Kim Jong-Kook and Song Ji-Hyo star in the SBS variety show 'Running Man.' (Photo : YouTube/Huyền Minh)
Will Kim Jong-Kook find his true love this time around? Just weeks after Kim and Song Ji-Hyo's controversial departure, new reports claimed "Running Man" is actually setting up a blind date for the former.
To celebrate the New Year, the hit SBS variety show has decided to air a special episode that will feature Kim's blind date on a cruise ship, All Kpop reported. However, rather than a celebrity guest, the singer would date someone who is not part of the industry.
The non-celebrity guest was chosen out of genuine interest and not for the purpose of the broadcast at all, the producers explained. As Kim goes on a romantic date with a non-celebrity, the remaining "Running Man" members will carry out several missions to help them. Titled "Sending Kim Jong Kook to Marriage," the episode is intended to air on Jan. 15 at 6:30 PM (KST).
This comes after it was uncovered that Song and Kim would make a good pair. On the Jan. 01 episode of the SBS show, the members were visited by a tarot card reader and a traditional Korean fortuneteller.
Much to the surprise of many, the fortuneteller advised Kim to choose the "My Wife's Having an Affair this Week" actress as a life partner if he wanted to be financially stronger and see some positive changes in 2017. The two apparently have the most marriage compatibility among other members.
"Your marriage compatibility is 85 to 90 out of 100," the fortuneteller said. The other members then started teasing the two, encouraging them to get married. Haha, 37, even pointed out that the actress has a lot of money and marrying her would surely improve Kim's financial situation.
Meanwhile, "Running Man," which premiered on July 11, 2010, is set to end this February. It comes after Kim and Song's sudden departure drew a lot of criticism from the public. In late December 2016, producing-director (PD) Jung Chul-Min told the Korean newsoutlet My Daily, as cited by Soompi, that the misunderstandings largely arose from problems with communication.
"It is regrettable that there were misunderstandings among us and people were hurt when we had been getting along so well," PD Jung said. "We asked ourselves, 'It shouldn't be like this, right?' and decided that we would end the show in February together and cleared up the misunderstandings."
Check out SBS' "Running Man" episode 464 here:
