PD Jung Chul-min, who started as the youngest supporting director of Running Man and became the main director of Running Man after sub-direction. As well as Yoo Jae-Suk, Running Man and the successive Jung PD spent six of their 10 years in directing with Running Man. Last year, he left Running Man for a while and successfully completed his new entertainment program, Mystery 8-1000 (hereinafter referred to as Mystery), and returned to his family Running Man in May. The big event planned by Jung PD, who returned, is a fan meeting for the 9th anniversary of Running Man. I met with Jung PD, who is in preparation with the members ahead of the upcoming August.
Q. It is not uncommon for a program to hold a fan meeting unless it is a star individual. How did the 9th anniversary fan meeting event of Running Man come to be born?
A. After returning to Running Man, I was worried about the merits and contents of this program, and then I saw a fan meeting video in Southeast Asia and it was quite worth watching. Although it is gaining huge popularity overseas, the birthplace is Korea. (Yoo) Jae-seok started talking with his brother while eating rice and started in earnest. I do not know when Running Man will disappear, but to remember the moment when I sweated together, to make joint content, and to repay the love of fans. In many ways, we started this project.
Q. What was the first reaction of the Running Man' members to the fan meeting?
A. I liked it, but I was worried. When performing overseas, I feel like cheering just by the appearance of the members, but I think there is a expectation about the level of the stage even if there is a favorable feeling in Korea. The members were worried about the exercises, too. But I knew that the members would take responsibility. I thought I was worried, but I wanted to try, and I pushed hard.
Q. It is also surprising that Yoo Jae-Suk, who has already had a lot of programs and has a new program, accepted the fan meeting.
A. He's very busy. I'm sorry to have to prepare Haha for a couple. He's perfect. He's actively and constantly discussing. I've been there a long time, but I'm a hard-working brother. I'm not worried about getting tired, but I'm worried that I'll work hard without knowing that I'm overworked.
Q. You two were with the ‘Mickey’. You look good in style.
A. I think it's similar. I don't think many of the MCs have this much affection for calling and discussing. That may feel a little burdensome, but it works out with me. Talking to each other, sometimes giving up. He's a reliable, comfortable guy, and he's a positive influence. He's good at hearing the pro know-how. Some people are, but I like it. They're both chatters, so they talk for hours without drinking. Calls take five hours. Ha ha.
A. It's probably the oldest brother, Ji Seok-jin. It's great. It's really hard to get ready for dance and collaboration at the age of over fifty. I really admire you.
Q. It’s a big-time program, and the members have spent nine years as well as the Running Man.
A. I used to shoot a day and lose four kilograms. Ha ha. Although the name tag tearing content is the representative content of Running Man, the risk of injury is high and the members are now reading each other. The content that viewers have been expecting is also low, so I have changed a lot. The direction of the program, such as the head-writing reasoning content, has changed a lot. I am very careful about the contents that I use because I am worried that I will be a big anger because there are many members who suffer from disk.
Q. It is a program that is loved by Asian countries, but do you realize popularity and status?
A. I'm surprised every time I go abroad. Incredibly, a lot of fans are filling the airport. They ask me to sign. It's ridiculous for our variety programs to perform concerts in front of more than 10,000 audiences in foreign countries. It's a thank you. I think Running Man has grown into a huge program.
Q. Many stars have visited Running Man. Do you have any guests you want to invite?
A. (Lee) I went to the premiere of the Gwangsu movie and I was at the back of the meeting to see Jung Woo-sung and Jo In-sung for a while. I told him, ‘I want you to come out once.’ I really want you to come out. Running Man is always open.
A. I'm on the pessimistic side. I think it'll loosen me if I think it'll last. I don’t know when and how it will end, but I want to prove that I’ve lived really hard, doing my best in a given program, and all of our members are icons of “self-management,” and they’re doing really well. They're the best members of the audience. They're family now. They're programmed, but they're close, older, younger. They're connected.
Q. I think it was very painful when such a Running Man' went to the end of the abolition in 2016.
A. I didn't expect it. It was a lot of thought. I thought family staff and my youngest place could disappear for a moment. It's hard sometimes, but I'm trying to do as much as I can anyway. I think that Running Man is going to be 10 years, 20 years, and the members want to do it until we have a gray hair, but it may disappear for some unexpected reason. There is no case where the entertainment program has passed 10 years on SBS, but I hope that Running Man will go long.
Q. It is early to mention, but what is the story with the members about the 10th anniversary of Running Man'?
A. I haven't talked to him yet. I'm thinking that if possible, I'd like to have a meaningful year.
Q. In addition, when can I see 'Michuri' season 3.
A. I don’t know what’s going to happen. If Running Man is your home, Mystery feels like a honeymoon home. It’s good to do what someone made, but it’s good to see how I grow by seeding. I often meet with members of the mystery. I'm going to talk about Doran Doran from Kang Ki-young to Jenny, and I want to do it if I have a chance for season 3.
