A recent episode of the popular South Korean variety show Running Man, featuring guest Heo Kyung-hwan (허경환), saw cast members Yu Jae-seok (유재석), Ji Suk-jin (지석진), Kim Jong-kook (김종국), HAHA (하하), Song Ji-hyo (송지효), Yang Se-chan (양세찬), and Ji Ye-eun (지예은) embark on a mission together. During the show, Ji Suk-jin repeatedly teased Yang Se-chan about his tenure. What was initially perceived as familiar banter between the two unexpectedly ignited a two-sided debate among netizens after the broadcast.
The cast members were playing a 'Telepathy Bingo' game to decide on their meal, but missed out on spicy fish stew due to differing choices. When discussing team chemistry, Yang Se-chan remarked, "It's been 16 years." Ji Suk-jin immediately cut him off, saying, "Se-chan, you haven't been here for 16 years!" HAHA exclaimed, "Wow, that's really harsh," while Ji Suk-jin earnestly stated, "What needs to be clarified, should be clarified." Yang Se-chan could only quietly respond, "I'm a little hurt."
Ji Suk-jin then pressed Yang Se-chan on how long he had actually been on Running Man. Upon learning the answer was "10 years," he added, "10 years is 10 years, but you can't say 'it's been 16 years.'" He even brought up Ji Ye-eun's two years on the show for comparison, leaving Yang Se-chan utterly exasperated.
Seeing this, Kim Jong-kook spoke up for Yang Se-chan, saying, "Se-chan is someone who loves Running Man so much!" Yang Se-chan then expressed his grievance, "No one loves this show more than I do, but you say 'you haven't been here'…" He could barely finish his sentence, which drew laughter from everyone present.
Not only was his tenure mocked, but Ji Suk-jin later even guessed Yang Se-chan's food preferences incorrectly. When asked whether he would choose Jajangmyeon (black bean noodles) or Jjamppong (spicy seafood noodles), Ji Suk-jin confidently declared, "Se-chan definitely chooses Jjamppong." However, Yang Se-chan immediately retorted, "Hyung, I'm a Jajangmyeon person. You don't know my preferences at all."
Ji Suk-jin responded with another sharp remark: "It's only been 10 years, of course I don't know much." He even added in English, "10 years, shut up," which made Yang Se-chan exclaim, "It's been 10 years, can't I even speak? I can't even hold my head up!" This became one of the comedic highlights of the episode.
However, after this interaction aired, some South Korean netizens found Ji Suk-jin's jokes "a bit hurtful." One netizen commented that while they understood it was for a variety show and knew there would be subsequent banter about "16 years, 10 years," hearing that particular remark from a viewer's perspective "still felt very sad."
Some netizens defended Yang Se-chan, arguing that he has been on Running Man for 10 years and is not a newcomer who just joined for three or four years. "Having spent 10 out of 16 years together, that's more than half," one user wrote, adding, "They've been together for so long, they should be considered family." They hoped Ji Suk-jin would truly treat Yang Se-chan as family.
Other netizens noted that since Lee Kwang-soo (이광수) and Jeon So-min (전소민) left the show, Yang Se-chan has often taken on the role of creating humor and energizing the atmosphere, while also frequently being teased by the older members as the 'maknae' (youngest). Therefore, seeing this scene made them feel particularly sympathetic towards him.
However, another group of netizens believed that people were taking the variety show too seriously, coming to Ji Suk-jin's defense: "They usually joke with each other," "It's just for show effect," and "I hate it when people treat variety shows as real events."
Some also pointed out that the Running Man members' jokes towards Ji Suk-jin are often even more extreme, with some even using "death jokes." They argued that since everyone knows their dynamic, this particular comment shouldn't be singled out.
Fans also believed that Ji Suk-jin actually cares deeply for Yang Se-chan. "His concern for Se-chan is definitely more than those who criticize," they said, suggesting that the interaction was more about creating buzz for the show.
What was intended as a comedic "16 years vs. 10 years" joke on a variety show unexpectedly sparked a polarized online discussion. Whether it was just everyday banter between close colleagues or genuinely offensive to some ears, the incident has prompted many viewers to re-examine the dynamics among the Running Man cast members.
