Variety shows in South
Korea have being key point for foreigners to gain interest on Korean pop
culture. Their creative games, as well as the unique structure, had helped us
to learn more about their country. There is a great number of Korean variety
shows, but for this occasion, I will talk to you about the ones that helped me
get into the world of laughter with the South Korean comedy.
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Before Running Man was
created, there was a show where you could laugh a lot and relate to the
members. Family Outing was created with the purpose to let a family on the
countryside of South Korea to have a 2-day vacation, so a group of celebrities
gathers to take care of the farming work and the house. However, it is obvious
that there has to be games involve. The Family members at the first season of
the show (2008-2010) where Yoo Jae Suk (from RM), taking the position of MC on
the show and being part of mockery around the other members but especially of
Lee Hyo Ri. Hyo Ri was well known for being an ex-member of a very popular
k-pop girl group (Fin.K.L) and then solo artist, getting the title of
"Queen of K-pop". These two members of the family took the title of
the "Nations Siblings" for their extraordinary performance on the
show, and how close they seemed teasing each other, as real siblings would do.
To these two we add the incredible "dongsae" or little brother, Kang
Daesung, from the international group sensation Big Bang. Every time JaeSuk and
Daesung got together their personalities came out on the show as being in complete
sink but also silly and dumb, getting the title of "Dumb and Dumber"
by their sibling HyoRi. The other members that stay until the end of the first
season were actor and director Kim Sooro (A Gentleman's Dignity) and Yoon Jong
Shin (singer, composer and TV personality). Sooro was given the title of
"stepmother" since he scolded and bossed around family member actor
Lee Chun Hee, he then passed to be "Chunderella". Actress Park Ye Jin
wow the family members and the audience by handling well every living creature
and cleaning the fish for the meals. At every episode, a guest helped the
family out and let another side of them shine in front of the camera at the
countryside. Lee Chun Hee and Park Ye Jin stay at the show until 2009 and their
lasts episodes were 52 and 53, with this new family members came along.
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A new member was added
to the family since the 19th episode, singer Kim Jong Kook (Tiger at RM) was
part of the family until the end of the first season. It was Kim Jong Kook's
first show after mandatory military service. Being the new male member of the
family made the girls a little excited and awkward at the beginning, and the
other members try to make a love line between Jong Kook and the girls. For the
54th episode, the family welcomed new members. Actor Park Hae Jin and
actress/model Park Si Yeon became part of the show, Hae Jin with his fresh
style and good looks did not disappoint the audience when it came to good
entertainment. Even though Si Yeon and Hyo Ri are the same age every time you
saw them together the feeling was completely different, Si Yeon let the
audience watch what a person from the city that haven't interact with nature
would manage around this kind of habitat.
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The last episode was
aired on February 10, 2010, and all the former family members came along. The
show filmed on SBS headquarters as an award show, Family Awards.
Now I will talk to you
about the show that change how I saw the Korean pop culture, “Running Man”. On
July of 2010, SBS gave us the greatest variety show for a long time, letting us
laugh aloud until our stomachs hurt. Seven members with a mission to complete
the race and win, this is the purpose of the show. Sometimes with guest
appearance like actors, singers, announcers, athletes, and entertainment personalities,
with whom you can have a blast with all the nonsense of the games and
challenges along the way.
The original cast
members where all men; Yoo Jae Suk "Grasshopper, Yoo-mes Bond, Yoo-ruce
Willis", Ji Suk Jin "Impala or Big Nose", Kim Jong Kook
"Tiger, Sparta, Commander, Mr. Capable", Gary "Peaceful Gary,
Random Mr. Capable, Monday Boyfriend", HaHa "Haroro, Kid", Lee
Kwang Soo "Giraffe, Traitor, Kwangvatar, Unlucky Hand", and Song
Joong Ki "Flower Boy". For 41 episodes these cast drag us to a new
world, the world of Korean variety shows with a lot of nonsense and creativity.
But what defines Running Man is the name tag elimination game, the survivor
wins. The winner of the race would get a price of gold (jewelry, trophies,
medals, etc.) and the losers would have to take a punishment. On the second
episode the guest where singer Goo Hara and actress Song Ji Hyo, who then turn
out to be one of the fixed members. The alias of the actress are
"Ace", "Blank Ji Hyo", "Miss Mong", and even
"Gold Ji Hyo" being the member with most wins on the show. Since Ji
Hyo’s first appearance on the show, the cast members joked about an admired
among the guys, and it turned out to be Kang Gary. At the beginning, it was
Gary the one who made the first approach, with his cheesy comments and awkward
behavior. With this kind of behavior, the cast members started to create
situations for them to be together and pointed out actions with their
mischievous comments. It was on the episode 10 that the cast members decided to
leave them alone on the same room for them to get closer, their awkward
interaction was what made the fans go crazy and fall for them. However, what
really made the biggest shock was the day that Ji Hyo said, “On Mondays I have
a man”, whit this the "Monday Couple" was officially on the show.
After this, the production made many efforts to pair them up on countless
races, making the most hilarious episodes with their funny romance.
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Another member was once
part of the Running Man, Lizzy, which is part of the girl group After School
and sub-unit Orange Caramel. She only stayed for 8 episodes on 2011 and was a
guest for a previous 2. Song Joong Ki last appearance on the show was on April
2011, leaving the show to concentrate on his acting career. After that, the
fixed members stayed as 7, a number that stayed for 7 years.
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On the episode of March
20, 2016, the members shared their worries with other members as part of a
healing process. Gary shared his worries with Yoo Jae Suk and let him know that
he was concerned that he has left his passion of music behind and focused too
much on the show. Since that episode, we saw a new side of Gary and how he
truly felt towards the show, the members, the fans, and of course his career on
the music industry. On October of 2016, it was announced that Kang Gary would
leave the show to focus on his music, the members and production supported his
decision.
After Gary's departure,
SBS wanted to re-invent the show, start anew. Rumors started to surface on the
company until a bomb exploded, "Song Ji Hyo and Kim Jong Kook to leave
Running Man", to later a more shocking headline, "Song Ji Hyo and Kim
Jong Kook kick out of Running Man". The company, not the production, made
the decision to let go Ji Hyo and Jong Kook of the show and bring a new member
to the show, Kang Ho Dong. After all that awful controversy, Kang Ho Dong
turned down the offer, which made it even worst and let the production to a
crisis. The members demanded a rush reunion with the staff, which lead to the
cancelation of the show. At the end of that reunion, the production, along with
the members decided to end the show on February of 2017, for the remaining
episodes Kim Jong Kook and Song Ji Hyo decided to not receive the paycheck and
donate that money. Later, on the middle of January the CEO of SBS talked with
all the members and apologized to each of them, they all later decided to stay
on the show for their fans and for the camaraderie, they have. On April 3, it
was confirmed that the show would have two new members, actress Jeon So Mi, and
comedian Yang Sea Chan. Both new members where guests on the show before, they
had great chemistry with the cast, as they also had good reviews from the
viewers. Now the show has a new dynamic, there is more mind games rather
than using physical games. This new atmosphere gave the show a reborn
statement, having the best rating numbers for a long time, leaving the idea of
cancellation far behind.
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This is just part of the
incredible world of variety shows in South Korea. If you want to know more
details about “Running Man” or “Family Outing”, you can check my previous posts
about them. I will talk more about them, and the ones that are my favorites.
Hope you come back for more next time.
