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

Chapter 144 The Ambiguity Rises in the Cinema
The ceiling light in the hotel room was off.

The heavy blackout curtains blocked out the cold December nights of Gangwon Province.

Only a wall lamp by the bedside emitted a dim, yellowish light.

Kang Jae-hoon leaned against the soft pillows at the head of the bed.

The tablet's cold, fluorescent light illuminated the sharply defined lower half of his face.

on the screen.

LINE TV's homepage features a wide variety of recommendations.

I swiped through two or three screens.

Asia—Korea—Romance—Page 8.

I finally found the poster that didn't have any promotional banners.

In the poster, Kang Jae-hoon and Kim Ji-won are smiling brightly against the backdrop of Jeju Island.

The composition is refreshing.

The color tone is bright.

It is accompanied by a typical promotional slogan such as "Healing and warming winter, encountering happiness".

Open the playlist.

Two episodes.

Each episode is twelve minutes long.

The comment section is deserted.

Only a few scattered ones—

[User x23sd]: A show I randomly watched while eating, it's alright.

[User o09kl]: The female lead is so beautiful!
There are no bullet comments.

Kang Jae-hoon opened the first episode with a blank expression.

The opening sequence is a one-minute landscape music video edit accompanied by soothing background music.

The plot is told in reverse chronological order.

The opening scene shows the male lead, played by him, lying dejectedly on a bed in a guesthouse on Jeju Island.

His eyes were staring blankly at the ceiling.

Several bottles with product placement advertisements were placed on the ground.

Through the male protagonist's monologue in his room and several quick flashbacks (conversations with his boss, a couple's bracelet thrown on the ground during their breakup), the reason for his trip to Jeju Island is revealed: heartbreak and being forced into "paid leave" by his boss.

The pace wasn't slow.

Episode 2.

The opening scene explains that the male and female protagonists meet by chance at the airport.

They were burgled at night by a thief staying at the same guesthouse.

I lost my ID and wallet.

The two, looking disheveled, went to the local police station one after the other to report the crime.

The police showed little interest in such minor cases.

After giving a perfunctory reply.

He casually pulled a business card from the drawer and handed it over:
"Let's try this Rose B&B. The owner is a local, honest, and the price is reasonable. Let's settle in first."

The male lead, played by Kang Jae-hoon, accepts the business card.

The camera lingered on the close-up of the business card, "Rose B&B," for a full three seconds.

……

The light on the tablet screen dimmed.

The main feature has ended.

The button to automatically play the next episode is grayed out.

There are only two episodes.

From an objective point of view, the show itself is not bad.

Despite having logical flaws.

However, it lacks the fatal logical inconsistencies and melodramatic plot twists of "For Love or Money".

Both Kang Jae-hoon and Kim Ji-won's performances were above average.

but……

The overall feeling of the series is...

It's like a bowl of carefully selected rice that's been cooked in cold water—half-cooked and undercooked.

awkward.

It has a rough texture.

The problem is clearly in the production process—

The lack of cinematic language is suffocating.

The majority of indoor dialogue scenes are shot from fixed camera positions using a rigid, static approach and reverse shot.

When the male lead speaks, give him a close-up.

The camera cuts to a close-up of the female lead as she responds to a sentence.

When the two are in the same frame, it's just a static medium shot that's forced into the frame.

There is a lack of camera movement.

There is almost no design for spatial transformation.

Conversations at the guesthouse are usually conducted while seated.

When reporting a crime at the police station, you stand up and cut.

Even the old filing cabinet crammed full in the background of the police station.

They all look like stage backdrops because of their rigid composition.

Not to mention those product placements that feel completely out of place.

It was as hard as a plaster plaster applied directly to a camera lens.

It's less of a TV series.

Rather, it's more like...

A compilation of vlogs shot by several fixed-focus surveillance cameras, with simple editing and filters added.

The pale blue light on the flat panel went out completely.

Kang Jae-hoon leaned against the headboard and let out a long breath.

This sigh wasn't for the sake of the performance.

It's not because of any dereliction of duty by the director or screenwriter.

It's more like a catharsis of some kind of powerlessness.

Where will this drama ultimately go?

Has it sunk without a trace?

Or is it possible to quietly accumulate some long-tail traffic late at night?
he does not know.

This feeling is empty.

It's something that seems to have been poured into.

Newborn.

It was silently buried in some corner.

Sit back and wait for death?

This word stung my nerves like a thorn.

But what can we do?
Paying out of his own pocket to hire online trolls to flood his feed?
He grabbed a handful of hair in frustration.

He rolled over and sat up.

I touched the phone on the bedside table.

The light from the unlocked screen made him squint.

Her finger hovered over the name "Kim Ji-won" in her contacts.

I hesitated, wondering whether I should call and discuss it.

At least……

Ask her if she has any thoughts on that.
Even if it's just to vent to each other?

Just as the fingertip was about to touch the ground—

Om-!
My phone vibrated without warning!
The screen was instantly filled with incoming call information.

"Little Princess Caretaker"

My mind hasn't fully processed it yet.

But the fingers seemed to have their own ideas.

Think faster than you think.

With a "click," the answer button was swiped open.

"Hey?"

Yoona's clear voice came through the receiver: "Jaehoon, are you asleep?"

"not yet."

"I happen to have some business nearby, and I'm downstairs at your hotel. Are you hungry? Want to come down for a late-night snack?"

Now?

Kang Jae-hoon glanced at the time on his phone subconsciously—

23: 07.

He was about to speak.

It felt like something had suddenly hit my head!
and many more!

It's almost midnight, and "Ode to My Father" is premiering!
The thought flashed through my mind in an instant.

The words had already slipped out before I could even think:

"Late-night snack...or...how about watching a movie first?"

There was a half-second silence on the other end of the phone.

Then a clear, slightly amused hum rang out:

"Sure, then...would you like to come downstairs?"

Kang Jae-hoon quickly threw off the covers and got out of bed.

He rushed to the window in two strides.

With a "whoosh," the heavy blackout curtains were pulled open.

outside the window.

The night sky over Gangwon Province in the depths of winter is as black as ink.

A few ice shards were drifting in the air.

The dim streetlights outlined the dark silhouettes of rows of parking spaces below the hotel.

One of them.

The sleek and compact pearl-white Volkswagen sports car was quietly parked in the cool glow of the light.

Like a snow fox lurking in the cold night.

"immediately."

Kang Jae-hoon answered the phone and hung up.

He turned around and swiftly pulled open the cabinet door.

His fingers moved quickly among the rows of hanging coats.

Take out that clean, dark blue, thick hooded sweatshirt.
No!

Too casual!
My gaze swept over the crisp gray wool coat hanging nearby...

He hesitated for half a second, then stuffed it back in.

Wearing this is both cold and bulky.

My fingertips finally settled on a newly bought, well-fitting dark-colored parka down jacket.

Warm, neat, and with a touch of street style.

It should be... alright.

Put it on quickly.

The zipper was pulled up to his chin.

Just as I was about to open the door and go out.

I paused for a moment at the doorway.

Unconsciously, she ran her fingers through the stray hairs on her forehead a couple more times.

Only then did he push open the door and quickly walk through the cold, deserted hotel corridor.

Get into the descending elevator.

……

The hotel's revolving door brought in the cool night air.

Kang Jae-hoon walked out quickly.

A cold wind instantly enveloped him.

Look up.

The pearl-white sports car silently glided up in front of him.

The passenger-side window slowly rolled down.

Yoona's beautiful face was revealed.

She also seemed to have just tidied up.

Her long, smooth hair cascaded over her shoulders.

She wore light makeup.

Bathed in the warm light inside the car.

Skin is radiant and supple.

Those doe-like eyes were filled with laughter.

Her gaze lingered for a moment on the clearly carefully chosen outer garment he was wearing. The corners of her mouth curved into a deeper smile.

She didn't point it out.

He simply tilted his chin casually toward the driver's seat:
"You drive? I'm a little sleepy."

Her voice was soft and coquettish.

You'd never guess he was so energetic on the phone downstairs just a few minutes ago.

"it is good."

Kang Jae-hoon did not refuse.

Go around to the driver's side.

Open the car door.

A familiar, delicate scent, a blend of sweet peach and premium leather, wafts over you.

He sat down.

Adjust the seat and rearview mirrors.

Yoona had already turned to the side.

Her slender fingers tapped the navigation screen a few times quickly.

The location of the CGV cinema has been set.

"All right."

She pulled back.

Sit up straight.

The seatbelt clicked softly.

Fasten it securely.

Kang Jae-hoon started the car.

The engine emitted a deep, pleasant roar.

Shift gears.

Release the handbrake.

The pearl-white sports car glided smoothly out of the hotel entrance.

It merges into the sparse traffic of the late night.

……

CGV Cinema.

The hustle and bustle of midnight settles into a quiet anticipation.

The electronic screen at the entrance plays posters and trailers for "Ode to My Father" on a loop.

The waiting area was crowded with people, and the atmosphere was completely different from that of a typical commercial venue.

Several young people, carrying DSLR cameras and canvas bags printed with movie titles, were discussing the cinematic language of Yoon Je-kyoon and Hwang Jung-min in hushed tones; they were typical film enthusiasts.

A group of quiet but organized girls stood in the corner, holding up support items in the movie's theme colors, their eyes sparkling as they looked around.
There were also a few middle-aged men and women dressed casually but with a calm demeanor, looking down at their phones or tablets; they were probably media professionals or film critics waiting to enter and write quick reviews.

The lighting in the screening room was dim.

Yoona chose the last row, corner seats against the wall for couples.

When I bought the ticket on the train, they said this was the only type left.

Kang Jae-hoon had no suspicions.

Using the faint light reflected from the big screen, I walked to my seat first.

There were still beverage stains left on the seat armrests, unidentified as to who had left them.

Kang Jae-hoon casually took out a few wet wipes from his pocket.

I used a damp paper towel to quickly wipe the leather armrest from the inside out with extreme care.

Use another clean, dry paper towel to absorb any remaining water stains.

Use your fingertips to rub the edges and gaps vigorously.

It's confirmed to be dry.

He then straightened up.

Eye contact:

"All right."

Lin Yoona watched his smooth and fluid movements without saying anything.

Only his eyes, hidden in the shadow of the hat brim, curved slightly.

I quietly sat down in the seat that he had wiped clean.

The soft outer fabric inevitably clung together in the confined space.

The advertisements before the screening danced on the giant screen.

Kang Jae-hoon watched the car commercials flashing by on the screen.

Familiar scenes and emotions from "Operation International" flashed uncontrollably through my mind.

He opened his mouth, and almost blurted out:

"Actually, the reason Deok-soo went to save the drowning little girl was because..."

The conversation has just begun.

A hand that is cool, soft, yet possesses undeniable strength.

"Slap!" The hand was pressed against his lips.

This shut down everything he was about to say.

Jiang Jae-hoon: “…”

He blinked subconsciously, turned his head, and found that those doe-like eyes were now round and bright.

No spoilers allowed!

"..."

Kang Jae-hoon stared intently at Lim Yoon-ah, who was so close to him and appeared incredibly vivid in the interplay of light and shadow.

Until the feigned ferocity in her eyes finally crumbled.

With a "pfft".

It turned into an irrepressible smile.

Eyebrows crooked.

Ambilight.

She then lowered her hand from his mouth.

He turned his head away nonchalantly.

Turn your attention back to the screen where the opening animation has already begun.

Kang Jae-hoon couldn't help but steal glances at her.

Yoona's profile is illuminated by the screen light.

The lines are gentle and smooth.

Calm and still.

It was as if the person who had just covered her mouth to warn her and subtly flirted with her wasn't her at all.

quite a while.

Kang Jae-hoon silently picked up his iced cola and took a big gulp.

The cool, bubbly liquid slid down my throat, barely suppressing the inexplicable flutter in my heart and the heat that quietly rose on my face.

The giant screen lit up.

Sunlight streamed between the rough white walls and tiled roofs.

A brightly colored swallowtail butterfly flutters about.

The camera lightly followed its trajectory.

finally.

The swallowtail butterfly landed lightly on the clothes drying on the rooftop.

The camera slowly pans upwards.

A simple but tidy corner of the balcony is revealed.

In his twilight years, De-soo was chatting casually with his wife, who had been his lifelong companion, about the weather and their children.

Between a few shots.

The image of the stubborn old man comes to life:
The roar and the slamming of the chair that erupted when the new young clerk suspected the cash he was using was counterfeit when he bought alcohol;
Instead of apologizing when bumping into a pedestrian while crossing the street, the person stubbornly argues back after the pedestrian tells them to "watch your step."

……

When Deok-soo was hit at a corner and his body swayed, the scene was instantly swallowed up by the afterimage of him moving away at high speed!
The piercing air raid siren ripped through my eardrums!

At Wonsan Port, the sky was filled with the sounds of gunfire and smoke!

The camera work suddenly became rapid and sharp.

Kang Jae-hoon watched as director Yoon Je-kyun skillfully used wide shots (the overwhelming wave of refugees), handheld close-ups (Deok-soo's mother's terrified face), and rapid editing (explosions, fleeing) to create a suffocating atmosphere on the screen.

Then I think of the somewhat bland camerawork in "A Good Day".

He couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

The plot continues to unfold—

The beaches and docks were packed with an endless, densely packed mass of refugees.

Despair contorted his face.

American soldiers, guns raised, shouted unintelligible commands in English from behind makeshift fortifications.

The crowd is completely out of control!

Screaming, shoving, and recklessly rushing towards the steel behemoths that were slowly lowering their boarding ladders like lifelines!
The stampede erupted amidst the chaos.

Human life is as cheap as drifting duckweed.

The immense pushing force was like an irresistible torrent.

The little sister Mo Shun's small hand suddenly slipped from the hand that her brother De Xiu was holding tightly!
The small red figure was instantly swallowed up by the terrifying vortex of the crowd.

Only an empty strip of cloth from the cuff was clutched in Deok-soo's hand.

The father's eyes were bloodshot!

He was frantically shouting his daughter's name!
They tried to go back against the current to search.

But they were swept away by the desperate crowd.

finally……

The father disappeared into the chaotic scene of pushing and shoving, and beneath the feet of the surging crowd.

A suppressed, heart-wrenching scream suddenly exploded in the audio track:

"Mo Shun—! Father—!!"

at the same time.

Off-screen.

The couple's seats are in the middle.

Yoona's little hand quietly gripped Kang Jae-hoon's... cuff.

Kang Jae-hoon turned his head to the side.

By the light reflected from the screen, I could see that Yoona's eyes were wide open under the brim of her hat.

Long eyelashes trembled slightly in the light and shadow.

The light, reflecting the flickering flames of war and despair on the silver screen.

A few seconds later.

Perhaps they realized what they had done.

Yoona's fingers, which were gripping his sleeve, loosened very slightly.

It seems they wanted to take it back casually.

Kang Jae-hoon, however, seemed oblivious to her hesitation.

The hand that was being gripped by the cuff was turned downwards.

He gently grasped her wrist, which she hadn't had time to completely pull away from.

Lim Yoona's body seemed to stiffen for a moment.

No struggle.

He didn't turn his head to the side either.

She simply let him hold her wrist.

His gaze remained focused on the screen.

It was as if all attention was firmly drawn to that suffering that transcended time and space.

Only the wrist he was holding.

In the shadows of darkness.

quietly.

Quietly.

It was flipped over.

It was originally Kang Jae-hoon who was holding her wrist.

became……

Yoona returned the gesture by grasping his broad, warm hand.

Kang Jae-hoon's heart skipped a beat in his chest.

The explosions, cries, and screams on the screen...

It was as if everything was pulled far away at this moment.

All that remained was the soft, boneless, real touch from my palm.

More intimate than that kiss on set...

Even more turbulent.

Even more domineering.

And even more...

flustered.

(End of this chapter)