The latest episode of SBS's 'Running Man' aired on the 22nd, clinching the top spot in its time slot with a 1.8% viewership rating among the 20-49 demographic, and peaking at 4.7% in minute-by-minute ratings (according to Nielsen Korea, metropolitan area, household-based).
In this episode, Ji Suk-jin and Ji Ye-eun made a surprise appearance as the mixed-gender duo 'Chungju Ji's', unveiling their new song 'Milkshake'. The production team set up penalties based on the length of the song's promotion: free promotion for under 30 seconds, a meal treat by the members for over 50 seconds, and a coffee truck if the full version was played.
Ji Suk-jin opted for 50 seconds, but a sudden interruption during the song's highlight led to the decision to deploy a coffee truck, insisting on performing the full dance routine. The members cheered for Ji Ye-eun's entrance but playfully jeered at Ji Suk-jin, turning into mock anti-fans. Amidst the laughter, Ji Ye-eun's goat-like vocal technique was hilariously exposed when the AR was removed by the production team.
Meanwhile, the race was themed 'The Ultimate Loser Battle' among the 'Running Man No-Brainers': Song Ji-hyo, Yang Se-chan, Choi Daniel, and Ji Ye-eun, to determine the smartest dunce through a quiz battle. Participants bet ice balls on categories, doubling their stakes with correct answers, while others could invest in guessing the winner for double returns.
Song Ji-hyo confidently chose 'Gyeongju' as her category, recalling her past success in a 'Gyeongju History Exploration' race. Yoo Jae-suk gambled five ice balls on her, but Song Ji-hyo failed to answer correctly. After consecutive investment failures, Yoo Jae-suk, facing bankruptcy, took a loan from the production team and went all-in on Song Ji-hyo again when 'Gyeongju' reappeared. However, she wrote an incorrect answer, leading to Yoo Jae-suk's penalty for failing to repay the loan.
Yoo Jae-suk, along with Song Ji-hyo and HAHA, were penalized and faced the humiliation of writing letters of reflection. On the other hand, Yang Se-chan maintained his lead in the second round, ultimately earning the title of 'Quiz Champion' among the 'No-Brainers'.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Sun-ae)