Why Jang Young-nam Was Called the Lee Young-ae of Daehangno

There are actors you recognize from their work, and then there are actors who, once you hear their colleagues speak about them, you wish you had known sooner. Jang Young-nam belongs firmly in the second category. On MBN's talk show Kim Joo-ha's Day and Night (김주하의 데이앤나잇) on March 28, her co-star and longtime friend Jang Hyun-sung delivered an unexpected tribute that turned the entire conversation into something warm and genuinely surprising.

The "Daehangno's Lee Young-ae" Story

Jang Young-nam and Jang Hyun-sung are both graduates of Seoul Arts University (서울예술대학교), one of South Korea's most prestigious institutions for performing arts. They currently share the stage in the hit play Boulangerie Gold (불란서 금고), a new comedy written and directed by acclaimed playwright Jang Jin — described as his first full comedy production in a decade.

During the show, the conversation turned to their university days. Jang Hyun-sung, who described feeling overwhelmed by the concentrated talent around him at Seoul Arts, suddenly turned to Jang Young-nam and said something that clearly caught her off guard: "Across five or six years of students above and below us, you were the most beautiful person in the whole school. You were the Lee Young-ae of Daehangno."

Lee Young-ae, of course, is one of the most beloved and iconic actresses in Korean entertainment history — known for her luminous beauty and exceptional range. To be called "the Lee Young-ae of Daehangno" (the theater district of Seoul where Seoul Arts University is located) is about as high a compliment as one could receive in that world. Jang Young-nam, clearly remembering the days he was describing, laughed and said simply: "I remember it."

The Play That Brought Them Back Together

Both actors said that it was not the director, but their legendary co-star, that ultimately sealed their commitment to Boulangerie Gold. The play also stars Shin Gu (신구), one of South Korea's most revered veteran actors, who is now in his 90s and still performing at an extraordinary level.

Jang Hyun-sung explained the weight of working alongside Shin Gu in a way that was difficult to argue with: "My feeling was that Shin Gu is a seven, and Jang Jin is a three — meaning, whatever the show is, just the fact that we get to share the stage with Shin Gu at this stage in his life is a reason to say yes." He added that the opportunity to spend that kind of time with someone of Shin Gu's stature felt irreplaceable — something that could not be postponed.

Jang Young-nam described a moment that has stayed with her throughout rehearsals: Shin Gu arrives with his lines already memorized, before rehearsals even begin. "Every time I see that, I feel a kind of shame," she said quietly. "He makes me reflect on myself every time I am on stage with him." She added that seeing him work so diligently moves her to tears. "He is my cry button," she said, drawing laughter — but the emotion in her voice was real.

Behind the Scenes: Careers Defined by Range

Jang Young-nam's career has been built on a particular kind of versatility that Korean audiences have come to deeply appreciate. She is an actress who disappears into roles rather than drawing attention to herself — the kind of performer who anchors a scene without demanding to be noticed. When asked about memorable pairings from her career, she cited two names that immediately made the audience smile: Park Bo-gum and Park Bo-young, both of whom she has played maternal or older figures to in past projects. "They are the ones I remember most," she said warmly.

Jang Hyun-sung, meanwhile, shared an unexpected moment from his own history. He mentioned a brief but memorable appearance in the box office hit King and the Clown (왕의 남자), which was directed by his university friend Jang Hang-jun. He had only a minute of screen time, and the story behind that cameo — Jang Hang-jun calling him up without much warning and assuring him it would be fine — became a running joke on the show.

A Friendship Built Over Decades

What made the episode particularly enjoyable was the ease between Jang Young-nam and Jang Hyun-sung. Decades of knowing each other — from shared university hallways to professional stages to late-night conversations — showed in the way they talked. There were no performative anecdotes. Instead, the stories came the way old memories do: with small, precise details and the kind of affection that does not need to announce itself.

Jang Hyun-sung spoke about his college years with genuine nostalgia. Seoul Arts University, he explained, was a place where the sheer density of talent made even a confident person feel small. "Everyone around me seemed to have this raw energy, this explosive potential," he said. "I spent most of my time in the literary arts club room, just reading and talking." The picture he painted of young people who would later define Korean theater and screen, gathered in small rooms and finding their footing, was unexpectedly moving.

Jang Young-nam, for her part, was also asked about her personal life — specifically about her husband, who is seven years her junior. A photo was shown on the program, and the host Kim Joo-ha praised his appearance, calling him "visually impressive." Jang Young-nam smiled, explaining with characteristic understatement that he had once approached her by saying he was sorry for liking her. The story landed as both charming and funny, in exactly the way Jang Young-nam herself tends to land: quietly, then all at once.

What to Expect From Boulangerie Gold

Boulangerie Gold is currently running at a theater in Seoul and has been generating strong buzz since it opened. The combination of Jang Jin's distinctive comedic sensibility, the gravitational presence of Shin Gu, and a cast anchored by Jang Young-nam and Jang Hyun-sung makes it one of the more anticipated live theater productions of the season. For fans of Korean screen actors who rarely get to see them work in live performance, the play represents a rare opportunity.

Jang Young-nam and Jang Hyun-sung's appearance on Day and Night served as an effective and warm introduction to the production. But more than a promotional appearance, it became a small portrait of two actors at a particular point in their lives — grateful for their careers, honest about their insecurities, and still, after all these years, delighted to be working together.