Actor Jeong Jun-ho, widely regarded as the entertainment industry's ultimate networker, has once again put his extraordinary connections on display.
Sunday's episode of the SBS variety program My Little Old Boy featured broadcaster Tak Jae-hoon paying a visit to Jeong's home.
Jeong enlisted Tak's help and led him to the underground parking garage, where the two faced a towering task: wrapping chuseok gifts to send to Jeong's acquaintances. Potatoes and apples were stacked in enormous piles throughout the garage.
The sheer volume made sense once the recipient list came into view — 2,000 people, including conglomerate chairmen, National Assembly lawmakers, local government heads, current and former ministers, and sitting mayors.
"I've been doing this for 20 years," Jeong said, adding that he personally delivers gifts to elderly chairmen.
Tak, overwhelmed by the scale of the operation, said he doubted they could finish before chuseok. "Having so many connections can make life hard in its own way," he said.
Jeong pushed back, sharing his philosophy on relationships. "It's worth it even when it's tough. Money disappears once you spend it, but the people you build relationships with stay with you," he said.
He then drew fresh surprise by revealing that his phone holds 18,000 saved contacts.
Jeong's vast network has made headlines before. When he married former MBC announcer Lee Ha-jeong in 2011, roughly 5,000 guests attended — so many that the couple held two separate ceremonies, one in Seoul and one in Yesan. The catering bill alone reportedly came to about 400 million won ($295,000). His annual spending on flower arrangements sent to acquaintances for birthdays and other occasions has also been reported to reach around 200 million won.
His wife Lee has said she is worn out by her husband's relentless networking and his habit of sending floral arrangements. She has also taken a wry view of the situation: "I'm just glad that, out of all his countless acquaintances, I'm the one he's closest to."
paq@heraldcorp.com
