Kim Jong-kook Curses in Frustration as Song Ji-hyo's Forgetfulness on 'Running Man' Sparks Criticism; Actress Shares 'Down-to-Earth' Tips to Cut Back on Drinking

Korean actress Song Ji-hyo (송지효) has previously garnered significant attention for her remarkable alcohol tolerance and drinking habits, even admitting to drinking up to five times a week, sometimes on an empty stomach. Recently, on her YouTube channel, she addressed relationship concerns from fans. When a husband expressed distress over his wife's heavy drinking, Song Ji-hyo shared practical, "down-to-earth" advice based on her personal experience.

On May 10, Song Ji-hyo uploaded a new video titled “Helping with relationship problems, but I became a bad Ji-hyo.. (EN)” to her personal YouTube channel, where she personally read and offered advice on various fan submissions.

One male subscriber shared that while his wife was wonderful in every other aspect, her excessive drinking was a concern. He specifically sought a solution from Song Ji-hyo, who is also known to enjoy alcohol. In response, Song Ji-hyo suggested that the first step should be for the husband to directly express his worries to his wife. “First, tell your wife, 'This makes me worried.' That's the first step,” she advised. She then emphasized that instead of simply preventing her from drinking out, it's more important to make “playing at home” more enjoyable than going out.

She recalled advice her mother once gave her: “My mom used to tell me, 'Don't go out drinking, just drink at home.' So for a while, I really didn't go out to drink.” However, she couldn't help but laugh as she added, “But then I went back to my old ways.” Her candid admission of reverting to her old habits created a humorous atmosphere.

Song Ji-hyo revealed that she herself has recently been trying to reduce her alcohol intake, making her particularly empathetic to such issues. She believes that some people enjoy drinking because they appreciate the lively atmosphere and conversation with friends, but this kind of gathering doesn't always maintain its novelty. She explained, “There's a limit to how much fun you can have with everyone. After a certain point, it starts to feel less interesting. If you can cultivate the joy of having a drink with your husband at home, you'll drink moderately outside and want to come home earlier.”

Song Ji-hyo further shared her mother's “clever trick,” suggesting that a husband could text his wife: “Honey, I bought some alcohol. When are you coming home?” She believes this might encourage someone who planned to go for a second or even third round to change their mind and want to return home instead of continuing to drink. She emphasized that rather than constantly asking a partner to quit drinking, it's better to create enjoyable shared experiences at home, allowing them to naturally reduce the frequency of drinking out.

In fact, Song Ji-hyo had previously revealed her drinking habits on YouTube last year, sparking considerable discussion. The production team had mentioned rumors circulating about her, such as “drinking on an empty stomach before 5 PM with side dishes,” “drinking eight bottles of soju with another person,” and “drinking on an empty stomach.” Song Ji-hyo openly admitted that these claims were true.

When asked how many times a week she drank, she paused before candidly admitting, “Until two weeks ago, I drank about five times a week.” Her astonishing frequency surprised the staff present.

Song Ji-hyo's recent performance on “Running Man” has also reignited discussions among some netizens. During a game segment, her repeated forgetfulness of questions led her partner, Kim Jong-kook (김종국), to exclaim “Ah, sh*t” in frustration. Haha (하하) also half-jokingly, half-seriously pressed her, “Are you going to quit drinking? Yes or no? Swear to me, promise me!” after her frequent mistakes and blunders on the show.

Following the broadcast, some netizens pointed to Song Ji-hyo's previously mentioned drinking habits on the show, suggesting that her frequent forgetfulness and spaced-out demeanor might be related to her regular alcohol consumption.

One netizen commented, “I hope she drinks less. I always feel like her frequent zoning out and forgetfulness are related to drinking.” Others felt that while the show's cast members often tried to create topics for her and briefly bring her back to attention, she would soon revert to being less energetic, which tired out viewers.

Some netizens even directly stated that as paid professionals, entertainers should be more engaged in their programs. Others pointed out that Song Ji-hyo often mentions doing nothing special or drinking when asked about her recent activities, and even cast members have advised her to drink less, leading them to believe “this is no longer just a joke.” One netizen harshly criticized, “If she truly has a sense of responsibility, she should voluntarily withdraw from the show.”

Nevertheless, Song Ji-hyo's discussion of drinking habits on her YouTube show, where she offered advice based on her own experiences, once again showcased her characteristic candid and straightforward personality. From openly revealing her drinking habits in the past to now sharing tips on reducing alcohol intake, her words have unexpectedly reignited public discussion about her lifestyle and program performance.