The new variety program 'Extreme 84' made its dramatic premiere on November 30, featuring webtoon artist Kian84 confronting what he described as absolute 'hell' during his most challenging running experience to date.
From Comedy to Marathon Crew
The show showcases Kian84 assembling a dedicated running team that includes comedian Yoo Se-yoon, actor Kwak Beom, and comedian Lee Eun-ji, who unexpectedly became the center of attention by revealing her remarkable weight loss journey. According to Yonhap News reports, Lee Eun-ji achieved an impressive transformation, shedding nearly 10 kilograms through running alone.
Lee openly shared that she previously weighed 65 kilograms before discovering running, but successfully slimmed down to her current weight of 56 kilograms. This incredible physical transformation carries significant financial value when measured against typical Korean weight loss program costs, amounting to approximately INR 562,500.
Trail Marathon Nightmare
Kian84, who had previously conquered road marathons at Daecheong Lake and even the prestigious New York City Marathon, found himself completely unprepared for the savage difficulty of trail running. Trail marathons present runners with uneven footing, ankle-rolling single tracks, substantial elevation gains, and unpredictable terrain that demands constant mental adaptation.
This brutal environment provided a stark contrast to the steady, predictable pace of road marathons that Kian84 had mastered. The webtoon artist honestly admitted, 'I thought it was a marathon but it was completely different pain' and shockingly revealed, 'today I thought I died', leaving viewers stunned who had expected his usual confident performance.
Life-Changing Transformations
The running transformations extended far beyond Lee Eun-ji's dramatic weight loss. Kian84 himself overcame severe challenges through his running journey that began three years ago, including battling alcohol dependency where he consumed half a bottle of whiskey at a time, three bottles weekly, and managing panic disorder.
Yoo Se-yoon praised Kian84's newly developed physique, noting he had 'no flab and all the fat burned off', while Kian84 proudly bragged about his revived jawline and acknowledged his face was becoming 'a bit slim' from the extreme training regimen. The artist had previously disclosed that running significantly improved his life satisfaction, raising it from 60 to 80 out of 100 while helping him lose 7 kilograms and break his destructive whiskey addiction cycle.
Kian84 made surprising claims about running's social impact, suggesting that as running crews grew increasingly popular among young Koreans, 'dating apps in the U.S. have failed' because runners now meet potential partners during group running sessions. He recruited his crew members by promising that one participant would be better than him for feedback, while another would be someone he could mentor, adding that 'there's fun in giving advice'.
The show's preview concept hints at future safari marathons where runners will face 'golden opportunities to run with lions', prompting Yoo Se-yoon to joke like an enthusiastic home shopping host about the upcoming adventures.
