History Series / RunningMan

** Even Lee Gwang Soo gets to have his moment in episode 132.

-->'''Gwang Soo:''' No! I just- we're like family! We're family!

** It doesn't help that as the only girl in an all-male cast, Ji Hyo could be seen as the LauncherOfAThousandShips, even if her relationships with all of them are LikeBrotherAndSister.

** Kang Gary: "Leessang Blues" by Leessang

* FriendlyTickleTortue: Choi Min Soo does this to Yoo Jae Suk whenever he captures him during his [[{{Sequel}} second episode special]].

* BeserkButton: Don't mention [[TheNapoleon Ha Ha's height]]. Or [[WeightWoe Ji Hyo's weight]].

* FriendlyTickleTortue: Choi Min Soo does this to Yoo Jae Suk whenever he captures him during his [[TheSequel second episode special]].

-->[[WordOfGod '''Cho Hyolin PD''']]: All seven members are important to me, missing any of them will affect Running Man.

** Shippers for the 'Secret Couple' [[FanDumb still exist]] despite Ji Hyo's relationship and Ha Ha now being a married man expecting a kid.

** ''THE ONE WHO CONTROLS SPACE!'' is arguably a MemeticMutation InUniverse.

-->[WordOfGod '''Cho Hyolin PD''']]: All seven members are important to me, missing any of them will affect Running Man.

* AnimalMotif: See picture caption above. A fan even [http://www.allkpop.com/2012/08/animal-version-of-running-man-members-draws-much-laughter draws it for clarity]].

* CrochingMoronHiddenBadass: Gary may act kind of slow and innocent, but he's the EnsembleDarkHouse when the chips are down. [[spoiler:He's won the first two individual all-out battles between the members.]]

-->'''Jae Suk''': I think he's going to rip out our backs.

* TheLoad: Female guests tend to fall into this category, much to the annoyance of some fans.

** He even has his own YouTube Compilation [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27n1RM95U4s]].

* EmbarassingNickname: A kind of [[InvertedTrope inversion]] of this trope with the nickname "Kookie". The name refers to the Commander when he's [[BruiserWithASoftCenter acting cute or like a child]] much to the annoyance of the rest of the cast. But Jong Kook embraces the name (even sometimes getting it on his nametag with little hearts) while it embarrasses ''everyone else'' to watch or say. Even the staff.

* TwistEnding: The [[AmbiguousEnding ambiguous ending]] of [[spoiler: the "Tru-Gary" show episode]] seems to imply [[spoiler:[[MetaTwist Gary knew all along.]]]] The cast also never mentions the ending ever again, so it's anyone's guess.

* EveryoneChasingYou: Obviously. Most clear examples are the matches in episode 93 where their ""mission"" is to take out one member of the group specifically.

* FireForgedFriends: Although they started out basically strangers, Kim Jong Kook and Song Ji Hyo now make a great team and trust each other a lot even when they're in an individual battle. There's even a section of the {{Fandom}} that would even go so far as to[[Shipping see them]] as a BattleCouple.

* HypocriticalHeartwarming: Kim Jong Kook may bully or order the other members around most of the time, but he [[AwLookTheyReallyDoLoveEachOther isn't too pleased]] when one of the guest kept hitting [[TheRival Yoo Jae Suk]] or when one of the guests [[BigBrotherInstinct try to push Ha Ha around.]]
* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Kim Jong Kook's TV persona may seem rough around the edges, but he's actually very sweet and well-mannered in person. He also has [[AwLookTheyReallyDoLoveEachOther certain moments]] in episodes that show he does care about his [[TrueCompansions castmates and friends]], particularly in the later episodes.

* LaughTrack: It's a variety show...

* LikeBrotherAndSister: The guys all refer to Ji Hyo as part of the family and like a sister even with the temporary [[Canon love line]] in the show with Gary. That doesn't stop shipping though.

* ShipTease: The 'Monday Couple' love line between Gary and Ji Hyo, even if it's mostly one-sided. At the beginning of the show, Ji Hyo was too shy to really keep it up as much as Gary who seemed to use it just to make her more comfortable in the variety setting. Ji Hyo [[AnchoredShip ended it]] when she began her real-life relationship though. [[Shipping That doesn't stop the fans.]]
** Monday Couple also has to [[ShipToShipCombat compete with shippers]] of the SpartAce couple with Kim Jong Kook and the Secret Couple with Ha Ha.
** It doesn't help that as the only girl in all male cast, Ji Hyo could be seen as the LauncherOfAThousandShips, even if her relationships with all of them are LikeBrotherAndSister.

* SpyVsSpy: Everyone is told that they're a spy in episode 82, unaware the ""actual"" spy is the guest. The "Tru-Gary" show episode could also be a complicated inversion of this... but [[TheEndingChangesEverything it's ambiguous.]]

* TrickAndFollowPloy:Used often, most notably in episode 132 to find the suitcase locations.
* TwistEnding: The [[AmbiguousEnding ambiguous ending]] of the "Tru-Gary" show episode seems to imply [[MetaTwist Gary knew all along.]] The cast also never mentions the ending ever again, so it's anyone's guess.

* VitriolicBestBuds: Essentially he entire cast with itself.

** The subtitles even have to remind the viewers who should be the hunted and who should be doing the hunting in case they're confused.

* ButtMonkey: Lee Gwang Soo. Full Stop. Even the staff can be heard laughing at his [[CosmicPlaything misfortune at times]].
* TheChewToy: See ButtMonkey. Ji Suk Jin can also apply, well known as the easiest member of the group. Guests often say that their wish for that episode is to rip off his nametag. He's even [[RunningGag nicknamed the 'Race Starter']] since he's usually the first to go and it's as if the real race starts after he's been ousted.

* EveryoneChasingYou: Obviously. Most clear examples are the matches in episode 93 where their mission is to take out one member of the group specifically.

* GreatEscape: The jailbreak premise for Episode 91. The earlier episodes were also set up with the members locked inside different landmarks and competing for freedom.

* LaughTrack: It's a Korean variety show...

** Kim Jong Kook: What We Need is a Hero from the {{Beowulf}} OST

* LetsFightLikeGentlemen: Members do this often when outnumbered or disadvantaged somehow. [[AvertedTrope Sometimes averted]] and used instead just as a trick to get their opponent's guard down.

* SomethingWeForgot: In Episode 127, the team forgets about poor Ji Suk Jin who is still hiding long after the game has ended.
* SpyVsSpy: Everyone is told that they're a spy in episode 82, unaware of the actual spy as the guest. The "TruGary" show episode could also be a complicated inversion of this... but it's ambiguous.

* TheChewToy: See ButtMonkey. Ji Suk Jin can also apply, well known as the easiest member of the group. Guests often say that their wish for that episode is to rip off his nametag. He's even nicknamed the 'Race Starter' since he's usually the first to go and [[RunningGag it's as if the real race starts after he's been ousted]].

Running Man is a popular South Korean Variety show focused on a main cast of seven celebrities who compete in various games and races throughout a number of locations in Korea. The show became famous with its signature set up of velcro-ed nametags of the players on their backs and ripping them off in the final game to ‘oust’ other players.
The earlier episodes featured the popular [[TheChase ‘hide and seek’ game]] where half the group became the mission team (with some special task to do) and the chasing team (who must rip the mission team’s nametags in order to win). The show has since developed from locking the group in an empty building overnight into a race around the city with minor games at different places that eventually lead up to a nametag-ripping game among the teams or individual members at the end. The show is responsible for creating the new sub-genre of ‘urban variety’ for its unique structure.
While the show's action-oriented format helped the show earn early fame, the camaraderie and chemistry of the cast is the main reason for its continued popularity. The cast has gotten closer in real life than most variety shows tend to do.

!! Episodes of this series provide examples of:

* MistakenForSpies: The hunt for spies usually starts with ousting the wrong people. Typical traitors Gwang Soo and Haha are often suspected early.

* SuicideMission: Ji Hyo has to make this sacrifice in both Olympics episodes. HaHa also gives himself up as bait in episode 68.

* WireDilema: Song Ji Hyo cutting the wires of the 'bomb' in episode 3.

* HuntingTheMostDangerousGame: Essentially the premise of the show.

* LetsFightLikeGentlemen: Members do this often when outnumbered or in a disadvantage somehow. Sometimes averted as a way to get the opponent's guard down.

** The subtitles even have to remind the viewers who should be the hunted and who should be doing the hunting in case they're confused.

** He even has his own YouTube Compilation [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27n1RM95U4s]].

* NotWorthKilling: Taeyang's [[redirect:Music/{{BigBang}}]] treatment of HaHa whenever he finds him.

-The subtitles even have to remind the viewers who should be the hunted and who should be doing the hunting in case they're confused.

* DogPileOfDoom: In order to subdue the Commander in episode 75. [[CorwningMomentOfFunny And it was hilarious.]]

* NotWorthKilling: Taeyon's treatment of HaHa whenever he finds him.

* AssassinOutlassin: In the first round of episode 93, all six other members must hunt down and take out Kim Jong Kook within thirty minutes. [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome It doesn't go as planned.]]

* TheAce: Song Ji Hyo's nickname. Kim Jong Kook could also apply as the cast often complains about his skill at almost everything.

* CurbStompBattle: Although this can apply to Kim Jong Kook in any physical competition against the members, Kim Jong Kook's wrestling matches with Yoo Jae Suk are particularly one-sided.
* DareToBeBadass: Yoo Jae Suk in episode 13. And how badass it was.
* DogPileOfDoom: In order to subdue the Commander in episode 75, nearly everyone got into a pile to use this.
* EveryoneChasingYou: Obviously. Most clear examples are the matches in episode 93 where their /mission/ is to take out one mmember of the group specifically.

Running Man is a popular Korean Variety show [link?] focused on a main cast of seven celebrities who compete in various games and races throughout a number of locations in Korea. The show (which began in 2010 and is still going strong with over 100 episodes) became famous with its signature set up of velcro-ed nametags of the players on their backs and ripping them off in the final game to ‘oust’ other players. The earlier episodes featured the popular ‘hide and seek’ game where half the group became the mission team (with some special task to do) and the chasing team (who must rip the mission team’s nametags in order to win). The show has since developed from locking the group in an empty building overnight into a race around the city with minor games at different places that eventually lead up to a nametag-ripping game among the teams or individual members at the end.
The show became insanely popular in Korea and other Asian countries (as clearly evidenced by their overseas episodes), and has even created the new sub-genre of ‘urban variety’ for its unique structure.

----

* CoolandUnusualPunishment: The punishments in the earlier episodes definitely apply, particularly wearing the infamous Hot Pants around the city.

* DogPileofDoom: In order to subdue the Commander in episode 75, nearly everyone got into a pile to use this.

* HuntingIsTheMostDangerousGame: Essentially the premise of the show.

* Let'sFightLikeGentlemen: Members do this often when outnumbered or in a disadvantage somehow. Sometimes averted as a way to get the opponent's guard down.

* NowIt'sMyTurn: The hide-and-seek switching game for the Running Man Olympics. This trope gets invoked every ten minutes when the hiding team becomes the chasing team.

* BreaktheBadass: Choi Min Soo's easy 'defeat' of the Commander.

* CurbStopBattle: Although this can apply to Kim Jong Kook in any physical competition against the members, Kim Jong Kook's wrestling matches with Yoo Jae Suk are particularly one-sided.
* DaretobeBadass: Yoo Jae Suk in episode 13. And how badass it was.

* Honor Among Thieves: Averted. Constantly.
* HuntingistheMostDangerousGame: Essentially the premise of the show.

* MistakenforSpies: The hunt for spies usually starts with ousting the wrong people. Typical traitors Gwang Soo and Haha are often suspected early.

* SpyvsSpy: Everyone is told that they're a spy in episode 82, unaware of the actual spy as the guest. The "TruGary" show episode could also be a complicated inversion of this... but it's ambiguous.

* Timebomb: The James Bond special is focused on diffusing one of these. This is also invoked in the timer race in episode 47.
* TiredofRunning: On many occasions, particularly when a member is the SoleSurvivor of their team.
* TrickandFollowPloy:Used often, most notably in episode 132 to find the suitcase locations.

* WireDeilema: Song Ji Hyo cutting the wires of the 'bomb' in episode 3.

* [=The Ace=]: Song Ji Hyo's nickname. Kim Jong Kook could also apply as the cast often complains about his skill at almost everything.
* [=Action Girl=]: Song Ji Hyo. Part of her popularity comes from the fact that she can hold her own against the guys and often show them up (like being the only member to bungee jump in Macau for example).
* [=The Load=]: Female guests tend to fall into this category, much to the annoyance of fans.
* [=Break the Badass=]: When they first meet, Choi Min Soo easily takes out the Commander in a pretty humiliating way.
* [=Cool and Unusual Punishment=]: The punishments in the earlier episodes definitely apply, particularly wearing the infamous Hot Pants around the city.

* [=TheAce=]: Song Ji Hyo's nickname. Kim Jong Kook could also apply as the cast often complains about his skill at almost everything.
* [=ActionGirl=]: Song Ji Hyo. Part of her popularity comes from the fact that she can hold her own against the guys and often show them up (like being the only member to bungee jump in Macau for example).
* [=TheLoad=]: Female guests tend to fall into this category, much to the annoyance of fans.
* [=BreaktheBadass=]: When they first meet, Choi Min Soo easily takes out the Commander in a pretty humiliating way.
* [=CoolandUnusualPunishment=]: The punishments in the earlier episodes definitely apply, particularly wearing the infamous Hot Pants around the city.