Singer Kim Jong-kook shared his thoughts on his 'close friend' Jang Hyuk's participation in I AM BOXER.
On the 19th, the press conference for tvN's new variety show I AM BOXER was held online.
I AM BOXER is a large-scale blockbuster boxing survival program personally designed by global action star and 30-year veteran boxing gym owner Ma Dong-seok to revive K-boxing.
The scale befitting a large-scale blockbuster boxing survival is a viewing point; it collaborated with art director Lee Young-joo, who produced sets for Physical: 100 and Culinary Class Wars, worked with the country's top experts on boxing rings, and uses a 1,000-pyeong set where the main matches take place and a 500-pyeong boxing gym set to amplify the fun of watching. In particular, the final winner will receive a prize of 300 million won, a champion belt, and a luxury SUV.
Former Tongyang champion Kim Min-wook, Kim Dong-hoe, who won 14 consecutive national sports festival titles, national sports festival gold medalist Guk Seung-jun and Lee Chae-hyun of the Republic of Korea Armed Forces Athletic Corps, action actor Jang Hyuk who dreams of becoming a boxer, Korea's first UFC light heavyweight fighter Jung Da-woon, and UDT veteran visual artist Yuk Joon-seo are among the lineup of I AM BOXER.
Producer Lee Won-woong said, "There are still many people who risk their lives for boxing, and they have the level to fight in the world. When selecting participants for the survival, we made efforts to pick them well. People who like boxing have a strong spirit of challenge and momentum. Even when making recruiting calls, most of the people who seemed unlikely to participate actually joined. Former UFC fighter Jung Da-woon, as well as Julien Kang, Yuk Joon-seo, and singer Ozone appear, but the person who agreed most readily was Jang Hyuk," he said.
Regarding Jang Hyuk's appearance, "close friend" Kim Jong-kook said, "It's regrettable because I wish he had asked me once when he was contacted. I personally know Jang Hyuk's passion for boxing very well. He really comes to the boxing gym every day, loves boxing more than anyone, and even took the pro test. What I respect most is that he takes on this kind of challenge. No matter how much I like boxing, such a challenge wouldn't be easy for me. Jang Hyuk might have something to lose on a big stage, but I respect that he participated with passion. While Jang Hyuk was taking on the challenge, I couldn't watch," he said.
tvN's I AM BOXER will premiere on the 21st at 11 p.m.
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