In a dramatic shift from standard road races, popular South Korean webtoon artist and reality TV star Gian84 is set to push human limits in a groundbreaking new variety program. The show, titled 'Extreme 84', will see the 41-year-old creator of 'Fashion King' abandon familiar 42.195-kilometer marathon routes for some of the world's most brutal and uncharted ultra-running terrain.
From Solitary Runner to Crew Captain with a Secret Weapon
Gian84, whose real name is a play on his birth year 1984, will transform from a solitary runner into 'Crew Captain 84'. His partner in this grueling adventure is the actor Kwon Hwa-woon, 36, who was deliberately recruited as a running rival by producer Park Soo-bin. Kwon's selection is no accident; he is a hidden weapon in the running world. Merely six months after taking up running in 2024, he achieved a sub-3-hour marathon. He then shattered his own record with a stunning time of 2 hours 45 minutes and 54 seconds, currently the fastest among Korean celebrities. In just one year, he completed 12 full marathons, with eight of those finishes under three hours.
This athletic prowess stands in stark contrast to Gian84's own marathon journey. The webtoon artist famously struggled at the 2024 New York Marathon, collapsing at the 31-kilometer mark before eventually finishing in 4 hours and 48 minutes. This dynamic between the elite runner and the enduring everyman is set to be a core narrative of the extreme show.
Beyond Human Endurance: Courses That Defy Belief
Producer Park Soo-bin, who previously captured Gian84's emotional New York journey for the hit show 'I Live Alone' (peaking at 9.5% viewership), revealed the ambitious scope of 'Extreme 84'. The program aims to feature courses so extreme they will make audiences question if they are even meant for running. A teaser shows Gian84 screaming, "This isn't even a marathon!" at landscapes that resemble survival expedition routes.
The production is looking at global ultra-marathons that represent the pinnacle of suffering. Potential courses include the 135-mile Badwater race through California's Death Valley, where temperatures soar to 130°F (54°C), and the 350-mile 6633 Arctic Ultra in the freezing, isolated Arctic wilderness. These "hell-courses" are what await the crew, taking the concept of a running show into uncharted territory.
The Psychology of a Perpetual Challenger
What truly fascinates director Park Soo-bin about Gian84 is not physical ability but psychology. He is intrigued by the artist's inability to enjoy present moments due to obsessive goal-chasing. This trait, however, is observed to transform when Gian84 runs alongside others rather than alone. Born in 1984, Gian84 has built his career on exposing raw human emotions, both through his popular webtoons and his long-running variety appearances since 2015.
His journey from completing his first full marathon at the 2023 Cheongju race to now confronting unimaginable global challenges embodies what the director calls "the essence of a person who never stops challenging." 'Extreme 84' is poised to be more than a sports show; it will be a deep dive into the mindset of an individual relentlessly pushing against his own limits, set against the backdrop of the planet's most formidable landscapes.
