Ha-ha Turns Down ‘Lord of the Rings’ Role to Stay on ‘Running Man’

The Big Reveal on a Special Episode

On August 23rd, the popular SBS variety show Running Man aired a heartwarming episode. The cast—Yoo Jae-seok, Ji Seok-jin, Kim Jong-guk, Ha-ha, Song Ji-hyo, Yang Se-chan, and Ji Ye-eun—held a special "Director Kang" race. The goal? To deliver gifts to their longtime camera director, Kang Chan-hee, who has been with the show since the very first episode.

But before the race even started, the production team dropped a bombshell: Ha-ha had once received an offer to appear in a massive Hollywood blockbuster.

The Movie? The Lord of the Rings!

When host Yoo Jae-seok heard the news, he thought it was a joke. But Ha-ha insisted it was 100% real. He even showed proof.

The movie was The Lord of the Rings.

As soon as the title was mentioned, Yoo Jae-seok cracked up and guessed the role instantly:

"You were going to be a Hobbit, right?"

Ha-ha laughed and confirmed it. He explained:

• He was cast as one of 12 Hobbit friends.
• He was brought in as the Asian representative for the group.
• Yoo Jae-seok joked, "Ha-ha’s feet are naturally big and hairy—he wouldn’t even need makeup!"

Why He Said "No Thanks"

Here is the twist: Ha-ha turned the role down.

The Reason? Running Man.

The production schedule for The Lord of the Rings required him to clear his calendar for about a month. At the time, Ha-ha couldn’t bear the thought of leaving Running Man for that long.

"I said no because of Running Man," Ha-ha confessed.

The Cast’s Reaction: Regret and Roasts

The other members were stunned. They couldn’t believe he walked away from a Hollywood masterpiece.

• General consensus: "Why didn’t you do it?!"
• Yoo Jae-seok’s savage joke:
  

  "Isn’t there a spin-off called ‘The Lord of the Stone Rings’ or ‘The Lord of the Half-Underground’ you could do instead?"

[!IMPORTANT] Key Takeaway
Ha-ha chose loyalty to his long-running variety show family over a once-in-a-lifetime Hollywood opportunity. It shows just how much Running Man means to him.

Summary

• Who: Broadcaster Ha-ha (Running Man cast member).
• What: Revealed he was offered a role as a Hobbit in The Lord of the Rings.
• Why he rejected it: Filming required a month away; he didn’t want to leave Running Man.
• Vibe: Heartwarming loyalty mixed with hilarious teasing from his co-stars.

FAQ

Q1: Was Ha-ha really offered a role in The Lord of the Rings?
A: Yes! He confirmed it on air and showed evidence. He was cast as one of 12 Hobbit friends, representing Asia.

Q2: Why did he turn it down?
A: The filming schedule needed him for roughly one month. He chose to stay with Running Man instead.

Q3: What did the other cast members say?
A: They were shocked and regretful. Yoo Jae-seok joked he was a perfect Hobbit because of his big feet, and teased him about fake sequel titles.

Q4: Was this a recent offer?
A: No, this was an offer from the past (likely around the early 2000s during the original trilogy filming), revealed during the August 23rd episode.

Q5: Is Ha-ha still on Running Man?
A: Yes! He has been a core member since the show started and remains on the show today.