Choi Daniel Joins Running Man: Highlights from His First Episode

Actor Choi Daniel has officially joined the cast of SBS's Running Man as a new rental member, making a memorable entrance with his shocking visuals and comedic antics.

In the episode aired on April 6, 2025, titled 'New Family Gag Race,' a special welcome ceremony was held for Choi Daniel, who joined the show as a rental member. The existing cast members, including Yoo Jae-suk, Ha Ha, and Yang Se-chan, gathered early to prepare for his arrival and decided to surprise him at his home. They were tasked with getting Choi Daniel to work as quickly as possible, and any direct encouragement would result in a deduction from their budget. Thus, they approached him under the pretense of filming a vlog for his first day as a rental member.

Expecting to start recording at 2 PM, Choi Daniel was caught off guard by their sudden visit, appearing in a disheveled state with unkempt hair and a scruffy beard, prompting the members to exclaim, "Is this a costume? You look like you’ve been stranded on an island!" Choi Daniel humorously responded, "I was sleeping. What’s going on?" showcasing his 'real-life king' persona. As he leisurely prepared for work, Yoo Jae-suk playfully sprayed shaving foam on his face, causing laughter among the cast.

After a series of amusing events, Choi Daniel finally arrived at the filming location, where he officially declared his membership with a modest welcome ceremony alongside the other members.

Additionally, Choi Daniel's chemistry with Ji Yeo-eun drew attention during the second mission, 'Running Man Nabillera,' which required memorizing a menu written behind a tall wall. Since the mission involved a physical challenge, understanding each other's weight was crucial. Ji Yeo-eun claimed to weigh "45 kg," but the others dismissed it as a lie. Choi Daniel confidently stated, "If you’re 172 cm tall, you should weigh 59 kg." An indignant Ji Yeo-eun retorted, "What about 58 kg?" to which Choi Daniel cheerfully replied, "Is that too much?" eliciting laughter from the group.

The mission featured Yoo Jae-suk, Song Ji-hyo, and Ji Yeo-eun as representatives, and when the members lifted Ji Yeo-eun, they were surprised by the difference in weight. After the challenge, Yoo Jae-suk humorously remarked, "I feel like I’m going to throw up," igniting discussions about the 'Ji Yeo-eun weight controversy.' With the budget now at 100,000 won, the members enjoyed a lunch of Choi Daniel's favorite dish, sundae gukbap.

The episode of Running Man recorded a 2.7% viewership rating among the target demographic of 2049, making it the top-rated entertainment program in its time slot, with a peak rating of 6.2% during the broadcast, according to Nielsen Korea.