Jang Hang-jun

In this Korean name, the family name is Jang.
Jang Hang-jun
장항준
Jang in 2014
Born (1969-09-17) September 17, 1969 (age 56)
Daegu, South Korea
Alma materSeoul Institute of the Arts
OccupationsFilm director,
television director
screenwriter
Years active2002–present
AgentMedia Lab Seeso[1]
Spouse
​
(m. 1998)​
Children1
Korean name
Hangul
장항준
Hanja
張恆俊
RRJang Hangjun
MRChang Hangjun

Jang Hang-jun (Korean: 장항준; born September 17, 1969) is a South Korean film director and television director, and also screenwriter in both fields. He is also professor at the Department of Theater and Film at Digital Seoul Culture Arts University. He made his directional debut in the 2002 film Break Out. Jang has directed the feature films Spring Breeze (2003), Forgotten (2017), Rebound (2023), and The King's Warden (2026).

In 2011, he turned to the small screen, co-wrote and directed Sign, a medical crime investigation drama starring Park Shin-yang and Kim Ah-joong.

Early years

Jang was born in Daegu in 1969. He grew up in a privileged household provided with a personal driver and subject-specific tutors. Despite these advantages, Jang did not prioritize his studies, choosing instead to spend his time socializing with friends. This lifestyle changed during his second year of high school when his father's construction business went bankrupt. Following this shift in circumstances, Jang enrolled in a theater department in Seoul. During his studies, he discovered a deep passion for the arts and began to seriously evaluate his professional strengths.[2]

Career

After graduating, Jang secured a position as the youngest writer at a broadcasting station, an opportunity facilitated by a senior acquaintance. His role shifted unexpectedly after six months when the lead writer disappeared. In a surprising turn of events, a script Jang had previously written was adopted by the station, resulting in his promotion to Field Director.[2]

While working as a writer for the SBS entertainment department on the show Good Friends, Jang found inspiration in his friend Jang Jin's success in the Spring Literary Contest. This achievement motivated him to transition from television entertainment to the film industry. He began focusing on screenwriting and gained significant recognition in 1996 with his script for The Adventure of Mrs. Park, which effectively launched his cinematic career.[2]

In 2026, he wrote and directed the historical film The King's Warden.[3] The film was released on February 4, 2026, coinciding with the Korean New Year holiday.[4] It received positive reviews and did well at the box office.[5][6]

Philanthropy

On March 4, 2022, Jang donated 30 million won to the Children's Fund in Ukraine, along with his wife Kim Eun-hee, to help Ukrainian victims in Russian invasion.[7]

Personal life

Jang married Kim Eun-hee in 1998.[8][9][10][11] They have a daughter named Jang Yeon-soo.[12]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Credited as Notes Ref.
English Korean Director Writer
1996 The Adventure of Mrs. Park 박봉곤 가출 사건 No Yes
1999 The Great Chef 북경반점 No Yes
2002 Break Out 라이터를 켜라 Yes No [13]
2003 Spring Breeze 불어라 봄바람 Yes Yes
2008 Manner of Battle 전투의 매너 Yes No Television film
2017 Forgotten 기억의 밤 Yes Yes [14]
2020 The Night of the Undead 죽지않는 인간들의 밤 No Yes
2022 Open the Door 오픈 더 도어 Yes Yes [15]
2023 Rebound 리바운드 Yes No [16]
2024 The Killers 더 킬러스 Yes Yes Segment: "Everyone Is Waiting For The Man" [17]
2026 The King's Warden 왕과 사는 남자 Yes Yes [18]

Television series

Year Title Credited as Ref.
English Korean Director Writer Creator
2010 Golden House 위기일발 풍년빌라 No Yes No [19]
2011 Sign 싸인 Yes Yes No [20][21][22]
2012-2013 The King of Dramas 드라마의 제왕 No Yes No [23]
2013 Who Are You? 후아유 No No Yes [24]

Acting credits

Film

Year Title Role Ref.
English Korean
1996 The Adventure of Mrs. Park 박봉곤 가출 사건 Cameo
2002 Break Out 라이터를 켜라
2003 Spring Breeze 불어라 봄바람 Cameo
2004 Ghost House 귀신이 산다 Cameo
2010 Attack the Gas Station 2
Loveholic
2012 The Scent
The Suck Up Project: Mr. XXX-Kisser Cameo
Superstar Cameo
2014 Venus Talk
2008 Hellcats
Manner of Battle
2015 Trap Cameo
2016 My New Sassy Girl Cameo

Television

Year Title Role Ref.
English Korean
2009–2010 High Kick Through the Roof Cameo
2011 Sign 싸인
The Greatest Love 최고의 사랑
2012 I Need a Fairy
Phantom
2012–2013 The King of Dramas 드라마의 제왕
2013 Who Are You? 후아유
My Love from the Star
2014 Potato Star 2013QR3 Cameo
Pinocchio Cameo
2022–2023 Unlock My Boss Cameo [25]

Variety shows

Year Title Role Ref.
2007 Access! Movie World!
2010 Nightlife Variety Nightlife Host
2012 Korea's Got Talent 2 Judge
2019 Song Eun-i, Kim Sook's Movie Guarantee Cast
2020 The Story of the Day Biting the Tail S1 Host
2021 The Story of the Day Biting the Tail S2 [26]
Crime Trivia Cast member [27]
2022 The Dictionary of Useless Knowledge Host [28]
2023 Very Private Southeast Asia Cast Member [29]
Listen, See, It's Okay Director [30]

Web shows

Year Title Role Ref.
2021 King of Quotes Host [31]

Radio

Awards and nominations

Award Year Category Work Result Ref.
16th KBS Entertainment Awards 2018 Entertainment DJ of the Year Award Jang Hang-jun, Kim Jin-soo's Mister Radio [ko] Won [33]
Korea First Brand Awards 2024 Entertainer of the Year Jang Hang-jun Won [34]

References

  1. ^ Jung Yu-jin (December 15, 2021). "장항준, 미디어랩시소와 전속계약 체결...송은이‧신봉선‧안영미 한솥밥" [Jang Hang-jun signed an exclusive contract with Media Lab Seesaw... Song Eun-i, Shin Bong-seon, Ahn Young-mi, One Pot Rice] (in Korean). SPOTV News. Archived from the original on December 15, 2021. Retrieved December 15, 2021 – via Naver.
  2. ^ a b c "장르물의 여왕 김은희에 관한 서사". 여성동아 (in Korean). 30 August 2021. Retrieved 2023-08-12.
  3. ^ Yoo, Jung-min (October 25, 2024). 장항준 첫 사극 '왕과 사는 남자', 유해진→박지훈 출연 확정 [Jang Hang-jun's first sageuk film The King's Warden confirms casting of Yoo Hae-jin→Park Ji-hoon]. iMBC (in Korean). Retrieved December 31, 2025.
  4. ^ Kang, Nae-ri (October 10, 2024). [단독] 박지훈, 유해진과 만난다...장항준 신작 '왕과 사는 남자' 캐스팅 [[Exclusive] Park Ji-hoon to work with Yoo Hae-jin...Cast in Jang Hang-jun's new film The King's Warden]. YTN (in Korean). Archived from the original on October 10, 2024. Retrieved December 31, 2025.
  5. ^ Jeong, Min-a. "[삶, 오디세이] '왕과 사는 남자' 흥행 이유". 경기일보 (in Korean). Retrieved 2026-02-26.
  6. ^ "'King's Warden' shows why Yoo Hae-jin remains successful - The Korea Times". www.koreatimes.co.kr. 2026-01-30. Retrieved 2026-02-26.
  7. ^ Park Seo-yeon (March 4, 2022). "장항준♥김은희, 우크라이나 어린이 위해 3천만원 기부.."하루 빨리 평화 찾아오길"(공식)" [Hang-Jun Jang ♥ Eun-Hee Kim, donated 30 million won to Ukrainian children.. "May peace come to you soon" (official)] (in Korean). Herald POP. Archived from the original on August 14, 2023. Retrieved March 4, 2022 – via Naver.
  8. ^ "장항준 - Daum 백과사전". 100.daum.net (in Korean). Archived from the original on April 2, 2017. Retrieved March 28, 2016.
  9. ^ "장항준 : 네이버 영화". Movie.naver.com (in Korean). February 29, 2016. Archived from the original on April 13, 2005. Retrieved March 28, 2016.
  10. ^ "장항준 : 네이버 통합검색". Search.naver.com. Archived from the original on November 22, 2001. Retrieved March 28, 2016.
  11. ^ "장항준: 네이버 인물검색". People.search.naver.com. Archived from the original on April 24, 2016. Retrieved March 28, 2016.
  12. ^ "장항준, '김은희 판박이' 딸 자랑 "청소년문학상서 수상"(전참시)[TV캡처]". stoo (in Korean). Archived from the original on 2023-07-29. Retrieved 2023-07-29.
  13. ^ <라이터를 켜라>의 장항준 감독이 쓴 '눈물나는'제작일지(2). Cine21 (in Korean). 19 July 2002. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
  14. ^ 영화 [기억의 밤] 상세정보. Cine21. Archived from the original on 7 April 2020. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
  15. ^ Kim Yu-jin (October 8, 2022). "장항준·송은이, 제작자·감독으로 뭉친 절친 "영화제 올 줄 몰랐다" (종합)[BIFF 2022]" [Hang-Jun Jang and Eun-Yi Song, best friends who were united as producers and directors "I didn't know that the film festival would come" (Comprehensive) [BIFF 2022]] (in Korean). X-port News. Archived from the original on October 10, 2022. Retrieved October 8, 2022 – via Naver.
  16. ^ 고교농구 감동 실화, '천기범과 아이들'을 아시나요?. MK Sports (in Korean). Maeil Business Newspaper. May 13, 2012.
  17. ^ Kim, Ji-hye (2024-09-12). 네 감독이 재해석한 헤밍웨이 단편 '더 킬러스', 시체스영화제 초청. SBS연예뉴스 (in Korean). Retrieved 2024-09-16.
  18. ^ Han Su-jin (December 11, 2025). [단독] 유해진, 외화천하서 구겨진 韓영화 자존심 되찾을까…'왕과 사는 남자' 내년 2월4일 개봉 확정 [[Exclusive] Will Yoo Hae-jin restore the pride of Korean cinema, which has been tarnished by the foreign film industry? 'The Man Who Lives with the King' is set to be released on February 4th of next year.]. ize (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved December 23, 2025.
  19. ^ ""내가 보고 싶었던 드라마 썼어요"". Hankyoreh (in Korean). 2010-03-08. Retrieved 2026-02-13.
  20. ^ "ZHANG Hang-jun". Korean Film Biz Zone. Archived from the original on 2016-08-03. Retrieved 2016-06-07.
  21. ^ Ko, Jae-wan; Choi, Ji-eun (November 8, 2010). "Park Shin-yang, Kim Ah-joong starrer drama title set as Sign". Asiae. Retrieved 2016-06-07.
  22. ^ "Director Jang Hang Jun recounts the time he ignored Kim Soo Hyun because of the actor's rookie status". Allkpop. 21 November 2014. Archived from the original on 2016-08-04. Retrieved 2016-06-07.
  23. ^ Sunwoo, Carla (1 June 2012). "Kim Myung-min to return to the brown box". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 2012-10-23.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  24. ^ News), 경인일보(Kyeongin Daily (2013-07-08). "영혼을 보는 여자, '후아유'… 신비한 멜로의 시작". 경인일보 (in Korean). Retrieved 2026-02-13.
  25. ^ Jeong Seo-hee (December 21, 2022). "장항준, '사장님을 잠금해제' 특별출연..."유쾌한 웃음·뜻밖의 진실 전한다" [Jang Hang-jun, special appearance in 'Unlock the boss'... "Delightful laughter and unexpected truth] (in Korean). SpoTV News. Archived from the original on December 21, 2022. Retrieved December 21, 2022 – via Naver.
  26. ^ Lee Min-ji (March 3, 2021). "'꼬꼬무2' 장도연, 이경규 러브콜 이유 "반발 콘셉트"" ['Kokkomu 2'Jang Do-yeon, Lee Gyeong-gyu Love Call Reason "Rebound Concept"]. v.daum (in Korean). Newsen. Archived from the original on September 4, 2024. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
  27. ^ tenasia.hankyung.com, Digital (2021-03-20). "'알쓸범잡' 윤종신 "알아두면 진짜 쓸데있는 이야기"". 텐아시아 연예뉴스 (in Korean). Retrieved 2021-06-20.
  28. ^ Lee, Yoo-na (October 25, 2022). "방탄소년단 RM, 장항준과 tvN '알쓸인잡' MC 맡는다 (공식)" [BTS' RM, Jang Hang-jun and tvN's 'Useless Job' MCs (official)]. YTN (in Korean). Archived from the original on October 25, 2022. Retrieved October 25, 2022 – via Naver.
  29. ^ Hong, Se-young (February 27, 2023). "이선균·장항준·김도현·김남희 '아주 사적인 동남아' 3월 27일 첫방 [공식]" [Lee Seon-kyun, Jang Hang-joon, Kim Do-hyun, Kim Nam-hee 'Very Private Southeast Asia' premieres on March 27th [Official]] (in Korean). Sports DongA. Archived from the original on February 27, 2023. Retrieved February 27, 2023 – via Naver.
  30. ^ Kim, Chae-yeon (February 27, 2023). "장항준→문상훈, '듣고, 보니, 그럴싸' 합류..TV 최초 보이는 라디오 극장 [공식]" [Jang Hang-Jun → Moon Sang-Hoon joins ‘Listen, See, It’s Okay’ .. The first radio theater is seen on TV [Official]] (in Korean). OSEN. Archived from the original on February 28, 2023. Retrieved February 28, 2023 – via Naver.
  31. ^ Lee Mi-ji (September 16, 2021). "'네고왕' 후속 '견적왕' 제작 확정..장항준 감독 MC 캐스팅(공식)" [King of Nego' follow-up 'King of Quote' production confirmed.. Director Jang Hang-joon MC Casting (official)]. Herald POP (in Korean). Archived from the original on September 16, 2021. Retrieved September 16, 2021 – via Naver.
  32. ^ ฺBaek Seung-hoon (August 8, 2022). "음악캠프' 배철수, 3년 만의 여름휴가...김윤아→이상순 스페셜 DJ 출격" [Music Camp' Bae Chul-soo, first summer vacation in 3 years... Yuna Kim → Lee Sang-soon Special DJ Sortie] (in Korean). iMBC. Archived from the original on August 8, 2022. Retrieved August 8, 2022 – via Naver.
  33. ^ "2018 KBS 연예대상 이영자, 유리천장 깨고 당당히 대상 수상 (종합)". The Korea Economic Daily (in Korean). 2018-12-23. Archived from the original on 2021-06-24. Retrieved 2021-06-20.
  34. ^ Kim, Yang-su (2024-01-09). 임영웅x남궁민→라이즈…'대한민국 퍼스트브랜드 대상' 52개 부문 선정 [Lim Young-woong x Nam Goong-min → Rise… 'Korea First Brand Awards' Selected in 52 Categories]. JoyNews24 (in Korean). Retrieved 2025-07-29.
allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jang_Hang-jun