Girls' Generation member and actress Sooyoung (Choi Sooyoung) willingly accepted a sudden filming request while undergoing dermatology treatment, rising to the title of "loyal woman."
On the 4th, SBS Running Man aired as a New Year's special. In celebration of 2026, the year of the red horse, the "follow the horse, bingo conquest" Race was held.
In the opening, the production team said, "As we welcome a hopeful new year, there was good news," and Yu Jae-seok reported that he had been ranked the No. 1 entertainer of the year for 14 consecutive years. Amid the members' congratulations, Yu Jae-seok said, "You can't choose to want it, so I'm just grateful," and Jee Seokjin fired a blunt remark, "If this keeps up, it'll be sad if you get second place."
Kim Jong Kook chided, "Why are you saying bad things?" and Yu Jae-seok said, "You said the same thing last year." Haha pointed out, "You are full of envy and jealousy here," and Jee Seokjin, saying, "How do you feel? What if everything goes well?" delivered a jealous slap that drew laughter. Meanwhile, when members teased Jee Seokjin about being 60, he declared, "I'm 59 years and 13 months. That's how I'm going to be."
Afterward, the production team explained the main mission. Of the nine bingo squares listing horse-related missions, contestants choose and complete desired missions by the 3 o'clock time limit. After receiving sticker prizes for mission completion, they stick them on a die at the end and roll two dice to determine whether they receive the prize or a penalty based on the letters that come up.
First, the members engraved drawings and signatures on a canvas for the "draw a horse and trade for a carrot" mission, and next, to perform the "mission with a celebrity born in the year of the horse," they tried to contact Girls' Generation's Sooyoung. Yu Jae-seok called Sooyoung and opened by saying, "I think you're flustered because it's been such a long time since I called, but aren't you born in the year of the horse? You used to appear on Running Man often; isn't it been too long?" and Sooyoung replied, "You have to invite me for me to come out."
Yu Jae-seok said, "Did we not invite you? Then sorry. Can we call you now? There's a Running Man mission where we have to meet a celebrity born in the year of the horse and do a mission. If it's okay," he proposed. Sooyoung said, "I'm at the dermatologist right now and wearing a pack," but coolly accepted, "I should help you," and the members agreed to travel to Gangnam, where Sooyoung was, and contact her in an hour.
Before the appointment with Sooyoung, the members who barely succeeded in the "find a horse-related place" mission visited a samgyeopsal restaurant in Gangnam for the "eat five foods that contain the word 'horse'" mission. While ordering foods containing the word "horse" and posting a carrot message, Sooyoung appeared, and the members warmly welcomed the "loyal woman" Sooyoung. Ji Ye-eun, a fan of Girls' Generation, was embarrassed and didn't know what to do, and Jee Seokjin explained, "She is a complete fan of Girls' Generation. She's talked about it since long ago. She knows all their dances." Ji Ye-eun said, "I even received a signed CD from Hyoyeon unnie and I know Yoona unnie's number," and used the moment to perform a Girls' Generation dance, making Sooyoung pleased.
Yu Jae-seok asked about her recent work, "Aren't you filming something now?" and Sooyoung said, "Today is the first broadcast. It's called 'Idol Eye.' So I wanted to come on Running Man to promote it, and what a perfect coincidence it became," reporting the astonishing coincidence. Jee Seokjin worried, "This won't air today, what will we do. It will air next year," but Sooyoung responded positively, "That's great. On Jan. 4 it will be parts 5 and 6. Parts 5 and 6 need to gain momentum."
Afterward, Sooyoung proceeded with a mission in which members had to say words in order to the beat. Sooyoung, who had instantly risen to ace, made a mistake on the last chance and failed the mission, and Haha scolded, "Now that it's come to this, we have to go all the way to the penalty," drawing laughter. However, the production team specially gave Sooyoung a final chance, and she successfully completed the mission.
Yu Jae-seok said, "The white horse Sooyoung came and succeeded," and added, "Sooyoung's arrival was sudden but it was great to see her on Running Man after a long time, and even though Idol Eye is airing on ENA, please watch it a lot," and promised, "Please welcome her with applause. We'll properly invite her later." In response, Sooyoung said, "I'll come out. Please be sure to call me once," raising expectations.
Meanwhile, that day the members completed a bingo line by successfully trading the horse drawing for a carrot within the time limit. After receiving a total of seven prize stickers, the members stuck the stickers on two dice and threw them, and both dice landed on prize results, allowing everyone to receive health supplement prizes. Yu Jae-seok said, "The energy is good. From the new year, PD Hyungseon joined last year but I'll work hard and run," and greeted.
[Photo] SBS
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