In the January 4 broadcast of SBS’s Running Man, the cast carried out the “Follow the Horse, Conquer Bingo” race in celebration of 2026, the Year of the Red Horse.
On the episode, the Running Man members greeted viewers by saying, “The Year of the Red Horse (2026) has begun.” The production team added, “This is actually the first broadcast of the Year of the Red Horse,” and teased, “Since it’s a hopeful new year, there’s some good news.”
It was then revealed that Yoo Jae Suk had once again ranked No.1 as “Entertainer Who Shined This Year,” marking an unprecedented 14 consecutive years at the top. The members could not hide their amazement. Kim Jong Kook exclaimed, “How does he even manage to do this?” while Song Ji Hyo added, “How do you maintain that for 14 years?”
Yoo Jae Suk humbly responded, “It’s not something you can do just because you want to. I’m simply grateful,” expressing his thanks to viewers for their continued support. At that moment, Ji Suk Jin bluntly remarked, “Wouldn’t it be sad if you suddenly placed second one day?” prompting Kim Jong Kook to scold him, saying, “Why would you say something so negative?”
Yoo Jae Suk replied, “He said the exact same thing last year too,” while Haha teased Ji Suk Jin by saying, “You’re full of jealousy.”
Doubling down on the joke, Ji Suk Jin turned to Yoo Jae Suk and said, “How does it feel when everything goes well for you?” before playfully pretending to slap his cheek in exaggerated jealousy, drawing laughter from everyone. Kim Jong Kook quickly intervened, shouting, “What are you doing!” to which Ji Suk Jin said, “No, but seriously—everything goes well for him! How must that feel?” openly admitting his envy and adding to the comedic moment.
Meanwhile, Ji Suk Jin was recently nominated for the Grand Prize at the 2025 SBS Entertainment Awards but ultimately did not win, leaving fans disappointed. As a longtime pillar of SBS’s flagship variety show Running Man, he was also considered a strong Grand Prize contender back in 2021 but received only a “Honorary Employee Award.” Despite being nominated repeatedly over the years, he once again walked away empty-handed this year, fueling ongoing discussions among viewers about whether he has been overlooked.
Sources: Nate
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