It was the night of the 24th.
The Korean restaurant in Gangwon Province, the one that had hosted a one-day restaurant event for the filming of Our Table, was finally quiet. It was already past eleven at night. All the customers had left, and the main shoot had wrapped about thirty minutes earlier. That was probably why the Our Table production staff were rushing around in the middle of cleanup.
"We have to put the tables back exactly the way they were!"
"This is the original layout photo!"
"Kitchen! Can someone check what props of ours are still in the kitchen?!"
"Did we collect all the small cameras?!"
"Only the annex is left now!"
The shoot had run long, so fatigue was written all over the staff's faces, but everyone still looked satisfied with the day's work. Among them, PD Yoon Byeongseon, wearing glasses, stood out in the main hall.
And at the table in front of him—
"Thank you all for your hard work."
"Ah, I'm dead."
"You did great."
"Seriously, everyone worked so hard today."
The cast of Our Table were gathered together. Of course, the expressionless Kang Woojin was among them. All of them still had on aprons with the Our Table logo, beer cans in hand, looking ready to wash away the day's thirst after a grueling shoot.
They had clearly grown much closer, because the conversation never stopped.
Meanwhile, inside, Kang Woojin was suffering.
'My God, I don't even remember how many dishes I made today. I feel like I could throw up if I smell ramyeon right now.'
Outwardly he looked perfectly calm, but inwardly he was in agony. It reminded him of the days in his early twenties when he used to work part-time at a bar. If he had not been clinging to sheer willpower, he would already have collapsed on the table.
'This isn't "varied life experience." This is just one more cruel slice of reality.'
Just then, PD Yoon Byeongseon, who had been talking with Ahn Jonghak, addressed the whole group.
"Of course, there were a lot of mistakes, and there were parts where the coordination wasn't smooth, but it was the first time, so that's understandable. Overall, it was good. If we refine it a little more, I think it could absolutely work overseas too."
At those words, which felt almost like a hopeful kind of torture, Ahn Jonghak took a sip of beer and answered.
"The food came out on time, but honestly, the banquet hall side and some of the other areas had a lot of issues, didn't they? If the food had come out late, we would've been in real trouble."
The exhausted Ha Gangsu and the others readily agreed.
"That's true… if the orders had gotten messed up from the start, there's no way we could've pulled it off today."
"There were so many mistakes during the ordering process! I'm really sorry!"
The lively, young Yeon Baekgwang lowered his head apologetically, then suddenly raised a thumbs-up at Kang Woojin.
"But the customers really loved the food today! Woojin hyung was amazing!"
Sitting with one leg crossed, Ahn Jonghak looked at Woojin as if he agreed.
"I heard that a lot too. What's going on with you? You said your cooking was just decent, but that looked practically chef-level. Even Chef Lee Yangwoo praised you. And Hye-yeon, from what I saw, you were just cutting garlic."
"Ah! We needed a ton of garlic, okay? And I cut a lot of the other ingredients too. I even flipped the kimchi pancakes."
While the two of them tossed jokes back and forth, PD Yoon Byeongseon set a few documents down on the table.
"Looking at today's customer reviews, the most common opinion is that the food was delicious."
That was true. The pages were full of comments praising the food. There were also plenty of remarks about seeing a new side of Kang Woojin. At that moment, Hwarin quietly handed one of the papers to Woojin and murmured under her breath,
"But it really was delicious."
Inside, she wanted to jump up and down with both thumbs raised.
'Not just good. It was really, really, really delicious!'
But with so many eyes on her, she held herself back. For her, it was enough that she had gotten to taste food cooked by Kang Woojin, the actor she admired most.
In any case, PD Yoon Byeongseon began wrapping things up.
"With this shoot, the domestic filming with the full cast is officially finished. We'll see each other again overseas. Before departure, there may be short shoots by team, and I'll let you know after we coordinate the schedules."
After the brief after-party, the cast left the restaurant one by one. Kang Woojin also said his goodbyes to the staff and headed toward the van.
Right then—
"Mr. Woojin!"
PD Yoon Byeongseon called out to him from behind. He hurried over, and what he said next was a little unusual.
"Before we start filming in the U.S., would you be able to come up with a recipe?"
Woojin looked at him.
"You mean a properly developed dish?"
"Yes. Don't feel pressured. You can think about it lightly. But after seeing your cooking today, I feel like it might actually be possible. It can be any Korean dish. If you're willing, think it over. We'll taste it first, discuss it, and if it works, we can consider selling it in the U.S."
He was asking whether Kang Woojin could create a unique Korean recipe of his own. It did not sound forced, so Woojin gave a calm nod.
"Understood."
"Great. You worked really hard today."
Once PD Yoon Byeongseon left, Woojin climbed into the van with his usual indifferent expression. Only after Han Yejung and the stylists had all gotten in did the van finally pull away.
At the same time—
Choi Sunggeon, seated in the passenger seat, turned around to speak to him.
"Woojin, you know Director Ahn Gabok, right?"
Director Ahn Gabok?
The name was vaguely familiar, but at the same time strange. Since it was a director they were talking about, Woojin pretended to know exactly who it was.
"Yes, CEO-nim."
At the same time, he casually kept searching on his phone as if nothing was wrong. Only after seeing the face in the search results did he remember who Ahn Gabok was.
'Ah, this director… wasn't he called a living legend in Korean cinema? I think I saw him on YouTube once.'
Any Korean actor would probably revere Director Ahn Gabok, but to Kang Woojin, he still felt like little more than an elderly man whose profession happened to be directing films.
And so—
"Director Ahn Gabok wants to meet you. He called."
Woojin made it look as if he was slightly surprised, but in truth, he did not feel all that excited.
'That grandfather? No, wait. The director wants to see me? Why? Ah, is he trying to offer me a role?'
It was a rather vague reaction. Just like with other directors, his response was lukewarm.
"Me?"
"Yes. Though just as expected… your face doesn't change at all. I figured as much, but aren't you surprised? When I got the call, I nearly popped my eyes out."
"I was surprised."
"Nonsense. Anyway, I'm looking into Director Ahn Gabok's project, so just keep that in mind."
"Yes, CEO-nim."
"If you end up working with Director Ahn Gabok, it'll cause another huge shockwave in the film industry."
Really? Would it?
But Kang Woojin's mind was already full of something else.
'Ah, I'm going back to Vietnam tomorrow. I can already feel myself suffocating.'
That place was hell, complete with scorching heat.
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The first filming block for Our Table wrapped on the 24th, and at dawn on the 25th, Kang Woojin was already on a plane. After spending about a week filming in Korea, he was on his way back to the overseas set of Island of the Missing.
The destination was Da Nang, Vietnam.
And he was not alone.
『[Star Photo] Hong Hyeyeon and Kang Woojin spotted at the airport! Departing together for overseas filming of Island of the Missing / Photo』
Hong Hyeyeon, who was scheduled to appear in a cameo role, was traveling with him.
Meanwhile, the OST Kang Woojin had released a few days earlier was still holding the number one spot on the music platforms.
-[1 (-)] Boy Friend / Kang Woojin (Boy Friend OST Part 1)
Not only on Melon but across the major platforms, it remained at number one, proving just how powerful the popularity of Boy Friend still was.
『The drama Boy Friend OST is also a smash hit… Kang Woojin's "Boy Friend" reaches #1 on Melon』
Boy Friend was achieving a level of success that had never been seen before for a short drama. As people often said, there was nothing to compare it to.
『Kang Woojin, who proved his outstanding vocals through the five-million-subscriber channel Kang Woojin's Alter Ego, is now sweeping the music platforms』
『[Chart] Kang Woojin's "Boy Friend" hits #1… Jua at #2, DKM at #3… overtaking the biggest names in music』
『OST sung by Kang Woojin reaches #1 on the music charts… the Kang Woojin syndrome continues』
Perhaps because of that, the first OST of Woojin's first drama, Boy Friend, could be heard everywhere.
Even on the radio in cars.
"Before we move on to part two, let's listen to a song. Ah, what's popular these days? It's 'Boy Friend' sung by Kang Woojin. We'll listen to this and be right back."
-♬♪
The song spilled out through earbuds, phones, and speakers from every direction. The popularity of the OST only added more fuel to the success of Boy Friend. Following Kang Woojin's track, the OST sung by Hwarin was officially released on the afternoon of the 25th.
-[(New Song!)] Girlfriend / Hwarin (Boy Friend OST Part 2)
Considering the current popularity of Boy Friend, it was obvious that Hwarin's OST would also catch on quickly. On top of that, the duet had not even been released yet.
Of course, Boy Friend itself was still overwhelmingly in first place on both Netflix Korea and Netflix Japan.
『Boy Friend holds #1 for nearly a week as Kang Woojin and Hwarin's brand value and popularity soar』
Its popularity in Japan, in particular, rose explosively. In Korea, attention was divided by the many issues surrounding Woojin, but in Japan, interest concentrated heavily on Boy Friend itself.
『Twitter is ablaze with discussion about Boy Friend』
The combined force of Hallyu, Kang Woojin, and Hwarin was immense. Japanese audiences were obsessed with the drama.
[Woojin!!! Hwarin!!! I love you!!!]
[This is the first drama that's ever made me this emotionally invested… and now there's only one episode left… I can't handle it…]
[Why can't Japan make dramas like this?? This is so good, and Japanese dramas only get four episodes and feel sloppy in comparison, it makes me mad!]
[Are there really lots of guys like Kang Woojin in Korea? I seriously want to go there.]
[The color palette of this drama is so beautiful. It reminds me of my school days. It was such a beautiful and enjoyable drama.]
[Warning: boyfriends like Kang Woojin do not exist in real life]
[Both actors are so cute, and they're both really good at acting.]
[I also… want a love story that beautiful… it was so, so good…]
[I'm stuck in a swamp! I've already rewatched it twice, and now I'm watching Boy Friend again!]
·
·
·
Even after the weekend, on the 26th, that atmosphere continued.
In Korea, however, it was not just the Boy Friend phenomenon dominating the conversation. A whole series of related articles were pouring out one after another.
『Release date confirmed for Frozen love, premieres Friday, November 27』
『Drama Frozen love, set to premiere November 27, says production team will reveal Kang Woojin's sign language acting』
『From killer to lover to even sign language acting… "acting monster" Kang Woojin's endless image transformation』
There were constant articles about Frozen love.
[Sign language?? He does sign language too?? Didn't people already say the drama with Lee Wolsun was amazing???]
[That's honestly incredible… it's a short appearance, but sign language acting? Actors usually avoid disability-related roles… I'm seriously impressed]
Then there was Our Table.
『[Program Check] Main variety show Our Table, directed by PD Yoon Byeongseon… first domestic filming completed, which star-studded cast member will cook?』
And soon, Drug Dealer.
『[Film Talk] Drug Dealer screening ends… advance ticket sales begin nationwide』
『To the very end! Jin Jaejun passionately promotes the film to fans who attended the screening / Photo』
Bombardment.
Yes, "bombardment" was exactly the right word for the current situation. The snowballs that had already grown huge seemed to burst all at once, as if by prior agreement.
『Film Drug Dealer, rated 18+… what kind of role will Kang Woojin play in his cameo appearance?』
The fragments scattered by the large-scale bombardment quickly merged again, fusing into even larger snowballs, and their impact inside people's minds grew more and more distinct. The whole process was fast and efficient.
And even while time kept moving, new shells continued to be fired toward the public.
『[Feature] How many viewers can the adult-rated drama Drug Dealer, starring Jin Jaejun and monster rookie Kang Woojin, draw in?』
It was as if no one was being given even a moment to adapt.
──────────
Early morning on the 28th.
It was around eight o'clock. The place was a multiplex theater in Seoul.
A woman who had just stepped off the elevator immediately caught the eye. She wore a black mask, a hat pulled low over her face, and round glasses.
The way she had covered herself felt deliberate.
She turned her gaze toward the theater lobby and thought to herself.
'Oh… there are quite a lot of people.'
It was a weekday morning, yet there were far more people than expected. It was not packed enough that she could not move, but it was crowded enough to make her stop and take notice. There were couples, groups of men, groups of women—a mix of all kinds. Some of them glanced curiously at the masked woman in the hat, but no one paid her much attention.
Then—
-♬♪
With a booming sound, the trailer began playing on the overhead screen. The title flashed onto the display.
-Drug Dealer
Between the rapidly changing shots of the trailer, the image of an actor with a tattoo on his neck appeared for a brief moment. The woman in the hat flinched.
'That's him, right? Mr. Woojin. Wow, his image is so different I almost didn't recognize him.'
After staring at the trailer in a daze, she snapped out of it and quickly took pictures of the Drug Dealer mini poster and standee with her phone.
Soon after, she printed her ticket from the self-service kiosk. The movie on her ticket was Drug Dealer, and there were still about thirty minutes left until showtime.
'Caramel popcorn… ah, I probably shouldn't.'
She hesitated for a moment, but in the end she carefully bought a small size at the concession stand and headed toward the screening room. There were more people than she had expected. For a morning showing, even ten people would have been considered a lot, but there looked to be more than thirty.
In any case, the woman in the hat glanced around once, then sat down in her assigned seat.
'Perfect timing.'
-♬♪
Advertisements began playing on the giant screen at the front. Since the lights in the theater were still on, she kept her mask up and looked down at her phone. That lasted for about five minutes.
Finally—
'Done.'
When she raised her head, the lights in the theater had completely dimmed. She lowered her mask slightly—not enough to remove it entirely, but enough to expose part of her face.
There was a small freckle under one of her eyes.
The woman was Hwarin, whose popularity had soared through Boy Friend. Even without makeup, she still carried the unmistakable aura of a celebrity. As she popped a piece of caramel popcorn into her mouth and stared at the giant screen, she exclaimed inwardly.
'Let's go. Let's go!'
The reason she had come to the theater so early that morning was simple. She was there to watch the first commercial film of the actor she liked most in the world. And it meant something to her. It was his first commercial film, on its opening day, at the very first screening.
As she chewed the popcorn, her heartbeat gradually sped up. Her eyes, fixed on the screen, sparkled with anticipation.
Then—
-Drug Dealer
The title appeared boldly across the darkened screen. About an hour later, after Hwarin had already finished all her popcorn, Lee Sangman appeared in the middle of a downpour.
A cigarette hung from his mouth. A knife scar cut across his left cheek. His skin looked rough, his gaze carried a quiet violence, and beneath his suit, tattoos were faintly visible.
On the giant screen, Lee Sangman spoke in a rough, low voice.
"Come closer. I'm wet."
The murmurs in the audience grew louder.
"Whoa, that's Kang Woojin?"
"Damn, he really looks like a gangster."
Meanwhile, Hwarin stared at her favorite actor on the screen with her lips slightly parted and her eyes wide, muttering to herself in amazement.
"Wow… his impact is insane. This is incredible. He's so cool."
At that very moment, the internet was already filling up with articles about Drug Dealer.
『[Film Talk] Drug Dealer opens today, records #1 in reservations despite being rated for adults only』