As the 30th anniversary of his acting debut approaches, Han Sang-jin's unexpected entertainment DNA has exploded. A graduate of SBS public talent recruitment, he has been beloved for his strong performances in hit works such as 'The White Tower', 'Yi San', 'The Sons of Sol Pharmacy', 'Deep-rooted Tree', 'The King's Affection', 'Six Flying Dragons', and 'Judge from Hell', but his recent accomplishments in entertainment stand out. He is busier than ever, launching his first web entertainment show, 'Busan Housewife Han Sang-jin', in addition to shows like 'Pingkaego', 'Knowing Bros', and 'What do you do when you play'.
His schedule has significantly increased lately, but he actually doesn't have a home in Seoul. He married women's basketball legend Park Jeong-eun in 2004, and when his wife became head coach of the women's professional team 'Busan BNK Some' after retiring, he moved his residence to Busan and reorganized his life in Seoul. Although he commutes between Seoul and Busan, he showed no signs of hardship. It might seem to others like 'Why does he willingly suffer?' but he had a positive mindset that it is 'work that makes me happy' permeating his entire life.
In a recent interview with OSEN, Han Sang-jin said, "I go back and forth between Busan and Seoul about 3 to 4 times a week. Today, I took the KTX, but I also take the plane sometimes," he said, adding, "People ask if it's not hard, but I efficiently use my time by reading books, looking at newspapers, and going over several scripts on the train or plane. If I were just at home, I would have probably just looked at my phone during that time. (Laughs) I feel like I am using my free time in a more productive way."
Since moving to Busan, he hasn't been late for appointments, saying, "Honestly, when I lived in Seoul, I was late sometimes. (Laughs) But living in Busan, there is no time to be late. My habit of keeping time commitments has improved. If I have an appointment at 3 p.m. like today, I leave my house in Busan at 9 a.m. I can do it because I enjoy it."
Since launching the mini show 'Pingkaego' in February, Han Sang-jin has been active as a late entrant in entertainment. Since last month, he has been showcasing 'Busan Housewife Han Sang-jin' through an MBC web entertainment dedicated YouTube channel. In an era of content flood, the first video almost reached 200,000 views and received favorable reviews. Notably, a scene where he texts his wife, coach Park Jeong-eun, before calculating the staff's lunch expenses also garnered attention.
He said, "It's a shared family card, so I think I should mention even the small amounts. If someone usually spends 7,000 to 8,000 won on a meal suddenly charges 160,000 won, wouldn't they be curious? People should pay more attention to the little things," adding, "When the card is charged, an alert is sent to my wife as well, because she might think it's been stolen. That was just obvious to me," he laughed.
He clarified that it wasn't set up for the show, saying, "Getting permission before spending money doesn't mean I need to ask for approval. I earn as much as my wife does. (Laughs) I think it's good for a couple to share even the small things with each other."
After 22 years of marriage, his actions stem from a caring attitude towards his wife, underpinned by respect.
Han Sang-jin said, "Since my wife is a current coach, she is often away from home. For that reason, she worries and is curious about how I eat. She feels sorry for not being able to take care of me. My wife dislikes me eating alone. She worries that it might look pitiful for me to come all the way to Busan for meals," adding, "In the early days after the move, I would purposely go home for dinner even though the house and the lodging are just 30 minutes apart. Seeing her do that while being busy preparing for her basketball duties, I said, 'You don't have to worry about me.' She cares for me that much; therefore, I can't not care for her," showing his affection.
He continued, "I have a lot to be thankful for to my wife. I wouldn't have married her back when I was an unknown actor and struggling. (Laughs) I am grateful just for the fact that she believed in me and married me," adding, "Instead of waiting for my wife to ask, 'What is this?' when she saw a message, I'd tell her first. In that case, she has never once said, 'Don't buy this.' She encourages me by saying, 'Eat something tastier.' When I try to buy pork belly for my juniors, she says, 'Buy beef instead~'" mentioning his gratitude.
Regarding why he respects his wife, he said, "My wife was number one in her field. For instance, there are people like Yoo Jae-suk in entertainment and Ha Seok-gyu in acting," adding, "I heard that teacher Lee Soon-jae received his first 'Acting Award' last year. I feel that unless I do my best until the day I die, I won't achieve something like coach Park Jeong-eun,'" he said with a smile. (Continued in Interview②)
[Photo] OSEN DB, Billions provided, 'Busan Housewife Han Sang-jin' captured.
[OSEN]