'Running with Coupang Play in Busan' lineup has been unveiled, and there are rising voices of disappointment regarding Yoo Jae-suk's absence. Yoo Jae-suk is known to be absent from the 'Running' event in Busan following his absence in Seoul, which has garnered interest in the background.
On the 10th, Coupang Play revealed the first lineup for 'Running with Coupang Play in Busan', which will take place on August 30 at 8 p.m. against the backdrop of Gwangalli Beach.
The revealed first lineup includes Park Myung-soo, the eternal oldest brother and 'second-in-command' of 'Infinite Challenge', as well as Jung Jun-ha, Ha Ha, Jun Jin, Kwanghee, and Nam Chang-hee. They previously engaged with fans in various roles during the 'Running' event in Seoul held last May, such as MC, broadcasting, guest appearances, and finale stages.
Jung Jun-ha will challenge the 10km race in Busan, continuing the 'Jung Jun-ha camp'. He successfully completed the 10km alongside his pace partner Yoon Si-yoon and is expected to create a heartwarming moment in Busan by demonstrating the 'Infinite Challenge spirit'.
After the announcement of the first lineup, attention is also focused on the additional performers to be revealed later. The previous Seoul event featured legendary performers including Yeom Jung-in from 'Halmae', referee Park Moon-ki, and voice actor Si Young-jun.
Some internet users expressed disappointment over the absence of 'national MC' Yoo Jae-suk. It is not an exaggeration to say that Yoo Jae-suk has been a symbol of the program, having opened an era of popularity through 'Infinite Challenge'. After also missing the Seoul event, there are growing concerns about his exclusion from the first lineup of the Busan event.
Responses emphasize that Yoo Jae-suk's recent display of affection for 'Infinite Challenge' makes his absence even more regrettable. In 'What Do You Do When You Hang Out?', Yoo Jae-suk said, "I don't think I watched (the last episode) but rather chose not to see it. I didn’t really want to watch it. As I always say, the last episode brings a sense of regret over its abrupt conclusion, not that it must end splendidly, but I feel like 'this isn't the last episode'."
Above all, this year marks the monumental 20th anniversary of 'Infinite Challenge', making the disappointment greater. Many fans still hold a deep affection for 'Infinite Challenge', demonstrated by the Seoul event's tickets selling out in just two minutes. Even now, with 'Infinite Challenge' frequently being mentioned, reactions expressing confusion over the absence of major members like Yoo Jae-suk, Jeong Hyung Don, and Noh Hong-cheol at the related 20th-anniversary events are easy to find.
On the other hand, some people suggest that members may have unavoidable scheduling conflicts, noting that their absence from the 'Running' event does not necessarily imply discord among members. It has been proven that the absent members still have a strong affection for the program, continuing to interact consistently with other members, as evidenced during the release of the '20th anniversary calendar', where gratitude messages were shared.
Despite the disappointment left by the absence of some members, 'Running with Coupang Play' is set to share memories of 'Infinite Challenge' through various events. All participants will receive a limited edition race pack, and as in the Seoul event, various programs including experience-oriented activities and photo zones that fans can enjoy are expected to unfold in homage to the iconic episodes of 'Infinite Challenge'.
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