Stories of director Jang Hang-jun’s kindness have been circulating as his latest film, “The Man Who Lives With the King,” approaches the milestone of 10 million viewers.

Director Jang, who is on the verge of breaking the 10 million admissions mark—a major benchmark in Korean cinema—has been drawing significant attention online as colleagues and acquaintances come forward with accounts of his acts of generosity.

Last month, Jang Hang-jun appeared as a guest on tvN’s “You Quiz on the Block”, where he discussed the challenges and excitement of casting and producing “The Man Who Lives With the King.” During the program, host Yoo Jae-suk marveled at the star-studded cast, which includes Yoo Hae-jin, Park Ji-hoon, Yoo Ji-tae, Jeon Mi-do, Park Ji-hwan, Lee Jun-hyuk, and Ahn Jae-hong, jokingly noting, "With actors of this caliber, if the film doesn't succeed, everyone will blame the director."

Jang responded with his trademark humor, sharing, "Once casting was confirmed, my wife, writer Kim Eun-hee, told me, ‘Honey, you have no excuses left now,’” drawing laughter from the audience. He went on, “I felt a huge pressure that everything would now be my fault if the movie didn’t do well. In the past, if my work didn’t succeed, I tended to blame the audience.” Despite the new pressure, Jang’s light-hearted nature helped him face the challenge head-on.

Jang Hang-jun has since proven his capabilities through “The Man Who Lives With the King,” which is on track to become his first film to surpass 10 million admissions. The film has earned rave reviews from audiences, adding to the director’s rising acclaim.

In particular, a series of stories highlighting Jang’s generosity have captured public attention. Actor Kim Yong-seok shared a recent personal episode: “While moving to check the monitors during a shoot, I mentioned to Director Jang that my baby had just been born. He immediately asked for my phone and said, ‘Yong-seok, give me your number and home address. I’ll send you diapers—you’ll need a lot at first.’”

Kim continued, “The next day, he messaged, ‘Yong-seok, this is Jang Hang-jun. Send me your address and the type of diapers your baby uses.’ Even though he was extremely busy with filming, he took the trouble to get my personal contact and sent two boxes of diapers to my home.” He added that the gesture made him feel understood and comforted amid the challenges and insecurities that came with being both an actor and a new father. The story touched many, revealing a side of Director Jang that resonates with the public.

Numerous similar anecdotes about Jang’s kindness have surfaced in online communities, providing a glimpse of his character beyond the silver screen.

Amid these heartwarming revelations, anticipation remains high for “The Man Who Lives With the King,” which is poised to become Jang Hang-jun’s first film to achieve the 10 million viewer milestone, cementing his popularity and positive reputation among moviegoers.

Note “This article was translated from the original Korean version using AI assistance, and subsequently edited by a native-speaking journalist.”

Photo=MHN DB