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

Chapter 141, "The International Market," foreshadows the impact.

The brief opening ceremony was completed quickly.

The incense and candles burned out.

The wisps of smoke dissipated into the biting mountain wind.

The red cloth on the table was carefully put away.

The pig's head and offerings were quickly moved away from the site by staff.

Director Lee Seok-hoon gave a concise and powerful opening to "Himalaya".

The film crew has officially started working.

Since the core snow mountain climbing scenes required waiting for real cold and heavy snow to arrive, the crew focused on the urban scenes during the early stages of filming.

The first scene.

The script is set against the backdrop of Seoul.

Hwang Jung-min plays Captain Eom Hong-gil, who shuttles between the planning departments of various sports brands.

They are trying to secure sponsorship for the upcoming Mount Everest climb.

The camera focuses on the "office" scene of a well-known brand's headquarters, which has been set up.

Lighting, photography, and sound recording are all ready.

The set fell silent instantly.

All that remained was the faint static from the director's walkie-talkie.

Lim Yoona stood quietly at a distance on the periphery and watched for a while.

Just like in the script.

The initial filming focused on the "downhill" area.

There are no scenes featuring her as "Park Moo-kwon's wife".

She raised her hand and glanced at the delicate and elegant wristwatch.

It's as if the timing was calculated.

She walked lightly behind Kang Jae-hoon, who was intently staring at the director's monitor screen.

“Jaehoon.”

Not loud.

It was just right so that he could hear it clearly amidst the noisy background noise.

Kang Jae-hoon snapped back to reality.

My gaze shifted from the monitor as Hwang Jung-min was reciting his sincere lines about the combination of climbing faith and brand spirit.

He looked at Lim Yoon-a beside him.

"I have to go."

Yoona pointed to the direction of the van parked outside the film set: "We'll meet for an advertisement later."

"it is good."

Kang Jae-hoon nodded: "I'll see you off."

The two walked side by side toward the van.

Lim Yoona turned her head slightly to the side.

Her doe-like eyes held a familiar, perfectly appropriate, curious smile:

"By the way, when will 'For Love or Money' be released in South Korea?"

"..."

This problem is like a small pebble.

It was accurately thrown into the seemingly calm lake surface of Kang Jae-hoon.

The ripples spread out instantly.

He spoke almost reflexively, at an extremely fast pace:
"...Don't go look at it."

The words came out of his mouth.

He carried a strong sense of rejection that even he himself was caught off guard by.

"Ok?"

The usual smile in Lin Yoona's eyes seemed to freeze for a moment.

It was then replaced by a deeper curiosity.

"Why? Don't you want me to support your first movie where you're the male lead?"

"Uh……"

Kang Jae-hoon's tongue seemed to be tied in knots.

He felt the lights and machine sounds on set, which had previously been isolated from his thoughts, suddenly become clear, making his heart tighten.

Quality remains a mystery...

The plot is so melodramatic...

Box office failure...

These reasons all seem to serve as plausible excuses.

But in fact.

The most crucial reason—

Behind the frosted glass, shrouded in mist, are blurry silhouettes of intertwined limbs;
It's a close-up of a sex scene that's deliberately designed to create an intimate atmosphere but feels slightly awkward.

Even though she was wearing a strapless top during the photoshoot.

Even in the end, the camera only focused on the two men's sweaty shoulders and the expressions of deep concentration above their necks.

but……

When those images are magnified on the screen, accompanied by tender music...

That atmosphere.

That intention.

With Liu Yifei's stunningly beautiful face and the deeply affectionate character she portrayed...

The resulting effect.

It far exceeded the actual performance.

therefore.

He subconsciously and strongly didn't want Yoona to see those scenes in the movie theater.

especially……

It was at this moment, just after she had become "Park Moo-kwan's wife".

Kang Jae-hoon cleared his throat and looked away to avoid Lim Yoon-ah's gaze.

The explanation, delivered in a slightly hoarse voice and with a hint of ulterior motive:
"Cough... The quality is poor, the script is terrible... Um... I'm wasting your time..."

Incoherent.

They practically had the word "guilty" written all over their foreheads.

The moment the words fell.

Kang Jae-hoon was suddenly stunned!
(Why am I so... concerned about whether she'll see those shots?)

This clear question, without warning, appeared like a flare thrown into deep water.

In an instant, the chaos in his heart was laid bare—

When did I start...?

So instinctively, so intensely...

Are you starting to care about Yoona's opinion on intimate scenes in her on-screen roles?!
……

aside.

Seeing Kang Jae-hoon's expression suddenly stiffen and flicker, Lim Yoon-ah blinked her doe-like eyes lightly.

She didn't ask further.

Not a word.

He simply nodded in agreement, and said in an almost indulgent tone:

Okay, I won't watch it~

"However, I still have to say—"

"Thank you for your hard work! Let's give a round of applause for Jae-hoon's first leading role in a movie!"

talking.

Yoona actually raised her hands, palms facing each other.

I patted it gently three times.

Jiang Zai Xun looked at her bright, untroubled smile, and at the pure, focused light in her clear eyes that seemed to radiate genuine joy at him completing his first leading role in a film.

A turbulent, indescribable sense of unease churned within me.

It was as if I had been caught off guard by the sudden, open, and almost radiant applause and smiles.

(It seems... I'm just overthinking things?)
The thought flashed through my mind in an instant.

Instead, it left him feeling somewhat lost and bewildered.

"Okay."

Im Yoona withdrew her hand, which had been slapping cleanly, and let it fall naturally to her side: "I'm off now. Have a good start to work, Mr. Park Moo-taek~"

"Ah."

Kang Jae-hoon responded, his gaze following her as she got into the car.

The car window slowly lowered.

Her beautiful face was revealed.

Kang Jae-hoon raised his hand and waved into the car.

Yoona smiled and waved to him.

The van quietly drove away from the film set, taking with it that off-white silhouette and the last faint scent of peaches in the mountain breeze.

Kang Jae-hoon waited until the car completely disappeared from sight.

Only then did she slowly lower her wrist to say goodbye.

He silently inhaled the crisp air.

Turn around.

I walked quickly back to the bustling core area, which was set up with tents and sets.

Director Lee Seok-hoon was intently focused on the monitor screen.

Hwang Jung-min's scene is at a crucial point in filming.

Kang Jae-hoon found an empty equipment box not far behind the director and sat down silently.

Lean forward slightly.

Their gaze was also focused on the monitor screen.

In the lens.

It was the brand planning department's huge office filled with mountaineering clothing samples and footage from high-altitude climbing documentaries.

They faced scrutinizing, evaluative, and slightly superior gazes from the brand representatives.

Huang Zhengmin simply straightened his back.

It was even a bit stiff.

Like a pine tree that has been forcibly bent into a certain standard posture.

The voice was steady, conveying the significance of climbing Mount Everest, the team's professionalism, and their desire for sponsorship.

His expression was one of carefully practiced sincerity.

But his eyes revealed a deep-seated impatience and sense of alienation.

The monitor's fluorescent light reflected in Kang Jae-hoon's focused pupils.

He noticed the subtle tension in Hwang Jung-min's body.

The scene inexplicably...

It overlapped with a scene stored deep in his mind—

On the set of "Ode to My Father".

Hwang Jung-min, shirtless, stood ramrod straight in order to be selected to work in the mines.

The same attitude of being chosen—

One sells their labor, the other sells their dreams.

One was barely clothed, while the other's clothes were as worn as ever.

Kang Jae-hoon's thoughts drifted a little further away.

International Markets...

How long ago was this movie filmed?
It feels like something from a past life.

Why hasn't it been released yet?

He remembered that his scenes were completed quite early.

After that, it seems that the teacher didn't mention the specific screening arrangements much, either in public or private.

This is a major production based on the theme of the era.

The long post-production cycle is understandable.

But there hasn't been a single word about it?

Kang Jae-hoon subconsciously turned his head and looked around.

His gaze precisely locked onto the side and rear—

Luo Meilan was sitting in a folding chair, holding a small thermos to keep warm.

See this.

Kang Jae-hoon immediately moved his small stool closer.

Luo Meilan noticed the movement, looked up, and immediately a motherly smile spread across her face:

"Jae-hoon, what's wrong?"

"senior."

Kang Jae-hoon crouched down and asked in a low voice:
"Is the post-production of the film 'Ode to My Father' still not finished?"

"Oh, this."

Luo Meilan nodded knowingly and tightened the lid of the thermos:
"It's not that the film wasn't well-made, it's that we were waiting for a better release date. We originally planned to release it in May, but it just so happened to coincide with the height of the Sewol ferry disaster..."

She took out her phone, swiped the screen, and handed a screenshot of her schedule to Kang Jae-hoon:
"I just received the notification yesterday that it will be officially released on December 17th."

Kang Jae-hoon nodded to indicate that he understood. He chatted with Ra Mi-ran for a few more minutes about the weather and the food on set, then moved back to sit down in a corner not far behind the director.

I remained immersed in Hwang Jung-min's precise performance on the monitor.

Feel the tension brought about by the subtle collision between the character and reality.

Hwang Jung-min's scenes went very smoothly, with almost no takes. The production was highly efficient; as soon as the director yelled "Cut!", the lighting and camera crews immediately began adjusting the set for the next scene.

Kang Jae-hoon didn't have any scenes scheduled for that day, so he spent almost the entire time observing from the sidelines of the set.

As the setting sun cast a hazy golden glow on the plastic sheeting covering the film set, the director announced that filming was finished for the day. Kang Jae-hoon pulled his coat tighter and, along with Kim Dae-won, joined the flow of people unloading equipment on their way home.

……

The next day.

Temporary film set in Gangwon Province.

Wearing the crew's standard thick coat, Kang Jae-hoon walked along the gravel path toward the makeup tent.

The air in the early winter morning was biting cold, like a knife scraping.

while walking.

But something still felt off.

On the edge of the film set.

Several set designers were carrying boards as they passed by.

My gaze seemed to linger on his face for a second or two longer.

I just turned the corner.

Two young assistants in charge of collecting cables for the lighting team.

It was dragging a heavy power line wheel along its side.

They huddled together with one head on each other.

He was whispering something excitedly at the phone screen in his hand.

She would occasionally glance quickly in his direction.

That look...

With a hint of inquiry?
There was also a hint of...unbelievable excitement mixed in?

Kang Jae-hoon subconsciously raised his hand and touched his chin.

(Didn't you shave properly?)
(Was it dipped in the breakfast sauce?)
A sense of unease began to creep into his mind.

But the footsteps on the ground did not stop.

After entering the dressing room.

Kang Jae-hoon leaned closer to the mirror and looked at himself twice—

My eyelids are a little puffy because I haven't had enough sleep.

My lips are a little dry.

My hair is sticking up a little from sleeping.

But overall... it's not much different from usual.

He was looking in the mirror, trying to press down that unruly strand of hair.

Kim Dae-won suddenly burst into the dressing room:

"Stop taking pictures! He's so handsome! Look at this now!"

Without saying a word, he shoved the tablet into Kang Jae-hoon's hands.

A video is currently paused on the screen.

The title is "Ode to My Father: The International".

Duration: 1 minutes and 15 seconds.

Jin Dayuan's finger impatiently tapped the center of the screen.

Press the play button —

The smoke and fire of war.

The screams of families torn apart.

The desperate glances of the exiled crowd at the dock.

People dressed in old-fashioned clothing struggle to survive in the torrent of history.

The weathered yet resolute face of the male lead, Deok-soo, played by Hwang Jung-min, occupies the central position.

He ran.

He shouted.

He did everything he could for his family.

Director Yoon Je-kyun used his signature emotional montage.

It showcases a historical span of half a century and the ups and downs of ordinary people's lives.

The trailer is fast-paced.

The visuals are full of power and epic grandeur.

Just as a long shot showing the chaotic and crowded Busan Port after the war was about to end.

The scene abruptly shifts to the war-torn jungles of Vietnam—

The rickety wooden boat was being tossed about by the giant waves whipped up by the cannon fire, and the decks were packed with terrified people fleeing for their lives.

The reeds on the riverbank were set ablaze by stray bullets.

The firelight illuminated the corpses floating on the murky water.

The stirring and tragic music surged forward like waves, and the scene transitions became increasingly rapid—

In the murky river water, a small figure is struggling to stay afloat.

Huang Zhengmin's pupils suddenly contracted.

He didn't hesitate.

Ditch your backpack!

He leaped into the turbulent, filthy river and struggled to reach that small figure!

The camera was shaking violently in the water.

Huang Zhengmin's rough hands finally gripped the little girl's arm tightly!

He kicked the water with all his might and lifted the child out of the water!

Several hands reached out from the boat and hurriedly pulled the little girl aboard!
Just as Hwang Jung-min himself was about to grab onto the gunwale—

"boom!"

A dull yet extremely penetrating gunshot rang out—

His thigh suddenly exploded into a cloud of blood!
My body jolted violently!
His eyes were filled with unbelievable pain and the terror of suddenly losing his support.

Fingers reaching for the gunwale futilely traced the wet, cold edge of the wood.

His body, wrapped in heavy, wet clothes, fell backward irreversibly.

They were about to be swallowed up by the turbid and swift river.

At this critical moment.

The camera suddenly zooms in!

close up!

A hand, covered in mud and rough scratches, rapidly reached down from above the ship's side.

The muscles in that arm were taut and bulging, with veins standing out like dragons beneath the bronze skin.

It precisely locked onto Hwang Jung-min's armpit.

Like a life-saving anchor reaching out from the edge of hell.

The owner of the arm—

It's Nam Jin, played by Kang Jae-hoon!

He had half his body hanging out of the ship's side, his left hand gripping the taut lifeline tightly.

His soaked black hair clung to his full forehead.

The ends of her hair were still adorned with glistening water droplets.

More water droplets rolled down his sharply defined jawline and hit Hwang Jung-min's still-shaken face.

Kang Jae-hoon gritted his teeth.

His face looked somewhat ferocious due to the immense force that erupted in an instant.

Exactly.

On this face, which is etched with both strength and struggle.

In those eyes that were slightly squinted from straining.

He forced a half-fierce, wild, and reckless smirk onto his lips.

It felt like a life-or-death struggle.

For him, it was just a thrilling and exciting game.

The trailer abruptly freezes on this frame, which is full of raw tension, at just the right moment.

The stirring orchestral music came to an abrupt end at its climax.

The screen went black instantly.

A huge line of white text, carrying the weight of history, slowly emerged—

[International Market]

[Released on December 17th!]

The screen has dimmed.

Kang Jae-hoon involuntarily clicked on the replay.

The video finally freezes on the last one—

The image of his bulging muscles, bronze skin dripping with murky river water and sweat, and veins bulging on his arms like coiled dragons, is of him pulling his teacher, Huang Zhengmin, back from the brink of hell.

as well as……

In the center of the image.

His young face was contorted with the sheer force of the power he had unleashed, yet a half-formed smile, a mixture of wildness, recklessness, and a near-fierce, roguish charm, was forced out at the corner of his mouth.

Watch this scene.

The first thought that came to Kang Jae-hoon's mind was—

This is "Nanzhen".

It wasn't him, Kang Jae-hoon.

"See that?! See that?!"

Jin Dayuan was so excited that he was spitting out words, his fingers almost piercing through the tablet:
"That shot! That power! That gaze! The final emotional climax! All of these were your shining moments!"

The dressing room fell silent instantly.

All eyes were drawn to Kang Jae-hoon's face, as if by invisible threads.

The assistant in charge of makeup stared wide-eyed, pointing at the screen and then at him:

"Jaehoon-ssi...this...is it really you?!"

Kang Jae-hoon felt a little uncomfortable under the gazes of more than a dozen people.

He twitched the corner of his mouth.

He gave a slightly awkward, even embarrassed, smile, nodded, and said:
"Yes. It was me who played Nan Zhen."

"Wow...the difference is too big! I can't even tell it's the same person!"

"The trailer is so powerful! Those eyes... they look like they could tear the screen apart!"

"..."

The admiration around him surged forth like a tide.

Kang Jae-hoon lowered his eyes.

I responded politely.

The inexplicable probing gazes he had just received outside the film set.

Even now, there's no attempt to hide the scrutiny and amazement in the dressing room.

The answer is obvious.

The rest of the day.

No matter where Kang Jae-hoon appears on set—

I keep hearing the words "international market".

The discussion was fragmented, interspersed with topics such as "miners," "Vietnamese boat scenes," "the last look in their eyes," and "Nanzhen."

The whispered voices of the participants carried the excitement unique to insiders and the keen sense that they could smell a "hit."

This attention stems, of course, from the close overlap between the two production teams.

But the discussion was so intense and focused on Kang Jae-hoon personally, and on the character who only had two minutes of screen time.

The matter itself already explains the problem.

The trailer shows the sudden appearance of "Nanzhen".

The visual impact and topicality it generates.

It was far more shocking than anyone had anticipated.

In fact.

The data from the day the trailer was released swept through the core of the Korean entertainment industry like a hurricane.

It garnered over two million views on its first day.

The number of people who watched the full video approached 1.4 million.

The most terrifying thing is the replay rate.

More than half a million people watched after the first broadcast ended.

Without hesitation, I pressed the replay button.

Like they're bewitched.

We need to repeatedly confirm the figure that flashes a wild, roguish grin amidst the icy river water and the flames of the explosion.

That raw, primal power that almost bursts through the screen.

It seemed to possess some kind of unreasonable magic.

It captivated the audience's attention.

No surprises.

The data-driven trigger point of the trailer sparked an astonishing public outcry.

This level of "popularity," while not immediately resulting in a substantial leap in Kang Jae-hoon's commercial value, did not translate into an immediate and substantial increase.

But it accomplished something more fundamental and crucial—

In the collective memory of millions of South Korean netizens.

It left a deep, indelible mark that would be difficult to erase in a short time.

Especially in the domestic market.

It has been over a year since Kang Jae-hoon's first true television drama, "The Heirs".

She only made a brief cameo appearance once during that period in "It's Okay, That's Love".

But it was ultimately just a fleeting glimpse, leaving little trace.

It is difficult to reverse public perception.

therefore.

When the name "Kang Jae-hoon" re-entered the public eye with the explosive popularity of the trailer for "Ode to My Father".

The first thing people instinctively search for is "Yin Canrong".

So.

In the comment section and related discussion forums of the trailer release platform, a truly "spectacular" scene unfolded:
[@JungSoojung: Ms. Lee Bona, your boyfriend was so cool saving people in Vietnam! [Screenshot from trailer]]

[@JungSoojung: Bona! Your oppa has undergone a complete transformation!]

[@JungSooKrystal: Chanyoung oppa's new role is bursting with hormones! Does Lee Bona know?]

[@JungSoojung: Bona, look! Your Chanyoung oppa looks so manly in the new movie!]

……

The entire comment section was almost entirely flooded with various creative ways of tagging Krystal Jung.

Netizens expressed their amazement at "Nanzhen" in the trailer through playful banter, teasing, and even a bit of CP (couple) fan frenzy.

At the same time, it also clearly exposes a fact:
In the current cognitive map of the vast majority of South Korean viewers.

The name "Kang Jae-hoon" remains firmly tied to the coordinate point of "Yoon Chan-young".

The "Chan-Na Couple" he formed with Krystal Jung's character "Lee Bo-na" is his most iconic symbol in Japan.

The "South Town" in the trailer, overflowing with hormones.

It's more like a surprising yet somewhat unfamiliar "alternative personality" that split off from "Yin Canrong".

During a break in filming in the afternoon.

Jin Dayuan sat cross-legged on the floor, scrolling through his tablet. The light reflecting off the screen illuminated his astonished face.
"Hey, @Krystal again... Wow, this post is getting so many views and discussions..."

His fingers swiped across the screen, his eyes never leaving it.

"But seriously, Jae-hoon..."

Kim Dae-won suddenly looked up at Kang Jae-hoon, who was checking his makeup in front of the mirror for the upcoming photoshoot, half-jokingly and half-testingly:

"You and Krystal...are you really completely cut ties? Didn't you leave any...lingering feelings?"

"..."

The silence didn't last long.

But that was enough to make the echo of that question seem exceptionally clear.

in fact.

Kang Jae-hoon learned some details about Jung Soo-jung's recent situation from some fragmented industry news and his cryptic conversations with Park Hyung-sik.

The highly anticipated SBS Wednesday-Thursday drama – "My Lovely Girl".

Rain's return.

Krystal Jung takes on her first leading role.

Fashion, music, and romantic love.

It seems like all the necessary elements are there.

however……

The premiere episode barely garnered an 8.1% viewership rating.

It plummeted in just a few weeks.

Like a kite with a broken string.

Amidst a barrage of criticism from the media and critics regarding "hollow and incomplete plot," "contradictory character settings," and "slow editing pacing," the film faced numerous challenges.

It plunged headlong into a quagmire of less than 4% viewership ratings.

Even more ironically...

The intention behind this script is to allow Krystal Jung to break free from the cute image of "Lee Bo-na".

To create the image of a musician who has experienced pain, yet remains strong and independent.

result.

Not only did the new characters fail to stand out.

Instead, viewers kept leaving comments in the discussion area:

[...Why does it feel like I'm about to shout "Chanyoung-ah~" any second now?]

Krystal seems to have better chemistry with actor Kang...

Krystal feels like she's missing her soul without Kang Jae-hoon.

【…】

Kang Jae-hoon remained silent.

Not even her eyelashes trembled.

It was as if all external noise had been blocked out.

Jin Dayuan looked at the silent, almost stubborn back, and wisely touched his nose, putting the rest of his unspoken question, along with the tablet, back into his pocket.

The makeup artist stepped forward at the right moment and began to adjust the strands of hair in front of Kang Jae-hoon's forehead.

The day's filming proceeded as scheduled amidst the bleak mountain winds of Gangwon Province.

……

A week later.

The air seemed to freeze at the temporary film set in Gangwon Province.

The reason was that Hwang Jung-min and Ra Mi-ran asked director Lee Seok-hoon for leave.

Today I'm going to the CGV Cinema in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, for the production launch of "Ode to My Father".

After all, he's the lead actor.

Absence is absolutely unacceptable.

then.

early morning.

Kang Jae-hoon noticed that his teacher, Hwang Jung-min, was acting out of character.

He no longer wore those durable work pants.

Instead, he unusually changed into a well-fitting dark suit.

Her hair was also meticulously styled with hair wax.

Even the half-smoked cigarette dangling from his lips looked unusually serious.

Ra Mi-ran also put on her makeup carefully.

The two were picked up by the film crew's car.

Before leaving.

Hwang Jung-min didn't forget to give Kang Jae-hoon a hard pat on the shoulder.

Watching the car drive away.

Kang Jae-hoon then remembered—

Two days ago.

Director Yoon Je-kyun's staff managed to contact Kim Dae-won through various channels.

I tentatively mentioned the press conference.

The meaning is very clear—

The popularity of "Nanzhen" in the trailer is off the charts!

It became almost the most memorable and discussed point in the entire trailer.

If we could bring Kang Jae-hoon to the press conference.

The effect can be imagined.

pity.

Good idea though.

However, he ran into a real snag with director Lee Seok-hoon.

Director Li's words were concise and powerful.

"Press conference? Is he the main character?"

"He's not even a supporting actor, what would he be doing there?"

"Both the lead actors and two important supporting actors have run away. Are we even going to make the movie?!"

Even later, news came from Hwang Jung-min's side.

It's said that Director Yoon privately wanted to invite Kang Jae-hoon to dinner.

It was a form of private encouragement.

However, Lee Seok-hoon's side was holding back the filming schedule.

Using the excuse of "I can't leave".

He deflected it with a nonchalant air.

……

Hwang Jung-min and Ra Mi-ran's leave of absence disrupted the original filming schedule.

Director Lee Seok-hoon frowned as he flipped through the thick shooting schedule.

My fingertips swiped across page after page of densely packed schedules.

finally.

The scene was stopped at a segment labeled "Flashback Scene - Park Moo-suk's Wedding".

His gaze lingered on the notes section for a moment, then he turned to look at his assistant:
"Contact Lim Yoona and ask her to come to the set now to film the wedding scene."

(End of this chapter)