Due to her restricted screen time on SBS's popular variety show "Running Man," actress Song Ji Hyo is once again at the heart of controversy, igniting debate among fans and viewers.
A special detective task with actor Park Shin Yang in an art gallery with about 150 paintings was featured in the most recent episode, which aired on March 22.
Song Ji Hyo had very little part in the show despite the prominent setup. Viewers were dissatisfied with her visibility since, according to AllKpop, she spoke for the first time around ten minutes into the show and made only fleeting appearances during a food section.
Song Ji Hyo requested that the question be repeated during a drawing relay game. Kim Jong Kook, one of her co-stars, quickly replied, "Didn't you see it?" Ji Suk Jin added, "We showed it just three seconds ago," and Haha commented, "That doesn't make sense. We just saw it together".
Over the past two weeks, criticism of her scant presence has grown. In contrast to other episodes where interventions were tried to boost her engagement, KBIZoom says that viewers noticed no effort on the side of the production team to highlight her role.
A representative from the entertainment industry emphasized this seeming change in strategy. "The production team no longer shows signs of trying to increase her presence on the show," they noted. Fan worries about Song Ji Hyo's often underwhelming performances, which have become a regular occurrence, are growing.
Social media users have also weighed in on her appearance in the recent episodes.
One viewer expressed disappointment at what they see to be a recurrent pattern by writing, " She seems completely disengaged," In response to persistent criticism, several have urged her to reevaluate her role on the show.
Song Ji Hyo has already been under such scrutiny. She also came under criticism in 2023 due to her seeming lack of interest in situations, but this did not last long. However, the situation in this case appears to be quite critical due to the repetition of her lack of energy in performances, even though there were improvements in her involvement.
Song Ji Hyo has been in the industry since her debut in the early 2000s in musical performances. She gained fame in dramas such as "Princess Hours" and "Jumong," but her role in "Running Man" made her a significant character.
The continuous criticism of her performance highlights the increasing expectations of variety show idols, where their energy is critical in maintaining their fan support.
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