"Running Man" Places Last in Ratings, Producer Doesn't Care

The popular Sunday variety show SBS’ “Running Man” placed last in ratings for its June 16 episode, with 11.4% (Nielsen Korea). It was 0.1% behind its competition KBS’ “1 Night, 2 Days,” which hit 11.5%. MBC’s Sunday variety show “Real Man” placed first among the timeslot for the three representative Sunday variety shows with 14.8%. The June 16 episode of “Running Man” was a “super hero” special in which the members dressed up as popular super hero characters and played the games with super hero “powers.”

In a phone interview with Newsen, producer Jo Hyo Jin said, “I haven’t paid a lot of attention to the ratings. Sometimes it’s like this and sometimes it’s like that. I think we just need to keep doing what we’ve been doing.”

Previously, many people have voiced the opinion that “Barefoot Friends,” starring Kang Ho Dong and many others and airs right before “Running Man” on SBS, is bringing “Running Man” down along with its own flagging ratings. Regarding this Jo Hyo Jin said, “I don’t think that matters.  It’s something we have to do well ourselves,” showing his focus and responsibility for his own show. 

The upcoming episode of “Running Man” will feature guests Jung Woo Sung, Han Hyo Joo, and 2PM’s Junho. The ratings game is a tight one so fans will have to see who rises to the top next Sunday.