Actor appears on YouTube channel 'Jjanhan Hyeong'

Director Jang Jin quips he hopes to finally get a free meal

Actor Jung Woong-in. [Newsis]
Actor Jung Woong-in. [Newsis]

Actor Jung Woong-in, 55, took a playful jab at director Jang Hang-jun — his college classmate who recently joined the ranks of filmmakers with a 10-million-ticket hit with "The King's Warden" — saying he had gotten "so full of himself."

Jung and fellow director Jang Jin appeared Monday on host Shin Dong-yeop's YouTube channel "Jjanhan Hyeong," where the two brought up their mutual classmate Jang Hang-jun. All three studied theater at the Seoul Institute of the Arts, class of 1989, with Shin one year behind them.

"Jang Jin and Jang Hang-jun are legendary," Jung said. "We have two directors from our class — both surnamed Jang."

Jang Jin urged the others to put Jang Hang-jun in a different category altogether. "Hang-jun isn't playing in my league anymore — bump him up a level," he said.

"I'm honestly so happy for Hang-jun," Jang Jin added. "I'm thinking I might actually get a free meal out of him before I die."

Shin noted the dynamic had not always been so warm. "Jang Hang-jun wasn't that happy when Jang Jin was doing well," he said.

The group also shared a story about the Baeksang Arts Awards, in which Jang Hang-jun reportedly cheered when Jang Jin was nominated but failed to win.

When Shin said it must still feel genuinely good to see Jang Hang-jun succeed, Jung replied, "He's gotten so full of himself."

Jung then directed a fond rebuke at his absent friend. "Ugh, the guy's gotten so full of himself," he said, before adding: "But I see him often enough for a drink. Jang Hang-jun hasn't changed."

Jang Jin drew laughs with his own retort: "I haven't seen him recently, and I'd prefer to keep it that way."

Jang Jin has directed films including "A Fond Farewell," "Leave When the Applause Is Loudest," "Holy Lineage" and "Good Morning President," and earned wide recognition as the writer and producer of "Welcome to Dongmakgol," "Public Enemy Returns" and "Live Right."

He currently serves as head of Digital Suda and is directing the stage play "Kkotui Bimil" at Daehangno, featuring Jung Woong-in, Seong Ji-ru, Jung Kyung-soon, Hwang Seok-jeong, Yoo Sun and Park Ha-sun.


jshan@heraldcorp.com