"Infinite Challenge," "Running Man" Call off Taping, Waiting for LeeSSang's Return

MBC "Infinite Challenge" cast Park Myung-soo (top left), No Hong-chul (top second to left), Jung Joon-ha (top center), Yoo Jae-suk (top second to right),Ha ha (top right), Gil (bottom left) and Jung Hyung-don (bottom right) pose during the shooting of the show's 296th episode, aired on September 22, 2012. [MBC]

Regulars and staff members of MBC “Infinite Challenge” and SBS “Running Man” are waiting for LeeSSang's return to the programs.

After hip-hop duo LeeSSang’s Gil and Gary announced their drop from the two of the country’s most popular shows last Friday, the producers cancelled all recording schedules this week, according to Korea's entertainment news agency STARNEWS' report Wednesday.

The officials reportedly mentioned that this is the staffs' message to Gil and Gary to return to the program as the duo announced last Friday through Gil's Twitter account that they are leaving the posts to take the responsibility for the cancelled "Super 7" concert.

Comedian Jung Joon-ha, a regular of "Infinite Challenge," posted his prayer on his Twitter and changed his profile picture last Saturday to the one taken with Gil.

“It was a painful week…I’ll appreciate for your support and encouragement for us to be who we are, like Joon-ha said. There’s no point if we are not together!” Ha ha, a regular of both programs, wrote on his Twitter Sunday.

The incident began from LeeSSang Company’s announcement that “Super 7” concert being held in late November will feature all members of "Infinite Challenge" but has no relation to the program at all.

The concert’s expensive tickets and the concert opening at the same time of the show's airing made the audiences question about the initial purpose, which the firm said is for their fans' love and support.

To calm down the angry backlash from the public, LeeSSang Company’s owner Gil and Gary apologized to the public through a statement last Friday, stating that they will take all the responsibility for the controversy and leave the programs.

SBS "Running Man" cast Gaeri (left), Song Ji-hyo (second to right) and Ha ha (right) play a game together during the shooting of the show's 111th episode, aired on September 16, 2012. [SBS]

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10 아시아 Reporter : Lee Hye Ji hjlee@
10 아시아 Editor : Monica Suk monicasuk@