SBS broadcast network's Good Sunday is going to turn into Sad Sunday as two members of the game-reality show, actress Song Ji Hyo and singer Kim Jong Kook will leave the show.
Website allkpop learned on December 13 from insiders that the two contestants were officially leaving the South Korean variety show. Song Ji Hyo and Kim Jong Kook confirmed their departures via their agents following the departure of rapper Gary, 38, said the website.
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However, another news website Koreaboo.com claimed to have come across reports that the two participants were actually kicked out of the show, that too without being informed about it earlier. Ji Hyo and Jong Kook's last day of shooting for the show will be on 19 December, this year, as per Koreaboo.
Korea Boo also quoted Daily Sports confirming that the actress and singer were indeed shown the door. "2 weeks ago there was talks of a change in formatting and the co-producer visited the set to mention it again. There was still no talks of member changes back then. However, on December 12th they called in Kim Jong Kook to tell him he was out," the quote reads. It further reports that "Song Ji Hyo only found out today after reports came out. It's true everyone knew that a change was in order due to the fact that the ratings were going low but this type of good bye doesn't only hurt the producers it wounds the artists as well."
Song Ji Hyo's label MY Company had initially mentioned that it was the actress who was leaving the show, not the other way around. "Song Ji Hyo is leaving 'Running Man.' There was a long discussion with the producers as it was overwhelming for her to handle both acting promotions and a variety show. She plans to focus on her acting career after leaving 'Running Man'. The date of her departure is currently in adjustment," the statement had read.
However, the actress's agency later released another statement accepting that the separation wasn't on mutual terms. "We knew Running Man would go through changes from SBS but it is true that we only found out from news reports which members would not be invited back. We do not want to comment on Song Ji Hyo's feelings but it is not our official stance that it was not a good farewell," her statement read.
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It might be true that the actress was actually contemplating leaving to concentrate more on her cinema career and that it must have come as a shock to her to be suddenly asked to leave the show.
Singer Kim Jong Kook's agency also released a statement which read "It is true that we were told about Kim Jong Kook leaving the show one-sidedly. It is regrettable. Even though Kim Jong kook was not in the best health condition, it was a program he really cared for and took part in."
In fact what was most sad was that the Ji Hyo was informed that she was out after the reports of the two being removed from the show were already in circulation. That was a very unprofessional conduct by the executives of the show and the network towards the two participants.
