Hearing Yoon Byungseon PD mention a "restaurant made in a day," Kang Woojin briefly pictured the kind of variety shows ordinary people could easily relate to and sketched out a simple scenario in his mind.
'So it's like a test shoot before the real filming? Kind of like working part-time before opening an actual business. Oh. That sounds fun.'
Even though he was not a PD, Woojin imagined himself as a variety show cast member. He pictured himself awkwardly talking to customers and wandering around in a clumsy, chaotic way. The thought made him strangely nervous, but also a little thrilled.
It might have been an overreaction, but after fully preparing his concept, Woojin asked in a calm voice.
"Are we renting a place to run it for just one day?"
Yoon Byungseon adjusted his glasses and smiled.
"That's the plan. We've already finished scouting the location. Something like a Kimbap Heaven."
"Ah."
"We're planning to run a Korean street food restaurant in the U.S., but if it's only street food, it might feel too plain. So we're also considering broadening the menu like Kimbap Heaven."
In other words, street food would be the main focus, but they were also thinking of adding a range of Korean dishes like instant kimbap. As he said that, Yoon Byungseon handed Woojin several sheets the writers around him had prepared.
They contained real photos and sample images.
It looked like a rough concept outline for Our Table.
Flip.
As Woojin looked through the papers, Yoon Byungseon leaned forward slightly and continued.
"I heard Island of the Missing starts its overseas shoot tomorrow, on the 30th, and that it'll run for a little over a month."
"Yes, that's right."
"CEO Choi told me you'd be coming back to Korea for about a week around October 17 because of your domestic schedule. So we're planning to shoot around that time too."
"I see."
Yoon Byungseon nodded and handed over a transparent file.
"I've already discussed it with CEO Choi. The 'one-day restaurant' shoot should take about two days. One day for a preliminary meeting and cooking practice with the cast, and the next day for actually running the place."
No real practice, just straight into it. It almost sounded like Sparta training. Still, since it was a variety show anyway, Woojin was not particularly tense about the cooking practice.
'Hmph. As long as I've got the recipes and the technique, I'm fine.'
Thanks to the grace of the void space, he had gained a chef's skills. Just then, one of the female writers sitting beside Yoon added more detailed information about the filming.
"Like PD-nim said, the location for the 'one-day restaurant' has already been confirmed. It's not in Seoul. We will be taking orders from guests who come for the surprise opening, but we won't be serving more than thirty items like Kimbap Heaven."
"Then?"
"We're thinking of starting with about five dishes first. We'll decide whether to add more or reduce them depending on the response. Things like ramyeon, kimbap, and tteokbokki."
I see. Woojin let out a quiet breath of relief. Honestly, if it had been dozens of items like Kimbap Heaven, it would have been hectic no matter how skilled he was. Right then, the main writer pulled out a tablet and spoke again.
"You know this chef, right?"
Displayed on the screen was the familiar profile of a chef who often appeared on variety shows. Woojin had seen him a few times on YouTube before.
"Yes, I've seen him on TV."
"On the practice shoot day, there'll be mentors assigned to each part. For the cooking part, we've brought in this chef. He'll come in and teach the basic recipes."
"Understood."
Yoon Byungseon cut in. There was a playful smile on his face.
"Of course, you can use the recipes you learn and cook more freely too. Once you make something, our staff will taste it and evaluate it."
"What if it tastes bad?"
"Then we just release it anyway."
But then he added.
"Still, this is going to be sold in the U.S., so it can't just be passable. It's safest to stick to the recipe you learned."
Naturally, that was true. Introducing Korean food to foreigners was not something they could do halfheartedly. Yoon Byungseon seemed to agree with that too.
"You know what I mean, right? Have you seen those shows where a celebrity comes up with some creative dish, it gets a huge reaction, and then they start selling it in stores? Unless it's that level, it'll be difficult."
Ah, so that was what he meant. Woojin vaguely remembered seeing something like that before. Dishes celebrities made on food programs, like ramyeon, pizza, or spaghetti, later being sold as actual products.
While that thought was making him hungry, Yoon Byungseon changed the subject.
"Anyway, that's how we're planning to shoot it, and it'll probably take up about half of the first episode. But not all the cast will follow the same format. There'll be different tasks and responsibilities depending on the section, like the kitchen, the floor, the counter, or promotion. We'll explain the details later."
"Actually, I'm pretty good at cooking."
Before Yoon Byungseon could continue, Woojin suddenly cut in with a completely calm face.
"I think that's not a bad idea."
At that, Yoon Byungseon and the writers all widened their eyes before bursting into laughter. It was probably quite a funny moment on camera. Of course, every second of this was being filmed.
"Oh really? Woojin can cook? I honestly can't picture it. He doesn't have the kind of face that looks like he'd be good at cooking. Maybe he just seems too blunt. What do you all think?"
When Yoon Byungseon turned to ask the writers around him, several of them looked at the quietly sitting Woojin and answered.
"Ah, um, he doesn't really seem like the flashy type."
"Right. He gives off more of a dry, natural vibe. Like the kind of cooking you do just to survive?"
"But if he's good at acting, singing, foreign languages, and now cooking too... that might be a bit too much. It's okay if there's something he's bad at."
Most people seemed to think that, since Woojin lived alone, he probably only knew basic cooking. Even Yoon Byungseon's expression looked like he was thinking the same thing. Deciding it was better to stay quiet in this situation, Woojin said nothing.
Then Yoon Byungseon slowly nodded.
"Alright, then Woojin will take the kitchen. If he has a face that doesn't look like it should be good at cooking, that contrast alone might attract attention. Whether he ends up as the main cook or an assistant will be decided by the staff after the tasting on the shoot day."
"So I'm confirmed for the kitchen?"
"Yes, Woojin, you're definitely on the cooking team."
A strange smile formed on his face. The writers were smiling in much the same way too, as if they were already expecting Kang Woojin to fail spectacularly.
"We're looking forward to Woojin's cooking."
That was exactly the reaction they had wanted.
──────────
At the same time, the office itself was rather chaotic.
Stacks of papers, posters, and books were scattered everywhere, making the place look almost like a junk shop. On the messy desk, a framed poster for Profiler Hanryang stood out prominently.
The man sitting behind that desk was a familiar bearded figure.
Song Manwoo PD.
This was the production company he had recently established.
"Hmm."
Song Manwoo PD, whose face seemed even rounder than before, was staring intently at his desk. His expression was quite serious.
"They're not bad at all..."
He muttered to himself while looking at two thick stacks of paper placed on top of each other. They were clearly scripts. It was easy to recognize them, since they were the same two scripts that had previously been sent to Kang Woojin and then returned.
So why was Song Manwoo PD brooding over them like this?
Soon, he recalled the call he had with Kang Woojin a few days earlier after getting the scripts back.
It had started with Song Manwoo PD's eager voice.
"Hey! You finished reading them? What did you think?"
As always, Kang Woojin's response had been dry, but clear.
"They were alright, PD-nim."
To Song Manwoo PD, that answer had felt frustratingly vague.
"Alright?"
"Yes."
"Both of them?"
"Yes. If I had to choose, Famous Chef was a little better."
Do you get it? Did that mean they were good, or not? Song Manwoo PD closed his mouth for a moment, then decided to approach it from another angle.
"Then if I gave you these two scripts, would you do one of them, Woojin? Be honest. You're the type who'll be honest anyway."
"I'm not really interested."
"Ah."
"Sorry."
At the quiet apology, Song Manwoo PD snapped back to himself and slowly shook his head.
"No, why are you apologizing, Woojin? You only decided to do Hanryang after reading the first episode script."
"Yes."
"But these don't appeal to you?"
"They're fine."
Back in the present, Song Manwoo PD leaned back in his chair in his office and let out a long sigh.
Huu.
"If Gang Totem says that, then both of these scripts must be flat."
Slowly stroking his beard, Song Manwoo PD sank into thought. Woojin had not said it directly, but there had been a polite nuance to his words. It felt like he had softened the truth out of consideration for their relationship.
'Even without the totem activating, if he'd said they were good, I was thinking I might give one a try. But after hearing that, I'm not feeling it at all.'
More than anything else—
'If Woojin isn't interested, then there's no point in revising them either.'
Kang Woojin was an essential part of Song Manwoo PD's plans. That was why he had shown him the scripts first under the pretense of getting an evaluation.
But instead, it felt like he had only taken a step backward.
In the end, Song Manwoo PD put the scripts he had been looking at into his desk drawer. His face turned even more serious.
"This won't do. I need to find something else."
──────────
The next day.
September 30.
At the airport.
Several planes were taking off and landing across the wide airfield. But the scene felt unfamiliar. There were some foreigners, though not many, and plenty of Koreans too, though not everyone was Korean.
Naturally.
This was not Korea.
This airport was Da Nang International Airport in Vietnam.
The airport was packed with people, and at that moment, a large group walked out from the arrival hall. At a glance, there had to be over fifty of them. People in the airport lobby turned to look.
Both foreigners traveling there and Koreans alike.
"Hey!! Look over there! Isn't that Ryu Jungmin?!"
"Really?! Where?!"
"Over there! Near arrivals! That woman is Ha Yura! And isn't that Kang Woojin behind her?"
"No way! It really is them?! Ah! They must be here for the Island of the Missing shoot!"
"Wow! Come over here! Let's get closer!"
In fact, that large group was the Island of the Missing team. Da Nang itself was calm, but the news had already caused a huge stir back in Korea.
『Star Talk. Ryu Jungmin, Ha Yura, Kim Iwon, Jeon Woochang, Kang Woojin. Director Kwon Gitaek's Island of the Missing team departs for overseas shoot』
『Island of the Missing team causes a stir at Incheon Airport』
『The monster rookie Kang Woojin calmly signs autographs for gathered fans』
The overseas filming schedule for Island of the Missing had begun. Director Kwon Gitaek, dozens of staff members, and all the lead actors had arrived together. Before long, onlookers started gathering around them at the airport.
There were quite a few Koreans too.
"Wow!! Hello!!"
"Kyaa!! Ryu Jungmin! Ryu Jungmin!!"
"Woojin oppa! I'm a huge fan of Strong Heart!!"
"Ha Yura is seriously gorgeous! Her body is insane!"
"Aren't those Kim Iwon and Jeon Woochang back there too?!"
The sight of so many top stars in one place was spectacular. There were supporting actors too, but the onlookers only had eyes for the stars. Because of that, the Island of the Missing team gradually started feeling trapped by the swelling crowd around them.
"Please wait a moment!! We're just passing through!!"
Dozens of men rushed in from the airport entrance and started clearing a path. They were the line PDs handling the overseas location shoot. Soon, the actors and the Island of the Missing team moved outside along the route the security staff had forced open.
Meanwhile, the crowd busily snapped photos with their phones.
──────────
Eventually—
The Island of the Missing team reached the several vans and minibuses parked outside the airport.
"Please board in order! We're heading straight to the lodging!!"
At the shout from the line PD, the members of the Island of the Missing team started getting into the vehicles one by one. Among them, Kang Woojin stood out in his deeply pulled-down cap.
"..."
Woojin calmly scanned his surroundings with an expressionless face. Outwardly, he looked cold as always, but inside he was wildly excited.
'Wow, holy crap, Da Nang. Doesn't this really feel like being abroad? Are all those trees palm trees? Man. It definitely smells like a different country.'
Then Woojin looked up at the blazing sun, and his first impression was extremely simple.
'But it's way too hot. Damn. I can barely breathe. I'm going to get roasted out here. We're acting in this kind of heat?'
Beside him, Choi Sunggeon, his hair tied back in a ponytail, was wiping sweat off his face with a pained expression.
"Ugh, it's insanely hot. I'm dying. Woojin, you okay?"
Woojin's answer was full of bluff.
"Yes, CEO."
Island of the Missing had officially entered its overseas location shoot.
──────────
About two weeks later.
October 17.
Seoul.
It was the living room of a grand mansion, and most of the furniture was wooden. An old man sat at the innermost seat on the sofa. With his short white hair and deeply wrinkled face, he looked much older than even Kwon Gitaek.
His presence was extraordinary.
There was a clear sense of seasoned authority around him.
Beside him, a man in his forties, wearing a bewildered expression, was speaking.
"D-Director. Even so... I think finding an actor who's skilled in sign language will be difficult. As you know, actors usually either practice like crazy or use a double."
"Go on."
"Yes, yes. And it's not as if every scene requires sign language. It's only for a few dozen scenes, right? Looking for an actor who already knows sign language just for those scenes feels a bit... Director, actors sometimes learn foreign languages, including English, but sign language is rare."
"Hmm."
The veteran director said nothing after hearing him out and only looked at him in silence. Yet for some reason, that silence felt like the low growl of a wild beast. Before long, the sweating man averted his gaze and changed his tone.
"I-I'll do my best to look for someone."
Suddenly, the veteran director pulled a phone from his pocket, turned something on, and held the screen out to the man.
"Where is this person now?"
Tilting his head, the man focused on the phone screen. It was a YouTube video.
An edited clip from a famous Japanese talk show.
It showed an actor communicating with the audience through sign language.
The title read—
Kang Woojin using Japanese sign language on Japan's national talk show Ame Talk Show. Edited version.
And the person appearing on Ame Talk Show was none other than Kang Woojin.