Jang appeared on JTBC’s Newsroom on the afternoon of the 14th to discuss the film.
Opening the segment, he recalled a coffee-truck event held to thank moviegoers. “They told me so many people lined up. Fans came from Changwon, Daegu and all over the country. I was surprised by the interest, but I don’t think the attention will last forever,” he said.
Nicknamed “the Maltese with no tear stains,” Jang laughed when asked what new moniker he’d like. Fans suggested one: “Jang, Always Watch Your Words.” “I kind of like that,” he said with a smile.
The Man Who Lives with the King cleared 10 million admissions on its 31st day in release and topped 12 million by day 36, posting remarkable box-office figures. It even surpassed Masquerade (12.32 million), moving into 15th place on the all-time Korean box-office list.
Asked what he thought drove the film’s success, Jang pointed to the emotional bond at its center. “I think audiences responded to the relationship between the dethroned king Danjong and the people who stayed with him until the end — people like Eom Heung-do. Watching those who risked their lives to uphold principle, perhaps viewers wanted to believe that our society still has righteous people,” he said.
He also credited his cast. Praising Park Ji-hoon, who plays Danjong, Jang called him “the future of Korean cinema,” noting, “He shows a level of emotional restraint you rarely see from actors in their 20s.”
On Yoo Hae-jin’s volatile, layered turn as Eom Heung-do, Jang said, “Whether he’s in Joseon or the present day, playing a prosecutor or a thug, Yoo Hae-jin always creates a distinctly ‘Yoo Hae-jin’ character. I think he’s one of the finest actors working today.”
Asked about his long-term goals, he was blunt: “My aim is to keep working for a long time. I’ve never cared much about rankings or competition — things go up and down. I expect I’ll keep working into my 60s.”
He conceded that working beyond his 60s might be unlikely, but emphasized his desire to remain on set. “I haven’t found anything more fun than directing. My wish is to live a joyful, exciting life,” he said.
Released on Feb. 4, The Man Who Lives with the King is set in 1457 at Cheongnyeongpo and follows the young, dethroned King Danjong and the villagers of Gwangcheon-gol who shelter him. Jang Hang-jun directed the film, which stars Yoo Hae-jin, Park Ji-hoon, Yoo Ji-tae and Jeon Mi-do.
