Seo In Guk Makes Unexpected “Cameo” In K-Drama “Lovely Runner”

TvN‘s Lovely Runner, starring Byeon Woo Seok and Kim Hye Yoon, has become the most popular currently running K-Drama since Queen of Tears concluded. This time slip show is adapted from the webcomic Tomorrow’s Best.

Ryu Seon-Jae (Byeon Woo-Seok) is a top star who has been in the spotlight since his debut. His life seems perfect, but being in the entertainment industry has completely worn him out. Meanwhile, Lim Sol (Kim Hye-Yoon) loves Ryu Seon-Jae as an adoring fan. When she was little, she had an accident. Due to that, she gave up on her dream, but listening to Ryu Seon-Jae’s song on the radio gave her comfort and she became his fan since then. One day, Lim Sol hears breaking news that Ryu Seon-Jae has ended his own life. She feels deep sadness over the tragic news. Miraculously, Lim Sol somehow travels back in time to 15 years in the past. There, she faces Ryu Seon-Jae, who is a 19 year old high school student. She struggles to prevent his tragic future.

— AsianWiki

“Lovely Runner” poster

In Episode 10, the fictional boy band ECLIPSE audition for Superstar K. The members noticed a young man who appeared to have passed his audition, and he came out excitedly, waving a shirt.

| tvN | tvN

Mnet‘s Superstar K is actually not a fictional talent competition show, and neither was the featured young man. While Superstar K is considered the biggest audition show now, its first season was in 2009.

| Mnet

Seo In Guk made history as the first winner of Superstar K that year. He went on to release his EP Calling, with the title track composed by Bang Si Hyuk (also known as Hitman Bang or Bang PD). He signed with Jellyfish Entertainment but is currently under Story J Company. Seo In Guk was awarded the “Male Newcomer of the Year Award” at The 2009 Cyworld Digital Music Awards.

Seo In Guk is known not only as a singer but also as an actor. He would go on to make his acting debut with a supporting role in KBS‘s 2012 K-Drama Love Rain. The same year, he appeared in his first lead role in tvN’s hit K-Drama Reply 1997. He has since acted as the male lead in many popular K-Dramas, including Shopping King Louie, The Smile Has Left Your Eyes, Doom At Your Service, Café Minamdang, and Death’s Game.

“Reply 1997” poster | tvN “Death’s Game” poster | TVING

Fans recognized that the excited auditionee in Lovely Runner was Seo In Guk, as his name was on his shirt. The actions were just like Seo In Guk’s on the TV show too. So even if Seo In Guk couldn’t actually appear on the show, it was clearly him from 2009!

This drama is so sad. It was so unanticipated that they didn’t even have the budget to cast Seo In Guk for a 5 seconds cameo so they used just a body double for his role for Superstar K in 2009 #LovelyRunner #LovelyRunnerEp10 pic.twitter.com/sFZTtD2Uv8

— ⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾⋆⁺₊⋆ (@taleofastar) May 7, 2024

lmao loved it how they showed seo in guk passed audition,
as in real life Seo in guk won Superstar K show in 2009. #LovelyRunner #SeoInGuk#LovelyRunnerEp10 pic.twitter.com/WG2ipmZXJS

— ☾ (@aerixcr) May 7, 2024

If anyone didn't get the #SeoInGuk [Doom at your service and Death's Game Actor] reference during #LovelyRunnerEp10…

He was the WINNER of singing program SUPERSTAR-K in 2009 #LovelyRunner #LovelyRunnerEp9 #KimHyeYoon #ByeonWooSeok
#김혜윤 #변우석 #선재업고튀어 pic.twitter.com/10miMoqehC

— SolSunjaelovelies (@Ianbrowhasup) May 7, 2024

Watch Seo In Guk’s famous audition below and compare it to the dramatized scene.