Lee Kwangsoo will be taking an indefinite leave from Running Man after he figured in a car accident that required surgery on his ankle.
According to a report by Soompi, Lee Kwangsoo's agency King Kong by Starship released the official statement on the actor's condition.Based on the information, Kwangsoo was headed for a personal schedule when he was hit by a car that violated traffic signals.
As a result, the Running Man cast member was taken to a hospital and diagnosed with a fracture on his right ankle. Kwangsoo had to receive surgery for his ankle, rendering him unable to attend to his commitments, including filming for Running Man.
Meanwhile, Running Man's Producing Director Jung Chul Min has announced that he will be leaving the show after seven years of helming the long-time variety series.
According to Chul Min, he decided to step down from the show to explore other things that he wanted to do as a PD. He also cited that his health was also a big factor in his decision to leave the beloved show.
About his last day of filming for Running Man, PD Chul Min said that Kwangsoo was not able to participate in the filming because of his accident. He said he spoke with the regular cast member over the phone before they started shooting the episode and advised him not to overexert himself since he was suffering from a fractured ankle. Chul Min said he will visit Kwangsoo once the Running Man member feels a bit better after his surgery. He said that he will cherish his memories with the cast and crew of Running Man, which will be celebrating its 10th year anniversary this year.
"It wasn't the last time that I'm going to see the members and everyone. So I enjoyed myself and felt grateful as I ended my time with the program. Maybe because I've been directing the show for many years, I felt like I was graduating from school I've been attending for a long time," he said.
PD Chul Min will be replaced by Choi Bo Pil, who served as the show's assistant PD for a long time. Chul Min expressed confidence that his successor will be able to deliver on fans' expectations since he knows the cast members very well and had a good relationship with them. "I think he will be able to breathe new life into the show and amp up anticipation for it," he said.
