Former Basketball Star Hur Jae Makes a Comeback as the Oldest 'Yes Man'

Hur Jae, once ousted from the basketball world, has returned as the oldest 'Yes Man' on the scene.

On the October 14th episode of JTBC's variety show 'Yes Man', the legendary basketball figure Hur Jae, who led the golden era of Korean basketball, and volleyball player Pyo Seung-joo, who is experiencing a second peak in his career, joined the show as the new 'Yes Men'. The episode showcased their intense adaptation to the world of variety entertainment.

The bold ambitions of the new 'Yes Men' captivated the audience as they entered to enthusiastic cheers from fellow sportsmen. Pyo Seung-joo made a strong impression with a powerful spike and unfiltered remarks, while Hur Jae commanded respect with his confident demeanor, prompting a standing ovation and polite introductions from the other 'Yes Men'.

To test Pyo Seung-joo's powerful hitting skills, a game of 'ddakbam' (a Korean finger flick game) was held, offering 10 points to participants. Among the volunteers, Lee Hyung-taek stood out, enduring the pain with teary eyes but maintaining his smile, earning a remarkable 20 points.

Hur Jae drew attention with his witty 'latte' humor, showcasing a strong rapport with his former coach Seo Jang-hoon and 'Yes Man' Ha Seung-jin, highlighting their close mentor-mentee relationship.

During the 'Talk Battle', a heated discussion unfolded on the theme of 'Rivals of the Century', a driving force and destiny for athletes. The 'Yes Men' shared stories of their rivals and mentors who enriched their sports careers, adding intrigue to the show.

Kim Young-kwang stirred the studio by naming senior Lee Woon-jae as his rival, a choice that surprised many. Meanwhile, Hur Jae expressed his belief that rivals are often created by those around them, stating, "I don't think I ever had a rival."

The quiz segment ignited fierce competition among the 'Yes Men' as they vied for points. The tension between Kim Nam-il and Kim Young-kwang during the soccer quiz, along with suspicions of cheating and Pyo Seung-joo's amusing wrong answers, kept everyone entertained.

Hur Jae, struggling to understand the questions, continued to score with his humorous remarks. In a surprising moment during the celebrity quiz, he mistakenly identified a photo of announcer Kim Bo-min, Kim Nam-il's wife, as actress Kim Hye-soo, causing laughter in the studio.

Despite hints, the 'Yes Men' continued to provide incorrect answers during the general knowledge and euphemism quizzes, leading to coach Seo Jang-hoon's comical outburst. Meanwhile, Park Tae-hwan and Yoon Seok-min steadily accumulated points, resulting in a neck-and-neck competition.

Yoon Seok-min emerged as the unexpected winner, claiming the variety show gold medal. On the other hand, new 'Yes Man' Pyo Seung-joo finished in 8th place, entering the hall of shame but promising to return stronger.

In other news, Hur Jae was expelled from the basketball world in 2023 amid the 'Day One Incident'. Despite his involvement in Day One's KBL membership and operations, financial issues such as unpaid membership fees and acquisition payments led to controversy. Consequently, the Korean Basketball League (KBL) banned Hur Jae from all activities as a team representative, director, or coach. Although he initially halted his variety show appearances, he made a swift comeback with 'Joseon Sports Association'.

By Tae Yuna, Ten Asia Reporter youyou@tenasia.co.kr