Ji Ye Eun faces backlash over attitude on 'Running Man,' calls grow for her withdrawal

Ji Ye Eun has found herself at the center of a controversy following the recent episode of the SBS variety show 'Running Man.' The episode, which aired last week, featured Ji Ye Eun holding a housewarming party. However, instead of being the usual lighthearted entertainment, her behavior sparked a heated debate online, with some even calling for her withdrawal from the show.

During the episode, the 'Running Man' members arrived with gifts for Ji Ye Eun's new house. However, she declared that she would only accept the ones she personally liked. As the group prepared food together, she seasoned a dish so heavily that Yoo Jae Suk commented that the food was too salty. However, rather than apologizing and trying to fix the issue, Ji Ye Eun brushed it off, claiming, "I like food salty."

Adding to the controversy, she provided guests with disposable wooden utensils and paper plates, while using expensive luxury tableware for herself. In Korean culture, offering guests the best available items is considered a sign of respect, and her actions were quickly called out during the episode by Ji Suk Jin.

Following the episode, online communities were soon filled with debate, with some viewers criticizing Ji Ye Eun's behavior. Some even demanded that Ji Ye Eun step down from the show. On the other hand, there were a few who defended Ji Ye Eun, citing that the show was scripted to portray Ji Ye Eun to be a certain character.

They commented:

"It just felt like she was trying to create a comedic character, but it failed."

"If it were Lee Kwang Soo or Haha acting like that, it wouldn't have been a controversy."

"I've always disliked her whiny personality. Never understood why she was being promoted so hard."

"She often says she has no days off and feels exhausted. Maybe she's really burned out."

"Now I get what Yoo Jae Suk was saying. One way to fix a burnout is to have all work cut off."

"Seems like the producers and members just dismiss all the comments as hate. I loved this show before, but I hope it ends."

"Honestly, I just watched it as a variety show skit. Was it really that uncomfortable to watch?"

"Her line about choosing which gifts she'd accept must have been scripted. The problem is, she didn't make it funny, so it came off as unlikable."

"Stop making controversies out of nothing, seriously."

"It's all scripted. Don't overreact."

"Ever since she replaced Jeon So Min, I stopped watching 'Running Man'."

"If it's a variety show, make the script actually funny. Don't tell us to 'just watch it as a variety show' when it's this unpleasant."

"The cast has been doing this too long. They all seem mentally worn out."

"The concept was set, the members played along, but the viewers didn't find it funny."

"I want her and that female producer to leave the show. They're not that funny, and they are not competent enough."