In November 2011, the rights to air the show was sold to nine areas in Asia, namely Taiwan, Thailand, Indonesia, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, Cambodia, and Malaysia, proving Running Man's rise in popularity as a Hallyu program. In January 2013, SBS announced Running Man in Asia as one of the big projects of 2013. Producer Jo Hyo-jin stated that the program would be touring two countries in Asia in the first half of 2013. The program has previously travelled to Thailand, China, and Hong Kong for filming. Jo Hyo-jin has also mentioned interests raised by Singaporean television stations in purchasing the Running Man format, which reiterated Running Mans popularity in Asia.
Producer Im Hyung-taek confirmed that the program would be filming in Macau, China and Hanoi, Vietnam in early February, and the respective episodes were aired on television in late February and early March. In February 2014, Jo Hyo-jin announced that the program was invited by the Australian Tourist Commission to film in Australia, and did so in mid-February which aired in March.
A spin-off of Running Man, titled Keep Running, was announced in May 2014. The spin-off, which is the Chinese version of Running Man was scheduled to air in the fourth quarter of 2014 on Zhejiang Television. Cast from the Korean version will participate in the Chinese version as well. The spin-off was a success, and currently the show has aired its 10th season (in 2025). There was also an Indonesian adaptation of the show, titled Mission X, following a similar format on the show, with the exception that the members would using armbands, and the games would be played just for fun rather than playing it to win the prize.
International episodes The popularity of Running Man throughout Asia provided the opportunity to take the show outside of South Korea. Running Man has traveled to various countries including China, Thailand, Vietnam, Australia, Indonesia, Taiwan, and the United Arab Emirates. International episodes are notable for their ability to draw large groups of fans to mission venues. Episode(s) Airdate(s) Location(s) Guest(s) Notes 5051 July 310, 2011 Thailand 6162 September 1825, 2011 Beijing, China Kang Ji-young appeared as substitute for Song Jihyo in episode 61. 72 – 73 December 1118, 2011 Hong Kong 97 June 3, 2012 Thailand IU missed half of the episode due to schedule conflicts, and Yoo Jae-suk had to leave early due to schedule conflicts as well. 133 February 17, 2013 Macau, China rowspan="2" Kim Jong Kook missed half of the episode due to ankle injury 134, 136 February 24, March 10, 2013 Vietnam 153, 154 July 14, 2013 Shanghai, China 188189, 191 March 916, March 30, 2014 Australia Song Ji-hyo did not appear in episode 188 due to schedule conflicts. 200 June 15, 2014 Indonesia 212 September 7, 2014 Taiwan Only Yoo Jae-suk, Haha, Ji Suk-jin, Lee Kwang-soo, Ji Chang-wook, Lee Sung-jae, and Skull appeared in the Taiwan section. Song Eun-yi originally was supposed to appear as well, but eventually did not due to schedule conflicts. 234 February 15, 2015 Hong KongThailand Certain parts of the episode. 283284 January 2431, 2016 Shanghai, China rowspan="2" 289290 March 613, 2016 Dubai, United Arab Emirates 347348 April 2330, 2017 Osaka, JapanTaipei, Taiwan Yoo Jae-suk, Ji Suk-jin, and Jeon So-min appeared in the Osaka section of the episode while Haha, Song Ji-hyo, and Yang Se-chan appeared in the Taipei section of the episode. 351352 May 2128, 2017 Ulaanbaatar, MongoliaVladivostok, Russia Yoo Jae-suk, Ji Suk-jin, Song Ji-hyo, and Jeon So-min appeared in the Mongolia section of the episode while Kim Jong-kook, Haha, Lee Kwang-soo, and Yang Se-chan appeared in the Russia section of the episode. 353355 June 418, 2017 Yokohama, JapanYamanashi, JapanTokyo, Japan Jung Hye-sung only appeared in episode 355. 369371 September 24October 8, 2017 Yogyakarta, Indonesia rowspan="2" Only Lee Kwang-soo and Jeon So-min appeared in the Indonesia section of the episode. 378379 November 26December 3, 2017 Darwin, AustraliaQueenstown, New Zealand Yoo Jae-suk, Ji Suk-jin, Lee Kwang-soo, and Jeon So-min appeared in the Australia section of the episode while Haha, Kim Jong-kook, Song Ji-hyo and Yang Se-chan appeared in the New Zealand section of the episode. 390392 March 4, 2018March 18, 2018 Okinawa, JapanTsushima Island, JapanThailand Yoo Jae-suk, Ji Suk-jin, Jeon So-min and Heo Kyung-hwan appeared in the Okinawa section of the episodes while Haha, Lee Kwang-soo, Song Ji-hyo and Lee Sang-yeob appeared in the Tsushima Island section of the episodes. Kim Jong-kook, Yang Se-chan, Son Na-eun, Shorry J and Yoo Byung-jae appeared in the Thailand section of the episodes. 399400 May 6, 2018May 13, 2018 Hong Kong rowspan="2" Only Yoo Jae-suk, Jeon So-min, Yang Se-chan and Kang Han-na appeared in the Hong Kong section of the episode. 406408 June 9, 2018June 12, 2018 England, UKSwitzerland Only Yoo Jae-suk, Ji Suk-jin, Lee Kwang-soo, Jeon So-min, Lee Da-hee and Lee Sang-yeob appeared in the UK section of the episodes. Only Haha, Kim Jong-kook, Song Ji-hyo, Yang Se-chan, Hong Jin-young and Kang Han-na appeared in the Switzerland section of the episodes. 428431 November 26, 2018November 27, 2018 Hong Kong Only Yoo Jae-suk, Ji Suk-jin and Jeon So-min appeared in the Hong Kong section of the episodes. 650651 April 16, 2023April 23, 2023 Metro Manila, Philippines Manny Pacquiao and Ryan Bang appeared as guests in Episode 651 only. 680681 November 19, 2023November 26, 2023 Singapore
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