After five years at the helm, Choi Hyung-in PD is stepping down from Running Man due to her pregnancy and upcoming childbirth. In her place, Kang Hyung-sun PD—who previously directed SBS’s hit reality show Same Bed, Different Dreams 2: You Are My Destiny—has officially been appointed as her successor.
According to SBS sources on December 15, Kang has already started filming with the Running Man cast. With her move, Ahn Byung-wook, the assistant director of Same Bed, Different Dreams 2, will now take over as its main PD.
Choi Hyung-in took over as the main PD of Running Man in August 2023, following Choi Bo-pil. Her extensive resume includes work on major variety shows like Fantastic Duo, Master in the House, and Park-Jang’s LOL, and she previously served as assistant director on Running Man for several years. She even made appearances in memorable episodes like the “Tail Race,” bringing extra humor to the show.
Choi’s departure was made public during the December 14 broadcast of Running Man. During the episode, Yoo Jae-suk and the cast expressed heartfelt farewells. Yoo showed off a gift from the PD and said, “Today marks Hyung-in’s last episode of Running Man due to her pregnancy.”
Viewers are now anticipating what fresh changes Kang Hyung-sun will bring to the long-running show. Her past work on Same Bed, Different Dreams 2 earned acclaim, especially for her sensitive portrayal of newlywed life between caricature artist Jung Eun-hye, who has Down syndrome, and her husband Jo Young-nam, who has a developmental disability—a story that won her the PD of the Month award.
With this new leadership, Running Man is expected to undergo a refreshing revamp while maintaining the charm that has made it a beloved staple in Korean variety television.
Sources: Daum
You must be logged in to post a comment.