S1·E529 Journal of Old Restaurant

Episode recap

The episode opens with the regular cast of Running Man preparing for a special mission that centers on Seoul’s culinary heritage. Joining the core members are Hoshi and Mingyu from the K‑pop group SEVENTEEN, Nam Joo and Bo Mi from the girl group Apink, and two veteran comedians, Kim Soo‑Yong and Nam Chang‑Hee. The assembled teams are briefed on the “Old Restaurant Race,” a competition that tasks participants with locating establishments that have operated for many years within the capital city.

The rules of the race are explained in detail. Each team must travel to a series of designated eateries that have been in business for a considerable length of time. Upon arriving at a venue, the participants record the founding year of the restaurant and then calculate the difference between that year and the current year. This difference, expressed in years, is subtracted from the cumulative age of the team members. The objective is to reduce the total age as much as possible; the team that achieves the greatest deduction from their combined ages is declared the winner of the mission.

Throughout the episode, the competitors split into groups, each navigating Seoul’s streets in search of the oldest dining spots they can locate. The format encourages both speed and strategic selection, as teams weigh the historical longevity of a restaurant against the practicality of reaching it within the allotted time. The presence of the guest idols and comedians adds a layer of interaction, with the newcomers experiencing the physical and mental demands of the game alongside the seasoned Running Man members.

As the race progresses, the participants encounter a variety of traditional Korean eateries, each offering a glimpse into the city’s gastronomic past. The episode emphasizes the collaborative effort required to solve the mission’s puzzle, highlighting moments of teamwork, friendly rivalry, and occasional comedic mishaps. The segment concludes without revealing the final tally, leaving viewers to anticipate which team succeeded in deducting the most years from their collective age and thereby secured victory in the Old Restaurant Race.