Writer Choi Nana signed a contract with DM Production, where PD Song Manwoo served as both chief producer and CEO. As a result, she left the writers' group led by writer Park Eunmi and began working out of a studio provided by DM Production.
At the moment, writer Choi Nana and PD Song Manwoo were in the middle of their early script meetings.
When the topic of Kang Woojin's appearance fee came up, Choi Nana's eyes widened behind her round glasses.
"Per episode…?"
For someone who had only just debuted with the drama Boy Friend, it was an astronomical figure. But to Song Manwoo PD, a heavyweight in the drama world, it was not particularly shocking.
"Choi, that's just the base amount. The minimum. It starts from 40, and then you negotiate upward from there."
"Ah, then you mean it could go up by fifty to sixty percent?"
"It definitely could. The odds are much higher than they were back when he did Boy Friend."
"I... didn't hear the details. Director Shin Dongchun handled all of that on his own."
Song Manwoo PD leaned back in his chair, stroking his beard as he recalled the early days of Profiler Hanryang.
"Back then, Woojin was getting 3.5 million won per episode. Now it's over 60 million."
Song Manwoo smiled in disbelief.
'It shot up twentyfold in less than a year.'
An appearance fee of 3.5 million won per episode was impressive for a rookie actor. A fee between 40 and 60 million per episode put someone on the level of an A-list actor. Of course, considering Kang Woojin's current popularity, even a fee running into the hundreds of millions would not have been strange.
But experience was still an irreplaceable part of market value.
Either way, Kang Woojin was still only in his first year.
'But Woojin's market value has already gone far beyond common sense.'
For a rookie who had not even debuted for a full year to command 60 million won per episode was almost impossible to believe. It was unprecedented in the entertainment industry. But Kang Woojin had already made the impossible possible and turned into a presence no one else could follow.
A new record had been set, and it was hard to imagine someone like Kang Woojin appearing again.
His filmography was practically fantasy.
After quietly taking a breath, Song Manwoo PD looked down at the two pages of Choi Nana's script and spoke.
"If we want to secure Woojin, we should be prepared to go up to 70 million."
"H-how much?"
"If Woojin doesn't do it, there's no point discussing anything else. Don't worry about the production budget. This is DM Production's first project, so the funding is solid, and there's no issue with building the production team. I've already brought in the major staff. This project is basically a one-man show for the male lead, so in the end, what matters is casting the right actor."
"Ah."
"It's fine. It's not completely impossible. As far as I know, aside from variety shows, Woojin is only attached to Island of the Missing and The Stranger's Grim Sacrifice."
Naturally, they knew nothing at all about Director Ahn Gabok. So Song Manwoo PD's calculations were based only on those two projects.
Even so, a trace of visible tension passed over Choi Nana's narrow face. Maybe it was pressure. Noticing it, Song Manwoo PD smiled reassuringly.
"Don't worry about anything else. Just focus on the script."
His eyes were filled with determination.
"I'm willing to stake my life on the casting."
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In the meantime, after finishing interviews with dozens of reporters at Gimpo Airport, Kang Woojin sat in a van racing down the highway, staring at his phone.
"..."
His expression was cold.
Inside, though, his shoulders were practically bouncing with excitement.
'Seven million! Are they insane? Seven million viewers?!'
He was checking the cumulative audience number for Drug Dealer. He had vaguely heard that it had comfortably passed six million in Japan, but he had been so busy there that it never really sank in. Now that he was back in Korea, it suddenly felt very real.
『[Movie Talk] Drug Dealer surpasses 7 million viewers, breaking a record that had stood for over ten years!』
The latter half of the film industry had exploded open in spectacular fashion thanks to Drug Dealer, a film that stormed through like a typhoon. Director Kim Dohui and the production team were soon celebrating with unrestrained joy.
"Director! Seven million, seven million!!"
"Congratulations!"
"Hahaha! It's seven million, but if it hadn't been rated adults only, it would've passed ten million easily!"
The box office report they were looking at clearly showed the number.
[Daily Domestic Box Office]
[1. Drug Dealer / Release Date: October 28 / Viewers: 151,257 / Screens: 1,002 / Total Viewers: 7,028,995]
Entertainment reporters rushed to spread news of the unprecedented record.
『[Today's Entertainment] Drug Dealer surpasses 7 million viewers... reaches No. 1 among adults-only films』
『Adults-only film Drug Dealer has saved the Korean film industry!』
There had not been a popular hit that even crossed three million viewers lately, so it would not be an exaggeration to say that Drug Dealer had broken the drought. The new record spread rapidly through the media and became a major topic among film programs and critics.
And naturally, Kang Woojin's name came up as well.
『[Star Talk] "Lee Sangman" Kang Woojin, the biggest beneficiary of Drug Dealer's 7 million viewers?』
Still, it was a little regrettable that the explosive popularity of Drug Dealer had begun to cool off so noticeably after reaching seven million. That was inevitable. No matter how huge the success was, everything eventually came to an end.
The general opinion was that Drug Dealer would have a hard time reaching eight million, both in terms of momentum and overall atmosphere.
While the film industry buzzed with talk of Drug Dealer, Kang Woojin's name was simultaneously becoming a hot topic elsewhere too. Which made sense, since he had just returned from Japan that very day.
『[Star Photo] Kang Woojin returns after finishing his Japan schedule... interviewed by a crowd of reporters at the airport... "The script reading for The Stranger's Grim Sacrifice was exciting" / Photo』
He was the first Korean rookie actor ever cast as the lead in a film by a legendary Japanese director. Once that became reality, public interest surged immediately.
[Online reactions]
[User1: lmaoooo national pride is going crazy]
[User2: Kang Woojin is literally the only Korean actor doing this lol]
[User3: LOL once filming starts he's going to crush all the Japanese actors]
[User4: But what if Kang Woojin ends up getting crushed instead???]
[User5: ↑ Idiot, he's already overpowering top Korean actors, how would he lose to Japanese actors?]
[User6: The national pride in here is kind of overwhelming lol]
[User7: I'm not even a Kang Woojin fan, I just hate the idea of losing to Japan more lol]
That was understandable.
Seeing Kang Woojin standing among Director Kyotaro and Japan's top actors felt unfamiliar, groundbreaking, and like something no one had ever seen before.
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Two days later.
Around late lunchtime on the 20th, in Buyeo.
Outside the massive set of Island of the Missing, deep in the thick forest, Director Kwon Gitaek's soft signal rang out.
"Cut, got it?"
At the same time, the assistant director shouted instructions.
"Good!! Get ready and stand by in ten minutes!!"
The dozens of staff members who had briefly paused hurried back to their work. The camera team adjusted their settings, while the lighting and art teams reviewed the next scene with Director Kwon Gitaek. The makeup team moved to the actors inside the shooting zone, including Ryu Jungmin.
Among them—
Kang Woojin, still wearing a military uniform splattered with fake blood, started walking back to his place. He was not in the next scene.
Woojin had returned to the Island of the Missing set yesterday. For about three days he would commute from nearby lodging, and for the other seven he would be traveling back and forth between Seoul and the set because of other schedules.
For now, though, his focus was entirely on filming Island of the Missing.
The production team had been considerate of Woojin's situation, which helped him focus even more on filming. Even so, among the staff there was a sense that his absence had not really disrupted things all that much.
"Maybe it's because Woojin barely ever makes NGs? The shooting schedule's been going really smoothly."
"It's kind of amazing, right? Usually when actors are away for a while and come back, their emotional acting feels a little awkward. But Woojin's not like that at all."
"The other actors are good too, but if I were the director, I'd still prefer Woojin by a mile."
Woojin sat in a chair a little apart from the filming area, looking indifferent to everything around him.
'Is it because we're in the forest? Or because the weather's getting colder? It suddenly feels chilly.'
He could feel the season shifting toward winter.
Right then—
"Hyungnim!"
Jang Suhwan, broad-shouldered and solidly built, appeared out of nowhere and strode quickly toward him.
"You did great! Here, your water and your phone!"
Woojin took the phone and water bottle, answered in a dry tone, and opened the cap. Just then, his phone began vibrating for a long time. After checking the caller, he scratched his chin as something occurred to him.
'CEO Seo Guseob. Ah, right. I forgot about this guy.'
After returning to Korea, Kang Woojin had already replied to the agencies that had approached him with casting offers. More accurately, he had politely declined them. Then he realized he had forgotten to respond to CEO Seo Guseob of the major agency GGO Entertainment.
'Whatever. Since he already called, I can just tell him now.'
So he stood up from his chair to take the call.
"Yes, hello."
CEO Seo Guseob's calm voice came through the phone.
"Ah, Mr. Woojin. We need to meet. You remember our appointment, right? Haha, I got tired of waiting, so I called first."
"Yes. Actually, I was just about to call you myself."
"Really? Good. Then when can we meet? We're both busy, so I'd like to make it happen as soon as possible."
"I'm sorry about that. I've already made my decision, so if the opportunity comes up, I hope we can meet another time."
Seo Guseob's voice instantly turned cold.
"...You've made your decision? Then does that mean you've already picked your next agency?"
"That's right."
"You made the decision without even meeting me? Why?"
"It's difficult for me to explain everything."
"Mr. Kang Woojin. This makes things awkward for both of us, doesn't it? Which company did you sign with? Good for you... no, wait. Did you re-sign with Choi Sunggeon?"
"I can't answer that yet."
There was clear irritation in Seo Guseob's voice, but it had little effect on Kang Woojin, who remained fully immersed in his persona.
After a brief silence, Seo Guseob spoke first.
"I guess we really just don't match. Right? It's not once, but twice now that we've missed each other."
"..."
"I understand."
Click.
The call ended abruptly.
Woojin lowered his phone and frowned faintly.
'What the hell. This guy's personality seriously sucks.'
Then, all of a sudden, he felt a familiar presence behind him.
"Woojin, what are you doing over here?"
When he turned around, Choi Sunggeon was walking over while zipping up his jacket. As soon as he came closer, he got straight to the point and waved his phone.
"PD Song called me. He said he's coming to Buyeo himself in about two days."
"Really?"
"Yeah. I think he's trying to hand over the script like last time. Since we couldn't go, he said he'd come directly. But this time, it feels like PD Song has made up his mind about something. Do you know anything?"
Woojin had not heard from Song Manwoo PD recently, though Song had previously mentioned he would look through another script.
"No."
"Really? Anyway, he said he wants to come. If it's inconvenient, I can tell him to come later."
"It's fine."
"Okay, then let's meet him briefly before filming."
Choi Sunggeon suddenly grinned.
"Actor Kang really is incredible. A heavyweight like Song Manwoo PD is coming all the way to Buyeo? But what's going on? Who were you talking to?"
"GGO Entertainment CEO Seo Guseob."
Choi Sunggeon's face immediately twisted into a frown.
"Why does it have to be that bulldog?"
After Woojin briefly explained what had happened with Seo Guseob, Choi Sunggeon muttered under his breath with undisguised contempt.
"I'm curious what that bulldog bastard is going to pull next. Looks like I need to move quickly."
Move quickly? About what?
Woojin was inwardly puzzled, so he asked,
"What do you mean?"
"Nothing. I was just talking to myself. Anyway, don't worry about the bulldog. No, I mean CEO Seo Guseob. I'll take care of it."
Woojin did not really care one way or the other, but he answered calmly.
"Yes, sir."
Taking out his phone, Choi Sunggeon continued.
"We've already drawn enough attention with the agency issue, so we should announce it by tomorrow."
──────────
At that same moment, at GGO Entertainment.
Inside the spacious CEO office, Seo Guseob's face was twisted with rage. He ground his teeth and his lips trembled.
Then—
"That damn Kang Woojin."
He slammed his fist down on the desk.
Bang!!
"Damn it."
The frustration on his face somehow made him look even more like a bulldog.
"After I covered up the Mise-en-scène Film Festival incident and got humiliated... how dare he make a fool of me twice?"
In Seo Guseob's mind, Kang Woojin had deceived him twice. Of course, that was purely his own one-sided interpretation. His pride had been wounded and his dignity trampled. And on top of that, what was with Woojin's attitude during the call?
'Just because he got a little famous, he thinks he's something special?'
It looked as if sparks were flickering in Seo Guseob's eyes.
"Fine. Just wait, you little punk."
Face flushed red, he used the intercom to summon someone. Soon several executives entered the office. Seo Guseob coldly gave the order.
"Hey. Dig up some dirt on Kang Woojin. Gather every rumor floating around about him."
──────────
The next morning.
At a resort hotel near the filming location for Island of the Missing.
It was a little early, around eight in the morning, but Choi Sunggeon could already be seen in the hotel lobby.
"So, what's on the menu today?"
At first glance, it looked like he had come down for breakfast. Then, as if something had just occurred to him, he opened a search site on his phone.
What Choi Sunggeon wanted to check was very simple.
『[Official] BW Entertainment confirms 3-year contract extension with Kang Woojin』
According to the official statement BW Entertainment had released just a few dozen minutes earlier, Kang Woojin would not be entering the free-agent market.
After reading the article, Choi Sunggeon nodded in satisfaction.
"That's settled."
He muttered the words briefly, then suddenly placed a call somewhere. The other person picked up immediately.
"Yes, oppa."
A slightly trembling female voice.
"Did you sleep?"
"No. I'm on my way to the salon. I have a shoot at lunch."
"I've secured the expansion funds. You can accept it. BW Entertainment is going to grow, and before long, I'll officially come scout you."
"...Really?"
"Yes. So I think we should move ahead as planned."
"Ah."
Choi Sunggeon moved to a quiet corner of the lobby and lowered his voice to almost a whisper.
"Hanna, let's teach that bastard Seo Guseob a lesson."