On October 6, 'The King and the Man' set a record as the highest-grossing film of 2026, reaching over 10 million cumulative viewers. This achievement has brought renewed interest in an episode from the 2023 MBC show 'The Manager,' featuring Jang Hang-jun, his wife Kim Eun-hee, and their daughter Yoon-seo.
During the 'Hang-juni's Night' event organized by their agency's CEO Song Eun-i, Yoon-seo's impressive background and keen insight caught the audience's attention. It was revealed that Yoon-seo has already directed two short films. Kim Eun-hee proudly shared that her daughter's script was selected at the 'Busan International Kids and Youth Film Festival,' earning production support.
Comedian Lee Young-ja, observing the event, remarked, "Isn't it amazing that Director Jang's legacy continues into his daughter's career?" When asked about his feelings on watching his daughter's films, Jang expressed, "I hope she feels that receiving applause and praise from the audience makes this career worthwhile."
When asked about her preference among her parents' works, Yoon-seo commented, "Though their styles differ, I find more common ground with my dad's work." She further analyzed, "The intertwining of human relationships is more intriguing than the cause-and-effect of events," showcasing her directorial insight.
Kim Eun-hee humorously reacted to her daughter's unexpected choice by saying, "Why do I feel emotional?" while Jang Hang-jun described it as a "dramatic reversal," bringing laughter to the audience.
As these past remarks resurfaced, netizens responded with comments like, "The daughter's directorial insight resonates with the 10 million viewers," "Kim Eun-hee's emotional reaction is a chilling prophecy," and "Her innate sense of human relationship narratives is remarkable."
Meanwhile, 'The King and the Man' joins the ranks of historical films like 'The King and the Clown' (2005), 'Masquerade' (2012), and 'The Admiral: Roaring Currents' (2014) in surpassing 10 million viewers. Ahead of this milestone, Director Jang expressed through distributor Showbox, "This is an unimaginable situation for me and my family, and we are both thrilled and cautious. We are grateful for the many congratulatory messages."
Reporter Na-yeon Cho, Ten Asia nybluebook@tenasia.co.kr