Peninsula: From a supporting actor to the best actor in Chungmuro

Chapter 112 A High-Stakes Gamble with Zero Pay

"Still no one's answering?"

Mid-January.

In the conference room.

Director Ryu Seung-wan sat at the end of the long table, the cigarette between his fingers already burned down to the filter.

Casting director Kim Sung-beom shook his head:
"Jo In-sung, Ji Chang-wook, Kim Soo-hyun... all declined."

"reason?"

"Schedule conflict".

Liu Chengwan sneered: "Bullshit."

Everyone knows why no one dares to play Cho Tae-oh—

This character is practically a direct take on the scandals of a third-generation chaebol heir in South Korea, including drug use, sexual violence, political and business collusion, and even a scene alluding to the "infighting among Samsung's heirs."

Whoever dares to take the role will definitely be affected in terms of future commercial endorsements and resources.

They might even be blacklisted by powerful financial groups.

The current state of South Korean chaebols is vastly different from that of later generations.

Nowadays, whenever a tycoon is embroiled in a scandal, the group's stock price inevitably plummets.

On the day the "nut rage" scandal involving Cho Hyun-ah, the heiress of the Hanjin Group, broke out, Hanjin Airlines' stock price plummeted by 12% in a single day.

When Samsung Electronics heir Lee Jae-yong was investigated for alleged bribery, Samsung's market value plummeted.
Not to mention, after a video of the daughter of a chemical tycoon slapping a Filipino maid was leaked, the three listed companies under the group all hit their daily limit down.

The chaebols reacted in unison to this—

Blocking information, pressuring the media, and prosecuting whistleblowers.

The entertainment industry is a heavily regulated area, and no actor dares to take on villainous roles that might allude to tycoons.

It wasn't until after 2016 that the chaebols gradually realized a truth—

The harder the scandal is suppressed, the stronger the backlash.

It would be better to let the public vent their emotions.

Thus, films such as "Parasite" and "The King" came into being.

The tycoons even actively invest in these kinds of films, both to earn box office revenue and to act as a pressure relief valve.

No matter how extreme the movie is, it won't stop them from continuing to live in their luxury mansion in Hannam-dong, drive limited-edition supercars, and indulge in a life of extravagance in their private clubs.

But it is now the beginning of 2014.

The crew of "Veteran" obviously didn't have that kind of luck.

Liu Chengwan looked at the names being crossed off one by one on the casting list and stubbed out his third cigarette.

"Yoo Ah-in is interested."

Liu Chengwan's expression softened slightly: "Him?"

"Well, I'm even willing to take a 30% pay cut, but..."

"what?"

"He has already signed on for director Kim Ki-duk's 'Secret Affair,' so the filming schedules will overlap, which means... he'll be filming multiple projects at once."

Unlike actors in the Chinese entertainment industry who simultaneously film multiple dramas.

In the South Korean film industry, it is generally accepted that actors must remain fully focused throughout the entire filming process.

This stems from South Korea's "everyone eats and lives together" filming model—

Film crews usually stay together and work more than 16 hours a day.

If an actor goes to another film set midway through filming, it will directly disrupt the entire filming schedule.

More importantly, filming multiple projects simultaneously can seriously affect the quality of a performance.

South Korean directors emphasize the "immersive experience" of actors, requiring lead actors to completely become the character during filming.

An actor like Yoo Ah-in, who practiced piano diligently for three months specifically for his role as a pianist in "Secret Affair," would inevitably have his two completely different roles interfere with each other if he also had to portray a chaebol heir at the same time.

The industry penalties are also very direct:

Actors who take on multiple projects simultaneously will be boycotted by major television stations and banned from participating in mainstream film and television works for three years. In 2011, a second-tier actor was completely blacklisted as a result and had to enlist in the military to minimize the risks.

Liu Chengwan stared at the list in silence for a long time, then suddenly stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray.
"Call Yoo Ah-in and tell him we are willing to adjust the filming schedule to accommodate him."

The meeting room fell silent instantly.

The assistant director hesitated, then took out his phone, swiped a few lines, and handed it to Yoo Seung-wan:

"Senior, please take a look at this first."

Liu Chengwan took the phone—

Investigation underway into drug-related case at a nightclub in Jiangnan.

The accompanying image is a blurry screenshot from surveillance footage.

A silhouette wearing a baseball cap is seen quickly leaving the scene with its head down.

Although the image quality is rough.

But his nose and jawline do indeed resemble Yoo Ah-in's by about 70%.

Liu Chengwan frowned:
Is it confirmed?

"No, his agency has already issued a statement denying it, but... what if it comes out during the movie's release?"

Everyone understands this risk—

"Veteran" is a sensitive film that criticizes chaebols. If the lead actor is also involved in a drug scandal, it will definitely be boycotted by the audience.

"Ashi——"

Liu Chengwan scratched his head in frustration: "Are there any alternatives?"

"Should we consider popular celebrities?"

Kim Sung-beom flipped through the files: "Lee Min-ho, Lee Jong-suk, Lee Joon-gi, and even the recently popular actor Kim Woo-bin?"

"Lee Min-ho is with a rich woman in Shanghai, Lee Jong-suk is too effeminate, Lee Joon-gi is too effeminate, Kim Woo-bin..."

The assistant director suddenly sneered: "Director Kim, do you want the audience to see a chaebol's son walking the runway?"

A muffled laugh came from the conference room, but it quickly fell silent again.

Casting director Kim Sung-beom suddenly flipped to a page of documents:
"How about... we let Kang Jae-hoon give it a try?"

"Who?"

"Kang Jae-hoon."

The assistant director immediately frowned: "His role as Yoon Chan-young, the well-behaved student in 'The Heirs,' is so deeply ingrained in people's minds that viewers will only think that Yoon Chan-young is cosplaying a villain!"

"Isn't that perfect? ​​Isn't it even more exciting to have an innocent-looking face doing all sorts of bad things?"

"interesting……"

Liu Chengwan raised an eyebrow and asked, "What is he doing now?"

"Uh...maybe...she's practicing pole dancing?"

"..."

"Call him here now."

……

When Kang Jae-hoon pushed open the conference room door, his bangs were still damp and stuck together.

His black T-shirt was soaked with sweat, clinging to his body and outlining his defined muscles. His collarbone was flushed from the intense exercise, and his breathing was slightly rapid.

"Hello Director Liu, hello fellow directors."

He bowed at a ninety-degree angle, his voice slightly unsteady from panting.

Several pairs of eyes in the conference room simultaneously fell on him—

Young, refreshing, with clean and clear eyes.

This appearance is completely different from the drug-addicted, violent, and tyrannical chaebol heir, Zhao Taiwu, in the script.

When Kang Jae-hoon received the call, he was practicing hanging upside down on a steel pipe and hadn't even had time to change his clothes before Kim Dae-won dragged him over. Along the way, his manager only said, "Director Yoo wants to see you," without giving a specific reason.

(What's going on?)

(Could it be that the training progress is not up to standard?)

(still.)

I heard the assistant director muttering in my ear:

"So well-behaved, not at all like a villain."

Kang Jae-hoon's pupils suddenly contracted.

These past few days at the training center, he's been wondering why he hasn't seen the actor who plays Cho Tae-oh training.

Now, looking at Director Ryu Seung-wan's scrutinizing gaze, and combining it with the snippets of information I had just overheard—

(Could it be?)

(They want me to try out for the role of Cho Tae-oh?!)

The moment the thought flashed through his mind, Kang Jae-hoon's breathing became rapid involuntarily.

"My apologies, directors."

The directors looked at each other in bewilderment.

He had already picked up a half-empty bottle of mineral water from the table and poured it into his hand.

Water cascaded down his well-defined knuckles, his bangs were roughly swept back, and the wet ends of his hair trembled in the air conditioning breeze, hanging precariously two inches above his brow bone.

Kang Jae-hoon suddenly flipped his wrist, his wet ring finger slicing heavily across his brow.

The once gentle, flat eyebrows now bristled with unruly strands in the dampness.

The entire sequence takes no more than ten seconds.

No one understood what Kang Jae-hoon was doing. However, the next second...

The moment Kang Jae-hoon raised his head, everyone's pupils contracted—

With the change in his hairstyle, his entire demeanor underwent a complete transformation.

His once clear and gentle gaze now held a chilling ferocity, and a neurotic smile played at the corners of his lips. His wet hair hung disheveled across his forehead, water droplets sliding down his brow bone and lingering on his eyelashes.

Kang Jae-hoon leaned back lazily in his chair.

He crossed his right leg over his left knee and stared intently at Liu Chengwan from below.

"how?"

The curve of his smile was just right.

He was smiling, but you could feel like he was about to grab an ashtray and smash it over your head any second.

This moment.

Liu Chengwan felt his heart pounding wildly.

Having been in the industry for so many years, he has seen countless good actors.

Good acting skills are not rare, getting into character quickly is not rare, and a powerful aura is not something to be particularly admired.

But the problem is...

Just now.

In just a few seconds, Kang Jae-hoon transformed from the harmless Yoon Chan-young to the tyrannical Jo Tae-oh, all in the blink of an eye, like a drop of water falling from his wet hair as it slipped down his brow bone.

This enormous transformation, spanning age groups and social classes, is truly eye-opening.

—This kind of contrast is exactly what Cho Tae-oh should have!

At this moment, Ryu Seung-wan wished he could immediately take out his pen and polish the script.

at the same time.

Casting director Kim Sung-beom saw the surprised look on Ryu Seung-wan's face, and then looked at Kang Jae-hoon, who was exuding a powerful aura.

I have a general idea in mind.

……

"I apologize, directors, for my rudeness earlier."

A moment later, Kang Jae-hoon broke the silence in the conference room.

He had shed the dangerous charm he had just exuded and reverted to his harmless and docile state.

Liu Chengwan paused for a moment before shaking his head and saying:
"No, when...did you start researching the character of Cho Tae-oh?"

"The first day I received the script."

Kang Jae-hoon answered honestly.

Even during the filming of "The Heirs", Kang Jae-hoon had developed the habit of researching backup roles.

At the time, Kim Woo-bin was injured in a motorcycle accident, and the production team considered replacing him at the last minute. Kang Jae-hoon, as a backup option, privately memorized Choi Young-do's lines perfectly and even designed several signature moves—

For example, loosening his tie and tilting his head with a wicked smile.

Although Kim Woo-bin later returned with an injury, he retained this habit.

After receiving the script for "Veteran," Kang Jae-hoon, as usual, studied all the main characters.

He practiced Detective Yoon's scenes the most diligently, but Jo Tae-oh's script was also filled with annotations—

The arrogance of a third-generation chaebol heir, his drug-induced delirium, and his loss of control during rage.
He envisioned performance plans for every situation.

During breaks from pole dancing practice, he would practice his neurotic smile in front of the mirror.
While taking a shower, I would analyze the rhythm of the character's lines during their manic state.
He even imagines how he would treat his staff if he were Cho Tae-oh before going to sleep.

These seemingly useless accumulations have now come in handy.

"Actually, the director felt that I was not a good fit for the role of Jo Tae-oh because the character of Yoon Chan-young is very different from Jo Tae-oh."

As he spoke, Kang Jae-hoon stood up and bowed ninety degrees:
"I'm willing to act for free. Please give me a chance, director. I'm confident I can do a good job."

Ryu Seung-wan squinted at Kang Jae-hoon for a few seconds, then suddenly slammed his hand on the table and burst into laughter:

"Okay! It's you!"

He turned to the casting director and said:

"Notify the planning department to redo the budget tomorrow. Kang Jae-hoon's fee should be calculated at market price, not a penny less."

Kang Jae-hoon looked up abruptly: "Director, it's me."

"Don't thank me yet."

Liu Chengwan waved his hand, his expression suddenly turning serious:
"The role of Zhao Taiwu is not easy to play. If you play it well, your acting career will be greatly expanded; if you play it badly..."

He paused meaningfully, then said, "You might need to enlist early to avoid trouble."

The assistant director couldn't help but interject:

"Director, would you like to do a practice scene first?"

"No need. The change in those ten seconds has already explained everything."

Liu Chengwan stood up, walked to the window, lit a cigarette, and said with his back to the crowd:

“Starting tomorrow, your training schedule will be adjusted. In addition to action scenes, you will also need to learn golf and horseback riding.”

Golf? Horseback riding?

“Zhao Taiwu is a third-generation chaebol born with a silver spoon in his mouth, not a street thug.”

Liu Chengwan turned around, his eyes gleaming with excitement: "I want the audience to see an elegant devil, a pervert who can beat people half to death with a golf club and still keep smiling."

There was silence in the conference room.

Kang Jae-hoon bowed deeply again: "I understand."
-
When Kang Jae-hoon pushed open the conference room door, he couldn't suppress the smile on his lips. The corridor lights suddenly became exceptionally bright, and even his footsteps seemed lighter—

He's been promoted to the second male lead!
Although there are some coincidental ingredients.

But it was truly her acting skills that impressed the director, not Hwang Jung-min's recommendation.

This realization filled him with an unprecedented sense of accomplishment.

"What does the director want with you?"

Jin Dayuan greeted them with a toothpick in his mouth.

Kang Jae-hoon's voice trembled slightly with excitement:
"I'm going to play Zhao Taiwu!"

"Mo?!"

The toothpick in Jin Dayuan's mouth fell to the ground with a clatter: "Really?!"

"Yes! Director Liu made the decision on the spot!"

Jin Dayuan's smile gradually widened, a hint of reminiscence flashing in his eyes—

When I first saw this young man working as an extra on a film set in Thailand, I felt there was a tenacity in his eyes. Now it seems my judgment was indeed spot on.

but……

Jin Dayuan's smile suddenly vanished, and he lowered his voice, saying:

"Don't make this public yet. Let's wait until the official contract is signed. There are too many variables in the entertainment industry, so let's avoid any unexpected complications."

Kang Jae-hoon nodded, but couldn't help but grin.

"Brother, I'll treat you to Korean beef!"

"That's pretty much it."

Jin Dayuan picked up the toothpick that had fallen on the ground, wiped it with feigned disgust, and then put it back in his mouth.

"But you have to go to the one in Myeongdong. I heard they have a new barbecue chef who is very skilled."

"no problem!"

Kang Jae-hoon smiled and agreed.

As they walked out of the building, the afterglow of the setting sun shone on them.

Kang Jae-hoon looked up at the clouds dyed golden, and suddenly remembered the words of the old monk at Bongeun Temple—

“Your destiny is extraordinary; you must be a person of great virtue and fortune.”

(It seems the master was right.)
Casting director Kim Sung-beom stood in front of the bathroom mirror, staring at his slightly puffy face.

He subconsciously grinned, but all he saw in the mirror was a tired middle-aged man—

Drooping eye bags, receding hairline, and wrinkles at the corners of the mouth are particularly noticeable under the light.

(How did Kang Jae-hoon manage to do that just now?)
He imitated Kang Jae-hoon, wetting his hand and wiping it on his thinning hair. Water droplets slid down a few stubborn strands of hair from his forehead, dangling precariously above his brow bone.

"how?"

Kim Sung-beom lowered his voice, trying to imitate Kang Jae-hoon's dangerous yet charming tone. But his reflection in the mirror looked like a comical imitator—

His eyes were too small, the distance between them was too wide, and even the curve of his mouth exuded the greasy feeling of a middle-aged man.

"One more time."

He took a deep breath, this time even shrugging his shoulders slightly, trying to create that sense of oppressive superiority.

"how?"

The bathroom door was suddenly pushed open.

The cleaning uncle pushing the cleaning cart stood frozen in place, his gaze sweeping back and forth between Kim Sung-beom's wet hair and distorted expression.

The two looked at each other.

The cleaning man silently took a step back and gently closed the door: "Please continue."

Kim Sung-beom's face instantly turned bright red.

He frantically wiped the water off his hair with a tissue.

The man in the mirror transformed back into the ordinary casting director, as if the few seconds of madness just moments before had never happened.

(End of this chapter)