Jeon So-Min to leave 'Running Man' after 6 years
South Korean actress Jeon So-Min announced her departure from the hit SBS variety program Running Man after 6 years in the show.
Her agency King Kong by Starship said on Monday, Oct. 23 that the actress thought about it a lot as it is a program that she has maintained a relationship with for a long time. They decided that So-Min needed some time to recharge in order "to impress even further through future activities including her acting career."
"Actress Jun So Min will be stepping down from SBS’s Running Man following her final recording on October 30 (Monday)," read the statement which was translated by Soompi.
The agency also expressed its gratitude to the viewers "who ran together" with So-Min for six years in a row.
"We sincerely express our gratitude to viewers who ran together while crying and laughing with Jun So Min every weekend for six years since April 2017 through Running Man, and we ask for your warm affection and support for Jun So Min going forward," it added.
The show, meanwhile, also released a statement regarding So-min's departure from the show. They said that the decision was made after a "lengthy discussion" with the show members and production team.
"Although Jun So Min ran together with Running Man for the past six years with exceptional affection and a sense of responsibility, she recently conveyed her intention that she needs the time to recharge for her acting activities. Although the members and production team discussed long-term with Jun So Min to find a way to stay together until the end, we respected Jun So Min’s wishes and decided on a sad farewell," it said.
"The Running Man members and production team will support Jun So Min who will forever be a member [of Running Man]," it ended while expressing its gratitude to the actress.
The 37-year-old Korean actress joined the show in April 2017 along with member Yang Se Chan. After her final recording on October 30, the Running Man member will reportedly continue for the time being with six members including Yoo Jae Suk, Ji Suk Jin, HaHa, Kim Jong Kook, Song Ji Hyo, and Yang Se Chan.
Running Man premiered in 2010 as a reality-variety show where the cast undergoes a series of challenges.
Korean superstar Song Joong-ki was one of its earliest cast but left the show after a year to focus on his acting career.
In 2021, one of its original cast Lee Kwang-soo also left the show after 11 years to focus on his healing from surgery after being in a car accident in 2020.
Last April, So-min visited the Philippines for their Running Man in Manila 2023: A Decade of Laughter fan meeting together with her show mates.
The Philippines came up with its version of the variety show, dubbed Running Man Philippines, which aired on GMA 7. Its cast consists of Kapuso artists Glaiza de Castro, Mikael Daez, Ruru Madrid, Buboy Villar, Kokoy de Santos, Lexi Gonzales, and Angel Guardian who was named the first-ever “Ultimate Runner” of the series.