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

Chapter 174 The Master of Balance's KPIs Are Going Up Again
KBS Drama Center Studios.

An invisible sense of anxiety hung in the air.

The public opinion storm surrounding last night's premiere of "The Producers" has completely intensified.

On the way to the rest area.

Snippets of staff members conversing in hushed tones along the way, news headlines scrolling across phone screens, agents whispering on their phones in corners…

Fragmented information, like a thick fog, permeated every corner.

Those who liked it raved about it—praising the relaxed and lifelike pacing and the actors' realistic and natural performances.

Those who disliked it bluntly stated that it was "bland as water," "lacking dramatic conflict," and that "the high ratings were entirely due to the cast."

At the forefront of controversy.

The one under the most pressure is undoubtedly screenwriter Park Ji-eun.

History repeats itself in surprising ways.

As her first work after the huge success of "My Love from the Star," she, who is known as the "national screenwriter," faced a wave of controversy with a bad start, just like Kim Eun-sook when she released "The Heirs."

However, the approaches to dealing with them are completely different.

Kim Eun-sook chose to withstand the pressure and adjust the proportion of screen time for her characters in the script.

Park Ji-eun's choice was more direct and also more ruthless.

Change the director.

In the South Korean drama industry, screenwriters wield absolute power.

Although production teams usually don't easily replace actors within the framework of contracts, "usually" seems powerless in the face of enormous public pressure and Park Ji-eun's will.

Speaking from my heart.

The replacement director, Yoon Sung-ho, did not have any obvious flaws in directing the first two episodes.

The visuals are smooth, and the editing is decent.

But at this moment, facing a torrent of criticism, the production company and Park Ji-eun need an "explanation," a "sacrifice" to quell public opinion.

Director Yoon Sung-ho unfortunately became the sacrificial lamb pushed out to bear the brunt of the fire.

The director who replaced him was named Pyo Min-soo.

A name that once directed the wildly popular Asian drama series "Full House".

It sounds impressive, with a brilliant resume.

But the reality is cruel.

Since "Full House," Pyo Min-soo has not produced any work that can rival it, or even just generate a significant response.

This is simply the nature of the directing ecosystem in the TV drama industry.

The spotlight often shines on the screenwriters and actors.

TV drama directors are usually not responsible for detailed storyboard design; they are more responsible for controlling the on-set scheduling and coordinating shooting from multiple fixed camera positions, and then rely on the editor's "magical touch" in post-production.

A director who can truly achieve legendary status in the television drama field based on his personal style.

Rare.

therefore.

When Kang Jae-hoon received a notification from the production coordinator, asking him to "reshoot" several scenes from episodes three and four today, his heart sank.

In film crews, the term "reshoot" often implies a gentle adjustment.

But this time is clearly different.

For a drama that has only been in the middle of filming and has only been airing for one day, this last-minute change of director and reshooting means that the director's intentions have been completely negated.

For actors, this means a sudden increase in workload, requiring them to quickly adjust to the new director's requirements, and exhaustion is inevitable.

But for director Yoon Sung-ho, who was replaced midway through the project.

This is tantamount to public execution.

busy.

This word persisted throughout the next dozen or so hours.

To adapt to the new director's ideas, the performances were repeatedly adjusted, and scenes were reshot, stretching the timeline to its limit.

When it's time to wrap up work.

Kang Jae-hoon glanced at his phone.

The screen showed that the broadcast time for the second episode of "The Producers" had long passed.

Exhausted both physically and mentally.

He also lost the desire to follow the real-time reactions.

Surprisingly.

Bae Suzy stopped using all sorts of strange excuses to hitch a ride with him.

Her once vibrant face was now etched with fatigue.

My eyelids are so tired they're practically drooping.

He waved goodbye to him from afar.

Kang Jae-hoon felt a sense of relief.

This saves the trouble of making excuses and getting into arguments.

Come back home.

The car drove into the quiet alleyway of Seongsudong. The motion-activated light briefly lit up, and the door opened.

The living room was brightly lit, but the TV screen was black, and the remote control was placed in a conspicuous position in the corner of the coffee table.

The sofa was empty.

Only that warm light and bright yellow glow replaced words, silently waiting for his late return.

Kang Jae-hoon silently changed his shoes and washed up.

The cool water splashed on my face, easing some of my fatigue.

I went back to my room and lay down.

My body is tired, but my mind is clear.

It's quiet at night.

The city noise outside the window also subsided.

in the dark.

The disheveled sheets under the moonlight that night...

Various fragments of images churned uncontrollably in my mind.

By some strange twist of fate.

Kang Jae-hoon lifted the blanket.

Like a cat that roams the night, she walked barefoot on the cool floor and silently approached Lee Sung-kyung's door.

this time.

He didn't knock.

My fingers rested on the cold doorknob.

Hold your breath.

A gentle twist—

Click.

The door is unlocked.

His heart pounded in his chest. Kang Jae-hoon immediately slipped to the side and slipped inside, closing the door slightly behind him.

The room was very dark.

Only a sliver of streetlight shone through the gap in the curtains, barely outlining the shape of the mound on the bed.

Kang Jae-hoon stood silently by the bed, watching her sleeping figure.

The hustle and bustle of the day settles down at this moment.

As if he had made up his mind, he carefully lifted a corner of the blanket on Lee Sung-kyung's side.

The mattress sags slightly.

Kang Jae-hoon reached out and gently pulled Lee Sung-kyung, who had her back to him, into his arms. His chest pressed against her warm back, and his nose brushed against her soft hair scattered on the pillow.

So fragrant...

My heart, which had been hanging in suspense all day, finally settled down. My tense muscles relaxed, and what followed... was a wandering mind.

Beneath his palm, through the thin nightgown, the lines of her waist were clearly defined and smooth, instantly igniting dormant flames from the previous night's memories. In the instant his heart raced out of control—

The sleeping body in his arms jolted violently!
Like a cheetah waking from a dream, Lee Sung-kyung bent her elbow and rammed backward almost simultaneously!

Swift, accurate, and ruthless!

"Well!"

A dull thud of flesh hitting flesh exploded in the silent room!

Kang Jae-hoon gasped in pain.

however.

Lee Sung-kyung didn't stop at all!
Suddenly breaking free from the embrace, she sat up abruptly, her other fist whistling through the air as she swung it down, about to smash into his face!
"We're on the same side! Don't fight!"

Kang Jae-hoon frantically covered his face, his voice barely audible, yet distorted with anxiety.

The fist stopped abruptly in mid-air, less than five centimeters from his nose.

"..."

After realizing it was a mistake in "identifying friend or foe," the murderous intent in her eyes gradually faded, replaced by cold anger and displeasure at having her peaceful dream disturbed.

She said nothing.

He simply let out a cold, forceful exhale from his nose: "Hmph!"

then.

Just as Kang Jae-hoon was bracing himself for a violent expulsion, she unexpectedly—

He fell straight backward.

She slammed her body back onto the pillow, pulled the blanket tighter around herself, and abruptly rolled over, turning her head and back towards him.

I didn't scold them.

They didn't kick him off.

She simply turned her back to him.

This is……

acquiescence?

The moment this realization surfaced in my mind, a silent cheer erupted like fireworks in my heart. The slight grievance and pain from being beaten earlier vanished instantly, replaced by a strange and immense sense of elation.

Beneath the ecstasy lies even greater courage.

Or rather, they were taking an inch and then a mile.

This time.

He moved faster and more firmly, pulling that warm, soft body tightly back into his arms.

She just hugged me tightly.

The beauty in his arms immediately issued a warning:

"Go to sleep. Your hands... don't go down!"

"...and just held him."

"..."

in the dark.

Lee Sung-kyung could clearly feel the rising body temperature of the man behind her, and his increasingly "unruly" and probing movements.

"...I said no more!"

Lee Sung-kyung bit the soft flesh inside her lower lip, and twitched her elbow slightly, as if she wanted to give him another warning.

"Um……"

The muffled voice sounded like a meaningless response.

Lee Sung-kyung clicked her tongue almost imperceptibly, a sound that seemed both like compromise and helplessness, as she gradually relaxed her tense resistance.

soon.

Soft rustling sounds and suppressed breathing replaced all words.

Until the deeper darkness outside the window swallowed up the last of the faint sounds, leaving only the steady, long breaths of the sleeping creature.

……

The morning light struggled to penetrate the gap in the curtains.

Lee Sung-kyung woke up from a deep sleep, and before she even opened her eyes, she felt something was wrong with her body—especially the soreness in her waist and legs.

Open your eyes.

My pillow is empty.

She propped herself up to sit up, her gaze falling on the crumpled and messy sheets beside her, and remained silent for a few seconds.

When I got out of bed after lifting the covers.

A slight sluggishness in her body and a feeling of unfamiliarity in certain areas caused her to unconsciously furrow her brow slightly, before she calmed down.

Open the bedroom door.

The aroma of fried eggs mingled with the smell of cooking oil wafted over.

in the kitchen.

Kang Jae-hoon had his back to her, using the pot lid as a shield to block the splattering hot oil with one hand, and trying to flip the slightly blackened fried egg in the frying pan with a spatula in the other.

"woke up?"

He caught a glimpse of the figure at the kitchen door out of the corner of his eye and asked without turning his head.

Lee Sung-kyung leaned against the door frame with his arms crossed, his gaze sweeping over the two pitiful fried eggs in the pan before settling on his tense arms.

"you……"

Kang Jae-hoon successfully flipped one of the eggs, breathed a slight sigh of relief, and turned to look at her with a puzzled expression.

Lee Sung-kyung nodded her chin towards the pot:
"Go into the kitchen less often from now on."

"Ok?"

"It tastes bad."

Lee Sung-kyung spoke decisively, taking a few steps forward and snatching the spatula directly from his hand.

Jiang Jae-hoon: “…”

He held his empty hands and watched as Lee Sung-kyung skillfully took over the spatula and lid, quickly and efficiently finishing the nearly dead fried egg.

She turned off the stove, glanced at him, and her eyes clearly said: Get out of the way.

Kang Jae-hoon touched his nose and obediently gave up the stove, then walked to the coffee machine next to him.

The coffee grinder, the milk frother, and the steam wand make a soft hissing sound.

Slightly rotate your wrist.

The creamy milk foam is smoothly poured into the espresso.

Lee Sung-kyung came out carrying a freshly fried, perfectly colored sunny-side-up egg. My gaze fell on the cup of coffee—

Latte art.

A heart with a clear outline.

Lee Sung-kyung frowned suspiciously:

"When did you learn it?"

I learned it while filming in China.

"Oh."

Lee Sung-kyung responded and didn't ask any further questions.

He then picked up his phone, snapped a picture of the coffee with latte art, and put it down before starting to eat breakfast.

Halfway through the meal, Kang Jae-hoon remembered something and put down his chopsticks:

"By the way, I probably won't be able to take you to the film set for a while."

"Ok?"

"The production team changed directors, and the shooting schedule is extremely packed, completely disrupting the timeline," Kang Jae-hoon explained. "The new director has requested reshoots of many scenes from the earlier episodes, so the wrap time is completely unpredictable." Lee Sung-kyung took a bite of her fried egg and nodded.

"Okay. You go about your business, don't worry about me."

The voice just fell.

Kang Jae-hoon's phone, which was on the dining table, started buzzing.

The name "Jin Dayuan" was displayed on the screen.

He answered:
"Hello?...Okay, I'll be right down."

hang up the phone.

He quickly finished the rest of his breakfast, then got up and grabbed his backpack.

"I am leaving."

Kang Jae-hoon went to the entrance to change his shoes.

Lee Sung-kyung didn't even look up, and gave a vague "hmm".

Jiang Zai Xun stood in the doorway, his hand on the doorknob, and deliberately raised his voice, repeating the words clearly and distinctly:
"I'm leaving!"

"It's noisy."

Lee Sung-kyung rolled her eyes dramatically, clearly annoyed.

Put down the chopsticks.

Get up.

She shuffled to the door in her slippers.

He tilted his head back.

There were no unnecessary words, nor any awkwardness.

Soft lips, carrying the aroma of coffee and the warmth of the morning, were pressed against Kang Jae-hoon's lips.

Not the cheek.

It didn't just flash by.

It was a solid, warm, and lingering kiss.

"Come on!"

After the kiss.

Lee Sung-kyung took a half step back and reached out to push aside the man blocking her way—or rather, she pushed open the half-closed apartment door.

The objective was achieved.

Kang Jae-hoon couldn't suppress the smile on his lips, his eyes shining brightly:

"Ah."

The security door closed gently in front of me.

The living room quieted down.

Lee Sung-kyung turned around, walked back to the dining table, and picked up the cup of coffee.

Bow down.

I took a sip, savoring the heart-shaped latte art that was about to disappear.

After a bitter and slightly sour aftertaste.

It has a unique, mellow aroma and warmth.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

When Kang Jae-hoon stepped into the KBS Drama Center set.

Even though he tried to calm himself, the invisible pressure in the air felt real. The rumors about the ratings for the second episode of "The Producers" had already been settled.

——10.5% (AGB Nationwide).

It rose slightly by 0.3 percentage points from the 10.2% of the premiere.

The increase was slight, but at least it didn't fall.

Fragments of information entered my ears from all directions:

"It's stabilized...?"

"Looks like the audience isn't buying this?"

"The plot is still too slow..."

"Writer Park is under immense pressure..."

As a workplace and variety show with a unique positioning, adopting a pseudo-documentary style (a bold attempt in Korean dramas), and airing at 11 pm, it is already quite remarkable that it has been able to maintain its basic audience and even see a slight increase.

Look around.

The golden decade of Korean dramas.

Pure workplace dramas have never produced a truly "national hit".

Even the critically acclaimed drama "Misaeng" only achieved a peak viewership of 8% on cable channel tvN, which translates to approximately 16%-20% on terrestrial channel KBS.

(Note: It was later director Shin Won-ho's "Hospital Playlist" series that truly broke the ratings curse of workplace dramas and created a legend.)
Therefore, the current performance of "The Producers" can be considered a solid start within the genre.

The reasoning is clear to everyone.

As the core creator and screenwriter, Park Ji-eun must see things more clearly and analyze them more deeply at this moment.

Subject matter restrictions, experimental techniques, and time slot competitiveness...

These objective factors are all there.

One can see through things, but that doesn't mean one can see through them.

As the saying goes, when advising others, one can be logical and eloquent, but when the same principles are applied to oneself, they become a heavy boulder pressing on one's chest.

—Especially with the glorious halo of "My Love from the Star" that is enough to go down in history, any criticism of being "mediocre" seems particularly harsh and unbearable.

Kang Jae-hoon wanted to find a moment to say some comforting words to screenwriter Park Ji-eun, such as "Writer-nim, I believe in you" or "There are advantages to being slow to warm up."

however.

The filming schedule was squeezed under director Pyo Min-soo's strict requirements.

Every gap was filled with camera adjustments, dialogue tweaks, and scheduling refinements.

Time was cut and squeezed to the extreme.

The words of comfort that were on the tip of my tongue never came out.

A week has passed in the blink of an eye.

Just as the entire crew was being thrown into chaos by the new director's "re-engineering" approach, the most noteworthy news of the week injected a powerful boost into the production team—

After a comprehensive evaluation, KBS decided to adjust the broadcast time of "The Producers".

The slot will be moved from the previously less competitive 11 pm Friday-Saturday time slot to the more prime 9 pm time slot.

Don't underestimate the importance of arriving two hours early.

The changes it brings are immediate.

The latest viewership data shows:

Episode 3: 11.0% (AGB Nationwide)

Episode 4: 11.3% (AGB Nationwide)

The increase was not astonishing.

However, the steady progress has shown a clear and healthy upward curve.

The audience for late-night shows is relatively fixed and limited.

Instead, it will be moved to 21 PM.

This means that it can reach a wider and more mainstream family audience.

This steady rise proves that the quality and appeal of the series itself are being discovered and accepted by more viewers, and it is entering a period of positive word-of-mouth fermentation and audience accumulation.

It is worth mentioning that.

The Producers received a surprisingly good response when it aired on Line TV in Taiwan and TVB Korean Drama Channel in Hong Kong.

Perhaps the public has a natural curiosity about how South Korean variety show production works behind the scenes.

Or perhaps its unique mockumentary style and relaxed atmosphere are more in line with the tastes of overseas audiences.

The reviews were much milder compared to those from the local area.

There was no harsh criticism as seen in South Korea.

This was a small consolation for the production crew.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

As the intensity of filming returns to normal.

Bae Suzy's inner thoughts, which had been temporarily suppressed by her intense work, began to stir again.

During rehearsals.

She would deliberately get extremely close.

His calves would "inadvertently" dangle and brush against his trouser leg.

In this regard.

Kang Jae-hoon could only keep a straight face and try his best to focus on his lines and performance, while his body subconsciously maintained a polite and safe distance.

after all.

At this moment, Kang Jae-hoon was immersed in the belated but incredibly reassuring sweetness between him and Lee Sung-kyung.

therefore.

Every seemingly casual approach from Bae Suzy brings Kang Jae-hoon a heavy feeling mixed with guilt and panic.

however.

Bae Suzy clearly misunderstood his attempt to avoid the issue.

She assumed that the intense filming recently had exhausted him and he hadn't fully recovered. After all, Kang Jae-hoon's character, Baek Seung-chan, had much more screen time than her and was the focus of the crew's attention during the adjustment period.

and so.

Instead of stopping, she intensified her flirting tactics.

at first.

Bae Suzy just thought it was fun.

later.

Kang Jae-hoon's extreme contrast finally triggered her curiosity.

Not right.

It's not right.

It's definitely not as simple as "not having recovered yet".

Just as Kang Jae-hoon was being tormented by Bae Suzy's dual provocations, both "physical" and "mental," he was feeling restless and agonizing.

Episodes 5 and 6 aired as scheduled.

Ratings became the best boost.

Episode 5: 13.0% (AGB Nationwide)

Episode 6: 13.5% (AGB Nationwide)

Even more remarkable was the peak instantaneous viewership rating that night: 23%—

The torrential rain poured down.

Kang Jae-hoon, who plays Baek Sung-chan, naturally places his hand over Cindy's head, played by Bae Suzy.

The perfectly chosen background music enhanced the atmosphere and instantly sparked a discussion.

That night.

[Naver Real-Time Trending Searches]:
#Producer's Umbrella Head Pat#
#Baek Seung-chan Cindy#
#Kang Jae-hoon and Bae Suzy's chemistry#
The internet is flooded with screams and screenshots:
[Ahhhhh, that head pat! Has PD Bai finally figured it out?!]

[Cindy's stunned expression followed by her ears turning slightly red—it killed me!]

[Kang Jae-hoon's gentle gesture! Whose heart is melting!]

[This couple's chemistry is amazing! Writer Park, please give us more interaction!]

……

Park Ji-eun looked at the overwhelming screenshots of plot discussions and trending lists online, and silently rubbed her temples.

really.

No amount of in-depth analysis of the workplace ecosystem or meticulously designed behind-the-scenes revelations from variety shows can compare to the allure of a handsome man and a beautiful woman engaging in a tender interaction in the rain.

What do people want to see?
After all.

I still prefer watching handsome men and beautiful women fall in love.

Forget it.

Park Ji-eun sighed resignedly.

His fingers began to tap on the keyboard.

Since the market has voted with data...

As the screenwriter, she had no choice but to follow "public opinion".

then.

When Kang Jae-hoon received the newly revised script for episodes 7 and 8, his eyelids twitched.

The overall storyline and character settings remain unchanged.

only……

The kissing scene, which was originally scheduled for the "eight-episode rule," was for Baek Seung-chan and Ra Joon-mo.

now.

Instead, there is a scene set in a nighttime amusement park, described in a script with extremely detailed and vivid imagery:
—The carousel lights swirl, and the Ferris wheel's light strip outlines the city's silhouette.

At the moment when a device malfunction caused all the lights in the venue to suddenly go out.

A brief commotion and chaos ensued among the crowd.

Bai Chengcan instinctively protected Cindy, who was in a wheelchair.

Someone bumped into him.

Baek Sung-chan lost his balance.

The script clearly displays three words:
Their lips touched.

An "accidental kiss" filled with dramatic coincidences and the sweet, romantic atmosphere of an idol drama.

As Jiang Zai Xun looked at the words, he felt a throbbing pain in his temples.

"Om - hum -"

The phone resting on the armrest of the folding chair vibrated.

Kang Jae-hoon glanced at it, feeling annoyed.

The moment I saw the screen clearly.

His breath hitched slightly.

The name flashing on the screen is—

Yoona.

Suppressing his turbulent emotions, Kang Jae-hoon swiped to answer the call and held the phone to his ear.

"Hey?"

The soft, gentle voice of Lim Yoona came through the receiver:
"Are you done with work on set?"

"not yet……"

"Well... do you remember my birthday party tonight?"

"remember."

Kang Jae-hoon subconsciously looked up in Bae Suzy's direction: "You... you've already finished filming the MV?"

"Yeah, I just got back today. The sunshine in Koh Samui is so enticing. Filming here must have been tiring, right? I heard about the director change..."

Her concern was subtle and to the point:

"Anyway, I feel like my wish for this year wouldn't be complete without your birthday wishes in person~"

So, you'll come, right?

(End of this chapter)