Despite the fact that basketball matches are mostly focused on the male cast, Ji Hyo's presence is considered to be lacking, even when compared to Jeon So Min.
Song Ji Hyo has maintained his position for 13 years as a regular member of "Running Man" since July 2010. However, his presence on the show is now considered to be quite lacking, causing public opinion towards the actress to be not as good as before.
In particular, on the June 25 broadcast of "Running Man", Ji Hyo participated in a quiz with the other cast members. They tasted cold soybean noodle soup and engaged in a warm-up basketball game to digest the food.
However, Ji Hyo's performance was lacking in this episode. Despite the fact that basketball matches are mostly focused on the male cast, the actress' presence on the show is heavily overshadowed, even when compared to fellow female cast member, Jeon So Min.
Regarding this, the online community was filled with criticism from viewers, who compared Ji Hyo to a wall hanging. They left comments like, "Isn't (Song Ji Hyo) basically just a show this time?", "In fact, she's blending in with the displays", and :Despite editing, such lackluster attitude is enough to kick her (from 'Running Man') ".
In fact, the controversy surrounding Ji Hyo's attitude on "Running Man" is not new, and has actually been raised consistently in the past. His lackluster attitude on the show and his markedly reduced attendance, especially compared to the other members, became the target of criticism.
Meanwhile, Ji Hyo is currently facing issues related to her former agency, Uzu Rocks, and unresolved payment issues. Following the termination of her contract with Uzu Rocks in April, the actress also filed a report against Uzu Rocks CEO Mr. A, for embezzlement in May. During this process, Ji Hyo personally covered the salaries and other expenses of his staff, earning praise from the public.
However, the appearance fee for "Running Man" was paid directly to Ji Hyo, and remains unrelated to the current situation. As a result, many viewers are suggesting to reduce the appearance fee for the show, which is estimated to be around 4 to 5 million won (around Rp.46-57 million) per episode. (wk/goddess)
