running Man is over. Sundays will never be this fun again.

Running Man is a South Korean variety show that is quite popular around the world. It is on games. Members are Song Ji Hyo, Yoo Jae Suk, Kim Jong Kook, Haha, Kang Gary, Lee Kwang Soo, Ji Suk Jin and Joong Ki(which is now currently not on running man). To me, it is quite funny and interesting. I am constantly watching it and I most likely have kind of watch finish all the episodes(except for some I overlooked) and waiting for new ones

Best time and years with "Running man" I have been watched since beginning 2010 And here we are it's 2020 and still the best Korean TV show <3 Hilarious and funny and comedy with A lot of love

Thanks "Running man" team and members for making our lives full of laugh.

My first experience watching a Korean variety show and I fell in love with the program and the cast chemistry.

How to play the video i am no able to play the video

Tell me hiw to watch this show in this app i cannot watch it.

I've only watched 75-76 episodes & I can already feel how the show is massively edited to feel like reality but actually scripted to a lot of extent.

Besides the guest getting undue advantage in being handed out win, there's huge difference in how the various cast is treated. Jae Suk is obviously a top star even till date, I like how he holds every show together but a lot of times he looks desperate to be in the center. Jong Kook is undoubtedly the best running member in terms of technicality & has unmatched advantage in physicality which is so unfair to other members. I feel he's too aggressive & acts like a bully to everyone but ji hyo. Even in tasks, uncountable times he's given even more added benefits. I dislike how Gwang Soo is bullied all the time. It's like the behavior is normalized & promoted.

There should've been competition for Jong Kook.

Dong Hoon always pairs up with him as he's too weak otherwise. Ji Hyo uses her feminine charms to form alliances but always betrays. Suk Ji Hyun is also singled out many times even though he's a decent contestant. I like the episodes where they are each paired up with guests , so they are able to perform individually.

I like the tasks, concept & even some of the humor, but despise the advocation of bullying. I know some of these contestants have already left in current episodes, you have to wonder why. I cant help but feel how heavily the show is scripted & rigged & edited.

It so obviously set up for guests to win from the second year (around episode 50~). Was a great show until then. Would have given it 9/10 if they hadn't made it so obvious that they want the guests to win

Running man is a great show until most of the younger members doesn't show respect to the older members. The way Jeon So min and Yang Se Chan doesn't show respect towards Haha, Jong Kook or even to Suk Jin in some episodes, I know that they are doing it for fun and for rating but I think they are forgetting that their show is R12 or R15. In some episode Suk Jin doesn't show respect to the guest. Nonetheless I still rate it 10 because watching Running Man is really fun, I just hope they don't forget their morals. Finghting running man!

For me, Running Man is the best of TV program ever. They've been running for years, and make happinest to everyone who sees. Running Man is he only thing that can make me rise from the fall. I may not be able to laugh with them there with them there, but they're always there to run in my heart. This is my dream. I wish they could keep running longer and this show keeps everyone happy. Whatever happens keep running. Keep running with your heart All Members and All Staffs. FIGHTING!!!!!

#RunningManForever

Ji Suk Jin , do not be sad !! We will alwayssupport Running Man Show of South Korea !!

You are the Best !! Without you , the show will not go smoothly !!

All these years , we are watching the show because of you all !!

Wishing you all Safe and Healthly. Always !!😝😝

I always pray every day to be part of the running man, and I still always hope for that. Please keep running, without running man maybe I will live with depression. Thank you so much for accompanying me in this difficult life. Please keep running and don't even think about stopping. Make the eternal word real. Running man is everything to me. "Really want to be a running man until Ji Seok-jin turns 100 years old and the same members will keep running. We will be with you forever". The eternal love, the pure love is just real. They just run and smile but that is make me still alive. #runningmanforever.

I have been watching this program since 2011, I was sad, I was happy, I cried, I laughed with the Running man members. It can be funny to say that they are no different from my family members. They hold a part of my soul, a part of my youth, a part of happiness, an important part that has made me who I am today.

If I didn't know about this show, I might have become a completely different person, I don't know if that person of mine is better than I am now, but I know one thing for sure, that person will be boring. I am so grateful to this show.

Running man is not an ordinary Tv show or Reality show, it's like a tonic that many good psychologists do not have. To drink this miracle drug, you not only watch the show, but you also need to understand the soul of the show and the communication culture of Korean people. Once you have that, and you were a young Hallyu fan in the 2010s, congratulations, Running man has chosen you to be a part of the best thing you'll ever experience on television in life.

SJ-JS-JK-GR-HH-JH-KS-JK-SM-SC-LZ Everyone understands the above code, right? :)

I'm staying focusing on RM since the very beginning, but no offence, present RM lack some key elements.

Pls be yourself and qualified.

After Mr. Giraffe and Miss Frog persued their dream, the position of 'betraying guys' have been still vacant and the elderly ones are hard to transform to this special character. Instead of filling the available position, new PDs seem seeking a brand new group of crews and coordination, as well as applying special production editing to catering to strange beliefs -- so called MZ/Z generations, so called personality -- this huge stage has been shrinking since it's treated as three inqualified pieces of clips with thin plots or unstoppable unpredictable plots with logic gap.

New editing goes wrong, probably including scriptwriting, directing or casting.

Pls be yourself and qualified.

I've been an avid watcher from the beginning. Still love the show. I do wish they would still do some of the games they used to play. I loved the name tag ripping. I just started watching the beginning episodes again. It's still funny and great to watch. I miss Kwang soo. He was hilarious. I think it would be great if they could get a couple more guest stars from the states. Highly recommend this show if you haven't seen it before. I Crack up laughing all the time because it's so funny. And to see the bond between all the cast mates is great. Love love love I hope the show continues for a very long time.

Was a great show until they started rigging it for the guests to win (especially the female guests). The second year was when it started. Was extremely obvious in episode 54

I have been watching Running Man for more than 5 years now. I look forward to Monday only for Running man. The format has changed a lot over the years but it still hits home with me. The cast is splendid and their chemistry is really something to look forward to.

Running is a really good show in categories of variety show it is fill with laughter in every episode , I started watching it from around ep 200 something n I still watch it from some website it comes out on Sunday I recommend even though it has many episodes but it is worth.