Song Ji Hyo is once again at the center of debate among Running Man viewers, with renewed criticism over her screen time and on-screen engagement.
On the March 22nd episode of SBS’s Running Man, the cast took part in a mystery-themed race set at an exhibition by actor and artist Park Shin Yang. The members were tasked with identifying real and fake paintings from around the world.
However, Song Ji Hyo was barely seen in the early part of the episode, not appearing until about 13 minutes in. While it’s possible some of her moments were edited out, viewers noted that variety shows typically air the entertaining footage, leaving some disappointed by her limited presence.
Throughout the episode, her participation remained relatively low. In one game where members worked in a relay to draw and guess prompts, Song Ji Hyo struggled to keep the flow going.
At one point, when the prompt “shy anteater” appeared, she asked, “Wait—can I see the question one more time?” prompting reactions from the cast. Kim Jong Kook responded, “You didn’t see it?” while Haha added, “That doesn’t make sense—we all saw it together.”
Viewer reactions have been split. Some criticized her response, saying things like, “Forgetting is one thing, but at least make it funny when the others come at you” and “This is getting serious.”
Others came to her defense, with comments like, “Ignore the demands to leave and just be yourself,” “That’s just who she is,” and “It was fun—I don’t get the hate.”
This isn’t the first time the issue has come up. In episode 793, it was noted that Song Ji Hyo appeared for only about 10 seconds in a 90-minute broadcast, mostly in group shots and reaction cuts.
Similar concerns were raised in 2023, with some viewers calling for her departure and Yoo Jae Suk even publicly expressing concern. At the time, Song Ji Hyo said she would try harder, but the conversation around her role on the show continues.
As the debate over her screen time and presence persists, attention is now on how Song Ji Hyo will respond moving forward.
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