Hur Jae, who was ousted from the basketball world due to his son's personal issues and the 'Day One Incident,' is making a comeback by joining a variety show. In 2023, Hur was held accountable for the financial troubles of Day One, which he was involved with during its KBL membership and operations. The controversy escalated with unpaid membership fees and acquisition payments, leading to KBL banning Hur from all basketball-related activities. Consequently, he stepped away from the sport and halted his entertainment activities, but is now returning to television.
On JTBC's 'Yes Man' (directed by Choi Chang-soo and Kim Dong-wook), 'Basketball President' Hur Jae and 'Volleyball Legend' Pyo Seung-joo join as new members, drawing attention. With Hur's extensive experience in entertainment and Pyo's strong leadership, viewers are eager to see how they will stand out among the existing 'Yes Man' cast.
In the episode, the dynamic between basketball legends Hur Jae, Seo Jang-hoon, and Ha Seung-jin heats up the atmosphere from the start. Hur Jae, upon seeing Seo Jang-hoon, provocatively remarks, "Jang-hoon has grown a lot," and "He couldn't even look me in the face back then," asserting his dominance. He shares stories of his past struggles, saying, "During Jang-hoon's time, the dorms were two people per room, but in my time, it was four," to which Seo humorously responds, "You were tougher than three people," causing laughter in the studio.
Ha Seung-jin also recalls an incident with his former coach Hur Jae, saying, "The coach made me a shooting fool," referring to being banned from shooting practice. However, Seo Jang-hoon defends Hur, stating, "No coach would have asked Seung-jin to shoot," prompting Ha to retort, "If I had practiced shooting, I would have surpassed Jang-hoon," drawing boos from the audience.
Pyo Seung-joo captivates with her power, participating in the 'Flick Test,' where she impressively strikes the foreheads of everyone from the eldest Hur Jae to the youngest Park Tae-hwan, showcasing her 'spike-level' strength. Lee Hyung-taek, experiencing the flick for the first time, reportedly teared up but maintained a smile, creating a 'laugh-cry' moment on set.
The episode also features a lively debate on 'Rivals of the Century.' Swimming legend Park Tae-hwan names Zhang Lin as his rival, while national goalkeeper Kim Young-kwang mentions 'Spider Hands' Lee Woon-jae, sharing hidden stories that add intrigue. Additionally, 'Untouchable' Yoon Seok-min reminisces about the 'Ryu-Yoon-Kim' era with Ryu Hyun-jin and Kim Kwang-hyun, revealing his competitive spirit by continuing to pitch despite a facial fracture, surprising everyone.
JTBC 'Yes Man' airs on the 14th at 7:10 PM.
Reporter Kim Se-ah, Ten Asia haesmik@tenasia.co.kr