Is Song Ji-hyo‘s Time on ’Running Man' Coming to an End? Fans Debate Her Diminished Screen Time

[TV Daily reporter Kim Jin-seok] Viewers and netizens are sparring over actress Song Ji-hyo's screen time on Running Man.

On the 8th, SBS's variety show Running Man aired the \"Run & Fun Company: Spin the Roulette\" episode. In that race, a spin of the roulette decided performance incentives and whether contestants would be stuck working overtime. The cast transformed into office workers who competed to avoid staying late.

True to form, the members' chemistry and the race's setup produced laughs. Still, many viewers wondered why Song Ji-hyo appeared so little during the approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes of broadcast. The question sparked heated debate across online communities.

As an original member of Running Man, Song Ji-hyo has long been beloved for her down-to-earth, natural persona despite her glamorous looks. Over the years she has occupied a variety of roles — from the \"Ace\" to nicknames like \"Meong Ji-hyo\" and \"Bad Ji-hyo.\" Her status on the show is significant: when rumors surfaced in 2016 that she and Kim Jong-kook might be forced off the program, viewers reacted strongly and she retained her place.

Recently, however, she has faced criticism about her attitude. Observers contend that her focus has slipped and her on-screen presence has faded, which has translated into fewer spoken lines. Production reportedly tried to cultivate different facets of her personality, but more recently she seems to lean almost exclusively on a party-loving, hard-drinking persona. What may have started as a comedic device now strikes some viewers as repetitive and tiresome.

Calls for Song Ji-hyo to leave the show are not new. Though she has enjoyed long-standing popularity, critics have repeatedly argued that her more passive approach has diminished her impact.

Audience opinion is sharply divided. Those advocating her departure say her character feels disconnected and ask, \"Why film if she barely speaks?\" Others rush to her defense, suggesting the criticism is manufactured or that a subdued performance might simply reflect how she was feeling that day.

Running Man is the country's longest-running variety show, and much of its appeal lies in watching the cast play off each other. Not every member can steer an episode like Yoo Jae-suk or command the mood like Haha. Each performer brings a distinct role, and that balance has helped the show endure. While some viewers are disappointed by her recent airtime, it's still possible Song Ji-hyo will return to more active, memorable work on the program.

Meanwhile, in 2024 Song Ji-hyo appeared on Yoo Jae-suk's YouTube channel Jo Dongari and, when asked whether she would leave the show, said she never expected to do variety for this long and that she wouldn't quit unless the producers ended the program.

[TV Daily reporter Kim Jin-seok news@tvdaily.co.kr/Photo=SBS 'Running Man']