Baseball Star Yang Jun-hyeok Reveals His Seafood Empire Business Plan

Before he became one of Korean baseball's most celebrated legends, Yang Jun-hyeok spent decades mastering the art of precision and strategy on the diamond. Now, the retired slugger appears to be applying that same intensity to a very different field — the seafood wholesale business. On the March 29, 2026 episode of KBS2's popular variety program Boss in the Mirror (사장님 귀는 당나귀 귀, affectionately shortened to 사당귀), Yang revealed a detailed and surprisingly ambitious plan to build a seafood distribution empire targeting 30 billion KRW — roughly 21 million US dollars — in annual revenue.

The revelation came after a visit to one of Daejeon's largest seafood companies, a facility that processes more than seven tons of marine products daily and handles over 100 varieties of seafood. The scale of the operation clearly sparked something in Yang, whose entrepreneur ambitions have been a recurring theme on the show.

The Vision: A Seafood Wholesale Hub

Yang Jun-hyeok did not hold back when laying out his plans for what he calls a "수산물 총집합소" — a comprehensive seafood wholesale hub where buyers could access a massive range of marine products under one roof. His pitch included everything from location scouting to equipment lists to projected startup costs, delivered with the confident energy of someone who has clearly thought through more than just the broad strokes.

The numbers he cited were significant. The Daejeon facility he toured does 30 billion KRW per year, and Yang wants that same benchmark for his own enterprise. It is an audacious goal, but Yang has never been known for setting modest targets — during his baseball career, he was renowned for swinging for the fences.

Among the key investments he identified: a water transport truck, which he estimated at around 300 million KRW (approximately 210,000 US dollars). His proposed solution? A loan. It was at this point that comedian and fellow cast member Park Myung-soo intervened with a piece of practical wisdom: "Get your wife's permission first."

The line got the laugh it deserved, but it also underscored how seriously Yang is taking the concept. This is not a passing idea mentioned once and forgotten — it is a structured proposal complete with cost breakdowns, operational requirements, and a clear revenue target.

Cho Hyun-ah's Unexpected Interest

The episode took an interesting turn when Cho Hyun-ah, a panelist on the show known for her sharp investment instincts, began engaging with Yang's plan in earnest. While Park Myung-soo offered caution, Cho leaned in with interest — specifically around the water transport vehicle.

"Water trucks don't depreciate that much, do they?" she noted, before floating the idea of running a truck rental business as a complementary side venture. "We should do a rental business," she suggested, immediately reframing the 300 million KRW truck from a liability into a potential revenue stream.

Yang was clearly delighted. He responded to her business enthusiasm by declaring her the "Seoul branch manager" — a title that sent the studio into laughter but also neatly captured the unexpected dynamic: a retired baseball hero and a sharp-eyed business panelist finding common ground in the seafood trade.

The exchange gave the episode a comedic depth that went beyond the usual variety show energy. Two people with genuine interest in the commercial possibilities of seafood logistics, talking strategy on a prime-time weekend show — it was the kind of unscripted moment that Boss in the Mirror consistently produces.

Yang Jun-hyeok: From KBO Legend to Variety Star

For viewers unfamiliar with Korean sports history, Yang Jun-hyeok's significance in Korean baseball cannot be overstated. He played for the Samsung Lions, LG Twins, and Hanwha Eagles over a career that spanned multiple decades and earned him recognition as one of the Korea Baseball Organization's all-time greats, known particularly for his power hitting and consistent performance as a right fielder.

After retirement, he transitioned seamlessly into the television world — a move that has become increasingly common for beloved Korean athletes. His comfort in front of the camera, combined with his outsized personality and genuine enthusiasm for food and commerce, made him a natural fit for Boss in the Mirror's format, which follows the daily lives and business interests of its cast members.

This is not the first time Yang has displayed ambitions in the aquaculture space. Earlier appearances on the show touched on his interest in yellowtail fish farming (방어 양식), suggesting that his seafood industry fascination is a sustained interest rather than a one-episode hook. The 350th episode appears to represent a natural escalation of that ongoing storyline.

Why the Show Works

Boss in the Mirror has maintained its audience for years by finding celebrities whose real-life passions and quirks are compelling enough to carry weekly episodes without manufactured drama. Yang Jun-hyeok represents one of the show's recurring success cases: a person whose genuine enthusiasm for something — in his case, ambitious business ventures in the food industry — translates naturally into entertainment.

The dynamic between Yang, Park Myung-soo's deadpan skepticism, and Cho Hyun-ah's deal-making energy creates a trio that reflects something true about how people approach big ideas differently. Park plays the voice of practical caution, Yang is the dreamer with a detailed plan, and Cho is the analyst who immediately starts stress-testing the business model for hidden upsides.

It is a formula that makes viewers feel like they are watching a real conversation rather than a performance, which is ultimately the highest compliment a variety show can earn.

What Comes Next

Whether Yang Jun-hyeok's seafood empire idea moves beyond the planning stage remains to be seen. Korean variety shows have a tendency to introduce business concepts that never fully materialize — but they also occasionally produce genuine ventures that fans can follow in real life. Yang's level of preparation and the involvement of a business-minded partner like Cho Hyun-ah suggests this might be more than just good television.

For viewers tuning in on March 29, the episode promises the particular satisfaction of watching a visionary sketch out a grand plan in real time, complete with pushback, enthusiastic co-signers, and the inevitable question of spousal approval. Whether the 30 billion KRW target ever becomes reality, the planning session makes for must-watch Sunday night television.