'Tall Comedian' Seo Jang-hoon, Moved to Tears Recalling AG Gold Medal from 20 Years Ago

Seo Jang-hoon, who has transformed from a 'national treasure-class center' into a representative entertainer in the variety show world, eventually sheds tears while recalling the heated moments of the 2002 Busan Asian Games. He, who has usually provided laughter with his unrestrained wit and cool sense of reality, could not hide his emotions in front of memories from his days as a basketball player. Interest is focused on what stories will be revealed as he looks back on the times he played as a national representative on the court and the dedication of his teammates.

In the SBS variety program 'Whatever You Wish - Secretary Jin' broadcasting on the 9th, Seo Jang-hoon will appear to tell behind-the-scenes stories from his days as a basketball player and his changed daily life after retirement. Having become a familiar face to the public by being active in various variety programs after retiring from active duty, he expressed his current self playfully. Seo Jang-hoon drew laughter by saying, "Little kids think I'm a tall comedian." He wittily pointed out the reality where his history as a legendary player who roamed the basketball court is now remembered as an entertainer's image.

However, as the conversation turned toward his active years, the atmosphere changed. Recalling the men's basketball final of the 2002 Busan Asian Games, Seo Jang-hoon conveys the urgent moments of that time. The Korean national team faced China, and the opponent had the world-class center Yao Ming standing firm. Against China, which relied on height and power, Korea did not back down easily, and the match unfolded as a close battle that extended into overtime.

At that time, the Korean national team showed concentration in overtime to defeat China and claim the gold medal. It was the moment when Korean men's basketball reached the top for the first time in 20 years at the Asian Games. Seo Jang-hoon contributed to the victory by successfully making an important three-pointer that changed the flow of the game. Beyond individual player records, it was a match where the efforts and fighting spirit accumulated by the entire national team over a long time bore fruit, making that gold medal remain a meaningful scene in Korean basketball history.

While bringing up the story of that day, Seo Jang-hoon gives credit to the teammates he played with rather than highlighting his own performance. He explained that his emotions welled up in the process of looking back at the victory not just as an individual glory, but as a result created together by the team. Ultimately, he shed tears during filming, showing his sincere inner thoughts that he does not easily reveal on broadcasts. This part shows that even after a long time, the memory of standing on the court as a national representative and his feelings toward his teammates remain vivid.

Lee Seo-jin, who watched the match in real-time at the time, also empathized with Seo Jang-hoon's story. Lee Seo-jin recalled the memory of the final, saying, "I felt moved too." The victory watched as a spectator and the victory created by physically clashing on the court with teammates carry different weights. The conversation shared by the two is expected to reveal how sports can become an emotional memory that lasts long for both players and spectators beyond the match results.

Seo Jang-hoon also expresses his thoughts regarding the current men's national basketball team. Regarding the national team participating in the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, he evaluates them by saying, "This is the golden generation," expressing expectations for the possibility of a gold medal. As it is a prospect from someone who personally experienced competing in international competitions during his player days, interest is gathering in his perspective on the national team and the basis for predicting a victory. However, since actual results can vary depending on the players' performance, the opponent's strength, and variables on the day of the tournament, it remains to be seen whether his confidence will lead to results.

After retirement, Seo Jang-hoon laid down his identity as a basketball player and built a new position as an entertainer. On broadcasts, he shows his presence through realistic advice, direct speech, and sometimes cold evaluations, but at the moment he recalls the 2002 gold medal, he appears to return to being a player who fought alongside others. Behind the joke of being a 'tall comedian' familiar to the public, there lay the memories of passing through intense times as a national representative and sharing glory with teammates.

This broadcast is expected to serve as an opportunity to look into not just the success stories of glamorous sports stars, but also the team memories and camaraderie that do not easily fade even as time passes. Interest is focused on how the victory of 2002, which Seo Jang-hoon looked back on with tears, and the expectations he sends to the current national team, will continue as a story.

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