Director Jang Hang-jun's status as a 16.9 million director, Yoon Jong-shin says "For the first time in 30 years"

Jang Hang-jun, who drew 16.9 million viewers, sets box office records that even surprised Yoo Jae-suk

The status of director Jang Hang-jun, who drew 16.9 million viewers with the film 'The Man Who Lives with the King,' has changed. On the first broadcast of KBS 2TV's 'Happy Together - Glad to Not Be Alone' (hereafter 'Haetu') on the 10th, Jang Hang-jun and Yoon Jong-shin, who newly joined existing MC Yoo Jae-suk, appeared and showcased their witty banter.

Yoo Jae-suk congratulated Jang Hang-jun by mentioning his film's box office record. Yoo expressed his surprise, saying, "I thought it would exceed 5 million viewers even before the release, but it surpassed a whopping 16.9 million." Yoo, who attended the film's premiere at the time, recalled, "The people next to me were crying. I ended up watching the movie not as an audience member, but from the perspective of an older brother."

Jang Hang-jun, now a director of a 10-million-viewer film, appeared relaxed. He joked, "If you guys keep at it steadily, it will hit once. Everyone, don't give up." He then added, seeing Yoo Jae-suk attending the film premiere without a manager, "It's my first time seeing a celebrity come without a manager."

The story behind the 'nepotism casting' that reversed 30 years of friendship

In the face of Jang Hang-jun's unstoppable momentum, his close friend Yoon Jong-shin appeared intimidated. When Yoo Jae-suk joked to Yoon, "You look very intimidated," Yoon confessed, "I never thought I would benefit from Jang Hang-jun after 30 (or 39) years." This is because, in the past, Yoon was the one suggesting to the production team, "How about director Jang Hang-jun?" and recommending him for variety shows.

Yoon Jong-shin revealed the reversed casting story, saying, "In the past, I was in the position of suggesting and placing him, but today, I feel like I've been placed because of Hang-jun." Jang Hang-jun countered, showing his status as a top director, by saying, "When the production team asked about Yoon Jong-shin, I was the one who confirmed him."

Yoo Jae-suk also chimed in, saying, "In the news articles, Jang Hang-jun hyung came first, and Jong-shin hyung came second." Yoon Jong-shin ridiculed himself, saying, "Even my way of speaking has changed. In the past, I spoke with a tone of disdain (towards Jang Hang-jun), but now it has become much softer." Jang Hang-jun continued the pleasant banter, saying, "It feels like Jong-shin is receiving the phone receiver with both hands."

Yoo Jae-suk, Jang Hang-jun, and Yoon Jong-shin: The new MC system of 'Haetu' launches

KBS 2TV's 'Happy Together' presented a new structure with Jang Hang-jun and Yoon Jong-shin joining as new MCs centered around Yoo Jae-suk. In the first broadcast of 'Haetu' on the 10th, the change in status due to Jang Hang-jun's film success and the 30-year friendship between the two were the main topics of discussion.

Yoon Jong-shin described the situation—where he moved from being the one suggesting Jang Hang-jun to the production team to joining the program due to Jang Hang-jun's influence—using the word 'nepotism' (parachute casting). Jang Hang-jun responded by saying he personally gave the confirmation when the production team asked about casting Yoon Jong-shin, showing the reversed relationship of their 30-year friendship.