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On August 13, 2024, BTS' Kim Seok-jin live-broadcasted the first episode of his latest variety show, RUN JIN, on YouTube. The show will air a new episode every Tuesday on the band's official YouTube channel, BANGTANTV. Episode 1 ended with the release of the episode 2 preview, which teased a special guest's appearance. However, their face wasn't revealed.
The preview at the end of the video grabbed viewers' attention as it showed the BTS star entering his alma mater, Posung High School, wearing a school uniform and carrying a yellow umbrella. The scene reminded fans of the popular K-Drama, Lovely Runner, starring Byeon Woo-seok and Kim Hye-yoon.
In the K-Drama, Byeon Woo-seok and Kim Hye-yoon meet for the first time, as she carries a yellow umbrella. The umbrella holds a huge significance throughout the K-Drama and has left a lasting impression on viewers. Meanwhile, the BTS ARMY trended the preview clip online and praised him for the drama reference. One fan wrote on X,
Trending
"LOVELY RUNNER SEOKJIN"
Fans expressed their excitement. One fan wrote on X,
"its going to be so fun😭"
Fans also underscored how the show editors wrote "LOVELY RUNNER SEOKJIN" in the RUN JIN episode 1 caption as soon as the Epiphany singer-songwriter entered the school with a yellow umbrella. ARMYs flooded X (formerly Twitter) with tweets as they expressed their enthusiasm for the upcoming episode.
"Sorry for the person I’ll become but im never gonna shut up about Lovely Runner Seokjin. I’ve been manifesting & praying for this crossover only to find out he’s really gonna make it for run jin content," one fan wrote.
"My lovely runner seokjin, the real-life ryu sunjae. I am living for this content, you don't know how much this means to me. Thank you so much for this," another fan wrote.
"I love his dedication so much it's been like what? 2 months since his discharge? AND WE'RE GETTING FED SO GOOD," one other fan added.
Others reminisced about the scenes from Lovely Runner, where Byeon Woo-seok's Ryu Sun-jae, and Kim Hye-yoon's Im Sol carried the umbrella. Fans also discussed whether the special guest could be actor Byeon Woo-seok himself.
"Literally screamed when I saw that yellow umbrella, Lovely Runner has an effect on me," one fan said.
"I'm crying with the caption they put for the next Run Jin episode. 'Visual that reminds you of your first love that you never had.' 'Lovely Runner Seokjin...'" another fan noted.
"Dallyeora Seokjin! Seokjin really took "Run BTS enthusiast" title to another level! That whole yellow umbrella - Lovely Runner thing, like everything somehow connects in Bangtan universe. Can't wait for other episodes of #RunJin" another fan commented.
BTS' Kim Seok-jin goes on a 7-hour 30-minute hike on Hallasan Mountain in RUN JIN episode 1
In RUN JIN episode 1, the Epiphany singer-songwriter hikes to the Hallasan Mountain with his filming crew and engages with locals. The episode started with the idol getting dressed early morning to embark on his adventure. He took out some milk and chocolate-filled bread from the fridge for breakfast.
While stepping out of his lavish Jeju villa, he struggled to get the Go-PRO camera to stabilize and hilariously bickered with the camera. Later, he hiked on South Korea's highest mountain—Hallasan and asked passing locals to congratulate him for getting discharged from the military five days ago.
It is crucial to note that the BTS singer was discharged from the military on June 12, 2024, and he went on the hike on June 18, 2024. After completing his hike in the RUN JIN and returning to the starting point, the idol even showed his hiking certificate to the cameras and asked his fans to look forward to his upcoming episode.
After watching the preview of episode 2, fans expressed their anticipation to see Jin play hilarious games with the school students, end up losing at tennis, and have a breakdown after being defeated in a video game.
RUN JIN episode 2 will be aired on August 20, 2024, on BANGTANTV (YouTube).
