Production director of ‘Running Man’ Mr. Jo Hyo Jin spoke about Song Ji Hyo‘s rumors on her leaving the show.
SBS ‘Running Man’s PD Jo Hyo Jin met up with the press at a restaurant in the Hongdae area on May 24th. He gave an honest interview about the last 3 years of ‘Running Man’ and about the filming that took place in Thailand with Premier League footballer Park Ji Sung. Many questions about Song Ji Hyo was asked as well. She was beloved by the fans as ‘Monday Couple’ with Gary, but after it was revealed she was dating in real life, people had voiced that her role on the show had been reduced.
PD Jo Hyo Jin stated, “It’s true that Song Ji Hyo was very much loved because of ‘Monday Couple’ and that image had been imprinted on our viewers. It’s a good ingredient but it’s not a must from a production crews’ point of view. When it comes to ‘Monday Couple’ I told her to continue or stop at her own accord.”
The PD continued, “It isn’t as if they were really going out and they were merely playing a couple on the show. Even though her real life romance had been revealed, we could have continued with the ‘Monday Couple’ concept if we wanted to. Even now time to time ‘Monday Couple’ resurfaces. They say her role had been reduced because ‘Monday Couple’ is no longer the mainstay of her character, but even in simple games there’s no member that can even challenge Song Ji Hyo. She’s a quick thinker and her desire to win is greater than any.”
The press pointed that there were rumors about Song Ji Hyo leaving ‘Running Man’ because right about the time her real life romance had been revealed, she also accepted a role in a movie. The rumor was that Song Ji Hyo’s agency told the ‘Running Man’ production team that she was leaving the show due to the filming of the movie and that the ‘Running Man’ production team were having meetings with other female entertainers to replace her. PD Jo Hyo Jin addressed the rumor, “That’s absolutely untrue.”
The PD added, “To be honest with you there was a misunderstanding between the two sides. I think they felt unappreciated because of the rumors about us interviewing other female stars. However, the truth is that we haven’t met a single female star. We’ve also met with Song Ji Hyo’s people to adjust the schedule. The conversation was simply about cooperating fully with each other.”
Real variety shows generally have low cast member turnover and ‘Running Man’ for the exception of few members leaving the show, there were no changing of cast member or new member brought in. The reason for this is because of the friendship the cast members had developed through the difficult days when there were real possiblities that the show might get cancelled due to low ratings.
PD Jo Hyo Jin explained, “If the members had problems with each other during that one year when things were so tough, the show must have self-destructed then. They must have been offered spots on many other shows but they stuck together, helping each other out and we’ve endured the difficult time together. Right in the middle of all that was Yoo Jae Suk“, and the PD expressed his gratitude for the national mc.
Source: NewsEN via Nate
