Judoka Kim Min-jong showcased his overwhelming physical strength by simultaneously overpowering entertainer Kim Jong-kook and basketball player Lee Hyun-jung during an episode of the SBS variety program Running Man broadcast on Dec. 1.
Cast members gathered around Seoul’s Nodeul Island area to track down meals prepared directly by the two national team athletes.
Kim Min-jong and Lee Hyun-jung Prepare Contrasting Athlete Menus
The two sports stars offered starkly different lunch options for the cast. Kim Min-jong prepared a hearty kimchi stew loaded with meat, while Lee Hyun-jung served a plain soy sauce egg rice dish with almost no seasoning. The resulting menus created immediate divisions in enthusiasm among the regular cast members.
To determine lunch menu selection rights, the cast launched into a series of competitive missions. The first challenge combined basketball and trivia into a “Quiz Basketball” format, requiring players to successfully sink a basketball shot before answering a trivia question to secure points. During the segment, the show highlighted that Lee Hyun-jung had once ranked eighth nationwide academically during his school days, though he subsequently drew laughter by delivering wildly incorrect answers to quiz questions. Conversely, Kim Min-jong surprised the cast by displaying unexpected basketball skills that propelled him to the forefront of the competition. Spurred by intense competitive drive, Lee Hyun-jung jokingly urged his teammates to target their opponents’ faces or vital points to gain an edge.
Tug-of-War Mission Showcases Judoka’s Raw Strength
Later in the program, the cast tackled a retrieval mission requiring players to push past opposing team interference to secure items. Kim Min-jong hauled two 20-kilogram sandbag boxes with ease, displaying exceptional power. In a defining moment of the challenge, he dragged Lee Hyun-jung and Kim Jong-kook—who were both holding onto a rubber resistance band—forward in a single, effortless pull.
Cast member Yang Se-chan expressed astonishment at the feat by shouting, “You’re not a dump truck!” Meanwhile, Yoo Jae-suk added to the amusement by teasing Kim Jong-kook, remarking that it was a rare sight to see Kim Jong-kook being dragged away so effortlessly.
Lunch Choices and the Final Race for the Gold Medal
Following the physical showdowns, the cast faced the decision of choosing between Kim Min-jong’s seasonal comfort food and Lee Hyun-jung’s NBA-inspired menu. Drawn in by curiosity surrounding the basketball player’s regimen, the members ultimately selected Lee Hyun-jung’s option, only to react with widespread dismay when a simple salad was served.
The episode’s overarching race continued with high stakes, as the member who successfully untangled the final secret would be awarded a gold medal containing pure gold.
