Running Man embroiled in controversy over violence due to its uncomfortable “Flour Blue Flag White Flag” game

SBS’s entertainment program “Running Man” has been embroiled in a controversy over violence.

On SBS’s “Running Man” that aired on Oct 24th, the “Flour Blue Flag White Flag” game was held. It is a game in which the members quickly punch the opponent’s face by the hand of the appropriate color according to what the host Yoo Jae-suk says while wearing flour-stained gloves. On this day, Ji Suk-jin hit Jeon So-min’s face with blue flour several times. In response, Jeon So-min embarrassingly said, “Do you think I’m a man? (Ji Suk-jin) hit me with all his heart. I’m not kidding, I’m serious.”

In the next match, Kim Jong-kook threw a punch full of power towards Jeong Joon-ha. Jeong Joon-ha complained, “It hurts a little” then showed his bloodshot eyes. Netizens who watched this episode criticized, “Is this violence or humor?”, “It’s like a Japanese program”, “Can we stop doing that now?”, “It’s too much for children to watch”, “It was uncomfortable, so I didn’t keep watching it”..

On the other hand, some showed reactions such as “I watched it because it was funny”, “They are entertainers. They know how to control the situation”, “If you feel uncomfortable, you don’t have to watch it”, “Just consider it as an entertainment show”…

Meanwhile, “Running Man” used to be caught up in a controversy over sadism due to the “Rubber Band Game” last year. The rule is that the person who stretches as many rubber bands over their head as they could in 1 minute will be the winner. However, many scenes in which the members complained of pain were broadcast and became controversial.