Former basketball star Woo Ji-won has kicked off his second act in life as an actor.
On the 23rd, Woo appeared in the MBC drama 'A Head Coach's Turnover' (directed by Hyun Sol-yip / written by Kim Dam) as the coach of the team Aight, sharing the screen with Park Sung-woong.
'A Head Coach's Turnover' is a buddy comedy about a pro basketball coach, Maeng Gong, who is on the verge of being fired due to poor performance. He teams up with his own hater, Hwa-jin, to save the team's fortunes. The script, which won the grand prize at the MBC Scriptwriting Contest in 2024, serves as the foundation for the show.
In the drama, Woo Ji-won steps into the shoes of Aight's basketball coach, showcasing his professional demeanor and marking his debut step as an actor. The fresh energy of a young director and a rookie writer adds a lively charm to the characters, creating a drama filled with laughter.
As the original basketball star, Woo Ji-won's participation as a basketball coach had already generated buzz before his appearance. Known as the real-life version of Soo Tae-woong from the manga 'Slam Dunk,' Woo Ji-won has led the basketball fandom and now, as an actor, has captured the attention of viewers.
Woo Ji-won expressed his gratitude towards Park Sung-woong, saying, "Being close friends with Park Sung-woong, it was great to get acting tips from him on set." He added, "It was a great atmosphere shooting with actual basketball juniors on set."
Woo Ji-won shared his aspirations, "I will continue to work hard to show good acting as an actor. I hope you'll keep an eye on me."
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)