Kim Jong-kook Accused of Favoritism Toward Female Guest, Song Ji-hyo Immediately Calls Him Out
The legendary variety show Running Man once again delivered laughs, playful tension, and fan-favorite banter as Song Ji-hyo jokingly accused Kim Jong-kook of showing favoritism toward a female guest on the June 8 episode. According to Nielsen Korea, the episode secured a 1.7% rating in the 2049 target demographic and peaked at 4.6% viewership during its highest-rated minute in the Seoul Capital Area—topping its time slot among competing variety shows.
The episode featured a chaotic “Draw It Road Trip” race where members had to decode destinations from 5-second sketches by Yoo Jae-suk. The opening chaos began with the group trying to decipher a nonsensical drawing, prompting Haha to remark, “Even Dream didn’t draw like this when he was one.”
From Bongeunsa Temple to Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) and eventually Namsan Octagonal Pavilion, the cast hilariously stumbled their way through missions—with the constant looming threat of the dreaded gyro swing punishment.
The drama escalated over lunch. While Ji Ye-eun impressed everyone with her hearty appetite, Kim Jong-kook watched her with an affectionate smile and joked, “She’s like a magician.” Yoo Jae-suk was quick to tease, pointing out, “Jong-kook finds Ye-eun cute.”
That’s when Song Ji-hyo fired off her classic wit, saying, “Look at me like that for once! We’ve known each other for 15 years and you always look at me like I’m your mortal enemy.” Yoo laughed, “It’d be weird if he started looking at you like that now.”
The mission wrapped up with the team guessing the final destination just four minutes before the deadline, snapping a proof photo at Namsan Octagonal Pavilion and successfully earning their clock-out.
As expected, Running Man continues to blend games, heart, and humor, proving once again that the Song Ji-hyo and Kim Jong-kook dynamic remains a fan favorite even after more than a decade on air.
