Jung Chan Sung arrived in Garak dong with the same calm presence that made him a legend in Korean MMA. This time he was not there to fight or to coach his own team. He was there to support Jun Young Hong, a fighter who spent nearly twelve years training under him at Korean Zombie MMA and who has now opened his own gym, Red MMA.
The new Zombie Log episode begins with Jung greeting viewers and explaining that he insisted on teaching the very first class at Red MMA. For him, this was not a casual visit. It was a moment of pride. He admits he never imagined Jun Young Hong would open a gym. For years Hong said he had no interest in running one. But life changed. After the birth of his daughter Seowon, he wanted more stability. His wife strongly opposed him returning to active competition, so opening a gym became the path that made sense. It allowed him to stay in the sport while building a future for his family.
Jung reflects on how many of his teammates have taken similar steps. Jinsu in Hannam dong. Seungmin. Sung guk. Now Jun Young Hong becomes the fourth among their circle to build a home for the next generation. Jung says he is proud of all of them. They trained together for years, suffered together, and now they are building stable careers that keep them connected to the sport they love.
When Jung arrives at Red MMA, the tone shifts into playful inspection. He walks through the gym like a self appointed critic, teasing Jun Young Hong about the interior and the layout. It is the kind of humor that only exists between people who have shared countless hours on the mats.
Then the first class begins. Jung leads warm ups with joint rotations, mobility work, and footwork drills. He moves into striking fundamentals, correcting guard positions, tightening stances, and fixing small habits that beginners often overlook. His coaching is sharp and direct, but always mixed with humor. He pushes the students through conditioning sets, including squats held at a strict ninety degree angle for sixty seconds. The students struggle and Jung jokes with them while keeping the energy high.
They finish slightly early and Jung jokes about doing more. The class gathers for a group photo. He laughs as he notices that the entire first class is made up of men, something he did not expect for an opening day. Before leaving, he thanks everyone who pre registered and reminds them to take the rice cakes prepared for the event.
In his closing thoughts, Jung congratulates Jun Young Hong on the successful opening of Red MMA. He encourages anyone in Songpa gu or Garak dong to visit the gym and experience the atmosphere for themselves. He reflects again on Hong’s journey. A fighter who once swore he would never open a gym now stands at the front of his own academy because life changed and priorities shifted. Jung tells viewers not to judge those changes. Life moves, and people move with it.
He describes Red MMA as a fighter’s gym. It has the raw, honest feel of a place built by someone who lived the grind for more than a decade. Jung invites anyone who likes that kind of environment to check it out.
The episode captures the heart of Korean MMA. It shows the Korean Zombie not as a legend in the cage, but as a mentor proud of the next generation. And it shows Jun Young Hong stepping into a new chapter with the support of the man who helped shape his career.
Youtube video courtesy of Korean Zombie’s youtube channel:
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