The opening of Ame Talk Show! with Kang Woojin followed much the same pattern as the other episodes. On the familiar set, the beaver-like MC Karamatsu Soyo kicked things off with a brief opening remark.
"Even though it's already mid-September, it's still hot out, but today's guest is so special that you might forget the heat for a while."
Then MC Soyo introduced the guest.
[The hottest man in Japan right now! Korea's monstrous rookie actor, Kang Woojin!]
The long-loved opening music of Ame Talk Show! began to play.
Woojin entered through the guest door set up on stage. After a brief handshake with MC Soyo, the two sat down on their respective sofas.
[Mr. Kang Woojin, hello. Please give the viewers a brief greeting.]
"Hello, viewers of Ame Talk Show! I'm actor Kang Woojin. It's an honor to appear on a traditional Japanese talk show. I'll do my best to show you an energetic side of myself."
[Wow, your Japanese is really good! If I just closed my eyes and listened, I wouldn't know.]
"I hear that a lot, but I'm still better at Korean."
On Ame Talk Show!, Kang Woojin came across calm and gentle. There was not a trace of awkwardness.
[Ah! Mr. Woojin, is this your first talk show appearance since your debut?]
"Yes. It's my first time on Ame Talk Show, so I'm a little nervous."
[Huh? You don't look nervous at all! Hahaha, but since it's your first talk show, I guess you would be.]
"Do I really not look nervous?"
[Huh? That was a joke, right?]
"It was a joke."
After the greetings, they moved on to a variety of topics, including his schedule in Korea, how busy he was these days, and what he had thought when he first joined Profiler Hanryang.
[How did you feel when you were cast in the drama Profiler Hanryang?]
"I wondered whether it had really been the right choice."
They also talked about how he felt when Hanryang became a hit in Japan, Boy Friend, which would be released soon, the explosion in Kang Woojin's social media followers, and even his Kang Woojin's Alter Ego channel, which had reached one million subscribers in just a few weeks.
Then MC Soyo made a request.
[Mr. Woojin, I took a quick look at your YouTube channel. You don't have many videos yet, but you already passed a million subscribers. It doesn't feel like just a hobby. And your content covering K-pop in Japanese and English is really original.]
"I'm planning to cover J-pop and Korean songs soon as well."
[Even just hearing that makes it feel like the views will explode. Do you have any other content planned?]
"I'm considering it."
[Hmm! Could you sing us a short sample? The viewers would absolutely love it.]
"Of course."
Even though he had only been asked for a single line, Kang Woojin sang almost the entire first verse.
It was captivating.
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By the second verse, an unexpected guest suddenly appeared.
It was Hwalin, holding a microphone.
She passionately sang the second verse of Elani's Ballerina.
The performance instantly filled the stage.
After that, Kang Woojin and Hwalin sat side by side and talked about promoting the film Boy Friend. In the middle of it, MC Soyo shifted the topic to The Stranger's Grim Sacrifice. They touched on his relationship with Director Kyotaro, the story behind his casting, the content of the film, and how he felt about it.
Unfortunately, though, The Stranger's Grim Sacrifice was still in a stage where details could not be revealed, so they could not go too deeply into it.
At that point in Ame Talk Show!—
[Alright! Shall we change the mood a little?]
The atmosphere grew even brighter. Together with the hundreds of audience members attending the recording, they moved into a Q&A segment. The first question came from this person.
[]
A quiet little boy.
More precisely, it was a child using Japanese sign language. Of course, subtitles were running along the bottom of the screen. Then, quite suddenly—
Kang Woojin rose from the sofa and walked forward as he watched the child ask his question in Japanese sign language. Approaching him naturally, he communicated with the child in sign language as well.
At the time Ame Talk Show! aired, various special captions were added to that scene.
And while watching it—
"Grandfather! Look! I'm on TV!"
Chairman Hideki Yoshimura watched the broadcast with his grandson Shingo, looking deeply moved. Even as he patted Shingo on the head, his gaze remained fixed on Kang Woojin on the screen. He took in everything about him in detail, from his appearance and build to the way he carried himself. Then his attention settled on Woojin's fluent Japanese sign language.
It was far more impressive than Hideki had expected.
More than anything—
'He knows how to draw the eye. His acting is excellent. Was it the production team's idea to have Shingo show sign language? No. It must have been Shingo's own suggestion. Only someone who actually knows sign language could think that way. You have to be able to see the eyes and the expressions clearly.'
Kang Woojin had a talent for making his presence felt. Of course, the directing and editing had played a role as well.
'He knows how to seize people's attention. He also uses the stage well. Most of all, that calm attitude stands out. He really isn't an ordinary person.'
In Chairman Hideki's eyes, Woojin's value rose even higher.
Meanwhile, as Ame Talk Show! approached its end, everyone gathered in the main control room at TBE, the private broadcasting station, was celebrating wildly.
"We passed 20.5%!"
It was not the overall final rating, but it was more than enough. It was only the real-time reference rating, yet it had completely blown past expectations. At that, PD Shinjo, his face red with excitement, found himself showered with congratulations.
"Shinjo! You really pulled it off! Amazing!"
"PD-nim! Congratulations!"
"We were worried the public reaction would be awful, but who could've guessed it would turn around like this?!"
"When was the last time we even hit 20%?! Shinjo, wake up!"
"Hahaha, Director, this guy's soul has already left his body!"
It genuinely looked like PD Shinjo's soul had left his skinny frame and had no plans of returning anytime soon.
'20%? We really passed 20%?'
Aside from the show's earliest years, ratings above 20% were practically unheard of. Even Ame Talk Show!, with its long history, had never consistently averaged above 10%, and its highest rating—23%—had only happened once, eight years earlier, during an episode featuring a famous Hollywood actor. Since then, not a single episode had broken the 20% line.
But once again, Kang Woojin had done it.
Of course, it was not solely because of him. Several factors had overlapped, including Director Kyotaro. Even so, at the center of all of it was one person.
"Shinjo! We need to contact that Korean rookie. No—Kang Woojin!"
No matter how anyone framed it, the one at the heart of it all was Kang Woojin.
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At the same time, in Korea.
The location was the production company behind the film Frozen Love. Around a dozen people were gathered in the company's spacious conference room. They had already finished the script reading for Frozen Love and were now holding the final meeting of the pre-production stage.
Naturally, the PD, the key staff from several departments, and the bejeweled writer Lee Wolsun were all present.
At this point, Frozen Love had only one thing left.
Filming.
The major matters—set construction, location selection, casting, and the shooting schedule—had already been decided. This final production meeting was meant to lock in the first day of filming.
Interestingly, the atmosphere around The Stranger's Grim Sacrifice became the center of discussion.
"It feels like things around The Stranger's Grim Sacrifice are getting worse and worse. Public sentiment is a lot harsher than it was a few days ago."
For some reason, the production manager and the PD had fallen into a heated discussion about Woojin and The Stranger's Grim Sacrifice. Writer Lee Wolsun was much the same. News that The Stranger's Grim Sacrifice was making waves in Japan had already spread all the way to Korea.
"Whether it's Japan or Korea, film and drama production is always unstable business. Everyone knows that."
"Still, the director is the legendary Kyotaro, and ever since Woojin was cast as the lead, it had all the signs of a huge breakout. But then the situation suddenly flipped."
"How many times have we seen the media and public opinion turn around like this? The bigger the issue, the bigger the backlash."
"Is it really true that investors in The Stranger's Grim Sacrifice are pulling out because of Kang Woojin? I heard rumors that some are still withdrawing."
The Frozen Love team was not directly involved, but since Kang Woojin was connected to the case, they could not help feeling disappointed. The more his popularity rose, the more Frozen Love itself would likely benefit from the positive ripple effect.
"It really feels like it's going to collapse. What a shame. It looked like Woojin was on the verge of making history."
"If The Stranger's Grim Sacrifice falls apart, do you think it'll affect Woojin?"
"To some extent, sure. But from a broader perspective, it might actually help him. The malicious comments are temporary, and his popularity in Japan is rising fast right now."
"Still, there's always the risk of image damage, so it would be best for The Stranger's Grim Sacrifice to keep moving forward instead of sinking. It also matters because it sets a precedent."
"Hmm, then I guess the ratings for that talk show he appeared on must have been bad."
"Ah, that? Ame Talk? It's a national talk show in Japan, but it's been taking a lot of criticism lately."
At that moment, writer Lee Wolsun, who had been looking at her phone, calmly steered the production meeting back on topic.
"We'll know the result with time. Right now, we need to finalize the first shooting schedule, don't we?"
The PD and the core staff returned their focus to the immediate issue.
"Ah, right. Writer-nim, you said it'd be best to start with the scene between Jang Hwan and Woojin, didn't you?"
"Yes. It's one of the most important early scenes, and I think it'll make it easier for Jang Hwan to settle into the emotion. It would also be better to match it with Woojin's schedule this month."
"Yes, I heard the same thing from CEO Choi."
Lee Wolsun nodded and asked the production manager,
"I heard Woojin is about to start shooting Island of the Missing. When does that begin?"
"Ah, that's been fixed for the 25th. He'll head overseas for the location shoot in a week."
"Then I think it'd be best to set our first shoot around the 20th. What do you think, PD-nim?"
The PD stroked his chin as he looked down at the tentative shooting schedule in front of him, then answered.
"Today is the 16th, so that gives us about a week."
"The timing is a bit tight, but it should be possible, right? We've already got everything prepared. And Jang Hwan said he was free outside of our schedule too."
"The props and set preparations are running a little late, but if we push, we should be able to do it."
"Then shall we lock it in?"
"This might actually be better. Woojin's part should only take about two days at most. If he leaves for the Island of the Missing overseas shoot first, we might have to wait months."
As opinions gradually aligned, the PD continued.
"First we need to confirm Woojin's schedule. Ah, Writer-nim. What do you think? The actors want to come observe Woojin's shoot."
Lee Wolsun agreed without much fuss.
"As long as they don't interfere with filming, I don't see a problem. They might even want to see it with their own eyes. It could be a stimulating experience."
She shrugged.
"I'll go watch too."
The meeting was nearing its end.
Then—
"Huh?!"
The assistant director suddenly shouted in surprise.
"There's an article saying Ame Talk Show! just passed 20% ratings!"
The shock spread through everyone in the room, including writer Lee Wolsun.
"What? How far over did it go?!"
And just like that, the record-breaking ratings of Ame Talk Show! spread quickly through Korea as well.
["Monster Rookie" Kang Woojin pushes Japanese national talk show Ame Talk Show! past 20% ratings!]
Because Kang Woojin's popularity had become so broad, Korean entertainment reporters had been watching developments in Japan closely. So just as in Japan, the reversal in fortune for Ame Talk Show! was reported rapidly in Korea too.
[Issue Check: Another 20% surge after Hanryang?! Ame Talk Show! ratings skyrocket with Kang Woojin's solo appearance!]
[Bartender, one glass of patriotism, please! Kang Woojin sends Japanese talk show ratings to 20% / Photo]
As a result, the public mood in Japan, which had been negative before, began to shift little by little.
[Wow! Ame Talk Show! really passed 20%?? Everyone said they weren't going to watch!]
[(laughs) They were probably all curious about Kang Woojin.]
[I honestly don't get why Kang Woojin is so popular. I don't even see the charm. I wish he'd stop coming to Japan.]
[Comments like yours are exactly what harm people.]
[I watched Kang Woojin's YouTube!! I was seriously shocked!! He sings so well!! He's amazing!!!!]
[Hwalin and Kang Woojin had great chemistry.]
[His Japanese is seriously good. You can tell he worked hard.]
[Yeah, he'd probably sound natural even delivering lines in Japanese.]
[Oppose! Oppose Kang Woojin!]
[I'm starting to like Kang Woojin, especially that sign language scene. Wasn't it so cool when he walked up to the little boy and spoke to him in sign language?]
Of course, not every opinion suddenly turned positive, but the change was obvious. The biggest factor was this.
[Am I the only one wondering why Kang Woojin speaks Japanese so well and even knows Japanese sign language?]
In reality, his fluent Japanese and sign language had made a huge impact. The next day, on the 17th, the official ratings for Ame Talk Show! were released in Japan.
[Kang Woojin's Ame Talk Show! episode records 20.4% ratings]
The impact of a "20% Ame Talk Show! episode" was, in fact, enormous. Searches related to Kang Woojin multiplied several times over.
The situation in Korea was similar.
For roughly two days.
People even began illegally uploading the Ame Talk Show! episode featuring Kang Woojin onto websites in Korea.
But—
[Film Industry Insider: It appears roughly 70% of The Stranger's Grim Sacrifice production budget has already been recovered]
Even so, the crisis surrounding The Stranger's Grim Sacrifice in Japan still had not fully disappeared.
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The morning of the 21st.
Suwon.
The KBC drama production center in Suwon was, in effect, one enormous filming complex. Just from the way it was divided into indoor and outdoor zones, its scale was obvious. Inside the center, different sets had been arranged in each section, and the ceiling was packed with lights.
On one of those sets, cameras and various sound devices were already being installed.
"No!! Not that light, the one in the back!"
"Ah! I'll fix it right away!"
"Team, get ready! This door is squeaking!"
"That's intentional! The PD wants it to sound like that!"
More than fifty staff members moved about busily. The set itself looked like the hallway of an upscale apartment.
At that moment—
"Art team! PD-nim is looking for you!"
The PD had called for the art team. A familiar-looking PD had a script titled Frozen Love tucked into his back pocket.
This was the set of Frozen Love.
At that exact moment—
Creak.
A red foreign car came to a stop in the parking lot. A woman wearing eye-catching earrings stepped out. It was the star writer Lee Wolsun.
Then, almost amusingly—
Thunk.
She shut the car door, turned her head, spotted a van that had just parked nearby, and broke into a bright smile.
Specifically—
"Woojin-ssi, you're here early."
"Ah, yes. Hello, Writer-nim."
The "mysterious man next door" stepped out of the van.
More precisely, it was Kang Woojin, who would be joining the Frozen Love shoot for about two days.
──────────
Meanwhile, in a rather dim editing room—
The walls were covered with countless monitors, all sorts of equipment, and audio devices. The room looked ordinary enough, but the atmosphere itself was gloomy. There was something drained about it.
There were only about two or three people inside. Among them was one familiar man.
"Whew... ah, finally."
It was Director Shin Dongchun, with dark circles hanging heavily beneath his eyes. Leaning back in his chair, he lightly patted the shoulders of the editors around him, then pulled out his phone and called Netflix Korea.
"Ah, Executive Director."
It was Executive Director Kim Soyang.
With a faint smile at the corner of his mouth, Director Shin Dongchun said,
"The post-production work is finally finished."
The editing had just been completed.
In other words, Boy Friend—with its striking opening scene, its various OST tracks, and the scenes featuring Han Inho—was finally done.
"Please set the date."
Now all that remained was launch.