SBS made avid "Running Man" fans happy when it announced the reversal of the said variety program's impending cancellation. Recently, Kim Jong Kook's role in extending the show and convincing other cast members to stay was revealed.
Many viewers were shocked when the "Running Man" showrunners, as well as its cast and crew members, decided to put an end date on the SBS variety series' broadcast activities. Following the miscommunication gaffe over Kim and Song Ji Hyo's planned removal from the program, the casting decision became a controversial topic that enraged many fans and miffed the said two cast members' feelings.
Several weeks after the variety program's cancellation announcement, SBS' Entertainment Head Nam Seung Yong revealed that they reached an agreement with the "Running Man" team to continue the show. Reverting the earlier cancellation decision, the program will continue to release weekly episodes with the six cast members.
It appears that Kim played a critical role in convincing his co-stars to remain in the SBS show. A "Running Man" source revealed that Nam met with the singer to personally convey his apologies over the incident and to talk about the show's future, Joins reported.
After accepting the SBS executive's request to remain in the said variety program, Nam and Kim went to visit Song, Yoo Jae Suk, Ji Suk Jin, Haha and Lee Kwang Soo to extend the same offer. Moreover, the fans' overwhelming support was one of the factors that influenced the cast members, especially Kim and Song, to continue the show, according to the source.
In Nam's recently released statement, as obtained by Yonhap News, he also highlighted the "hard decision" that "Running Man" cast members made to remain in the SBS program. Expressing his appreciation for the six South Korean celebrities' continued participation, Nam also promised to produce quality content that the fans will enjoy.
"Running Man" airs every Sunday on SBS. Watch a clip from the show's latest episode below: