[Focus] Hitting and Teasing with Laughter... Why Does 'Running Man' Embrace Being B-Class?

'Running Man' Faces Another Controversy Over Sadism
"Hits and Mocks for Laughs," Criticism Raised
Terrestrial Broadcasters Must Take Responsibility

Photo by SBS 'Running Man' screen capture

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Iseul] Why do they insist on being a B-grade broadcast? A variety show that mocks and hits the appearance of the weak to provoke laughter?unbelievably, this is a program produced by the terrestrial broadcaster SBS in 2021. Is it enough to just make people laugh through inhumane acts? Criticism continues toward the production team that still cannot abandon sadistic games as a 'laugh card.'

On the SBS variety show "Running Man" aired on the 24th, cast members Kim Jong-kook, Jeon So-min, Jung Joon-ha, and others played the "Blue Flag, White Flag" game wearing gloves covered in flour on both hands.

The cast members, wearing gloves covered in blue flour, faced each other and listened to the host Yoo Jae-suk's words. Then, at the cue "Blue Flag Punch," they hit each other's faces. The person who hits the face first wins the game. Two people engaged in a psychological battle to punch first.

Male cast member Ji Suk-jin, upon hearing the cue, hit female cast member Jeon So-min's face hard. The impact was so strong that her head was twisted, and Jeon So-min complained, "Do you think of me as a man?" and added, "I'm not joking; he really hit me hard."

The next player, Kim Jong-kook, also threw a strong punch at Jeon So-min's face and won the game. Afterwards, Kim Jong-kook faced off against Jung Joon-ha. Jung Joon-ha was baffled, saying, "It feels like my eyeballs popped out" due to the strong punch. Eventually, the game ended with both eyes bloodshot.

The problem is not how hard they hit, but why they hit. And how the production team portrayed the cast members in pain is the key. The production team edited and broadcast the cast members' expressions of surprise and pain after receiving strong punches, followed by scenes of them laughing loudly. They consumed sadistic games as a source of laughter. It is regrettable that they encouraged inappropriate games, but the editing process is even more disappointing. This clearly reveals how the production team views sadistic games.

This controversy is not the first. In November last year, the rubber band game was also embroiled in controversy over its sadistic nature. At that time, the cast members were criticized for a game where they put as many rubber bands as possible on their faces within a one-minute time limit.

"Running Man" first aired on July 11, 2010, and has been a long-running popular SBS variety show for 11 years. Actors Yoo Jae-suk, Kim Jong-kook, Ji Suk-jin, Song Ji-hyo, Haha, and others diligently entertain Sunday night viewers. It has gained global popularity as it was broadcast overseas. Recently departed member Lee Kwang-soo also attracted attention with the nickname "Asia Prince."

The main audience of the show is teenagers. The simple format of the "Name Tag Removal" game became a hot topic among teenagers, and online, there were reviews from youths who actually tried the game. The program's popularity and influence are so significant that there is even a term called "Running Man Kids" for those who grew up watching "Running Man."

It is easy to provoke laughter by mocking and tormenting the weak because it is simple and the response is immediate. You just have to attack the other's weaknesses without any consideration. However, for the person who did not consent and became the target of ridicule, it is nothing more and nothing less than violence. This is similar to "school violence" among teenagers. Considering this impact, the phrase "variety shows are just variety shows" is groundless.

Perhaps healthy laughter comes when this is recognized and accompanied by deep reflection. It is time for the production team to seriously reconsider.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.