description: Running Man episode 823, aired 18 October 2026, ranked praying for a crush third in a quiz about indirect flirting. Here is what Yoo Jae-suk guessed and why Haha objected.
Yoo Jae-suk correctly guessed the third-ranked answer in a game about how extremely introverted people signal romantic interest: praying that two people will end up together. SBS released the preview clip on 17 October 2026, ahead of Running Man episode 823 on Sunday 18 October at 6:10 p.m. Korea time. Yoo immediately understood the answer; fellow cast member Haha could scarcely believe it.
What was the game?
The Korean term peulleoting (플러팅), from English “flirting,” refers to gestures that hint at attraction. The programme asked its cast to identify ranked examples of unusually indirect flirting. Its phrase “capital-I introverts” borrows the I for introversion from MBTI. It is playful television shorthand, not a scientific description of everyone with an introverted personality. The checked material did not disclose the survey size or methodology, so the numbers below are the show's quiz positions.
What were the four answers?
Number one was lingering near a crush, visible but never quite daring to approach. Yoo guessed that. Number two was repeatedly liking the person's social-media posts, correctly identified by Ji Suk-jin. Yoo then guessed number three: praying that the relationship would work out. Ji identified number four: dressing nicely.
The staff also mentioned an additional suggestion, treating restaurant employees kindly. Yoo responded enthusiastically, describing the logic as indirect: instead of confessing feelings, someone hopes the other person notices good behaviour nearby. Yoo was delighted to keep getting the answers right. Haha reacted with exasperation at how anyone could make a relationship happen with so little communication.
Why is praying the punchline?
A social-media like may trigger a notification. Hanging around puts you in someone's field of vision. Dressing well can be noticed. A private prayer sends absolutely no message to the person you like. A quiz about communicating attraction ends with an action that removes communication entirely. Yoo's recognition and Haha's disbelief make that contradiction funny. The scene concerns a quiz, not a revelation about Yoo's private romantic past.
The answer
The show was exaggerating indirect courtship, not recommending prayer as a tested dating strategy. The joke is that someone can want a relationship so intensely that they pray for it while remaining too shy to send the other person a signal. Yoo understood that invisible flirting immediately.
References (4)
- SBS official clip, posted 2026-10-17, episode 823: https://programs.sbs.co.kr/enter/runningman/clip/52880/OC482531440
- SBS episode 823 broadcast details, 2026-10-18: https://programs.sbs.co.kr/programTemplate/amp/clip/pc/OC482531440
- Sports Chosun, 2026-10-17, answers and cast reactions: https://www.sportschosun.com/entertainment/2026-10-17/202610170100109570007116
- Programme preview and context: https://www.specialtimes.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=475881
