Running Man Faces Backlash Over 'Lip-Guessing' Game Promoting Physical Contact

SBS's popular variety show 'Running Man' is once again at the center of controversy following its latest episode, which featured a game centered on physical intimacy.

On the broadcast aired last Saturday, the cast engaged in a game where members had to identify a partner by the sensation of their lips. In one segment, a blindfolded Yang Se-chan had a member kiss his forehead, and he then had to guess who it was. To aid his guessing, other cast members proceeded to kiss him in turn.

Actress Ahn Eun-jin, participating in the game, hesitated, asking "Are you really going to do it?" multiple times before leaving a lip mark on Yang Se-chan's arm. Fellow cast members Haha and Kim Jong-kook jokingly encouraged more interaction, with Kim Jong-kook suggesting, "Ahn Eun-jin even kissed his forehead, now he's pretending he can't do it."

However, after the episode aired, some viewers criticized the game's premise for allegedly forcing physical contact. The situation where female cast members were urged to participate further drew ire, with comments deeming the encouragement to kiss as disrespectful.

While Ahn Eun-jin and Kim Moo-jun appeared on the show to promote their film 'Kissing You for No Reason,' the one-dimensional game relying on the movie's title and the pressured physical interactions have led to accusations of being outdated and inappropriate.

Korean netizens expressed their disapproval, with comments like "Are they really playing a lip-guessing game now?" and "It seems too much, even for a variety show." Some also sarcastically remarked, "Looking forward to what bizarre game they'll come up with next."