SBS launches Master Hang-jun with Yoo Jae-myung and Lee Sun-bin as first guests

Actors Yoo Jae-myung and Lee Sun-bin became the first casting hopefuls on SBS’s new cinematic talk show Master Hang-jun, joining director Jang Hang-jun, production company head Song Eun-i and assistant director Kim Poong for a premiere built around candid conversation and a comic script reading.

The show premiered on Thursday the 15th, unveiling a secret audition conducted by the trio. Directed by Lee Dong-won and Kam Yu-min, written by Kim Myung-jung and co-produced by Content Lab VIVO, it airs on SBS every Thursday at 9 p.m.

Presented by SBS as an anticipated offering for the second half of 2026, Master Hang-jun follows Jang Hang-jun’s efforts to cast leading actors in an autobiographical film also titled Master Hang-jun. Its premise draws on a life described as sometimes petty and sometimes servile, yet more radiant than anyone else’s, with the director and his prospective stars trading verbal feints through the audition process.

The premiere’s script reading centered on another proposed project, “The Man Who Lives With the Queen.” Jang Hang-jun spoke freely about the reversal in earnings between himself and his wife, writer Kim Eun-hee, and recalled using her credit card. He then proposed a story about a husband taking revenge on a queen, setting up a rebellion by the director nicknamed the “Maltese without tear stains.”

Yoo Jae-myung played Jang Hang-jun, while Lee Sun-bin took the role of Kim Eun-hee. Their improvised exchanges filled the secret workshop with laughter, but both actors quickly changed course when the hosts offered them the parts.

“I think the script is childish,” Yoo Jae-myung said. Lee Sun-bin offered her own hurried excuse: “I think an overseas engagement has come up.”

Jang Hang-jun responded with a playful threat: “I can’t make you two global stars, but I can bring you down.” He ultimately persuaded both actors to pose for a photograph with him.

Earlier, Lee Sun-bin revealed that she had belonged to the Hakjeon theater company and described leaving home while still in high school to pursue her debut.

“I ran away from home with the money I had saved in high school because I wanted to make my debut,” she said. She contacted her mother after joining a newly established agency as an idol trainee.

When talk turned to her relationship with Lee Kwang-soo, the surprise shown by Jang Hang-jun and Kim Poong prompted an indignant response: “We’ve been dating for nine years. That’s too much.”

Lee Sun-bin said she and Lee Kwang-soo shared a peace-loving disposition that made it difficult to voice complaints directly to other people. Instead, they discussed frustrating situations with each other. “It’s often a great comfort,” she said.

Yoo Jae-myung, meanwhile, said he had recently rediscovered his ambition to direct films. “I recently realized again that my dream is to become a film director,” he said. “Seeing director Jang Hang-jun gave me hope.”

Kim Poong teased him by asking whether he meant, “If even Jang Hang-jun can do it, why can’t I?” Yoo Jae-myung went on to place Martin Scorsese and Jang Hang-jun alongside each other, saying he wanted to learn their “indomitable determination,” drawing laughter in the workshop.

He also recreated a performance from Stranger on the spot, earning a standing ovation from Kim Poong.

Jang Hang-jun had opened the episode by boasting about his friendships with Park Chan-wook and Bong Joon Ho. “Park Chan-wook of Cannes is annoying. Bong Joon Ho keeps consulting me, too. Try standing on your own for once,” he joked.

Song Eun-i declared an ambition to aim for “the Cannes and Academy film festivals,” while stressing the need for Jang Hang-jun to watch his words at all times.

Her concern soon became part of the comedy. During an account of how Yoo Jae-myung had been cast in 30 seconds, Jang Hang-jun asked, “Did you perhaps slip some money under the table?” He also made unfounded insinuations about Yoo Jae-myung’s fee for a special appearance.

“He makes up stories that never happened,” Song Eun-i said, stepping in to restrain the director’s teasing. The show dubbed this persona “Moham-jun,” combining the word for making false accusations with Jang Hang-jun’s name.

In its account of the premiere, SBS praised the trio’s loose, stream-of-consciousness exchanges as a successful example of the show’s “self-driving” talk format. It highlighted Jang Hang-jun’s deadpan delivery, swagger, invented accusations and flattering stories about himself, alongside Kim Poong’s writerly imagination and Song Eun-i’s efforts to steer their unpredictable conversation toward its destination.

SBS also credited the two guests’ candid humor and unexpected sides with strengthening the opening episode, saying their exchanges raised anticipation for conversations with other leading actors.

Online community and social media reactions cited after the broadcast praised both hosts and guests. Comments included “I laugh every time Jang Hang-jun speaks,” “Jang Hang-jun, Song Eun-i and Kim Poong work well together,” and “The director’s Moham-jun character fits him perfectly.”

Other viewers wrote, “Yoo Jae-myung is an actor with an unexpected side,” “Lee Sun-bin sings well and has so many talents,” and “The free-flowing conversation makes it funny.” The script reading also drew comments that “Yoo Jae-myung plays Jang Hang-jun so well” and “Yoo Jae-myung and Lee Sun-bin’s improvisations really brought the script for ‘The Man Who Lives With the Queen’ to life.”

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