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| Jang Hang-jun, Rebound poster / Photo: DB, Barunson E&A |
[Sports Today reporter Jeong Ye-won] Director Jang Hang-jun—the creative force behind the nationwide phenomenon The Man Who Lives with the King (commonly called Wangsa-nam)—is back in the spotlight. His three-year-old film Rebound is returning to theaters.
Representatives for Rebound recently announced the re-release. The film dramatizes an inspiring true story from the 2012 national high school basketball tournament: an overlooked, weakest-ranked team, a newly appointed coach, and six players who mount a near-miraculous eight-day run. The cast includes Ahn Jae-hong, Lee Shin-young, Jung Jin-woon, Kim Taek, and Jung Geon-ju.
Rebound initially underperformed at the box office when it opened in 2023. It drew roughly 700,000 admissions—well short of its 1.6 million break-even target. The result stood in stark contrast to Jang’s recent, phenomenon-level hit.
The Man Who Lives with the King pushed Jang into the elite 10-million admissions club, surpassing 14.92 million cumulative viewers nationwide. Industry observers are now watching whether it can overtake Korea’s second-highest-grossing film, Extreme Job (16,266,641 admissions).
In that context, Rebound—once at risk of fading from view—has been buoyed by the momentum of Jang’s new success. Reappraised as the earlier work of a director who has just reached the 10-million milestone, the film will return to screens beginning April 3. In many ways, the present-day Jang has revived his past work.
Tickets for Rebound’s first-stage greeting sold out immediately, signaling strong audience interest. Organizers also announced a \”high-touch\” screening with a post-screening Q&A (GV) to be attended by the director and cast.
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| Jang Hang-jun / Photo: DB |
Jang has cultivated a warm, approachable image through appearances on variety shows. Viewers often remember him for his affection for his accomplished wife, Kim Eun-hee, his amusing anecdotes about colleagues like Yoon Jong-shin, and his knack for telling engaging stories.
But Jang’s primary craft is filmmaking. He entered the industry with 1996’s Park Bong-gon’s Runaway Incident and made his directorial debut with 2002’s Light the Lighter. He later released films including Blow, Spring Wind; Night of Memory; Rebound; and Open the Door. He has also collaborated with writer Kim Eun-hee on dramas such as Wigii Ilbal Pungnyeon Villa and Sign.
It took him 30 years from his first industry steps to reach the 10-million mark. Achievements he once said he never imagined are now unfolding one after another. His career underscores that luck can arrive unexpectedly—and that persistence is often the key.
[Sports Today reporter Jeong Ye-won ent@stoo.com]
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