Director Jang Hang-jun of the movie ‘Rebound’ was selected as an honorary alumnus.

Director Jang Hang-jun of the movie 'Rebound' became an honorary alumnus of Busan Jungang High School.

Coach Jang Hang-jun received an honorary diploma from Busan Jungang High School at the 'Director Jang Hang-jun Appreciation Plaque Presentation Ceremony' hosted by the Busan Jungang High School Alumni Association at The Riverside Hotel in Seoul on the 15th.

The event was held to thank Coach Jang and the players at the time, who recreated the true story of the Busan Jungang High School basketball team that took second place in the 2012 Korea Basketball Association National Middle and High School Basketball Tournament into the movie 'Rebound.'

At the event, Vice Principal Kim Myeong-sik from Busan Jungang High School, Principal Jin Kwang-hyo at the time of the competition, Alumni President Seong Seong-ho, basketball coach Park Hoon-geun, and Park Jae-ho (Busan Nam-gu, Democratic Party of Korea) and Park Soo-young (Busan Nam-gu Gap, People Power Party) from Nam-gu, Busan, where Busan Jungang High School are located, attended the event. About 100 people attended, including members of the National Assembly, Park Gwang-myeong, head of Busan City's Seoul headquarters, Kang Yang-hyeon, who was the basketball coach at the time, national 3x3 men's basketball team coach and players, and Busan Jungang High School alumni.

On this day, coach Kang Yang-hyun said a line from the movie 'Rebound': 'When you play basketball, there are times when you shoot but the shot doesn't go in. But depending on your effort at that moment, opportunities may arise again. ‘What do you call that?’ I actually expressed my gratitude to director Jang Hang-jun.

Director Jang Hang-jun also said, “I hope the movie line that life does not end even when basketball ends is conveyed to many people,” and added, “I am grateful to Busan Central High School and the alumni association for giving me the opportunity to become an honorary alumni.”

This work, which attracted attention through the collaboration of director Jang Hang-jun and writers Kwon Seong-hee and Kim Eun-hee, depicts the miraculous story of the 8 days of the 2012 National High School Basketball Tournament, where the new coach and 6 players of the weakest basketball team that no one paid attention to ran without rest. This work also won the Silver Mulberry Award (Best Audience Award) at the 25th Udine Far East Film Festival held in Italy on the 8th.

Choi Ji-ye, Ten Asia Reporter wisdomart@tenasia.co.kr