Jang Hang-jun, Man-in-the-King's-Life 10 Million Pledge

As the film "The Moon and the Man" continues its box office success, surpassing 6.5 million viewers, Director Jang Hang-jun's unconventional '10 million viewer pledge' is once again drawing attention.

In a past broadcast, Director Jang Hang-jun jokingly pledged, "If we surpass 10 million viewers, I will change my phone number, my name, and get plastic surgery. I'm even considering naturalizing in another country so no one can recognize me." He also added a cheerful plan: "​I'll buy a yacht, throw a party on board, and eat lobster."

Meanwhile, when asked about surpassing 5 million viewers and winning a directing award, Director Jang gave a serious response: "I don't have much ambition for a directing award. I want to prove to the investors that they didn't lose money and that it was the right decision for the actors and staff." He also expressed caution regarding the surrounding expectations, stating, "​We need to be self-restrained."

"The Moon and the Man," set in Cheongnyeongpo in 1457, is a historical drama depicting the story of a village chief who volunteers to be exiled to revitalize his village and a young former king who was ousted from the throne. It is garnering attention for its star-studded cast, including Yoo Hae-jin, Park Ji-hoon, and Yoo Ji-tae.

Surpassing 6 million viewers in just over 20 days since its release, "The Moon and the Man" is injecting vitality into the sluggish cinema scene since the COVID-19 pandemic. It is being evaluated as a case that proves theaters are still a space for collective emotional experience in the OTT era.