Hyun Joo-yup

2.1. Childhood and education

Hyun's basketball journey began relatively late, at the age of 14, when he was a first-year student at Whimoon Middle School. As a sixth-grader at Seoul Dosung Elementary School, he had initially applied to Whimoon Middle School and tried out for the basketball team but was rejected due to his perceived lack of physique and skills. However, he was still assigned to Whimoon and, upon entering as a regular student, he tried out for the basketball team a second time and was accepted. During his first year, Hyun, along with his childhood friend Seo Jang-hoon, was mostly benched due to their underdeveloped skills. They often watched games from outside the court at the swimming pool.

A significant motivational moment occurred during his middle school and high school career when a teammate, Seok Joo-il (석주일^Korean), bluntly told Hyun and Seo Jang-hoon that they lacked talent and should quit basketball. Hyun later stated that Seok's words became a strong motivation for him to improve. Determined to excel, Hyun taught himself by watching videos of his idol, NBA star Magic Johnson, who inspired him to play. In admiration for Johnson, he adopted the jersey number 32, which he wore for much of his career.

Hyun's talent blossomed in high school, where he set a record for the most points scored in a high school basketball game, tallying 63 points without playing the full game-a record that still stands. His promising abilities attracted the attention of college scouts, leading to a highly publicized recruitment battle between South Korea's top basketball universities, Korea University and Yonsei University. On March 31, 1993, Hyun publicly announced his decision to attend Korea University. He revealed that he initially considered Yonsei for an easier path to a championship, but his father, a Korea University alumnus, advised him against seeking comfort, urging him to challenge himself and help Korea University overcome its long-standing rival, Yonsei.

3.1. Major events and injuries

During his college years, Hyun began to suffer from chronic injuries that would plague his entire career. On September 20, 1996, he underwent surgery at Kyung Hee University Hospital for a left ankle injury. Furthermore, due to the intense training and strenuous movements required in basketball, he developed knee effusion, a condition where excess fluid accumulates in the knee. This condition caused persistent pain in his left knee and became a recurring issue throughout his professional life, forcing him to undergo multiple surgeries.

4.1. Cheongju SK Knights (1998-1999)

In the inaugural KBL draft held on March 9, 1998, Hyun Joo-yup was selected as the first overall pick by the Cheongju SK Knights. He signed a five-year rookie contract valued at 1.00 B KRW. His debut game on November 14, 1998, saw him put up an impressive 26 points, 6 rebounds, 8 assists, and 2 steals, leading the SK Knights to a 95-94 victory over the Daegu Tongyang Orions.

During his rookie season, Hyun achieved several KBL milestones. He recorded double-digit points in 24 consecutive games, a streak that remains the longest for a rookie in KBL history. He was also the first rookie in the league to record a triple-double and the first to be selected for the KBL All-Star Game. In his first All-Star appearance, he contributed 6 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals. For the season, Hyun played 34 games, averaging 23.9 points (a career high), 6.4 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game.

Despite his strong individual performance, the Cheongju SK Knights struggled with team chemistry, particularly between Hyun and fellow star Seo Jang-hoon due to overlapping positions and ego clashes, alongside the underperformance of foreign player Tony Rutland. This led to the mid-season dismissal of coach An Jun-ho. In his sophomore season, Hyun improved his teamwork with Seo Jang-hoon by successfully transitioning to the small forward position. However, this stability was short-lived.

4.2. Trade to Gwangju Goldbank Clickers (1999)

On December 24, 1999, the day before the KBL's mid-season trade deadline, Cheongju SK Knights executed a major trade, sending Hyun Joo-yup to the Gwangju Goldbank Clickers in exchange for Cho Sang-hyun and 400.00 M KRW. Hyun learned about the trade from a reporter, expressing disappointment that the team's coach, Choi In-seon, had not informed him beforehand. This trade was a strategic move by Coach Choi, who felt that Hyun's presence at the small forward position limited the team's mobility and shooting capabilities. The SK Knights had a poor record against Hyundai and believed a change was necessary to secure a championship, which they ultimately achieved that season.

Reports suggested that the trade was also influenced by a personal conflict between Hyun and Coach Choi, stemming from a game against Hyundai where Choi blamed Hyun for the loss, leading to Hyun's alleged "boycott" of subsequent games due to a feigned injury. SK was also rumored to have initially approached Samsung for a trade but opted for the weaker Goldbank Clickers to avoid strengthening a potential rival.

4.3. Goldbank/KTF Magic Wings (1999-2005)

After his controversial trade, Hyun played 27 games for the Gwangju Goldbank Clickers in the remainder of the 1999-2000 season, averaging 23.7 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 7.6 assists per game. His strong performance earned him the Player of the Month award for January, with two triple-doubles and high rankings in scoring, rebounding, and assists. He was also selected for his second consecutive All-Star Game and voted into the All-Star Best 5.

Following this season, the team relocated from Gwangju to Yeosu, becoming the Yeosu Goldbank Clickers (2000-2001).

4.4. Changwon LG Sakers (2005-2009)

In the 2005 offseason, Hyun Joo-yup became a free agent and signed a five-year contract with the Changwon LG Sakers, becoming the second highest-paid player in the league for the 2005-06 season with an annual salary of 360.00 M KRW. He was driven by a desire to finally win a championship after years with struggling teams.

In his first season with LG (2005-06), Hyun played a career-high 54 games, averaging 11.2 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 5.3 assists. He was selected for his second KBL-CBA All-Star Game and his fifth KBL All-Star Game. Recognizing his professional conduct, Hyun received the 2006 KBL Exemplary Player award, having accumulated only five technical fouls throughout his career.

The 2006-07 season saw a decline in Hyun's performance due to persistent injuries. On January 21, 2007, he injured his left ankle and knee, diagnosed with a sprain and meniscus injury. He delayed knee surgery to participate in the playoffs against his former team, the Busan KTF Magic Wings, averaging 12.0 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 2.0 assists in four games before LG was eliminated. On May 8, he underwent his third left knee cartilage surgery.

In the 2007-08 season, despite his physical decline from the postponed surgery, Hyun played 53 out of 54 games, registering a career-low 7.9 points per game, along with 3.7 rebounds and 4.0 assists. He made his sixth and final All-Star appearance that season. LG reached the playoffs but was eliminated by the Seoul Samsung Thunders.

The 2008-09 season marked Hyun's worst professional performance, as his recurring left knee cartilage injury severely hampered him. He played in 44 games, averaging career-lows of 6.7 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 3.3 assists. In the playoffs, he averaged 6.0 points, 1.0 rebound, and 1.5 assists in two games before LG was eliminated. On May 7, 2009, he underwent his fourth left knee cartilage surgery at Samsung Medical Center.

4.5. Retirement

After enduring four surgeries for his left knee cartilage, Hyun Joo-yup officially announced his retirement from professional basketball on June 25, 2009, at a press conference, with one year remaining on his contract with the LG Sakers. He cited the recurring injuries as the primary reason for his decision. During the press conference, he reflected on his 20-year basketball career, stating that his most memorable moment was winning the gold medal at the 2002 Asian Games. He expressed regret at never winning a KBL championship but hoped to be remembered by fans as a "player who played well."

5.1. Youth national team

Hyun first represented South Korea as a member of the national under-18 basketball team. At the 1992 Asian Basketball Confederation Under-18 Championship (now the FIBA Asia Under-18 Championship) in Beijing, his team secured the silver medal, falling to host China in the final.

He then competed for South Korea at the 1993 FIBA Under-21 World Championship in Valladolid, where the team finished in eleventh place. Hyun played in five of seven games, averaging 8.0 points per game.

At the 1997 FIBA Under-21 World Championship in Melbourne, Hyun was a dominant force, leading the South Korean team in scoring and defensive rebounds. He achieved a tournament-high of 32 points against Australia on August 3, 1997, and was the overall top scorer of the tournament, averaging 18.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.1 assists over seven games. South Korea finished ninth after defeating Egypt.

5.2. Senior national team

Hyun made his debut for the senior national team at the 1994 FIBA World Championship in Toronto at the age of 19, making him the youngest member of the squad. In his first game against Australia on August 4, 1994, he scored 6 points, grabbed 2 rebounds, and dished out 1 assist. South Korea ultimately finished thirteenth in the tournament. At the 1998 FIBA World Championship in Athens, Hyun played in four of five games, averaging 10.0 points and 4.0 rebounds, with South Korea finishing sixteenth.

He participated in three Asian Games, earning two silver medals: at the 1994 Asian Games in Hiroshima and the 1998 Asian Games in Bangkok, both times losing to China in the gold medal match.

Hyun also played in the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, appearing in all seven tournament games. He was one of the team's top players, leading in scoring and rebounds, and notably outperformed several NBA players in specific statistical categories; for example, he averaged more points per game than Charles Barkley, had more total points than David Robinson, and a higher field goal shooting percentage than Scottie Pippen. He averaged 16.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.1 assists, with a 56.8% field goal percentage. South Korea finished twelfth in the competition.

At the 1997 East Asian Games, hosted in his home country of Busan, Hyun played for the national team that secured the silver medal, losing to Chinese Taipei in the final. He also competed in four Asian Basketball Confederation (ABC) Championships (now FIBA Asia Cup). South Korea won the silver medal at the 1995 ABC Championship in Seoul and the gold medal at the 1997 ABC Championship in Riyadh. He earned another silver medal at the 1999 ABC Championship in Fukuoka. His final appearance for the national squad was at the 2005 FIBA Asia Championship in Doha, where South Korea finished fourth.

In 1997, as a college student, Hyun gained international attention by shattering the backboard during the dunk competition at the All-Star Game of the ABC Champions Cup (now FIBA Asia Champions Cup) in Jakarta. He remains the only player to have broken a backboard in Korean basketball history.

6.1. 'King without a Crown'

Hyun Joo-yup is often referred to as the "King without a Crown" in Korean basketball, a moniker that highlights the striking contrast between his exceptional individual talent and his consistent failure to win a KBL championship throughout his professional career. During the peak of his college career, Korea University, despite its strong "Best Five" lineup, never won the Basketball Festival championship, an equivalent to a collegiate national title, before Hyun's graduation.

In the 1999-2000 KBL season, his Cheongju SK Knights were leading the regular season, seemingly on track for a championship, but he was controversially traded mid-season to the Gwangju Goldbank Clickers. SK Knights went on to win the championship that year, leaving Hyun to watch from another team. The closest he came to a championship afterward was in the 2006-07 season with the LG Sakers, when the team finished second in the regular season. However, they were eliminated in the playoff semifinals by KTF after an incident involving LG's foreign player Pascual and a referee. His sole championship experience remains the gold medal at the 2002 Asian Games.

7.1. Regular season

Note: In 2001, Hyun was admitted to the army for mandatory service. He was discharged in 2003.

7.2. Playoffs

8.1. Broadcasting career

Five years after retiring from playing, Hyun Joo-yup returned to the basketball world as a sports commentator for MBC Sports+ from 2014 to 2017. He had previously turned down numerous broadcasting offers since his retirement, feeling unprepared to return to the court. However, he eventually accepted, realizing that delaying further might prevent his return to what he considered his home.

Hyun made his broadcasting debut on September 17, 2014, at the 2014 KBL Draft, marking his first public appearance since his retirement press conference. In his initial year, he partnered with veteran sportscaster Han Myung-jae (한명재^Korean) for the 2014-15 KBL season coverage. From the 2015-16 season onward, he teamed up with sports commentator Jung Yong-gum (정용검^Korean). Their partnership was well-received by the public for its informative and engaging discussions. Hyun's insightful analysis and entertaining commentary quickly became a hit with basketball fans.

In 2017, Hyun was honored as the Commentator of the Year by Jumpball (점프볼), the official media outlet of the KBL. He secured the award with 13 votes, outpolling other prominent commentators. His last broadcast appearance as a guest commentator was on April 26, 2017, during the third game of the 2016-17 KBL finals, following the announcement of his new coaching role.

8.2. Coaching career

On April 21, 2017, Hyun Joo-yup was appointed as the seventh head coach of the Changwon LG Sakers. This appointment was unconventional for the KBL, as Hyun had no prior coaching experience, a first for the league. He signed a three-year contract with the team he had spent his final playing years with. His coaching staff included former Dongbu coach Kim Young-man as the head coach, along with former LG founding member Park Jae-heon and former Samsung franchise player Kang Hyuk as assistant coaches.

Despite concerns from the basketball community and fans regarding his lack of coaching experience, Hyun took on the challenge. In his first season (2017-18), the Changwon LG Sakers finished ninth out of ten teams with a 17-37 record. However, he remarkably led the team, which had been struggling at the bottom since 2015, to a third-place finish in the 2018-19 season with 30 wins and 24 losses, securing a playoff berth for the first time in four years. The team's performance declined again in the 2019-20 season, finishing ninth with a 16-26 record in a season shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic.

On April 9, 2020, LG announced Hyun's resignation. While the team had expressed interest in renewing his contract, Hyun, whose contract had expired, declined the extension offer. In an episode of the KBS2 show Boss in The Mirror that aired on May 17, 2020, Hyun explained that he resigned due to feeling responsible for the team's lackluster performance in the 2019-20 season. It was also revealed that the players learned of his departure through media reports. Hyun's successor, Jo Seong-won, also faced challenges, with the team recording 19 wins in the subsequent season.

8.3. Entertainment career

Hyun Joo-yup successfully transitioned into the entertainment industry, gaining significant public prominence and helping to boost the KBL's public image.

In February 2015, while still active as a basketball commentator, Hyun made a breakthrough appearance as a guest on the popular variety show Infinite Challenge, where he earned the nickname "Super Power." His debut on the show was a major success, with his wit and humor turning him into a television sensation and his name frequently appearing in real-time search trends on Naver. Following this, Hyun began making consistent appearances on various TV shows as a guest, panelist, and cast member. He stated that a key motivation for his TV appearances was to help rekindle public interest in basketball, a sport that had seen declining popularity compared to football, baseball, and golf.

Initially hesitant to join entertainment shows, Hyun shared in a 2016 interview that his children's enthusiastic approval of his Infinite Challenge appearance made him more receptive to future offers. He often chose shows that his two sons would enjoy watching.

In April 2017, with his appointment as a basketball head coach and his subsequent departure from sports broadcasting, Hyun also took a hiatus from entertainment activities to focus on his coaching duties. His last appearance before this break was on One Night Food Trip in May 2017.

Hyun returned to television in April 2019, joining KBS2's new variety show, Boss in the Mirror, after a 23-month break. His appearance on the show, which also featured players and staff from his team, the Changwon LG Sakers, helped raise the public profiles of players like Kim Si-rae (김시래^Korean), Kang Byung-hyun (강병현^Korean), and the team's general manager Park Do-kyung (박도경^Korean) and translator Chae Seong-woo (채성우^Korean). The LG Sakers became one of the most popular teams in the league during this time. Hyun's television activities were instrumental in improving the KBL's image, which had been negatively impacted by a series of scandals involving illegal betting, match-fixing, and drunk driving in the late 2000s and early 2010s. Along with former teammates Seo Jang-hoon and Hur Jae, Hyun's prominent presence on television has significantly increased attention on Korean basketball, which had declined in popularity since the 1990s. To fully dedicate himself to coaching the LG Sakers, Hyun again went off-air from Boss in The Mirror in October 2019 for the entire 2019-20 KBL season. For his work on the show, he was nominated for the Top Excellence Award in the Entertainment Category at the 17th KBS Entertainment Awards in 2019.

Following his resignation as head coach in May 2020, Hyun returned to Boss in The Mirror and became active again in the entertainment industry, appearing in numerous shows. On September 2, 2020, KBS announced that Hyun would co-host the third season of TV Loaded with Love (TV는 사랑을 싣고^Korean), marking his first hosting role in show business. On December 24, 2020, he won his first entertainment award, receiving the Top Excellence Award in the Reality Category at the 18th KBS Entertainment Awards for his work on Boss in The Mirror. On February 1, 2021, Hyun launched his popular YouTube channel, "mukboss Mr.JooYup" (먹보스 쭈엽이^Korean), focusing on "mukbang" (eating show) content. The channel quickly gained traction, reaching 193,000 subscribers within two weeks.

9.1. Family and marriage

Hyun Joo-yup met his wife, Park Sang-hyun (박상현^Korean), a pastry chef who graduated from Hongik University with a degree in French literature, through an acquaintance in November 2006. After five months of dating, Hyun proposed, and the couple married at Hotel Shilla on June 21, 2007. They have two sons: Hyun Joon-hee (현준희_{Hyeon Jun-hui}^Korean, born 2008) and Hyun Joon-wook (현준욱_{Hyeon Jun-uk}^Korean, born 2009). Hyun is known as an affectionate family man, often sharing that he maintains a close, physically affectionate relationship with his sons, similar to the bond he shared with his own father, who passed away when Hyun was 33.

9.2. Fraud victim and philanthropy

After his retirement from basketball, Hyun Joo-yup became a victim of financial fraud, losing 1.70 B KRW to an acquaintance. In 2012, he filed a lawsuit and won, though he was only able to recover 870.00 M KRW of the lost funds.

On March 6, 2023, Hyun made a philanthropic gesture by donating 100.00 M KRW to his alma mater, Korea University.

12.1. Filmography

Hyun Joo-yup has made numerous appearances on television programs, both during his playing career and more extensively after his retirement.

During playing career:

• 1994: MBC 이야기쇼 만남 (Story Show Meeting)
• 1994: MBC 일요큰잔치 (Sunday Grand Festival)
• 1994: KBS 한밤의 이야기 쇼 (Late Night Story Show)
• 1995: SBS 백보드 밑의 전쟁 (War Under the Backboard)
• 1996: KBS 가족오락관 (Family Entertainment Center)
• 1996: KBS TV는 사랑을 싣고 (TV Loaded with Love)
• 1998: SBS 게임쇼 하이파이브 (Game Show High Five)
• 1998: KBS 체험 삶의 현장 (Live Experience Field)

Post-retirement activities:

• 2015: MBC Infinite Challenge (Infinite Challenge) - "Mudo Big Feast" special
• 2015: SBS 좋은 아침 (Good Morning)
• 2015: KBS2 우리동네 예체능 (Our Neighborhood Arts and Physical Education) - "Basketball Returns" special
• 2015: tvN 촉촉한 오빠들 (Chok Chok Oppa) - Cast Member
• 2015: SBS 백년손님 (My Ugly Duckling)
• 2015: SBS 런닝맨 (Running Man)
• 2015: SBS 정글의 법칙 in Nicaragua (Law of the Jungle in Nicaragua) - Episodes 178-185, Cast Member
• 2015: KBS2 네 멋대로 해라 (Do As You Please) - Host
• 2015: MBC 위대한 유산 (The Greatest Expectation) - Panel, with sons Hyun Joon-wook and Hyun Joon-hee
• 2015: Channel A 부르면 갑니다 머슴아들 (Farm Hands) - Cast Member
• 2015-2016: Channel A 개밥 주는 남자 (A Man Who Feeds The Dog) - Episodes 1-15, Cast Member
• 2016: MBN 엄지의 제왕 (The Lord of Thumbs) - Panel
• 2016: SBS 오! 마이 베이비 (Oh! My Baby)
• 2016: SBS 영재 발굴단 (Finding Genius)
• 2016-2017: tvN 수요미식회 (Wednesday Food Talk) - Irregular appearances
• 2016: SBS 동상이몽, 괜찮아 괜찮아 (Same Bed, Different Dreams)
• 2016: KBS2 배틀 트립 (Battle Trip) - Hong Kong Movie Tour vs. Slam Dunk Tour, Episode 5, Contestant
• 2016: SBS 정글의 법칙 in New Caledonia (Law of the Jungle in New Caledonia) - Episodes 225-228, Guest
• 2016: MBC 마이 리틀 텔레비전 (My Little Television)
• 2016: TV Chosun 모란봉 클럽 (Moranbong Club)
• 2016: JTBC 청춘식당 잘 먹겠습니다 (Youth Restaurant: I'll Eat Well)
• 2016: XTM REBOUND - Cast Member
• 2016: KBS2 해피투게더 3 (Happy Together 3)
• 2017: tvN 버저비터 (Buzzer Beater) - Cast Member
• 2017: OLIVE 요상한 식당 (Odd Restaurant)
• 2017: OLIVE 원나잇 푸드트립 먹방레이스 (One Night Food Trip Mukbang Race)
• 2017: KBS1 트루밥쇼 (True Meals Show) - Cast Member
• 2017: MBC 은밀하게 위대하게 (Secretly Greatly)
• 2019-2021, 2022: KBS2 사장님 귀는 당나귀 귀 (Boss in The Mirror) - Episodes 1-27, 55-present, Cast Member
• 2020: JTBC 위대한 배태랑 (Giant Veteran) - Cast Member
• 2020: tvN 건강함의 시작, 몸의 대화 (The Beginning of Health, Dialogue of the Body)
• 2020: KBS2 옥탑방의 문제아들 (Problem Child in House)
• 2020-2021: KBS2 TV는 사랑을 싣고 (TV Loaded with Love) - Main Host
• 2020: SBS 미운 우리 새끼 (My Little Old Boy) - Special appearance
• 2020: JTBC 뭉쳐야 찬다 (뭉쳐야 찬다)
• 2021: MBC 배달고파? 일단시켜! (Are You Hungry for Delivery? Just Order It!) - Cast Member
• 2021: JTBC 뭉쳐야 쏜다 (Let's Play Basketball) - Coach, Commentator
• 2021: MBC 구해줘! 홈즈 (Save Me! Homes)
• 2021: MBC 안싸우면 다행이야 (It's a Relief If We Don't Fight)
• 2021: MBN 전국방방쿡쿡 (National Bang Bang Cook Cook) - Cast Member
• 2021: tvN 동굴캐슬 (Wild Cave) - Cast Member, with wife Park Sang-hyun
• 2022: SBS 신발 벗고 돌싱포맨 (Dolsing Fourmen) - Guest
• 2022: JTBC 전설체전 (Legend Festival) - Participant
• 2022: E Channel 토요일은 밥이 좋아 (Saturday Is Good for Eating)
• 2022: JTBC 마녀체력 농구부 (Jump Like a Witch) - Director
• 2022: KBS2 자본주의 학교 (Capitalism School) - Cast
• 2022: MBN 전설끼리 홀인원 (Hole-in-One) - Cast Member
• 2022: KBS 달리는 풀코스 (Running Full Course) - Pilot program, Cast Member
• 2023: Channel A 천하제일장사2 (World's First Merchant Season 2) - Contestant

12.2. Advertisements and ambassadorships

• 1994: Samsung C&T V-Ness
• 1995: Hyundai Shipping Viking
• 1995: Korean Red Cross
• 2000: Korea Neighborhood Love Society Goodwill Ambassador
• 2005: Korea University 100th Anniversary Event Ambassador