Group 2AM member and actor Jeong Jin-woon (34) announced his performance in director Seo Jang-hoon’s ‘Passionate Basketball Team’, raising expectations for a hot basketball phenomenon on TV at the end of the year.
Jinwoon Jeong is one of the famous basketball fanatics in the entertainment industry. Jeong Jin-woon, who dreamed of playing basketball in middle school, did not lose sight of it after his debut and made it come true as a member of the celebrity basketball team. Last year, he also played in an amateur charity basketball tournament hosted by his former agency, JYP Entertainment.
Basketball is inseparable from the filmography that Jinwoon Jeong has accumulated so far. He appeared in tvN’s basketball entertainment show ‘Buzzer Beater’ in 2017, and even released a basketball movie ‘Rebound’ (directed by Jang Hang-jun) in 2023. In particular, Jeong Jin-woon boasts skills recognized by ‘basketball legend’ Seo Jang-hoon. In the past, Seo Jang-hoon praised him on JTBC’s ‘Knowing Bros’, saying, “Jeong Jin-woon is someone I recognize who is good at basketball in the entertainment industry. He is in the top 3 among all Korean celebrities.”
Accordingly, Jeong Jin-woon was named in the lineup of players for SBS’ new sports entertainment show ‘Passionate Basketball Team’ led by ‘coach’ Seo Jang-hoon. ‘Passionate Basketball Team’ is directed by Seo Jang-hoon, who formed the Rising Eagles, a basketball team made up of celebrities and sports stars, and tells the story of their journey to conquer Asia. Jeon Tae-pung, a much-loved former basketball player from KBL (Korea Professional Basketball), has joined forces as a ‘coach’.
The Rising Eagles members include Jeong Jin-woon, captain Choi Min-ho of the group SHINee, actors Park Eun-seok and Oh Seung-hoon, singer Son Tae-jin, NCT/NCT 127 Johnny, model Lee Dae-hee, Moon Soo-in, who has already proven his skills through SBS’s ‘Handsome Tigers’, basketball player-turned-actor Kim Taek, former national basketball team member Park Chan-hee’s younger brother and caster Park Chan-woong, and TVING’s ‘Transit Love 2’ former member Gyu-min Jeong. There is.
In a paper interview with Star News, Jinwoon Jeong introduced something special, saying, “‘Passionate Basketball Team’ is an entertainment show that allows you to look at the beginning and end of youth.”
The determination was also enormous. Despite giving up his career as a player due to an injury in middle school, Jeong Jin-woon showed his strong spirit by saying, “I may have some difficulties as I have had four surgeries in the past, but it is not to the extent that it will interfere with my game.”
In particular, Jeong Jin-woon boldly said, “What I personally want to achieve in the ‘Passionate Basketball Team’ with the goal of dominating Asia is further growth as a ‘person Jeong Jin-woon.’”
What are the strengths of ‘basketball player Jeong Jin-woon’ that will be displayed in ‘Passionate Basketball Team’? He pointed out, “I think I will be able to play without worrying about my outskirts on broadcasts. I think that will be seen as a big strength.” Jinwoon Jeong also showed his passion, saying, “I also have a huge competitive spirit. I don’t want to do it if I’m going to lose.”
Do you feel any pressure from the shouting of ‘tiger coach’ Seo Jang-hoon, who divides the hot court? Regarding this, Jinwoon Jeong replied, “Actually, at first, it was too much of a burden. I felt my body stiffening, but as time went by, I had time to accept it,” giving a glimpse of the tense tension comparable to that of actual athletes.
When asked about the ‘hidden ace’ in the team, he pointed out, “Definitely Moon Soo-in.”
Lastly, Jinwoon Jeong spoke about the most memorable moment during his journey as a ‘passionate basketball team member.’ He said sincerely, “I was very nervous in the beginning, so I made many unnecessary mistakes, but all of them are very memorable. I think the opportunities that our team created by moving while looking for spacing, or the scenes where we created opportunities without catching the ball, are the moments that helped me learn a lot about basketball.”
The ‘passionate basketball team’ completed two straight games at the Yongin Indoor Gymnasium on September 22nd and October 8th. The long-awaited finale, the away game in the Philippines, was held in a grand manner amid the cheers of 15,000 spectators at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Manila on October 26 (local time). The opponent was the Philippine celebrity basketball team Kuys Showtime.
The event, titled ‘Shoot of Asia’, was held in the form of a complex cultural festival combining sports, entertainment, and music from Korea and the Philippines, and received a warm response from local media and social media. Popular Philippine boy group HORIZON, talented Korean girl group Billlie, and 2NE1 member Sandara Park, a symbol of the Korean Wave, performed congratulatory performances, going beyond a simple sports event and opening a new venue for cultural exchange combining K-pop and basketball.
The first episode of ‘Passionate Basketball Team’ will be broadcast at 5 PM on the 29th.
