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

Chapter 187 Premiere of "The Veteran"

The screen went from dark to light.

CJ Entertainment's animated intro logo appeared first, simple and clean.

Next is a single line of large text: Investors

CJ Entertainment.

Subsequently.

Rows of simple, pure white cast and crew names appeared like inscriptions on a monument:

Producer, director, lead actor, cinematographer...

……

Kang Jae-hoon quickly typed the last message to Lee Sung-kyung on his phone screen, "The movie has started," then quickly pressed the mute button and stuffed it into his pocket.

Our gaze fell upon the enormous screen dominated by light and shadow.

I felt both anticipation and trepidation.

Under Liu Chengwan's scissors.

What kind of person will his Cho Tae-oh be?

soon.

The film title, "Veteran," is displayed in bold, rough lettering in the center of the screen.

Light and shadow shift and change.

The screen suddenly brightened.

The noise instantly flooded my ears.

Accompanied by a lively and upbeat electronic melody, the camera is pressed close to the heels of a pair of shiny leather shoes.

His gait was slick and uncouth.

Hwang Jung-min plays Seo Do-cheol, who is seen embracing a heavily made-up young woman (Miss Bong) in a provocative short skirt. Their exaggerated movements and roguish demeanor are quite striking.

The camera pans back, following their swaying gait—

A panoramic view unfolds.

Busan's largest used car market.

A chaotic and noisy atmosphere immediately greets you.

The huge venue was divided into countless cramped stalls.

The area was packed with vehicles of all colors.

From rusty vintage cars to gleaming luxury used cars.

Everything is available.

The used car dealers, dressed in floral shirts or wrinkled Brazilian suits, swarmed around the seemingly wealthy couple as soon as they saw them, like hyenas smelling blood.

"Boss! Look at this one! Original paint! The mileage is absolutely genuine!"

"Over here! An imported sports car!"

Business cards were handed to me like snowflakes.

He boasted enthusiastically about his car's "purebred lineage" and "unbeatable value for money."

"Oppa~ Look at this red sports car! It's so cool~"

Miss Feng swayed her hips, her fingertips tracing the gleaming hood of a convertible sports car, her eyes shining.

She has the complete appearance of a gold digger.

Xu Daozhe simply waved to the car dealers who enthusiastically surrounded him, handing him business cards and exaggerating their skills, his eyes scanning the sea of ​​cars with a clear target in mind.

Pulling Miss Feng, who was still "looking at cars," he headed straight for an inconspicuous corner deep inside the market—

Parked there are smuggled cars that can't be brought to justice.

A series of pretentious bargaining sprees ensued.

The two "generously" paid for what appeared to be a brand-new "luxury car".

In reality, it was bait for entrapment.

The scene changes.

in the night.

Sure enough, the car that had just been "bought" was skillfully driven away by the smuggling gang.

The car drove all the way to a dilapidated and secluded modification shop.

The roller shutter door slowly rose.

As the car thief triumphantly drove the car deep into the modification workshop, and as soon as he turned off the engine, he eagerly opened the trunk to check his "spoils"—

There was a soft squeaking sound.

The trunk lid slowly opened a crack.

in the dark.

A huddled figure stirred.

then.

In the reflection of the thieves' wide, incredulous pupils—

Xu Daozhe, like an old neighbor who had been suddenly woken up, slowly climbed out of the trunk!
While adjusting his shirt collar, he yawned widely and muttered complaints under his breath:

"Ugh...why are we so late? I'm dying to get here!"

He rubbed his aching neck, oblivious to everyone around him.

His gaze swept over the stunned car thieves.

His brows furrowed.

He waved his hand impatiently:

"Give it! Give it!"

While talking.

He walked confidently to a corner of the modified car.

He had his back to everyone.

He unbuckled his belt without a second thought.

He pulled out his weapon.

Immediately afterwards——

The clear, resounding sound of flowing water crashed against the oil stains on the ground.

Hwang Jung-min's slapstick and unserious demeanor on screen brought a knowing smile to many viewers in the theater, as if they were seeing the shadow of a kung fu comedy superstar.

If the previous explanation could be "all men are the same when they need to urinate".

The fight scene that followed, in the smuggling gang's hideout at the modification factory, was a complete 1:1 replica of the action essence of the "Furniture City God of War".

He rolled away from the steel pipe and slid across the oil-stained hood.

He grabbed a wrench from the ground to block, and then swung it at the opponent's wrist.

Cornered against the wall, he stomped on one end of a crowbar on the ground, and the other end sprang up with a "whoosh," striking the man who was lunging at him in the groin with perfect accuracy!
"Ow—!"

A bloodcurdling scream echoed throughout the theater.

The audience erupted in suppressed laughter and gasps.

At last.

Seeing his men being beaten to a pulp, the leader's knees buckled, and he knelt down with a thud, raising his hands above his head and shouting:

"I surrender! I surrender!"

According to common sense.

The police stop arresting people here.

After all, in South Korea...

Everyone understands the "boundaries" of police power.

however.

Xu Daozhe's next move left everyone speechless.

He reached into his pocket.

Xu Daozhe actually picked up a thin, polished metal razor blade and held it up to his forehead.

then.

Bah!
A soft but piercing sound of flesh being cut rang out.

A deep red line of blood instantly snaked out, flowing across half of his thick eyebrow.

Xu Daozhe didn't even frown.

Do it all.

He even had the leisure to pick up half of a heavy steel pipe covered in oil stains from the ground.

He pressed hard on the bloodied forehead.

then.

The junior leader was completely stunned and speechless.

As naturally as offering a cigarette, Xu Daozhe forcefully shoved the steel pipe, stained with his own blood, into the bewildered, oil-covered palm of the man.

Powerful.

He was forced to close his five fingers together.

Hold firmly to this "murder weapon".

then.

Xu Daozhe quickly switched his expression.

With one hand covering his own bleeding forehead, and the other pointing at the utterly terrified gang leader still holding the "weapon," he began to accuse him in a hoarse voice:
"Hey! How dare you assault a police officer! Absolutely outrageous! Lawless! Incredibly audacious!!!"

"..."

The leader's expression completely cracked.

You cut yourself.

You smeared the blood yourself.

You forced that steel pipe on me.

You're now accusing me of assaulting a police officer?!

next second.

Before the leader could recover from this immense sense of absurdity...

Xu Daozhe's fist, as big as a sandbag, came crashing down without mercy, like a rain of blows!

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

The dull thuds of punches landing echoed in the theater.

Accompanied by the leader's incoherent wails.

The audience fell into a deathly silence.

immediately.

An uproar of laughter erupted, nearly lifting the roof off!

"Pfft-hahahaha!"

"..."

The light from the screen flickered on Kang Jae-hoon's face.

All I could hear was the audience's uncontrollable laughter and gasps of amazement.

He looked at Xu Daozhe, whose forehead was bleeding and whose eyes were fierce yet cunning and calculating, and couldn't help but smirk.

This is Hwang Jung-min.

This is the charm and control of Chungmuro's top actors.

In fact, this scene defines the character of Xu Daozhe.

An unconventional police officer who acts without regard for details, even to the point of being somewhat "low-class," but who is inherently righteous and believes that "evil people should be punished on the spot."

The laughter that erupted from the audience was the most direct recognition of this simple sense of justice.

They prefer to see villains getting beaten up on the spot, crying for their parents, rather than reading cold, impersonal "procedural justice" subtitles.

The light and shadow on the screen shift and change.

Xu Daozhe was recommended to curry favor with a powerful figure who could help him rise to prominence after he was credited with cracking a major smuggling case.

The camera zoomed in on his back again, then rose back up—

A panoramic view unfolds.

suddenly see the light.

A huge crystal chandelier hangs from the soaring ceiling, refracting countless shimmering fragments of light. The gleaming marble floor reflects the expensive handmade carpets and the priceless abstract paintings on the walls.

A woman with half-exposed breasts sank into a velvet sofa, wisps of smoke curling from her fingertips;

Waiters in vests carried silver trays and moved about;

Occasionally, a girl in a sequined miniskirt would run by, her stiletto heels clicking softly.

Power and desire ferment silently amidst the clinking of glasses and the flickering lights.

Lee Dong-hui, who plays the broker, leads the slightly uneasy Seo Do-cheol through the elegantly dressed crowd and toward a heavier double door inlaid with dark gold patterns.

Grasp the brass doorknob and push it in forcefully—

"Squeak-"

A tidal wave of noise, louder and more unrestrained, surged out, almost bursting through the door!

The world inside the door is completely different from the "understated luxury" of the front hall—

This is a naked arena of money and desire!

A group of men and women dressed in more fashionable and daring attire gathered around a huge mahogany table in the middle.

The table was laden with expensive imported wines and exquisite fruit platters.

Cheers, screams, and excited shouts erupted like boiling water.

The focal point.

A tall and slender figure stood out.

His slicked-back hair was so shiny it could slip a fly, and delicate gold-rimmed glasses sat on his high nose.

The fitted silver-gray vest accentuated his strong waistline.

With his left arm casually around a hot female companion, he held a half-burnt cigar with long ash accumulating at the top between his right fingers.

—This person is none other than Jo Tae-oh, played by Kang Jae-hoon.

Smoke curled up.

It lingered around the cold, handsome profile of his face.

now.

He was tilting his head slightly.

Their gazes were fixed with great interest on the center of the long table.

Two shirtless, muscular men were wrestling across the table, their veins bulging!

"Xiongzhe! Hold on!"

"Jaijing! Suppress it!"

The roaring and shouting shook the rooftops.

The atmosphere was extremely tense.

however.

Amidst this fervent and enthusiastic atmosphere.

Just a second before the burly man, who had been heavily bet on by Zhao Taiwu and had a clear size advantage, was about to be knocked down by his opponent.

Zhao Taiwu suddenly raised his right hand, which was holding a cigarette.

The dark red spark pressed down fiercely—

Zila——!
The charred flesh mixed with Xiong Zhe's heart-wrenching screams shattered eardrums.

"Uhhh-!!!"

All the noise stopped abruptly.

The air is frozen.

Those who applauded were frozen in place like stone statues.

Jae-kyung loosened his grip and stared blankly.

Zhao Taiwu remained expressionless.

He casually grabbed a stack of banknotes from the table.

Swish!
It was slapped onto Xiong Zhe's face, which was streaked with tears.

"roll."

Xiong Zhe dared not utter the slightest complaint.

He didn't even bother to wipe the sweat and tears from his face.

They only dared to bend over.

I endured the excruciating pain in my shoulder.

He hurriedly gathered up the few banknotes floating nearby and the money that had fallen on him.

With his other hand, he pressed hard on his scalded shoulder.

Staggering.

Like a stray dog ​​with its spine broken.

He quickly ducked and squeezed through the narrow gap created by the crowd.

……

This scene shares the same tone as Hwang Jung-min's first appearance.

Several shots highlight the extremely violent nature hidden beneath Zhao Taiwu's elegant exterior.

A seasoned detective, who hates evil but is also cunning and violent, with a street-smart, rough-around-the-edges air, and a noble-born, ruthless devil who treats the suffering of others as a game, form two natural opposing forces of good and evil.

The contradictions arising from the characters' personalities and social classes are laid bare on the screen.

The subsequent plot developments are precisely the inevitable collision of ice and fire, mud and gold—

"This is Officer Xu Daozhe, the hero who just cracked a transnational luxury car smuggling ring! A rising star in the police force!"

All eyes turned to Xu Daozhe as the introduction began.

curious.

Examine.

Xu Daozhe felt like he had been thrown into a fish tank under a spotlight.

Feeling uncomfortable all over.

But he forced a stiff smile, suppressing the mixed feelings of disgust and incongruity that had arisen since he stepped into the room.

On the main seat.

Zhao Taiwu, who had initially shown little interest, was instantly swayed by the keywords "police officer" and "smuggling bust"—

As if choked by some tiny speck of dust, he naturally raised his left arm, clenched it into a fist, and pressed it against his lips.

A few very light "hiss...hiss..." sounds seemed to be covering up a few short, untimely coughs.

And so it went.

He concealed the fact that his right hand was very naturally brushing away the remaining white powder in front of him.

The movements are smooth and flowing.

It was as if she had only casually tidied her appearance.

When he lowered his arm, his face had already switched back to that gentle, social smile that was accentuated by his gold-rimmed glasses.

"It's Officer Xu."

"sorry."

This seemingly casual shot and subtle reaction.

This is precisely the finishing touch that highlights the complexity of Cho Tae-eun.

Those born into the inner circle of top conglomerates receive the most rigorous elite education from a young age, and their knowledge, vision, shrewdness, and emotional control far surpass those of ordinary people. Those who only indulge in sensual pleasures and hedonistic pursuits are mostly good-for-nothings who have been abandoned by their families early on and are unlikely to obtain core inheritance rights.

Cho Tae-oh falls somewhere in between.

He possesses both a strong ambition to compete with his siblings for core management control of the family business and a deep-seated cunning to match it, yet deep down he cannot completely shake off his morbid pursuit of "pleasure" and his violent nature rooted in privilege.

Kang Jae-hoon's choice to use those gold-rimmed glasses as Jo Tae-oh's signature accessory was a clever "cheating" move to fill the visual "gap" in the character's complex life experiences.

Eyeglasses are a symbol of intellect.

It can instill fear and make people feel that it is unfathomable.

……

"Wow! I thought the chaebols would do something different or 'high-class' in a place like this."

The words fell.

Several terrified gazes suddenly fixed on Xu Daozhe's face.

Is this person crazy?
How dare you speak to Young Master Zhao like that?!

Xu Daozhe didn't care at all.

This is exactly the effect he wanted.

Don't you consider yourself superior and look down on others like ants?
I'm determined to tear off your glamorous facade!

You want to use that unlucky guy to establish your authority?
I, Xu Daozhe, will climb up this pole you set up!

Feeling angry?
Do it!
You dare to lay a finger on me, Xu Daozhe.

You'll be handcuffed and taken away on the spot!

I'm charging you with assaulting a police officer!

On the main seat.

The feigned gentleness on Zhao Taiwu's face suddenly froze.

next second.

All the violence, arrogance, and extreme displeasure at being offended were replaced by a brighter, colder, and more chilling smile that suddenly bloomed on his face.

He acted as if he had heard the funniest joke.

Rest your elbows on the table.

He casually picked up the fork with his long, slender fingers.

Poke at the strawberry on top of the ornately decorated cream cake in front of you.

A graceful, light turn of the wrist.

Hold the tip of a fork, covered in sticky cream, at an absolutely precise yet utterly absurd angle—

He slammed his fist into the face of his female companion, whose makeup was exquisite!
puff!

The sticky white paste instantly covered up his female companion's ingratiating smile.

"ah--!"

The terrified scream was only half-exhaled before getting stuck in the throat.

Without waiting for anyone's reaction.

Zhao Taiwu's hand had already reached for the ice bucket with lightning speed.

Grab a handful of ice cubes.

He roughly shoved his penis inside his female companion's neckline, which was slightly open in shock.

The female companion was completely stunned by this double blow, frozen in place, with cream dripping comically from her face.

But it's not over yet.

Zhao Taiwu didn't even glance at her.

I glanced at the banana in the fruit bowl on the table.

Pick it up.

He shoved the needle into the mouth of his female companion, who was terrified and about to scream!

Goo!
The thick banana flesh forcefully pushed open the soft lips and tongue.

He completely choked back another scream!
Do it all.

Zhao Taiwu slowly pulled a meticulously folded dark blue silk handkerchief from the breast pocket of his suit vest.

He casually wiped the specks of cream off his fingertips.

then.

He raised his head.

The cold lenses of the gold-rimmed glasses were aimed at Xu Daozhe's bewildered eyes.

"Oh, Officer Xu means... this is how chaebols should operate?"

A cruel sneer lingered at the corners of his lips:
"Is it 'different' enough now?"

The words have not yet fallen.

Cho Tae-oh's other hand rested on the table.

Without warning, he suddenly swept his arm horizontally!
Crash-! ! !
Glass splattered!

Ice cubes rolled down!

Wine spilled!

The expensive Persian carpet was instantly stained with large patches of deep red and became a mess!
The clamor and uproar turned into utter silence.

Amidst this breathtaking chaos and deathly silence.

Zhao Taiwu braced his hands on the table.

The body suddenly exerted force.

With lightning speed, he faced Xu Daozhe and slammed both knees onto the table.

Forehead.

Boom!
It was slammed hard onto the table, which was stained with wine, fruit, and meat.

The meticulously styled hair held in place by hairspray instantly crumbled.

A few strands of hair fell onto her disheveled forehead.

Lift it up again.

His forehead was stained with dark red wine, fruit crumbs, and cream.

He, however, paid no heed.

Those eyes, hidden behind the lenses, gleamed with a mixture of madness and mockery.

The voice was filled with an exaggerated sense of "grief and indignation" and "repentance":
"I'm sorry, Officer Xu!"

"It's because I'm ignorant and my level is too low! I can't produce the 'high-level' performance you expect!"

"I've disappointed you! And I've disgraced all the chaebols!"

"Please forgive me!"

Xu Daozhe: "..."

This madman!

He's not even human!

He's a complete madman!
What was supposed to be a carefully crafted trap turned into a hysterical performance art by the other party!
"...Just have fun, Thames. Just...please don't commit any crimes."

Thus, the clash between good and evil has temporarily come to an end.

Two parallel lines should never intersect.

however.

The gears of fate were forced to mesh because of a humble act of "demanding back wages".

In front of the group's headquarters building.

Zhao Taiwu had just experienced the frustration of being suppressed by his older siblings in a high-level meeting.

Outside the car window.

An obtuse employee and his son were holding up a makeshift "demand unpaid wages" sign.

office.

Austerity has replaced luxury.

The timid son clung tightly to his father's clothes.

In deathly silence.

Zhao Taiwu's gaze fell on the child's tense little face.

The slight impatience on his face miraculously disappeared.

Pick up a macaron with your fingertips.

"Eat."

The child's eyes were glued to the beautiful dessert.

Hesitated.

The little hand trembled as it took it.

She nibbled on it in small bites.

Frosting got on my lips.

Zhao Taiwu's gaze swept over the direction the child was staring at—the streamlined alloy car model on the corner of his desk.

"want to?"

The child shook his head vigorously.

But Zhao Taiwu had already snapped his fingers.

"give him."

The model was shoved into the boy's arms.

The driver, who was demanding his unpaid wages, looked bewildered.

What happened to the promise of being vengeful and ruthless?!
This tycoon's son...

like……

seem……

They're actually quite...approachable?!

The tension in my heart instantly eased!

He even began to regret whether he had been too radical...

"How much is owed?"

The driver, who was demanding his unpaid wages, quickly composed himself and hurriedly opened his crumpled ledger:
"The total is... 420..."

Zhao Taiwu was looking down and playing with a platinum lighter inlaid with sapphires when he stopped.

"420 billion?"

"No! It's 420 million..."

"420?"

Zhao Taiwu was completely frozen.

The lighter cap was suspended in mid-air.

He didn't even understand the meaning of the number for a moment.

Four million two hundred thousand... Korean won?
Let’s do the math…

It might not even be a fraction of the price of a tea set on his table?

He tilted his head slightly.

My gaze lingered between the weathered and tense old face and the timid child in his arms, who was clutching the model car tightly.

The violent atmosphere was replaced by a sense of absurdity.

He was so angry he laughed.

For a mere four million two hundred thousand, you dare to bring a bunch of reporters to the gate of my group's headquarters and put up banners?!
Crazy?
"Money..."

He slowly stood up and walked behind the desk.

Two black leather boxing gloves slammed onto the glass tabletop in front of the driver demanding back wages, like inanimate objects.

"—You have to earn it yourself."

Another pair of boxing gloves was swung in a parabolic arc towards the project manager, who had just been pushed through the door and was covered in sweat.

immediately.

Zhao Taiwu strolled to the corner in front of the expensive stereo.

The fingertips move gracefully.

"Thump thump thump... thump—!"

Beethoven's Third Symphony, "Eroica," filled this luxurious, enclosed space like a surging tide!
This creates a hellish, absurd contrast with the scene that is about to unfold.

The joints cracked.

A nosebleed spurted out.

A man's roar.

The child's cries.

The music then enters its most intense and magnificent phase.

Zhao Taiwu, however, stretched out his arms in the eye of the storm.

The body moves in rhythm with the solemn melody.

An elegant waltz spin and the agonizing screams rolling on the ground create an altar of hell on earth.

……

The driver who demanded back pay eventually received the 420 million yuan.

He looked at the cold alloy car model in his son's arms.

Then look at your swollen and bruised lips.

The lavish, almost blindingly luxurious furnishings around him seemed to mock his humble status.

I got my hard-earned money.

Their dignity was trampled into the mud.

He was not reconciled.

The child is innocent.

He first put his bewildered son into a taxi to go home.

Turn around.

His back view appeared thin and stubborn amidst the traffic and crowds.

He stepped into that magnificent, golden building once again.

This time.

I just want an explanation.

The shifts in light and darkness on the screen affect every nerve.

When the driver demanding back wages once again stepped into that lavish den of iniquity—

The air freezes.

The camera suddenly cuts to black!

boom! ! !
A dull, heavy thud shattered the theater!
There is no need to show gore.

The female audience members in the back row gasped in shock.

The man in the front row gripped the armrest so tightly that his knuckles turned white.

It says it all.

then.

Yoo Hae-jin plays Director Choi, a highly efficient and ruthless machine who quickly fakes the suicide scene, weaves a lie that he "committed suicide due to unbearable pressure," and uses the immense pressure exerted by the chaebol to force the police leadership to attempt to close the case quickly.

however.

Xu Daozhe learned that the multiple blunt force injuries to Park's head contradicted the conclusion of "jumping from a building." The suspicious shutdown of key surveillance cameras at the crime scene further pointed the finger at Zhao Taiwu and his henchmen.

Executive Director Cui also has a keen sense of smell.

Realizing that Xu Daozhe was not going to give up, he resorted to the chaebol's usual tactic—money corruption.

A huge sum of cash and luxury handbags were delivered to Xu Daozhe's wife.

But just as Executive Director Cui underestimated Xu Daozhe's stubbornness, he also underestimated the backbone of this police officer's wife.

Xu Daozhe's wife's eyes held a fleeting longing for a comfortable life, but more so, they reflected her unwavering support for her husband's beliefs and her simple adherence to justice. Without hesitation, she threw the bribe back untouched.

The screen and the audience vibrated in unison.

"handsome!!!"

Someone in the back row clapped and growled in a low voice.

The bribery attempt failed.

The conflict escalated to a point where there was no turning back.

Executive Director Choi mobilized the vast network of connections within the conglomerate to exert immense pressure on the police department.

A cold suspension order fell on Xu Daozhe's head.

But the protagonist's halo, or rather, the tenacity of a small person fighting against a behemoth, burned within Xu Daozhe.

Suspension?

That couldn't stop him from secretly investigating.

Official resources have been cut off?

He also had connections in the streets and a burning heart of justice ignited by the driver's death.

One month.

In the tense tug-of-war and game between the two sides, Xu Daozhe miraculously collected a key chain of evidence pointing to Zhao Taiwu!
The proof is like a mountain!

The Zhao family sensed an impending storm.

Cut off the tail to survive.

Executive Director Choi was pushed forward to take the blame, with the intention of sacrificing this pawn to protect the real core—Zhao Taiwu.

At the same time, an emergency arrangement was made for Zhao Taiwu to leave the country overnight to avoid trouble.

however.

Zhao Taiwu's inherent arrogance and morbid thirst for stimulation ultimately overwhelmed all rationality at the last moment.

The night before leaving the country.

He actually gathered a group of cronies and women at a secluded private club and held an extremely extravagant and absurd "farewell silver party".

Alcohol.

drug.

The unrestrained noise drowned out all warnings.

It was this crazy silver party that exposed his whereabouts.

This also gave Xu Daozhe, who had been secretly and persistently pursuing this line, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!

As Zhao Taiwu, reeking of alcohol, under the influence of drugs, and with unsteady steps, got into his monster sports car, preparing to drive to the airport—

Following closely behind was another, even more violent and unyielding roar.

Xu Daozhe!
Riding a motorcycle that looks like a steel cheetah.

Like a vengeful knight returning from hell, it tore through the dazzling yet indifferent night of Myeongdong, Seoul.

The chase begins!
Stimulated by the drugs and fear, Zhao Taiwu's top-of-the-line sports car burst forth with astonishing speed, frantically weaving and drifting through traffic!
Xu Daozhe's motorcycle, on the other hand, is like a persistent ailment, relying on its smaller size and fearless riding skills to weave through narrow gaps at the limit!
A sports car crashed into a fruit stand on the roadside.

The motorcycle ran over the oranges scattered on the ground.

The sports car sped onto the sidewalk, narrowly missing terrified pedestrians.

The motorcycle followed closely behind, its wheels sparking as they scraped against the tiled floor.

The billboard was knocked so hard it was on the verge of collapse.

The glass shop window shattered upon impact.

This reckless, death-defying chase in the heart of Myeongdong takes the aesthetics of speed and violence to the extreme!

however.

The euphoria brought on by drugs is ultimately an illusory bubble.

Under Xu Daozhe's surgical pursuit and encirclement, Zhao Taiwu's sports car lost control at a sharp turn, crashed through the roadside guardrail, rolled down the steps, and finally landed upside down in a corner of a sunken plaza.

Smoke and dust filled the air.

The deathly silence lasted only a moment.

The twisted and deformed driver's side door was kicked open by the person inside!

Cho Tae-oh!
Blood streamed down his forehead, his expensive suit was tattered, and his gold-rimmed glasses hung askew on his face, the lenses shattered, revealing a pair of eyes beneath them driven utterly mad by drugs, anger, and fear.

He staggered out of the wreckage.

Almost at the same time.

The motorcycle braked suddenly and spun out to a stop.

Xu Daozhe!
No nonsense.

Two men, representing the extremes of society, like fated enemies, were stared at by countless terrified passersby through the flashing white light of their cell phone cameras.

They pounced on each other like wild beasts!

The ultimate showdown!

Punch to the flesh!

There are no fancy moves.

Only the most primal and violent power can be unleashed!
It takes the aesthetics of violence to its extreme.

It also symbolizes the final battle between order and chaos, justice and privilege!

finally.

Under the "daylight" composed of countless mobile phone lenses.

Under the spotlight, symbolizing public oversight and judgment.

Xu Daozhe, scarred yet with piercing eyes.

With a stronger will and richer combat experience, he defeated Zhao Taiwu, who was also scarred, exhausted, and had a vacant look in his eyes, symbolizing sin and depravity.

It was pressed firmly against the cold, dirty ground.

Use handcuffs to firmly lock his blood-stained and sinful wrists!

The camera freezes on that moment.

The background is the glow of cell phone lights that twinkle like a sea of ​​stars.

Xu Daozhe was panting heavily, sweat mixed with blood dripping from his chin onto Zhao Taiwu's once arrogant face, which was now only filled with despair and hopelessness.

The ending of the film is self-evident.

The long, dark night.

There are always people holding torches—no, I mean, cell phones.

Regardless of what they are holding.

As long as the lights are bright, evil will have nowhere to hide—just judgment will come, however late.

……

The screen went completely dark.

The lights immediately turned on.

A subtle silence fell over the theater.

No one stood up.

No one left.

A peculiar sense of satisfaction permeated the air.

It seems we need some time to process the violence, darkness, struggle, and finally... glimmer of light that we just experienced.

Only on the silver screen.

Silent scrolling subtitles.

One line.

Another line.

Not long after.

New images were quietly inserted next to the scrolling subtitles on the screen.

These are behind-the-scenes clips from the film set.

Behind-the-scenes footage is usually divided into two categories:

Firstly, the scenes where actors laugh during filming help the audience break out of the immersion and relieve their tension.

The goal is to prevent viewers from getting too emotionally invested in the on-screen interactions between villains and protagonists who are actually on friendly terms off-screen, and from hating the villains so much that they go online to criticize them.

Another type is dedicated to showcasing thrilling action sequences where the action fails.

For example, if an actor falls to the ground due to a mistake, the crew members will rush to his aid.

A few seconds later.

The actor grimaced as he got up, stretched a bit, and then continued filming.

The behind-the-scenes footage of "Veteran" is a fusion of these two styles.

The first tidbit gets straight to the point—

It was right at the beginning of the movie, in Hwang Jung-min's fight scene where he fought against many opponents!

In the lens.

Huang Zhengmin, who should have smoothly avoided the steel pipes, slipped on the oil stains under his feet.

"Chiliu——!"

He spun around wildly in place like a top that had gone out of control.

Three full laps!

Finally, he landed hard on his bottom in the plastic bucket next to him, which was filled with soapy water.

"Pfft!"

Splashes of water!

The laughter off-camera almost lifted the roof off the theater.

The tense nerves of the audience were instantly broken by this comical scene.

Laugh out loud!

Then came the second tidbit—

A brutal scene where Cho Tae-oh humiliates his female companion with cake and ice.

The director had just finished yelling "Cut!"

Just a second ago, Kang Jae-hoon was smearing cream on someone's face, but now his body is bent at a perfect 90-degree angle.

He launched into a machine-gun-like apology:
"I'm so sorry! Did the cream get in your eyes? Was I too rough?"

Park So-dam chuckled upon seeing this.

She even dipped her finger in cream and quickly smeared a white streak on his cheek.

Kang Jae-hoon was instantly devastated.

at that time.

Viewers who were just immersed in the shadow of Jo Tae-oh's perverted behavior burst into laughter when they saw Kang Jae-hoon in the behind-the-scenes footage looking like a virtuous man being teased.

Kang Jae-hoon was genuinely devastated at that moment.

Because Krystal Jung was watching it live...

The last segment is a behind-the-scenes glimpse.

This was Kang Jae-hoon's last scene before filming wrapped up.

He was taking a photo with someone while holding flowers.

Hwang Jung-min patted his shoulder with his blood-stained hand.

Kang Jae-hoon turned and looked at him.

It lasted a full five or six seconds.

then.

Tears welled up unexpectedly, like a dam bursting.

He immediately buried his head in the arms of Huang Zhengmin, who was standing next to him, looking equally gratified and moved!
The long-suppressed sobs burst forth instantly, heart-wrenching and filled with a complex mix of emotions: release, grievance, exhaustion, and something else entirely.

Hwang Jung-min hugged his trembling apprentice tightly, then pressed his large, blood-stained hand heavily against Kang Jae-hoon's messy back of the head.

Rub vigorously.

"Alright, alright...it's over...you brat..."

The surrounding staff stood silently in tacit agreement.

They silently witnessed the life-and-death enmity between the enemies on screen, and the bond between them that was almost like that of father and son off screen.

That concludes the behind-the-scenes segment.

The melodious ending theme song also brought the film to a close.

The screen went completely black.

As the main cast members, including Ryu Seung-wan, Hwang Jung-min, Kang Jae-hoon, and Yoo Hae-jin, walked together towards the small stage at the urging of host Park Kyung-lim—

Splash splash ...
Under the dome of the cinema.

The applause that had been building up for two hours finally erupted!
All the audience members spontaneously stood up!

applause.

scream.

Whistling!

They converged into a vast, bustling ocean!
Someone in the back row shouted:
"Hwang Jung-min! So handsome!"

Someone shouted:
"Director Liu is awesome!"

A clearer, sharper sound pierced through the noise—

"Kang Jae-hoon!!!"

The audience roared and cheered.

Countless raised arms resembled a swirling, dense forest.

He could barely see the audience seats.

I could only feel a constant buzzing in my ears.

Liu Haizhen seemed taken aback by the enthusiasm, and walked along, smiling as he clasped his hands in greeting to the audience in all directions.

"How do you all feel?"

Park Kyung-lim pointed the microphone towards the audience.

She was met with even louder cheers and applause!
"awesome!"

"Best of the Year!"

Cheers rang out one after another.

"It seems everyone feels the same way I do, 'Veteran'—it's truly a fantastic movie!"

"Director Liu."

Park Kyung-lim smiled and turned to the key figure, getting straight to the point:

"I'll just ask on behalf of the audience—will there be a sequel to 'Veteran'?"

Countless ears perked up instantly in the audience.

Although the main villain in the film, Cho Tae-oh, has been imprisoned, the sequel does not necessarily have to continue the storyline.

Prequel?

A new story?
As long as the original team is there, anything is possible!
Meeting the expectant gazes of the crowd, Liu Chengwan laughed loudly:

"If the box office is good, of course we can't rule out that possibility!"

Say it.

Ryu Seung-wan's gaze fell meaningfully on Kang Jae-hoon beside him:
"And... I can secretly tell you all some news. The character biography that Jae-hoon wrote for Jo Tae-oh is so thick it could be used as a brick! After our writing team read it, we were bursting with inspiration, and a lot of ideas popped into our heads..."

The point was made at just the right moment, yet the speaker seemed hesitant to speak.

Ryu Seung-wan's meaning is self-evident.

The core of the story of "Veteran" is ultimately imbued with idealism.

Police officers like Xu Daozhe are hard to replicate in reality, and there is limited room for further investigation.

in contrast.

As the story of the rise and fall of Cho Tae-oh, the third-generation chaebol heir, and his struggle and descent into the vortex of power, this underlying theme, nourished by Kang Jae-hoon's thick biographical sketches, is filled with a chilling yet captivating creative soil!

"Wow——!"

The audience erupted in cheers instantly.

The audience had just finished watching the movie, their adrenaline was still pumping, and their curiosity and admiration for Kang Jae-hoon had already reached their peak!

Previous promotional statements, no matter how much the media touted it as the "biggest dark horse of the year," were met with skepticism.

Until the screen lights up.

When Zhao Taiwu, with his gold-rimmed glasses, a blend of elegance and ruthlessness, who was both hateful and irresistibly attractive, appeared, all doubts vanished!
What does it mean to "appear out of nowhere"?
What does "gifted" mean?
A talent for performance has nothing to do with how long one has been in the industry; it is something one is born with or doesn't possess.

Kang Jae-hoon is undoubtedly one of those who "have" something, and he's an extremely dazzling one at that!

She debuted only two years ago.

In close-up shots, he can precisely convey the complex villain Zhao Taiwu's inner violence, emptiness, arrogance, madness, and that twisted "elegance" through his eyes, micro-expressions, and body language, with distinct layers and great tension.

This is a level that cannot be achieved through hard work alone; it's a gift from God!

What's even more terrifying is the unparalleled "immersive experience".

If it weren't for the contrast of the "pretty boy" in the end credits.

Many viewers couldn't immediately connect the elegant, tyrannical, morbid, and extremely dangerous third-generation chaebol heir with the gentle and refined young man standing under the spotlight!
What truly alarmed them was—

Zhao Taiwu is clearly a heinous villain who deserves to be executed ten times over!

why?
Why is it that every time he goes into a frenzy, every time he becomes cruel, every time he's driven to the brink of despair and breaks down hysterically...?

They all possess a damn, heart-stopping charm?

The kind of charm that makes the audience almost go against their moral principles, and at some point secretly pray that he can successfully escape from Xu Daozhe's pursuit!
The silver screen blends with reality.

The answer is ready to come out.

—As long as the villain is handsome, one's values ​​will change along with his appearance!
(End of this chapter)