S1·E581 Welcome The New Millennium: End of Century

Episode recap

Running Man S1E581, titled “Welcome The New Millennium: End of Century,” opens with a reference to the historic prediction attributed to the seventeenth‑century seer Nostradamus, who is said to have foretold that the world would come to an end in the year 1999. The episode situates its narrative at the very end of that year, emphasizing the urgency of the approaching deadline. Within this framework, the regular cast of Running Man members convenes to confront an emerging threat described as the “resistance,” which is identified by the two‑part name Nostra and Damus. The nature of this resistance is left ambiguous, and the members are tasked with uncovering its true identity as the central challenge of the program.

Supporting the regular cast are three guest performers: SAN, a member of the K‑pop group ATEEZ; Jin Ji‑Hee; and Arin, a member of the girl group OH MY GIRL. Their presence is noted as a source of assistance for the Running Man team, though the synopsis does not specify the particular roles or contributions they will make during the episode. The episode’s premise therefore combines the series’ characteristic format—where members must complete a series of games and tasks to achieve victory and avoid penalties—with a thematic focus on the turn of the millennium and the looming “end of the century” scenario.

Throughout the broadcast, the Running Man team must navigate the uncertainty surrounding the resistance, relying on both their own teamwork and the support offered by the three guest artists. The episode’s structure follows the established pattern of the series, wherein participants engage in competitive activities designed to test physical skill, strategic thinking, and cooperation. By the conclusion of the episode, the members are expected to have gathered sufficient information to identify the resistance, thereby resolving the central mystery that drives the narrative of this millennium‑themed installment.