CHOI CREW: Changmin & Chanyeol Barely Survive Run One

TVXQ's Changmin and EXO's Chanyeol have officially launched their long-awaited web variety show, CHOI CREW (최씨크루), on Mnet's digital studio M2 — and if the prologue episode is any indication, these two K-pop veterans may have underestimated just how grueling their own show would be.

The premiere episode, titled "Almost Pass Out on Run 1," dropped on April 4, 2026, giving fans their first look at the duo's chemistry as co-hosts. According to M2's official YouTube channel, the episode features Changmin and Chanyeol logging their very first run together — and very nearly keeling over before they even reach the finish line.

What Is CHOI CREW?

CHOI CREW is a brand-new running talk show produced by Mnet M2, one of South Korea's most popular K-pop digital platforms. The show was designed to tap into the explosive global trend of running as both a fitness activity and a social experience, bringing together the world of K-pop and the growing running culture in a way that has never quite been attempted before.

The premise is deceptively simple: Changmin and Chanyeol act as running crew hosts and pacemakers, joining celebrity guests for a run while conducting candid, off-the-cuff interviews. But there is a twist — at every 1km checkpoint, the group must decide whether to keep running or stop. It is a format that adds a layer of genuine tension and unpredictability to every episode, since neither the hosts nor the guests know exactly when the run will end.

The show's name plays on the Korean surname 최 (Choi), with both hosts going by nicknames that evoke the name — a cheeky in-joke for Korean fans who are familiar with the wordplay. The prologue's subtitle, "Choi Crew is Open (No Chois)," winks at the fact that despite the name, neither host is technically a Choi by birth, which the duo are clearly in on and playing up for maximum comic effect.

Changmin and Chanyeol: The Unexpected Running Duo

What makes CHOI CREW particularly compelling is the pairing of Changmin and Chanyeol — two artists who, despite being SM Entertainment label-mates from different eras, have found genuine common ground in their shared love of running. Changmin, who debuted with TVXQ in 2003 and has built a reputation as one of the most disciplined and physically demanding performers in K-pop history, is a well-known distance runner. Chanyeol, the multi-talented rapper and vocalist of EXO, has similarly been open about running as part of his fitness routine.

The pairing of a second-generation idol and a third-generation idol makes for an interesting dynamic on screen. Changmin brings the composure and experience of a veteran who has seen every trend come and go, while Chanyeol brings his natural variety show energy and willingness to be the butt of a joke. Together, they have a senior-junior chemistry that Korean audiences tend to find especially watchable.

In the prologue, that chemistry is on full display almost immediately. Described in the episode title as nearly passing out during their very first run, the two hosts spend much of their time gasping, dramatically slowing down, and bantering breathlessly with each other — which, rather than undermining the show's credibility as a running program, actually makes it far more relatable and entertaining. At the 9:17 mark, Chanyeol reportedly takes time out to recount a story about getting hit by bird droppings mid-run — the kind of unscripted, chaotic moment that makes web variety gold.

A Star-Studded Guest Lineup Ahead

While the prologue focuses on Changmin and Chanyeol establishing the show's premise and their own dynamic, the upcoming regular episodes promise an impressive roster of guests. THE BOYZ members Younghoon and Hyunjae have already filmed their episode, as have NCT WISH members Sion and Yuushi. KISS OF LIFE are also confirmed to appear, rounding out a lineup that spans multiple generations and styles of K-pop.

The choice of guests reflects the show's broader ambition: rather than sticking to a single fandom or demographic, CHOI CREW is reaching across group lines to create a show that can appeal to a wide cross-section of the K-pop fanbase. Guests are selected not just for their popularity, but for the dynamics they might create while running — whether through their fitness levels, their willingness to talk candidly, or their relationships with the hosts.

Fans have already begun speculating about future guests and which celebrities might share Changmin and Chanyeol's enthusiasm for running. Given the show's format and the hosts' profiles, the guest list is likely to expand significantly as the season progresses.

The Running Trend in K-Pop

CHOI CREW arrives at a moment when running culture has become genuinely mainstream in South Korea and across the global K-pop fanbase. In recent years, numerous K-pop idols have publicly embraced running as a lifestyle, frequently sharing marathon results, race bibs, and mid-run selfies on social media. Changmin and Chanyeol are among the most prominent runners in the industry, and their visibility as athletes-as-well-as-performers has helped fuel wider interest in the sport among fans.

The show taps into this momentum in a way that feels organic rather than manufactured. Unlike variety formats where idols are placed in artificial challenges, CHOI CREW puts its hosts and guests in a situation — a real run — that is genuinely demanding. The results, as the prologue demonstrates, can be simultaneously funny, relatable, and unexpectedly moving.

CHOI CREW premiered on M2's official YouTube channel on April 4, 2026, with the prologue episode available now. Regular episodes are expected to follow in the coming weeks, featuring the confirmed guest lineup and potentially new additions as the show builds its audience.