Jung Joon Won has addressed resurfaced comments from The King’s Warden director Jang Hang Jun, who once jokingly described the actor as “rude” and lacking in manners.
Jung spoke about the remarks during a September 14th interview following the conclusion of MBC’s A Bona Fide Killer, in which he played social affairs reporter Kwon Tae Sung, the devoted husband of Gong Hyo Jin’s character.
The comments resurfaced after Jung drew criticism from some viewers for appearing extremely nervous and reserved during an appearance on Hangout With Yoo last month.
After the episode aired, a September 2025 appearance by Jang on the YouTube channel “VIVO TV” began circulating again. Recalling an audition with Jung, the director joked that the actor “didn’t greet people properly” and “was rude,” adding, “His acting was 100 points, but his manners were 40.” Jang and Song Eun Yi made clear at the time that the story was being told for laughs.
“If you watched the whole video, you’d know nothing about that was problematic,” Jung said. “The director said it to make the story entertaining, so I never saw it as an issue either.”
Jung also recalled the audition positively, describing it as an enjoyable experience in which Jang spent considerable time with him and showed interest in his performance. He added that the audition was the first and last time they met and that the two do not have each other’s personal contact information, so he did not reach out after the comments resurfaced.
Reflecting more broadly on his career, the actor admitted that he has sometimes questioned whether he can win over audiences. “I’ve wondered, ‘Can I convince the public? I don’t have some extraordinary competitive edge, so can I really make it in this industry?'”
Despite those doubts, he said he remains committed to his work. “I always believe that if I continue acting sincerely and consistently, I can connect with viewers and audiences.”
Jung also credited his fans with giving him strength through difficult moments. “There are times when even if 99 out of 100 things people say are positive, the one negative thing is all you see,” he said. “But whenever I’m reminded that there are more people who like me, care about me and support me, I think that’s what gives me the strength to keep going.”
>> Jung Joon Won Faces Backlash Over Awkward ‘Hangout With Yoo’ Appearance
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