Kim Jong-kook Suggested as KFA President on 'Running Man'… Pledges Unpaid Service
Singer and entertainer Kim Jong-kook is receiving significant attention after being suggested as a candidate for the Korea Football Association (KFA) presidency on the SBS variety show ‘Running Man.’ During the episode aired on the 19th, while the members were discussing changes in football administration, Yoo Jae-suk strongly recommended Kim Jong-kook as the next KFA president, drawing immediate focus.
Despite appearing flustered by Yoo’s sudden suggestion, Kim Jong-kook responded seriously, given his well-known passion for football and his reputation for thorough self-discipline. Notably, Kim surprised everyone on set by making a bold pledge that he would not accept any salary if he were to take on the role of KFA president.
Kim declared, “If I become the KFA president, I will serve without pay and will not accept even 10 won in salary,” emphasizing his pure commitment to the development of football. This statement has spread rapidly across online communities and social media, aligning with the public’s high level of interest in football administration.
This episode is being praised for demonstrating how variety shows can wittily address social issues beyond simple entertainment. Analysts suggest that the combination of Yoo Jae-suk’s sharp recommendation and Kim Jong-kook’s sincere response served as an opportunity to raise public interest in football administration.
Kim Jong-kook is known as one of the entertainment industry’s representative fitness enthusiasts and has been consistently active in various sports beyond just football. This image added weight to his ‘unpaid pledge,’ with the prevailing public reaction being that it came across with a sincerity that went beyond mere variety show humor.
In the global K-Content market, variety shows have now established themselves as important platforms that shape social discourse beyond simple entertainment. In particular, the way long-running programs like ‘Running Man’ unpack timely topics through the lens of variety shows serves to convey the dynamic atmosphere of Korean society to international fans as well.
This incident is expected to be recorded as a case where the public’s thirst for changes in Korean football administration met the wit of cast members who elevated it into entertainment. Global viewers are now watching to see what kind of resonance Kim Jong-kook’s unpaid pledge will have for football fans beyond a simple joke, and how future variety content will continue to handle social issues.
