S1·E180 New Year's Cooking Battle, Part 2

Episode recap

Running Man S01E180, titled “New Year’s Cooking Battle, Part 2,” continues the special cooking competition that began in the preceding episode. The installment brings together a diverse group of celebrity guests who join the regular cast in a series of culinary challenges designed to celebrate the New Year. The guest lineup includes Jae‑kyung of the girl group Rainbow, actor John Park, singer‑actor Kim Kyung‑ho, actor Lee Dong‑wook, comedian Park Soo‑hong, actress Song Kyung‑ah, and Sung‑kyu from the boy band Infinite. Their participation adds a range of entertainment backgrounds to the competitive atmosphere.

The episode also features a panel of guest judges tasked with evaluating the dishes prepared during the challenges. The judges are Lee Kye‑in, culinary professional Raymon Kim, food‑culture commentator Shim Young‑soon, media personality Jung Da‑jung, and Louis Kang. Their role is to assess the contestants’ cooking skills, presentation, and adherence to the thematic requirements of the New Year’s contest.

As a Korean variety program, Running Man is known for its blend of comedy, physical games, and mission‑based formats. In this cooking‑focused special, the regular cast members collaborate and compete alongside the invited guests, engaging in tasks that test teamwork, creativity, and speed in the kitchen. The presence of both seasoned entertainers and musicians creates a dynamic interplay of personalities, which is a hallmark of the series’ approach to variety entertainment.

The structure of the episode follows the typical Running Man format, wherein participants receive instructions for each cooking round, execute the tasks under time constraints, and then present their results to the judging panel. The judges provide feedback and scores that determine the standing of each team or individual. While the specific outcomes of the competition are not detailed in the available synopsis, the episode’s emphasis on culinary skill and festive spirit aligns with the program’s tradition of themed specials that combine humor with light‑hearted rivalry. The episode contributes to the broader narrative of the New Year’s Cooking Battle series, offering viewers a continuation of the culinary contest that began in Part 1.