Despite the love they receive from viewers, these actors often choose to leave these programs to focus on their acting.
For instance, KBS2’s “2 Days & 1 Night” recently announced that Na In-woo and Yeon Jung-hoon would be leaving the show. Na In-woo joined the show in 2022 and charmed viewers with his quirky and clumsy personality, earning the nickname “second Kim Jong-min”.
However, he is leaving to focus on his acting career. His appearances on the show led some viewers to associate his comedic image with his dramatic roles, which became a hindrance to his acting career.
Similarly, Lee Kwang-soo left SBS’s “Running Man” after 11 years to focus on his acting, particularly after a car accident made the physically demanding filming of the show challenging. He noted that viewers began to expect comedic antics from him, which added pressure and affected his acting career.
Actress Joo Hyun-young, known for her role on “SNL Korea”, also left the show to concentrate on her acting career. While she gained popularity and recognition through the show, the character she played could potentially typecast her, limiting her acting opportunities.
These actors’ decisions to leave popular variety shows, despite their success, are driven by the need to maintain versatility and credibility in their acting careers. The time and energy required for acting projects often clash with the demands of variety show schedules, making it difficult to juggle both. Therefore, while fans may be disappointed, there is widespread support for these actors as they refocus on their primary careers.
