November 3, Da Nang International Airport.
It had only been a few days since October ended and November began, but Vietnam was still hot. Director Ahn Gabo, who had taken an extra two days off after finishing the overseas shoot for The Island of the Missing, had just boarded his flight.
Naturally, he was on his way back to Korea.
As usual, he was dressed in shorts and slippers. After settling into his wide business-class seat, Director Ahn took off the safari hat he had been wearing.
Then—
"..."
With his usual detached expression, Director Ahn pulled out a thick stack of papers.
It was the script for The Island of the Missing that he had received from Director Kwon Gitaek.
He intended to read through it during the flight home, or after arriving in Korea.
"Hm."
Part of the reason was to compare the real location to the script, but a larger reason was that he wanted to vividly revisit Kang Woojin's acting, especially his performance as Sergeant Jin Seoncheol.
As he flipped through the pages, Director Ahn sank into deep thought.
Naturally, his focus was on Kang Woojin.
'Sometimes there's something unfamiliar in his eyes. Something strange. There's clearly a hidden core there, but the moment he sinks into acting, all that remains are the character's traits. So why does he still leave me with this strange sense of unease?'
The more he spoke with Kang Woojin, the more certain he became, yet at the same time, it felt as if he were walking deeper into fog. It had been a very long time since he had taken this much interest in an actor, not just in the acting itself, but in the person behind it.
Director Ahn Gabo was the type who valued character as much as talent, and even he found himself shaken by the depth of his own thoughts.
Why was that?
What exactly did that mysterious aura around the rookie actor mean?
'What is the fog surrounding that boy supposed to mean?'
Before coming to Vietnam, Director Ahn had already looked into Kang Woojin. He had done the usual level of investigation that casting directors typically handled. In any case, there was hardly any trace of Kang Woojin's past. He had no background in university acting programs, theater companies, or academies, and there was no record of him anywhere in the domestic acting scene.
Still, all kinds of rumors floated around the entertainment industry.
'He worked at a design company right before debuting, didn't he?'
There were even stories claiming he had studied abroad, but that he had actually learned acting on his own. More recently, the controversy surrounding Kang Woojin had also drawn attention. There had been claims that his past and present personalities were so different that he seemed like another person entirely, that he might have a split personality, or even an identical twin. It had caused a stir for a while, though it had quieted down by then.
'Testimonies from people who knew Kang Woojin in the past.'
Most of it was probably nonsense, but if all the statements were pieced together, Kang Woojin seemed to have lived a rather ordinary life.
That only made things stranger.
How could someone like that monster have lived such an ordinary life?
The current Kang Woojin possessed far too much. Outstanding acting skills, fluency in multiple languages including sign language, even exceptional vocal ability.
'It's like trying to hide an awl in a sack.'
No matter how much someone tried to conceal greatness, it was bound to show eventually. In other words, Kang Woojin must have possessed extraordinary talent from a young age. It would have been difficult for him to live quietly.
No matter how hard someone tried to hide it or live an ordinary life, something like that would eventually reveal itself.
So why was it only coming out now?
Why had no one known before?
Why had he stayed silent?
And why, only after becoming an actor, had everything started pouring out at once?
At that moment—
'...Maybe.'
Something flashed through Director Ahn Gabo's mind.
'What if all of it was intentional?'
What if none of it had been accidentally revealed, and instead he had been waiting for this moment to show everything on purpose? What if he had spent his entire life throwing up smoke screens to hide how extraordinary he really was?
'Like a chameleon. Someone who looks natural anywhere, blending into the surroundings as if he belongs there.'
Once he began with that assumption, everything made sense.
He had lived a life of displaying ordinariness in order to hide how extraordinary he was. His entire life had been a stage for practicing performance, and that habit was still deeply rooted in him.
In other words—
It was camouflage.
The core had always been there, but he had never shown it to anyone before. A rookie actor who could take on an endless range of personas by remembering and recording methods through the process of acting different roles.
To an ordinary person, that would be nearly impossible.
But to someone who had devoted his entire life to it, it would not be difficult.
'That occasional glimpse of something strange or unfamiliar… is that his true nature? Or was even that just another shell?'
It really was a shell.
Director Ahn Gabo's insight was razor-sharp. It was the kind of sharp intuition only a seasoned director possessed.
'Using a shell that looks like the truth to create confusion and hide the real thing.'
But in reality, it was nothing more than a clever misunderstanding.
The following day, Wednesday the 4th.
Kang Woojin's officetel.
It was late in the morning, just after Kang Woojin had returned home after completing the overseas filming schedule for The Island of the Missing.
"Ah, home really is the best."
He collapsed onto the bed. Sorting out the large travel suitcase could wait until later. Still wearing his hat, Woojin buried himself in the bed and closed his eyes.
In truth, the overseas filming for The Island of the Missing had ended the day before, but there had been a dinner party last night in one of the large hotel halls.
Whether it was the hundred-plus staff members or the dozens of actors, everyone had completely let loose.
Because of that, Woojin had spent his final night in Da Nang staying up all night. Of course, he hadn't had a single drop of alcohol, but it had still been an exhausting night.
Then, as he lay there motionless, a smile suddenly tugged at the corner of his mouth.
'Having tomorrow off is the best thing ever.'
He had been given two days off.
At the same time, the entire The Island of the Missing crew had decided to take about a week of rest before resuming filming next week at the large set in Buyeo.
Forget it. That was a problem for later.
Kang Woojin was just about to fall asleep without even washing up. It felt a lot like a company worker finally taking time off.
Just as he was about to enjoy that relief—
"Ah—"
Something he had to do came to mind.
The Drug Dealer photo.
He had to go watch Drug Dealer, the movie currently shaking up the domestic film industry. Woojin had already seen it once at a blind screening, but this time was different.
What mattered now was Kang Woojin's promotion and fan communication.
The task itself was simple. He just had to take a photo of himself going to the theater and upload it to Kang Woojin's secondary channel, his fan cafe, his SNS, and bw Entertainment's official website.
It was all at Choi Sunggeon's request.
"It'll help fans feel closer to you, and it'll help Drug Dealer at the box office too. Reporters will love it, obviously. You can just take a picture and leave. You don't even have to watch the movie."
That was what Sunggeon had explained.
And Han Yejeong had added,
"Oppa, you know how much of a hot topic Lee Sangman is these days. If you upload something like this now, the fans are going to lose it."
The effect sounded like it would be anything but small.
Ah, so this was what being a professional really meant.
The world was harsh, but Kang Woojin had no choice except to keep moving forward.
He let out a quiet sigh and checked the time.
It was around eleven.
Then he sat up on the bed and thought seriously for a moment.
"Should I go now? Or late at night?"
Which option would have fewer people?
The fact that he was even thinking about that made him laugh under his breath.
'I've changed a lot.'
His mental circuitry was gradually being rewired into that of a popular actor. Kang Woojin slowly got up from the bed. He figured this awkward daytime slot would still be less crowded than going late at night on a weekday.
A while later.
A suspicious-looking man appeared at a nearby movie theater.
It was Kang Woojin.
He was wearing a hat, a mask, rimless glasses, and even a zip-up hoodie pulled low to hide his face. For a moment, he wondered if he had gone too far.
'No. CEO said it's better to overdo hiding than underdo it.'
He nodded to himself and kept walking.
The moment Kang Woojin stepped into the theater lobby, he was startled.
"Wow, there are way more people than I expected."
The lobby was more crowded than he had imagined.
Everyone there was an adult.
Had movie theaters always been like this?
Maybe he should have come on a weekday instead.
Slightly surprised, Woojin looked around the theater. A giant TV hanging from the ceiling. Posters plastered all over the walls. Standees placed here and there. Ads displayed throughout the waiting area.
The truth was, all of it was about Drug Dealer.
The reason was simple.
It was a hit movie.
A theater was a marketplace, and movies were products. Naturally, the biggest seller got the most promotion. It was obvious the same scene would be playing out in theaters across the country, not just this one.
Kang Woojin's curiosity grew even more.
'Wow, Drug Dealer really blew up this much?'
It was hard not to feel a sense of wonder. Especially because he was looking at the movie he had starred in, the movie that had sent Lee Sangman's stock soaring and taken over the market.
He already knew how explosive the reactions were, from the people around him, the media, and public opinion. Even so, seeing the offline world like this felt different.
Soon enough, after cautiously checking his surroundings, Woojin slowly walked toward the ad board near the elevator. A few people glanced at him oddly, but he didn't care much. They probably weren't expecting Kang Woojin to show up in person at this time.
Then—
"..."
Standing awkwardly beside the ad board, he quickly took a few selfies. Since he had no intention of changing angles or poses, it ended much faster than expected. And once no one recognized him, Woojin grew bolder.
'Hm, at this rate I might as well just watch the movie. I can go in around the time the ads start, then quietly leave five minutes before it ends.'
He wanted to see how Drug Dealer looked on the big screen and what kind of reactions it got from audiences.
Alright. Decision made.
Having decided to watch the movie, Woojin quietly headed toward the restroom. In the meantime, the nearby seats were filling up with couples and small groups waiting for their screening to start.
Their conversations reached his ears.
"Oppa, how long do we have left?"
"Twenty minutes. But are you really okay with this? You can't handle violent stuff."
"Is Drug Dealer really that violent?"
"The reviews are good overall, but some comments say it's pretty disturbing."
"Still, I can't give up Kang Woojin. I heard his acting in Drug Dealer was incredible."
"...Excuse me? Minya? I'm sitting right here."
"So what! You go watch girl groups perform all the time. Didn't you say you liked Hwarin?"
It felt like almost everyone there was waiting for Drug Dealer.
Smiling under his mask, Kang Woojin stepped into the restroom.
Then he sat down on the toilet seat.
'Don't smile, idiot. Why are you grinning like that?'
He still felt awkward and embarrassed whenever he heard fans talking about him. To kill time, Woojin pulled out his phone, and then something came to mind.
'Oh, right.'
A few days earlier, Director Kim Dohui had sent him a message.
More specifically, it was a link she had shared.
[KOFIC Integrated Film Ticket Network]
The moment Woojin tapped the address, a long list of statistics appeared on his screen.
[November 3, 2020, Audience Count Survey]
[Daily Domestic Box Office]
Drug Dealer / Release Date: October 28 / Audience: 277,124 / Screens: 1002 / Cumulative Audience: 2,500,227
Monster Priest / Release Date: October 28 / Audience: 77,005 / Screens: 998 / Cumulative Audience: 901,787
Crazy Sunshine / Release Date: October 1 / Audience: 32,018 / Screens: 1011 / Cumulative Audience: 3,399,358
.
.
.
A million viewers was already old news.
Over the past weekend, Drug Dealer had crossed 2.5 million viewers in just one week.
"Two and a half million?! When did it climb that much?"
For an R-rated film, it was a completely unprecedented record.
Meanwhile, inside a large van—
If Kang Woojin was just about to watch the movie, then the familiar faces inside the van had already seen Drug Dealer.
Director Ahn Gabo.
The CEO of the film production company.
The staff as well.
Among them, Director Ahn Gabo, who had been quietly looking out the window, was approached by the production company CEO.
"Hm, Director. Have you made any decisions about Kang Woojin?"
Without taking his eyes off the window, Director Ahn answered in a low voice.
"What do you think of his acting? In The Island of the Missing, or in Drug Dealer?"
The production company CEO scratched his head and let out a quiet sigh.
"...Honestly, I think he's the best actor in the country right now."
Kang Woojin's presence had already grown enormous to the production company CEO.
And thanks to Lee Sangman, that influence had multiplied several times over.
"Even among the top names, he stands out on his own. What more is there to say? I still vividly remember what he did in Da Nang…"
"Yes. It's not something you see often."
At that point, Director Ahn lifted his head and folded his arms. The production company CEO let out a long sigh of frustration.
"But why did Kang Woojin say he's not particularly interested in the Cannes Film Festival? I honestly think he could stand out internationally."
Director Ahn tilted his head slightly as he recalled Woojin's voice.
'Are you interested in Cannes?'
'No, not particularly.'
Then he slowly voiced the conclusion he had drawn on his own.
"I was surprised by his ambition."
"Ambition? What part are you talking about?"
"When he said he wasn't particularly interested, he must have meant it. The important word there is 'particularly.' In other words, he might be interested in film festivals bigger than Cannes, but he has no special thoughts about Cannes, Berlin, or Venice."
"But Cannes is one of the three biggest international film festivals in the world. It's one of the places top actors want to go the most."
Director Ahn smiled, as if it were obvious.
"Exactly. So if there's a festival with more authority than Cannes among the world's top three, what would that be?"
"No way… you can't mean the Academy Awards."
"Hm. If it isn't the Oscars, then what else would it be?"
The Oscars.
The Academy Awards.
The most prestigious film awards ceremony in the world, and perhaps the greatest stage any filmmaker could dream of.
As Director Ahn recalled that glittering ceremony, he looked the production company CEO in the eye.
"That man, Kang Woojin, is effectively saying that within a year of debuting, the only thing he's interested in is the Academy Awards. If that's not ambition, then what is?"
It was not ambition.
It was a misunderstanding.
A truly terrible misunderstanding.
The production company CEO, of course, had no way of knowing that, and he stammered.
"No, that's ridiculous."
"Usually it's the strange ones who make things happen. Or cause trouble."
"But… realistically, that's impossible."
Resting his chin on one hand, Director Ahn kept talking, his smile growing deeper.
"That's why I told him to use Cannes as a stepping stone."
Then, in a voice full of disbelief, he muttered,
"Ha. Calling Cannes a stepping stone. That lunatic is making me lose my mind."
Meanwhile, in a different large conference room.
The room was large enough to hold fifty people, but only around ten were seated there. An elderly man in a suit sat at the head of the table, while comparatively younger people sat on either side of him.
The atmosphere was solemn.
Everyone's eyes were on the tablets in front of them.
Then—
"Alright, then. Uh…"
The old man lifted his head and addressed the room.
"Like last year, let's begin contacting the nominees this year as well."
"Understood."
These were the committee members of the Blue Dragon Film Awards.
The elderly man seated at the front was the chairman himself.
With the end of the year rapidly approaching, it was time to contact the actors, including the biggest stars, as well as their agencies.
The Blue Dragon Film Awards were usually held around late December.
That was why the timing had come.
"Ah, right."
As if something had just occurred to him, the chairman shared it with the staff.
"Send Kang Woojin an invitation right away."
The staff members all looked slightly surprised.
Before even the established top stars?
Kang Woojin first?
Still, the chairman slowly folded his arms and said,
"We can't afford to miss Kang Woojin. He absolutely has to come."
His eyes gleamed.
"This year, Kang Woojin is going to sweep everything."