"······What do you mean, beneath the surface?"
The CEO of the film production company tilted his head, looking bewildered. It would have been difficult for anyone to immediately understand Director Ahn Gabok's words on the spot. Director Ahn himself seemed to know that perfectly well.
"No."
He slowly shook his head, full of short white hair.
"That was just me thinking out loud."
"Ah, I see. Hmm, when you met Kang Woojin, did you mention that you'd also be dropping by the Island of the Missing shoot?"
"Yes, I did. I only mentioned it in passing, but Director Kwon will probably tell the actors today."
The CEO of the film company took out his phone and continued.
"Understood. I'll make preparations on my end as well. Ah, did you happen to ask Kang Woojin about the sign language part?"
"Yes. I heard he knows not only Korean Sign Language and Japanese Sign Language, but also a little American Sign Language."
The CEO's eyes widened slightly.
"Wow, really? He really is extraordinary. It's already impressive enough that he's fluent in English, but Japanese and multiple sign languages too…"
"What he has is excessive. Usually, when someone is too greedy, they end up wasting their own abilities. But that man doesn't seem to have that problem at all."
"How could someone that young possibly learn so much? Some people spend their whole lives focused on English alone. And on top of that, his acting is already at that level."
"He taught himself."
"What?"
"That's what I heard from Director Kwon. He said he was self-taught."
The CEO frowned as if to say, What kind of nonsense is that?
"Do you really believe something that unbelievable? That he learned it all on his own?"
Director Ahn Gabok wore the calm smile of a veteran, but there was considerable weight in his tone.
"What does it matter if you don't believe it? He exists. And whether you believe it or not doesn't mean anything. What matters most right now is seeing his acting in person."
There was a great deal packed into those words. Director Ahn Gabok had a plan of his own. He did not want to come all the way here only to secretly peek at the lead actors' group shoot from the sidelines. He wanted to see it openly.
A rather groundbreaking change had taken place.
In a situation like this, what kind of acting would this eccentric rookie actor show? Not on a screen or television, but on an actual filming set, what kind of energy would he give off? What kind of chemistry would he have with the other actors? And beyond that bizarre, singular acting of his, what other kind of appeal did he possess?
'Capacity.'
Director Ahn Gabok, whose name had been etched into the history of Korean cinema, wanted to confirm Kang Woojin's capacity.
That meant not only his acting, but the actor's overall ability as well, so he could judge whether he was someone suited for long-term collaboration.
'The scale and nature of that capacity.'
There had never been a case like this before. At least, that was what Director Ahn Gabok had believed for a long time.
"Understood. After checking the Island of the Missing set, should I arrange your return schedule right away?"
"Yes, do that. And book tickets for Drug Dealer for the following day as well. Let's go watch it together."
"Understood. The key staff, including the caddie, will be accompanying you as well."
After finishing an appropriate conversation with Director Ahn Gabok, the CEO left the room. A little while later, left alone, Director Ahn Gabok folded his arms and let out a low breath.
"It feels like there's something beneath the surface."
He was thinking of Kang Woojin, whom he had met earlier at the restaurant. Director Ahn Gabok had reviewed every work and video Kang Woojin had appeared in, including today's meeting.
After putting everything together, Director Ahn Gabok arrived at a single conclusion.
"There's a different scent to him. It feels as though something is hidden behind the version of himself he's showing now."
It seemed there had been a slight disconnect in his communication with Kang Woojin.
Of course, nothing had been confirmed yet. It was only Director Ahn Gabok's speculation. But he was someone who paid attention not only to acting, but also to the actors themselves, so he couldn't help taking interest.
'There's something unfamiliar passing through those upright eyes of his. As if he's hiding something valuable in his pocket. Whether it's light or heavy.'
The seasoned man's intuition was sharp.
──────────
After learning that the film Drug Dealer had taken first place at the box office just one day after release, Kang Woojin thought to himself,
'Damn… I'm actually getting to see something like this happen in real life. And in a movie I starred in, no less. No, calm down, Kang Woojin. Deal with what's right in front of you first.'
He suppressed the surge of excitement and decided to focus on his acting in Island of the Missing. Unlike him, however, the other actors, including Ryu Jungmin, were quite noisy.
No, to be precise, the entire Island of the Missing production team was.
"Did you hear? Director Ahn Gabok is coming to the set soon."
"Seriously? No way, you're joking, right? Why would that legendary figure suddenly show up here?"
"It's true. I heard it from Director Kwon. Director Ahn is in Vietnam right now and said he'd stop by for a bit."
News of Director Ahn Gabok's visit spread in an instant. The source was Director Kwon Gitaek, and the actors quickly added fuel to the rumor. They were all top-tier actors, but Director Ahn Gabok's presence placed enormous pressure on them.
Because of that, even among top actors like Ryu Jungmin and Ha Yura, the tension and mindset each person carried were different.
Watching them closely, Director Kwon Gitaek thought,
'I can tell exactly what all of them are thinking.'
But there was exactly one exception. There was only one person on set who looked exactly the same as always.
It was Kang Woojin.
The reason was simple. Kang Woojin, too, found Director Ahn Gabok uncomfortable and a little frightening.
'Forget it. Just think of him as an ordinary old man you could see anywhere.'
Thanks to his concept, Woojin's ability to control his own mind had reached an almost godlike level. Because of that, the legendary giant of Korean cinema, Director Ahn Gabok, had been reduced in Woojin's mind to nothing more than just an old man.
Meanwhile, Drug Dealer, which had just announced its first screening, was causing a major stir in Korea.
『Drug Dealer, starring Jin Jaejun, Park Panseo, Kang Woojin, and others, takes first place at the box office the moment it opens, solidifying its lead!』
It was extremely rare for an adults-only film to take first place at the box office after just one day. The atmosphere kept heating up. Riding that wave, many people who had hesitated started flocking to theaters beginning on the 29th, the second day of Drug Dealer's release.
"Wow, the interest in Drug Dealer is huge. Director, shouldn't we go watch it too?"
"Tch. Looks like we should."
"Ah, by the way, are you close with Director Kim Dohee?"
"Close, my ass. We're just enemies."
Drug Dealer drew enormous attention from the entire domestic film industry. That was due not only to the fact that it was the rare case of an adults-only film, but also to the acting of performers like Jin Jaejun and Park Panseo.
But above all else, the biggest issue was the rookie actor Kang Woojin.
『Jin Jaejun lavishly praises Kang Woojin's acting in Drug Dealer: "There was a real Lee Sangman on set" (HelloFM)』
And so countless directors and all kinds of entertainment industry figures watched Drug Dealer.
『Star writer Park Eunmi spotted at the theater: "She came to watch Drug Dealer" / Photo』
『[Photo] Hanryang's star PD Song Manwoo and writer Park Eunmi entering the theater side by side / Photo』
Directors, PDs, writers, film companies, production companies—many industry figures were there. Director Shin Dongchun and his team were no exception. Since Boy Friend had already been released while Kang Woojin's starring film was building momentum, Director Shin naturally had to watch it too, and he wanted to hear people's thoughts.
'The directing is good too, of course, but the pacing control stands out in particular.'
And the role of Lee Sangman was played by Kang Woojin.
As the film went on, Lee Sangman changed. He gradually lost his charisma, and even his tone of voice became lighter. But the change was so natural that it took time for viewers to notice. Even so, the Lee Sangman on screen was clearly delivering a message.
Director Shin Dongchun was the first to realize it.
"His eyes are getting duller, he's scratching at his body more often, and even his gait is losing strength. He's dying."
It was obvious. Lee Sangman was temporarily recharging himself with drugs, but his life was slowly burning out.
"Those Japanese bastards are really sly."
"I know. But if you vouch for me, it'll be fine. That's why I came here."
"Then let's see it. Show me what you can do."
At the same time, his violence had also become grotesque.
"Heh heh, diamonds."
Remarkably, that grotesque quality captivated the hundreds of viewers in the theater.
"Doesn't Lee Sangman feel a little different now?"
"Right? But somehow he looks even scarier now than he did at the beginning."
"But Lee Sangman is a drug addict, so he'll probably end up siding with Jung Sunghoon."
That was where the twist began.
"Your eyes don't look like a drug dealer's."
The screen filled with a close-up of Lee Sangman holding the knife he used to slice sashimi. His hand trembled slightly. The audience felt as if that sashimi knife were right in front of their own eyes.
"Your eyes look like a snitch's. You're a snitch, aren't you?"
That was enough.
"!!!"
The audience's eyes widened violently. Dozens of people covered their mouths. Lee Sangman's gaze and breathing seized everyone. It was disgusting, yet impossible to reject.
As if passing judgment on the current Lee Sangman on behalf of everyone, Director Shin Dongchun said,
"It's difficult to express a transformation this smooth. You have to show the change while preserving the original form, and guide the audience along without making them feel alienated."
That was the key to an allure that never broke. In other words, it was a technique that relied entirely on the actor's performance.
'It's only possible because it's Woojin. I didn't see it in person, but he must have done it absurdly easily.'
As Drug Dealer continued its run, the popularity of the character Lee Sangman only rose higher. Proof of that was how Kang Woojin's name kept surfacing among the audience members leaving the theaters.
Around this time, new movements began to appear.
From acting academies to theater troupes to university acting departments.
"Everyone, make sure you watch Drug Dealer before the next class. This assignment is to carefully observe the actors' performances and write how you would have played the role yourself. I've already seen it, and it'll help."
"Professor! All the actors who appeared in it??"
"Which actor you choose to focus on is up to you. But Kang Woojin's acting will definitely stand out."
"Ah, Kang Woojin."
"Well, he's the person closest to your goal, isn't he?"
For people dreaming of becoming actors, Kang Woojin had become a goal in himself. In a way, he was carving out a sensational shortcut in the domestic acting world.
"You all hear people talking about Kang Woojin these days. They say he shook up the entire entertainment industry the moment he debuted. Look—it's possible. Kang Woojin is proof of that."
A role model. If you wanted to become an actor, then you had to become someone influential like Kang Woojin. Most aspiring actors had started thinking that way.
That was why they flocked to theaters.
And then, as the 29th turned into the 30th, the second-day performance figures for Drug Dealer were released.
[October 29, 2020, Audience Count Survey]
[Daily Domestic Box Office]
Drug Dealer / Release date: October 28 / Audience: 339,166 / Screens: 1,002 / Total audience: 590,115
Monster Priest / Release date: October 28 / Audience: 110,452 / Screens: 998 / Total audience: 198,995
Crazy Sunshine / Release date: October 1 / Audience: 30,113 / Screens: 1,011 / Total audience: 3,344,063
Nature of the Suspect / Release date: September 23 / Audience: 8,808 / Screens: 881 / Total audience: 2,010,261
.
.
.
It was still overwhelmingly dominant. On top of that, the audience count had risen sharply compared to the previous day. Kang Woojin's popularity and the growing word of mouth had both played their part.
But as if it could not be stopped—
『Drug Dealer surpasses 590,000 viewers in just two days… on track to become the highest-grossing adults-only film?』
The Drug Dealer side rushed to spread follow-up articles one after another. Of course, it also helped that the press itself eagerly amplified the news.
And that was not all.
-[Ah… I nearly pissed myself watching this movie… time flew by, and it was seriously so good! [Drug Dealer Review] | R-rated film]
Videos related to Drug Dealer flooded YouTube and other video platforms, forming a single wave out of promotional intent and hunger for views.
But naturally, the more interest heated up, the more all kinds of nonsense started spilling out.
Gradually.
『As Drug Dealer's impact spreads after release, viewers are asking, "Did Kang Woojin actually do drugs?"』
『[Main Article] Early success of Drug Dealer spreads false Kang Woojin drug rumors』
『Netizens in film communities react to Kang Woojin's chilling acting: "Maybe he should take a drug test"』
To put it simply, that kind of nonsense kept growing larger. And the sources were varied.
Countless netizens.
-[This movie is fucking disgusting lol]
[An article came out saying Kang Woojin was involved with drugs. Is it true?]
-[↑That's just a rumor, idiot]
-[lol but you never know lol it'd be hilarious if the test actually came back positive lol]
-[If everyone just leaves it alone, it'll die down on its own. Why is everyone so oversensitive???]
-[Adults-only films usually spike hard at the start and then gradually fall off.]
-[I watched Drug Dealer, and Kang Woojin definitely feels like he has experience lol]
-[There are way too many idiots about to get sued lol]
·
·
·
·
Click-hungry media, film companies behind Drug Dealer's rival films, and more all joined in.
"No!! How can our Monster Bride lose to an adults-only film?!"
"Uh, we're honestly quite shocked too. To be fair, we expected it to get somewhat buried on the first day because of Kang Woojin and various other reasons, but we didn't think it would hold up this well on the second day too…"
"What we need is not confusion, but a solution! At this rate, we won't even make enough money to cover cigarette costs!"
"Yes, yes. We've already coordinated with the distributor and more than doubled the scheduled promotions. The actors' schedules are being adjusted as well."
"Do whatever it takes, no matter what!"
"But Drug Dealer will eventually lose momentum. Adults-only films have their limits, so let's wait until this weekend."
And so another day passed, and it became Friday the 30th, bright and clear.
Films usually opened on Wednesday or Thursday. In the film industry, there was a saying that Wednesday and Thursday were merely appetizers, and the real fight began on Friday of that same week.
『[Film Talk] Drug Dealer's solo run—its competitors must narrow the gap this Friday』
Compared to Wednesday and Thursday, the reason was obvious.
『Fierce promotional war among the other films targeting Friday prime time, excluding Drug Dealer』
『[Recommended Watch] From teens to families… skip the adults-only Drug Dealer and go see Monster Priest instead』
Friday's firepower was tremendous.
──────────
The next day, Saturday the 31st, in Da Nang, Vietnam.
It was morning. The last day of October had begun. Once today passed, November would begin. Cool winds had started to blow in Korea, but Vietnam was still hot.
Because of that—
Bzzzz.
The air conditioner hummed softly in the room where Kang Woojin was sleeping.
Around then—
♬♪
The phone by Woojin's bedside rang. It was his alarm. Startled awake by the vibration and the alarm sound, Kang Woojin suddenly opened his eyes wide.
"Ugh. I'm still so tired. Ugh!"
He groaned as he stretched, still half-curled up. With his hair all disheveled, he looked exactly like a shut-in. He wanted to turn off the alarm and roll around in bed a little longer, but he did not have that luxury.
'Call time is eleven, right?'
Today's filming for Island of the Missing started earlier than usual. Not only Kang Woojin, but all the main actors in Island of the Missing had to gather at the same time.
In other words, it was for a group photo.
There was no way it would make sense for Kang Woojin, the newest addition, to be late to a gathering where everyone was coming together after a while. Letting out a long yawn, he grabbed his phone and got out of bed.
At that exact moment—
Bzz.
The phone in his hand vibrated briefly. It was a text message. Looking at the screen, the sender was Seo Hyunmi.
In other words, Kang Woojin's mother.
-[Mom: Woojin, I saw the article. Congratulations! Your dad is really happy too. Are you doing well? Make sure you eat properly.]
After checking the message, Woojin tilted his head.
"Congratulations all of a sudden?"
There had been plenty of things to be congratulated for lately, but was there something again today? Woojin was just about to reply to his mother when he realized that a huge pile of unread messages had already stacked up.
"Whoa."
There were dozens of them. All kinds of people had sent congratulatory messages.
Then—
Bzz.
Another message arrived. This time, it was from Director Kim Dohee. Interestingly, the message contained nothing but a single article link. Beneath the link was a preview.
The moment Kang Woojin saw the headline, his eyes widened.
"No way, one million?!"
Naturally—
『[Movie Media] One million viewers in just three days after release! Drug Dealer's dazzling performances spark an explosion in audience numbers, possibly setting a new record in the history of Korean adults-only films?』
That was the first time Kang Woojin had ever seen one million viewers with his own eyes.