It was just last week when Song Ji-hyo and Kim Jong-kook were reported to be leaving Running Man, a popular worldwide Korean variety show in which they have been a part of for almost seven years.
The actress and singer’s departure without prior notice, Kang Ho-dong’s decision not to offer to the show another season and the plans to wrap-up the seven year-old show in February 2017 have become buzzing topics among fans following the news.
However, a Korean entertainment industry official has revealed this is not all.
“Because the members have big love for Running Man and because they [the cast] have spent seven years together in a family-like atmosphere, these chain of events have scarred her,” the official spoke about Song, as quoted by Korean news agency OSEN on Saturday.
The official continued, “After she heard about the news, Song Ji-hyo had a very hard time, to the point where she cut off all contact and cried her eyes out.”
Rapper Kang Gary, who had left the show in October and was regarded as part of the “Monday Couple” with Song reportedly shut down his Instagram after the news of Song and Kim’s departure controversy broke. He then returned to the platform with a black and white photo showing an image of him, Song and Kim sitting side by side.
In the caption, he wrote, “You have worked really, really, really hard and thank you”.