“Run On” (런 온)

By Jae-Ha Kim
jaehakim.com
March 1, 2021

Ki Seon-Gyeom (played by Im Si-Wan)
Oh Mi-Joo (played by Shin Se-Kyung)
Seo Dan-Ah (played by Choi Soo-Young)
↑Note: Korean names denote the surname followed by the given name.

“Run On” showed so much promise early on. But as the plot fizzled out, with the later episodes dragging on. They were more like a soothing lullaby to fall asleep to than a must-see series.

Seon-Gyeom is an elite runner for South Korea’s national track and field team. His father is a prominent politician, his mother is an A-list movie star and his older sister is the world’s top female golfer. He’s good looking, too, and various characters point this out throughout the K-drama, which I found amusing since we can all see that he is drop-dead gorgeous. No reminder needed.

Mi-Joo has no parents and scrapes by on what she earns as a film translator. When the two meet, sparks don’t initially fly. But they have something that is worth exploring. So, of course, this means that one of his well-heeled parents will try to do everything in their power to break them up.

There are several subplots percolating, like a rich agent who’s pursued by a handsome college artist. But the most interesting was the bullying that Seon-Gyeom witnessed on his team and how little was done to protect the victim. In light of all the bullying scandals in South Korea right now — with netizens alleging that idols and actors had tormented them during their school years — “Run On” offers a perspective that is all too true. Those with wealthy and powerful parents won’t be punished. Those who are poor and powerless will suffer.

When Seon-Gyeom tries to get justice for Woo-Shik (Lee Jung-Ha) — who is physically abused by his older teammates — no one cares, because his guardian is his grandmother, who works as a cleaning lady.

There’s a song from 1970 called “In the Summertime” that became a hit for Mungo Jerry. The lyrics are gross, but also showcase the value people put in wealth: “If her daddy’s rich, take her out for a meal / If her daddy’s poor, just do what you feel.” And those lyrics reflect how Seon-Gyeom’s parent feels about Mi-Joo: they can date (just do what you feel), but never marry.

Homosexuality is also touched on. One woman pretends to be gay to get her family off her back, but that wasn’t a plot twist so much as a hackneyed given. I wish the writers would’ve delved more into the story of the closeted young man, who is secretly in love with his best friend. The pain he conveys was so bittersweet.

By the time the finale rolled around, there wasn’t much to tie up. It was a fine series, but with little oomph or any elements of surprise.

Airdates: Sixteen hour-long episodes aired on JTBC from December 16, 2020 to February 4, 2021.

Spoiler Alert:

Dan-Ah has a dysfunctional family. She has two younger brothers, who each were born to different mothers than her own. The baby is a burgeoning idol who craves attention, but receives none from either sibling — though he tries to endear himself to Dan-Ah. The other brother is technically her junior, but her father changed documents to make him legally older than Dan-Ah. Why? To make him the heir to the company.

The relationship between Mi-Joo and Seon-Gyeom was really pretty bland. They spoke to each other in honorifics throughout most of the series –which was just weird. She is also obsessed with his good looks, to the point where she makes it known that he’s not to wear glasses. In Episode 12, he starts to wear contact lenses to please her. When he can’t get the lens in by himself, he asks his roommate for help and … neither washed their hands first and all I could think of was, OMG PINKEYE!!!

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