Excitement and anticipation filled the air as the Running Man members arrived in Manila, Philippines after three years of waiting. Fans from all over the country were ecstatic to finally see their favorite Korean stars in person. The fan meeting, originally scheduled for 2020, was postponed due to the pandemic, but the delay only added to the hype and excitement for the much-awaited event.
The Running Man members have gained a massive following in the Philippines, and their arrival in Manila was met with great fanfare. Runners waited at NAIA, waving banners and cheering as the members arrived at the airport. The atmosphere was full of joy as the city welcomed the popular South Korean variety show stars with open arms. It was clear that the Running Man members’ presence had truly taken the Philippines by storm.
Jee Seok Jin, Yu Jae Suk, Kim Jong Kook, HAHA, Song Ji Hyo, Jeon So Min, and Yang Se Chan met their Filipino fans at Mall of Asia Arena on April 1.
Running Man members wowed the audience with their rendition of the hit song “Missing You” originally by BTOB.
During the opening segment, the members couldn’t contain their excitement at being in Manila to meet their fans. They expressed gratitude for the warm welcome they received. However, the Runners – fans of the popular Korean show, Running Man – are equally grateful for the joy and entertainment the show has brought into their lives.
Running Man has become a staple to Hallyu fans, adored by fans across different age groups. Whether you’re feeling overwhelmed by the world or simply in need of a pick-me-up, watching an episode of the show is guaranteed to put a smile on your face and brighten up your day.
Game with PH Runners
The fan meeting would not be complete without games, of course. Lucky fans had the opportunity to meet the Running Members up close and participate in exciting games with them, fueling their competitive spirit.
The first game is a thrilling relay race that tests participants’ shooting, flipping, and aiming skills. It consists of three challenging parts: shooting a ball, flipping a bottle, and shooting a ring. After a fierce competition, Jong Kook’s team emerged as the winners with the fastest time, impressing everyone with their speed, accuracy, and coordination. On the other hand, HAHA’s team struggled to keep up and ended up with the slowest time. Jong Kook’s partner got to take home some signed items from all the seven members!
For the second game, the members were split into two teams. Each team was tasked with performing a captivating K-Pop dance routine to an unknown song, and passing it on to the next player until it reached the final player. The challenge culminated with the last player having to guess the title of the mystery song. Both of the participants received a polaroid photo with a member.
Group 1 showcased their skills to the beat of popular tracks such as “Attention” by NewJeans, “Dynamite” by BTS, “After Like” by IVE, and “To You” by Teen Top. Meanwhile, Group 2 brought their A-game with energetic performances to “Hype Boy” by NewJeans, “DNA” by BTS, “Love Shot” by EXO, “That That” by Psy, and “Next Level” by aespa.
Performances
Running Man members are surely talented as they showed off their skills in singing and dancing during solo and unit performances.
During their performance, the maknae line members showcased their individual talents. Yang Se Chan delivered an impressive rendition of ZICO’s “Artist,” while Jeon So Min captivated the audience with her interpretation of 2PM’s track “My House.”
One of the most unexpected highlights of the night was when Jee Seok Jin performed “Ikaw” by Yeng Constantino, a popular Filipino song. The audience erupted with cheers, and enthusiastic fans joined in singing along with him, making it a truly memorable moment.
Yu Jae Suk delivered an electrifying performance of a trot song called “Redevelopment of Love”, captivating the audience with his dynamic vocals. HAHA hyped up the crowd with his upbeat tracks “Dang Diggi Bang” and “Don’t Laugh”, leaving everyone energized and pumped up.
Moreover, Song Ji Hyo showcased her impressive dance skills as she grooved to the popular hit “Rollin” by Brave Girls. Kim Jong Kook, the multi-talented artist, graced the stage with his soulful rendition of “Easy on Me” by Adele and his own composition “One Man”, leaving the audience in awe of his music skills.
In the highly anticipated unit performance, Jeon So Min and Song Ji Hyo got a lot of cheers as they danced to IVE’s chart-topping track “Love Dive”. Jae Suk, Jong Kook, HAHA, and Se Chan showed of their dynamic moves with “New Thing” by Zico.
Yu Jae Suk, Jeon So Min, and Jee Seok Jin performed “Confession of Your Love”. Afterwards, Jeon So Min and Se Chan gave the audience a treat with “All For You”. Later on, Jee Seok Jin and Song Ji Hyo wowed the audience with a performance of “Don’t” by Hwasa and Loco.
As the fan meeting drew to a close, a heartwarming video from PH Runners was played, showcasing their love and support for the members. Touched by the gesture, the members expressed their gratitude for the unwavering love and encouragement they have received from their fans. They promised to continue running and working hard.
For the encore, the members sang “Loveable”. Of course, they performed “I Like It” as well as “Busan Vacance” and “Redevelopment of Love.” To top off the already unforgettable show, Ji Hyo made the day of some lucky fans by posing for a photo with them during the encore. Her kind gesture left many fans feeling touched and grateful.
Wow, it’s hard to believe that 13 years have passed already. Time truly flies by, but the footsteps they have left behind will always be remarkable to everyone. The good news is that you can relive those moments by rewatching all the episodes whenever you need a little happiness. And even though more than a decade has passed, we will continue to run for many more decades to come!
Running Man “A Decade of Laughter” was made possible by PULP Live World and Happee Hour.
