‘Running Man’ Celebrates 15 Years as Korea’s Longest-Running Variety Show
A testament to enduring popularity, the South Korean variety program ‘Running Man’ is marking its 15th anniversary, solidifying its position as a cornerstone of Korean entertainment.
The show, which premiered on July 11, 2010, has captivated audiences for a decade and a half, becoming the nation’s longest-running variety program. Its success is attributed to the dynamic chemistry between its cast members and a consistent stream of innovative and engaging game races. At its peak, ‘Running Man’ achieved a viewership rating of 21.9% during Episode 133, “Nine Swords,” according to data from Nielsen Korea.
Currently boasting an impressive 759 episodes, ‘Running Man’ continues to break its own record for the most episodes aired among Korean variety shows each week. Despite the rise of OTT and streaming platforms, the program has maintained its momentum, earning the title of Wavve’s ‘Variety Show of the Year’ for four consecutive years starting in 2020. It has also secured the ‘Weekend Variety Show’ award at the Brand Customer Loyalty Awards for three years running.
The show’s reach extends far beyond South Korea, spawning international co-productions. These include the Chinese adaptation ‘Keep Running’ launched in 2013, followed by Vietnamese and Philippine versions in 2018 and 2022, respectively. ‘Running Man’ also maintains a strong social media presence, with its official YouTube channel attracting 3.35 million subscribers and its most-viewed video exceeding 36.37 million views. The program’s official Instagram account has amassed 2.7 million followers.
You can find ‘Running Man’s’ official YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@runningmanofficial.
You can find ‘Running Man’s’ official Instagram account here: https://www.instagram.com/runningman_official/.
The cast recently completed filming a special episode commemorating the 15th anniversary. “We’ve come this far thanks to the consistent love from our viewers. I’m truly grateful,” said a leading cast member. A senior producer added, “It’s thanks to the viewers’ support that we’ve made it this far. I hope ‘Running Man’ can continue on strong and become a long-running program like the ‘Nation’s Diary,’ celebrating its 20th and even 30th anniversary.”
Viewers can catch the 15th-anniversary special race when it airs on July 13.
