After the Blue Dragon Film Awards ceremony ended, people split into two groups.
One group headed to the after-party prepared by the festival at the resort hotel restaurant, while the other did not. Those who planned to attend moved straight to the restaurant near the hall.
Those skipping the after-party, on the other hand, made their way toward the red carpet laid out in front of the hall. Vans and minibuses were busy picking up actors who had finished their schedules, while hundreds of reporters pressed themselves against the barricades nearby, frantically hammering their camera shutters as if they had been waiting for this exact moment.
Papapapak!!
There were naturally plenty of onlookers too. Fans shouted the names of their favorite actors, internet streamers, and YouTubers while asking for content. At the same time, interviews with today's award winners were already underway at the photo zone near the venue.
"Jin Jaejoon! You won Best Actor today. Did you expect it?!"
"No, not at all."
"How was your chemistry with Kang Woojin in Drug Dealer?"
"It was unforgettable. A truly impressive experience."
A lot of people had already passed through the photo area. Whether or not to stop for an interview was entirely up to the actors, but most chose to do it if possible. Even small gestures like that had a direct effect on next day publicity and helped amplify the impact. It was good for their image too.
On the other hand, whether to put effort into an article or not was up to the reporters.
What was interesting was that the reporters currently interviewing various actors kept glancing toward the entrance of the hall. Their minds were clearly elsewhere, as though they were waiting for the real highlight of today's Blue Dragon ceremony.
'When is Kang Woojin coming out?'
'Did he sneak out through another door?'
Then Kang Woojin appeared.
Woojin had risen to superstardom by winning both Best New Actor and the Popularity Award at the country's biggest film festival just one year after debuting. But that was not why the reporters were so fixated on him tonight.
It was because of the unusual acceptance speech and attitude he had shown during the Blue Dragon Film Awards.
The instant he appeared—
"Kang Woojin!! Woojin!! Interview! Please give us an interview!!"
The reporters exploded with excitement like starving beasts the moment they saw Kang Woojin stepping out in a tuxedo. They all shouted his name at once.
Meanwhile, the man at the center of it all was completely calm.
"..."
He silently looked over the reporters crowded into the photo area for a moment, then slowly walked toward them. He could have passed right by without any issue, but Choi Sunggeon had earnestly asked him to stop for a brief interview after the ceremony.
So there Kang Woojin stood, in the middle of the chaotic frenzy.
'Wow, this is seriously blinding.'
He stood in front of the half-crazed reporters while other actors passing by threw glances his way and murmured among themselves. Their looks were not exactly friendly. In any case, the agitated hyenas—no, the reporters—kept shouting questions at him.
"You won two awards at the Blue Dragon Film Awards!! How do you feel?!!"
"You looked unbelievably calm when you went up to receive them! Were you expecting to win?!"
"Were you nervous today?!!"
"What were you thinking while giving your acceptance speech?!"
Ah, my ears hurt.
With a cynical expression, Woojin wondered if the reporters in front of him had lost their minds. But his mindset was completely different from when he had first stepped into the film festival earlier that night.
He felt much more relaxed now.
Because of that, his field of vision widened. Only now did he properly take in the scene around the red carpet. Behind the reporters spitting out questions, there stood a huge Christmas tree.
'That thing is enormous.'
And it was not just the tree. The Blue Dragon staff had carefully decorated the surrounding trees as well, wrapping them in colorful lights. Christmas was only two days away, and the year itself was nearing its end. In Woojin's eyes, everything seemed to move in slow motion.
He could see the lights of the tightly packed apartment buildings in the distance.
Were the people living there watching this too?
Ah, what was I doing around this time last year? Right. I was drinking with my friends and wrapping up the year. Back then, watching festivals and award shows on TV felt like looking into another world. It was just something to talk about while eating snacks with friends.
But now he was standing inside that world.
It was a dazzling, luxurious scene. Hundreds of reporters were setting off flashes, and beyond them stood a line of glamorous top stars. Some of them even greeted him as if they already knew him.
One year. It was hard to say whether that was a long time or a short one.
Either way, Kang Woojin was standing here today.
'Life really is something special.'
Before entering this world, Woojin had lived a repetitive life. He went to work, got off work, and repeated the same routine. It was not that his life had been lacking. He had simply adapted to it so thoroughly that it felt dull and repetitive.
It had still been a life worth living.
Even back then, Kang Woojin had been someone who knew his place well. But now, every word he said became material for countless reporters. It became headlines.
"That acceptance speech was really unusual!! Did you prepare it yourself?!!"
"It sounded almost like a declaration of war! Was it just for show?!"
Woojin felt a strange emotion stir in him, but since he had already said everything he wanted to say, he decided he might as well enjoy the situation with even more force. Those misunderstandings and assumptions felt trivial now.
Soon, Kang Woojin muttered in a low voice toward the mass of reporters.
"No. I meant it."
From behind, camera flashes crashed over him like lightning. At that moment, a large man hurried up and stuck close to his side. It was Jang Suhwan, acting on Choi Sunggeon's instructions.
"Ah! Sorry! We have another schedule!! Hyung, let's go."
"Alright."
Shielding Woojin's side from view, Jang Suhwan quickly picked up the pace. The reporters followed after them, and Woojin barely managed to get into the waiting van.
The stylists were nowhere in sight.
The moment Woojin got into the car, Jang Suhwan slid into the driver's seat and stepped on the accelerator. The van started moving, slowly pulling away from the red carpet. Once they had gotten some distance, the man in the passenger seat turned around.
It was Choi Sunggeon, his hair tied back in a ponytail.
"Woojin."
Wearing a suit for once, Choi Sunggeon looked at Woojin in his tuxedo and let out a deep sigh. His expression was ambiguous, somewhere between a smile and a frown.
"Did you really have to cause trouble again?"
Ah, sorry. I was just trying to express my ambition in moderation.
He apologized inwardly, but outwardly Woojin kept the same blank expression.
"It was something I really wanted to say."
"I know, I know. But for a rookie award winner to suddenly declare he's taking Best Actor next year... that's a bit much..."
Jang Suhwan, still driving, suddenly burst out laughing.
"Hahahaha! That's so like you, Woojin hyung!! That speech is going down in Korean entertainment history!"
"Hey. Eyes on the road."
"Yes, sir!"
Choi Sunggeon, scratching the back of his head, let out another low sigh.
"Whew, seriously. Winning two awards at the Blue Dragon in your debut year and then declaring in front of hundreds of top actors that you'll win Best Actor next year... there's never been anything like it. That speech really was like you, but... you know how the industry is. It's a jungle. There are plenty of actors and insiders who already don't like you."
"What can you do? I already said it."
Woojin answered as calmly as ever.
"It doesn't matter."
Choi Sunggeon suddenly grinned.
"Heh, right, right. Maybe it's even more thrilling and fun because you're the one saying it."
Jang Suhwan jumped in again.
"Seriously, it was overflowing with charisma!! And honestly, what you said in your acceptance speech feels one hundred percent possible, doesn't it?!"
"I know. Just keep your eyes on the front."
Giving a thumbs-up, Choi Sunggeon met Woojin's eyes.
"That thrill comes from the fact that your declaration wasn't just empty bravado. So what if you get a little criticism? The entertainment industry being too flat and boring isn't good either."
"Is that so?"
"Exactly. You just kicked off a proper noise marketing campaign."
Then Choi Sunggeon showed him his phone.
"Criticism or not, there's a good chance you're about to monopolize all the attention."
The phone screen showed the newest trending articles.
"Since it's already out there, let's keep pushing this concept all the way to the end of the year."
And in fact, the force of Kang Woojin's declaration at the Blue Dragon venue was enormous.
『Kang Woojin wins two awards at the Blue Dragon Film Awards, declares in acceptance speech that next year's Best Actor is his』
『[Star Talk] 'Kang Woojin' turns the Blue Dragon Film Awards upside down, warns veteran actors in attendance』
Even though the ceremony had only just ended, articles were already being prepared. That was only natural for an event of this scale. Everyone on site, from field reporters to print staff, was moving busily.
『[Photo] Kang Woojin heads calmly to the stage as if he had expected to win Best New Actor / Photo』
Everywhere, there was Kang Woojin's name.
『"Next year's Best Actor is mine" — fearless confidence from a debut-year actor』
『[Film Festival] Where does this confidence come from?... Drug Dealer's Kang Woojin declares his intention to win Best Actor in his second year』
From Woojin's appearance on the red carpet, to the Blue Dragon stage, to the controversial acceptance speech, and even the short interview he gave reporters at the photo zone—
『[Issue] Kang Woojin responds firmly, saying "I meant it," when asked if his acceptance speech was just for show』
No actor in the history of Korean entertainment had ever caused such an unprecedented wave.
Once Kang Woojin's speech became the main talking point, its impact multiplied several times over. Of course, there were still articles about other actors too, including Jin Jaejoon, who had won Best Actor.
『[Blue Dragon Film Awards] This year's Best Actor goes to Drug Dealer's Jin Jaejoon』
But reporters loved digging through provocative material, analyzing it, and savoring it.
『"Jin Jaejoon, be nervous" — rookie Kang Woojin puts veterans on edge from his debut year』
Whether it was news about Kang Woojin, criticism of him, or even baseless rumors, anything related to him generated endless articles. From the night of the 23rd into the early hours of the 24th, Christmas Eve, the heat only intensified.
And it peaked on the morning of Christmas Eve.
Articles had poured out overnight, and the public could see the scale of it through radio, news coverage, and every other form of media.
"Did you watch the Blue Dragon Film Awards yesterday? It was huge. Really something to see."
"Yes, it absolutely felt like Christmas too. And of course, Kang Woojin's acceptance speech became a huge topic."
"Hahaha, I know, I know. The moment I saw it, I thought it would explode the next day."
"It really did. Woojin is such an interesting actor, isn't he? Winning two awards at the Blue Dragon right from his debut and always drawing attention."
He even appeared on the morning news of all three major terrestrial broadcasters. While the news covered the Blue Dragon Film Awards as a whole, the anchors made sure to insert Kang Woojin's bold speech in the middle of the coverage.
The firepower only got stronger.
By noon, film festival-related content flooded YouTube and other video platforms alike, whether it was official uploads from the organizers or edits put together by countless creators.
[Online reactions]
[RackIssueK: !Hot Clip! Blue Dragon Film Awards Kang Woojin compilation]
[Precious10MinTV: Kang Woojin's short but powerful acceptance speechㅋㅋㅋㅋ!!! Insane style!!!]
[PowerNewsMan: Kang Woojin finally did it!! Capturing the emotional moments of the Blue Dragon Film Awards!!]
More than seventy percent of those videos were about Kang Woojin.
In particular, short compilation clips containing only his acceptance speech had already passed three million views. Naturally, the comment section was in chaos.
[Online reactions]
[User1: Lee Sangman's style is insane]
[User2: ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ this ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ was this even real? ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ]
[User3: Such a blatant declarationㅋㅋㅋㅋ the actors in front were totally stunnedㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ]
[User4: Kang Woojin completely crossed the line. That was so rude.]
[User5: I agree. No matter how bold you are, that was too much.]
[User6: ???: "Give me Best Actor. Best New Actor isn't enough."]
[User7: I became a fan after Boy Friend... oppa, wasn't this a bit too much???]
[User8: Why are you all making such a fuss? ㅋㅋㅋㅋ the rookie energy is so fun to watchㅋㅋㅋㅋ it was so refreshing I had to change my underwear]
[User9: Honestly, with Kang Woojin's current skill level, doesn't he deserve Best Actor next year? Isn't he already leading Director Ahn Gabok's movie?]
[User10: ????????? Is that real???????????]
[User11: Seriously, Kang Woojin dropped a nuclear bomb on the Korean acting sceneㅋㅋㅋㅋ weak actors better watch out!]
[User12: Kang Woojin is insane ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ]
[User13: Lead in Director Kwon Gitaek's work, lead in Director Kyotaro's work, lead in Director Ahn Gabok's workㅋㅋㅋㅋ there's a reason he acts this crazyㅋㅋㅋㅋ]
[User14: Kang Woojin looks like he's going to collapse soon]
Shock, amazement, and swearing flew around everywhere. Public opinion was sharply divided. The same was true on Kang Woojin's SNS and his YouTube channel, Kang Woojin's Alter Ego.
But in the opposite direction—
『Kang Woojin's "bomb declaration" triggers explosive fan response on SNS and YouTube channel within a day』
His subscriber and follower counts suddenly surged. That situation continued throughout the 24th, and on Christmas Day, Kang Woojin's name could be heard everywhere offline too.
Including in the broadcasting world.
"Does Kang Woojin really have some unbelievably powerful backing? How big does he think he is to act like that?"
"Exactly. Sure, he can act, but what's the point if he has no manners?"
"He probably thinks directors like Kwon Gitaek and Ahn Gabok will keep backing him, so he can afford to act arrogant."
"Honestly, it might even be fun to watch him crash and burn."
People were saying similar things outside cafés too.
"Did you see Kang Woojin's bombshell speech?"
"Yeah. He really does seem crazy."
"But doesn't he kind of feel unhinged in a good way? Still ridiculously attractive too, right?"
"No. I just don't like him."
"He's bold, and he doesn't feel like a typical rookie at all. There's something weirdly attractive about him."
There was no question that there were more negative comments than before.
And yet Kang Woojin's influence only grew stronger.
『[Issue Talk] Whether positive or negative, super rookie Kang Woojin's recognition has exploded!』
All because of a single Blue Dragon Film Awards ceremony.
The afternoon of the 26th.
A famous cultural center in Seoul.
Three days after the Blue Dragon Film Awards, another red carpet event of similar scale was being held there.
"Eunmi! Please wave your hand!"
The scale was slightly smaller than Blue Dragon, but there were still plenty of reporters, and many actors dressed in tuxedos and gowns were attending. Interestingly enough, there were also actors here who had not been at Blue Dragon.
In front of the venue they were entering stood a large display board with the title written across it in bold letters.
— 'The 56th Grand Bell Awards'
Following the Blue Dragon Film Awards, one of Korea's three major film festivals, the Grand Bell Awards, was being held here today. The reporters covering the line of actors entering were all saying similar things.
"When is Kang Woojin arriving?"
"He's not skipping this schedule, is he? The agency didn't go silent on us, right?"
"No, that can't be it. Sure, he got criticized, but the reaction was explosive. Choi Sunggeon isn't stupid enough to block something like that."
"Right. And Kang Woojin is nominated in two categories at the Grand Bell too, isn't he? If he wins today, I wonder if he'll make another declaration."
"Heh, I'm looking forward to it."
And then it happened.
"Ah!! Kang Woojin is here!! Woojin!! Say anything at all!!"
Kang Woojin showed up at the Grand Bell Awards. It was his second film festival appearance. This time, he was wearing a navy tuxedo.
"..."
He did nothing more than greet the crowd politely. He said not a single word to the hundreds of reporters.
A little while later.
Just like at Blue Dragon, Kang Woojin's name rang out through the vast hall of the cultural center, packed with countless actors.
"Winner of Best New Actor at the 56th Grand Bell Awards! Kang Woojin from Drug Dealer! Congratulations!!"
After Blue Dragon, Kang Woojin had now won his third trophy at Grand Bell. And once again, his acceptance speech was anything but ordinary.
"Thank you. Next year, I'll show you results that resolve the current controversy."
But that was not the end.
After several category awards had been handed out, Kang Woojin's name was called again in the second half of the ceremony.
"The New Wave Award! Wow, this person really caused a sensation this year! Kang Woojin!!"
He won four times.