Jang Sung-kyu says farewell to manager emigrating to the US
In short
South Korean broadcaster Jang Sung-kyu said on his social media on October 6 that his first manager and friend, Yong-woon, is emigrating to the United States. Jang said he gave him a racket of the same specification as his own as a farewell gift, and the manager gave signed BTS cards for Jang's children. The two appeared together on MBC's variety show '전지적 참견 시점' about seven years ago.
Read the full story 1 min read
Broadcaster Jang Sung-kyu said on October 6 that his first manager and friend, Yong-woon, is emigrating to the United States. In a post on his social media account, Jang wrote that it seemed like yesterday that they appeared together on the MBC variety show '전지적 참견 시점', but that it was already seven years ago. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Jang said he gave the manager a racket of the same specification as the one he uses, so that he would not be forgotten. The manager, he said, gave signed BTS cards to pass on to Jang's children. “Friend, I will miss you, let us meet again,” Jang wrote. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Hankook Ilbo identified the manager as Kim Yong-woon and said he was introduced on the 2019 show as Jang's same-age manager of five years; Jang described him at the time as a friend he trusted and relied on. Chosun Ilbo's headline described the BTS card as a limited-edition signed card, while Newsis and Hankook Ilbo referred to a signed card. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Newsis reported that Jang married in 2014 and has two sons, and that he recently worked as a KBS caster for archery at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. Hankook Ilbo reported that Jang debuted as a JTBC announcer in 2011 and left the company in 2019. [ 2 , 3 ]
Why it matters
The story is a personal-farewell item from South Korea's entertainment press rather than a news development, and it rests almost entirely on a single social media post. It circulated across three national outlets within a day, reflecting the continued public interest in Jang and in the manager-broadcaster pairing that the 2019 show made familiar to viewers.
Key facts
- Jang Sung-kyu said on his social media on October 6 that his first manager, whom he calls a friend, is emigrating to the United States. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Jang said it seemed like yesterday that they appeared on '전지적 참견 시점', but that it was already seven years ago. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Jang said he gave the manager a racket of the same specification as the one he uses, so that he would not be forgotten. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The manager gave Jang signed BTS cards to pass on to Jang's children. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Hankook Ilbo identified the manager as Kim Yong-woon and said he was introduced on the 2019 show as Jang's same-age manager of five years. [ 3 ]
- Jang married in 2014 and has two sons, and recently worked as a KBS caster for archery at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, according to Newsis. [ 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Jang Sung-kyu announced on his social media on October 6 that his first manager and friend is emigrating to the United States. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Jang said the two had appeared on the MBC show '전지적 참견 시점' about seven years ago. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Jang gave the manager a racket of the same specification as his own as a farewell gift, and the manager gave BTS signed cards meant for Jang's children. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- The manager's full name. Only Hankook Ilbo gives it as Kim Yong-woon; Chosun Ilbo and Newsis refer to him only as 'Yong-woon'.
- When the manager will emigrate to the United States. The documents say he is going but give no date.
- Whether the BTS card was a limited edition. Chosun Ilbo's headline calls it a limited-edition signed card, while Newsis and Hankook Ilbo describe only a signed card.
- Jang Sung-kyu's career details, including his 2011 JTBC debut, 2019 departure, marriage and children. These appear in a single document each and are background rather than the event itself.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Chosun Ilbo publishes a report on Jang's social media post, quoting his message that his first manager is emigrating to the United States and noting the racket gift. [ 1 ]
- Newsis reports the farewell and adds that the manager gave BTS signed cards for Jang's children, along with background on Jang's family and his recent work as a KBS caster at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. [ 2 ]
- Hankook Ilbo publishes its account, naming the manager as Kim Yong-woon and recalling their 2019 appearance together on '전지적 참견 시점'. [ 3 ]