The long-running, beloved variety program 'Running Man' is celebrating its 15th anniversary.
The show first aired on July 11, 2010, and has since grown into Korea’s longest-running variety program, thanks to the strong chemistry between its members and its ever-evolving game races.
The show's highest viewership rating reached 21.9% during Episode 133 ('Nine Swords'), according to Nielsen Korea. With a total of 759 episodes, Running Man currently holds the record for the most episodes aired among Korean variety shows, continuing to break its own record every week. Even in the age of OTT/streaming platforms, the show has not lost momentum. Since 2020, it has been selected for four consecutive years as Wavve’s 'Variety Show of the Year.' It has also won the 'Weekend Variety Show' category at the Brand Customer Loyalty Awards for three years in a row.
The program's global popularity led to international co-productions, starting with the Chinese version 'Keep Running' in 2013, followed by versions in Vietnam (2018) and the Philippines (2022).
'Running Man' also shows a powerful presence on social media platforms like YouTube. The official YouTube channel has 3.35 million subscribers, with its most-viewed video surpassing 36.37 million views. Its official Instagram also boasts 2.7 million followers.
The cast recently wrapped up filming a special episode for the 15th anniversary. Yoo Jae Suk said, “We’ve come this far thanks to the consistent love from our viewers. I’m truly grateful.”
Producer Choi Hyung In 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.”
Meanwhile, 'Running Man' will unveil its 15th anniversary special race in the upcoming broadcast on July 13.
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