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05/05/2024 11:21:45 am

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Running Man's' Lee Kwang Soo And Kim Jong Kook To Star In Chinese Variety Show, Pair Heads Out To Turkey

3rd Annual DramaFever Awards

(Photo : Neilson Barnard/Getty Images) NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 05: Actor Kim Jong-kook attends the 3rd Annual DramaFever Awards at The Hudson Theatre on February 5, 2015 in New York City.

"Running Man" has proven time and again its popularity not only in its home country, Korea, but across the world as well. The shows' stars are well-known across Asia, Europe, and the United States. So, it would not be the least bit surprising to know that two of its stars have been asked to star in a Chinese variety show.

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Lee Kwang Soo, a.k.a. Giraffe, and Kim Jong Kook, a.k.a. Spartakook, have been confirmed to star as special guests in a Chinese variety program. The pair will be heading out to Turkey to film the show at the end of the month.

"The production crew worked hard to reach out to them. With China's top stars usually appearing on the show, Kim Jong Kook and Lee Kwang Soo will be the special guests," stated the affiliate of the "Amazing Race" in a report by Soompi.

The show is none other than China's take on the "Amazing Race." The pair will head out to their assigned city and complete missions, which is so much alike with that of "Running Man." Why were Lee Kwang Soo and Kim Jong Kook chosen as guests for the show then? Obviously, the two are big hallyu stars in China.

"The hallyu boom caused by dramas is transferring over to variety shows, and the two rising stars that represent it is Kim Jong Kook and Lee Kwang Soo. In China, the popularity of these two is comparable to that of Lee Min Ho and Kim Soo Hyun. There are so many shows giving love calls for them," shared the CEO of Ready China.

While Lee Kwang Soo has already starred in another Chinese dating variety show, "If You Love," Kim Jong Kook has long been requested to star in a Chinese film. The director of Urban Works Entertainment, Son Hyung Nam, has received a casting offer for a China-based film. Surprisingly, the role isn't a cameo but a full-time part.

"We even got a request from China to cast Kim Jong Kook as the main character of a movie," shared Son in a report by KDramaStars.

After both Lee Kwang Soo and Kim Jong Kook take part in the "Amazing Race" set to be filmed in Turkey, the pair will head back to Hong Kong for their fan meeting with the rest of the "Running Man" cast. They are estimated to meet 6,000 fans.

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