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

Chapter 220 The Dead End of the Yanbian Assassin's "Money" Path

After completing his rather absurd "Yanbian" makeup, Kang Jae-hoon quietly waited on the sidelines.

soon.

He learned from the assistant director that his so-called cameo appearance was more like a darkly humorous Easter egg that appeared after the climax of the movie's ending.

The final chapter of the story.

Mayor Park Sung-bae, played by Hwang Jung-min, ultimately couldn't escape the classic fate of "villains dying from talking too much."

"Oh!"

A deafening gunshot ripped through the air.

Mayor Park's spittle-splattered speech came to an abrupt halt.

The bullet pierced precisely between his eyebrows.

His expression froze in utter astonishment and resentment.

His body swayed, and he fell heavily backward.

Those once ambitious and calculating eyes, in the end, remained wide open, their empty reflection illuminating the ceiling.

died.

Mayor Park, who stirred up storms and made countless people willing to serve him or go to hell.

He ultimately ended his life in the most violent and sudden way—by being shot in the head by detective Han Do-kyung, played by the protagonist Jung Woo-sung, in a near-death counterattack.

A dead silence.

Only the smell of blood filled the air.

The blood on Han Do-kyung, played by Jung Woo-sung, had already soaked through large sections of his clothes.

His face contorted in pain as he mustered his last strength, leaning against the wall behind him, riddled with bullet holes and bloodstains, struggling to stand up.

Successful.

Han Do-kyung stared at Mayor Park's corpse, his eyes filled with an extremely complex mix of emotions:

There was the exhilaration of successful revenge, the bewilderment of relief, the weariness of this endless struggle, and even a trace of sorrow for Park Sung-bae's distorted life.

He felt he had finally escaped from this endless hell.

They even saw a glimmer of hope—

Having survived and eliminated the biggest threat, he seems to have a chance... to climb the social ladder?

at this time!

Something unexpected happened!

A figure wearing an ill-fitting floral shirt pounced from the shadows behind with lightning speed!
“Puff! Puff puff puff puff—!”

Jung Woo-sung delivered an incredibly stunning reaction at that moment:

His eyes widened suddenly, and his pupils contracted sharply amidst the excruciating pain and disbelief!

There was a sudden shock; a furious rage at this despicable sneak attack; and a strong sense of injustice, as if questioning the heavens, "Why?!"

Structured.

The emotional transitions were extremely smooth and natural.

At last.

All emotions converged into despair.

He opened his mouth, but because his lungs had been punctured, he couldn't make a complete sound; he could only let out a series of gasping sounds.

Han Do-kyung tried to turn her head to look at the attacker.

But the body's strength and vitality are being rapidly drained away along with the gushing blood.

Finally, unable to hold on any longer, it slowly slid down the cold wall, eventually collapsing to the ground, its eyes losing their last sparkle.

died.

This is the "protagonist" who struggles to survive, navigates the complex relationships between various factions, and even manages a comeback at the last moment.

In the end, he did not die from conspiracy or trickery, nor was he brought to justice. Instead, he died a humiliating death at the hands of an unknown nobody.

absurd!

Dark humor!

A strong sense of destiny!
have to say.

Jung Woo-sung delivered a performance that can be considered the pinnacle of his career in "Asura".

Some of the acting flaws that might have been criticized in the past, such as formulaic acting, have been almost completely smoothed out in this film.

Especially under the oppressive and suffocating aura of Hwang Jung-min, and the extreme pursuit of dark and violent aesthetics by director Kim Sung-soo, Jung Woo-sung was inspired to unleash unprecedented acting potential.

After the male protagonist dies.

The camera work begins.

A wide panorama slowly unfolds—corpses lie strewn everywhere, blood splattered on the walls and ground in various patterns, like a bloody slaughterhouse, rendering extreme cruelty and desolation.

then.

The camera zooms in.

Give Kang Jae-hoon an over-the-shoulder perspective.

His character, a killer from Yanbian, walked expressionlessly across the pool of blood to the unseeing eyes of Mayor Park.

Squat down.

Looking at the employer who had been so arrogant just moments before, a complex and sorrowful expression appeared on his face.

He reached out and brushed Hwang Jung-min's eyelids closed, then muttered to himself in a Yanbian accent:
"...The employer is dead, so...where do we get the remaining payment?"

This line was added impromptu by Kang Jae-hoon.

He was completely immersed in the character's real anxieties about being a lowly person who had "worked for nothing," and blurted it out.

did not expect.

Director Kim Sung-soo's eyes suddenly lit up behind the monitor!
This seemingly nonsensical mutter unexpectedly and perfectly captures the sense of absurdity, irony, and nihilism that director Kim Sung-soo wanted to inject into the ending of this utterly dark film.

It instantly deconstructed the meaning of all the previous fierce battles—

No matter how fiercely you fight each other, power, justice, hatred... all may become meaningless and laughable in the face of the more basic issues of survival and money.

This is more powerful and meaningful than any deliberately elevated topic.

Director Kim Sung-soo stared at the playback on the monitor, watching Kang Jae-hoon's impromptu performance and lines twice before finally picking up the walkie-talkie:

"Pass!"

"As expected of a great teacher producing outstanding students!"

Kang Jae-hoon was bending down and reaching out to help Hwang Jung-min, who was still lying on the ground pretending to be dead, up.

Hearing the director's praise.

As he forcefully pulled the teacher up, his words were perfectly fluent and precise:

"Director, you flatter me. It's mainly because the teacher's 'death' was so moving. Plus, Jung Woo-sung's performance in the previous scene was so explosive, with emotions building up like a rollercoaster, which also stirred up my acting passion as a junior, so... I couldn't help but think about it a bit."

really.

Both Hwang Jung-min, who was standing nearby, and Jung Woo-sung, who had just walked over, smiled with satisfaction upon hearing these words.

The main plot of the movie has been filmed.

However, a few more shots for flashbacks still need to be filmed, so Hwang Jung-min's filming cannot be considered completely finished yet.

As the makeup artist carefully wiped away the realistic "bullet hole" and "bloodstains" on his forehead, he comfortably squinted his eyes, enjoying his apprentice's perfectly timed shoulder massage.

"You little rascal, your skills are getting better and better. You must have been trying to curry favor with quite a few people on the Greek film set, right?"

"How could that be?"

Jiang Zaixun continued working, grinning as he replied, "This technique of mine is a secret recipe, exclusively for you. Anyone else who wants to try it? They'll have to pay extra!"

The two exchanged a few jokes.

Kang Jae-hoon seized the opportunity and casually steered the conversation to a deeper level:

"Teacher, speaking of which... when you and your wife decided to start your own business, SEM... it must have been quite difficult, right?"

"Difficult? It's more than just difficult."

Hwang Jung-min gave a soft hum, as if mocking himself, or perhaps reminiscing about those arduous years:

"You only see the glamour now, but you haven't seen the embarrassing situation your teacher was in back then, when he couldn't even get into the film crew."

"..."

Hwang Jung-min's road to fame was certainly not smooth.

When I first graduated in my early years.

With dreams and acting skills in his heart, he auditioned for countless film crews, but was repeatedly rejected for blunt and hurtful reasons such as "not good-looking enough" or "not mainstream enough".

Young Hwang Jung-min did not succumb to despair.

Instead, he made a decision that seemed rather "circuitous" at the time, but which later proved to be extremely wise: to join the drama club.

Although the stage there is small, it is a pure land for honing acting skills and escaping the hustle and bustle.

While honing his skills on stage, he also kept a low profile, patiently waiting for his opportunity.

It was during those simple yet fulfilling days in the drama club.

Hwang Jung-min met his future wife, Kim Mi-hye, who was also his most important business partner.

Their love story lacked the heart-stirring encounters often seen in idol dramas.

There were no earth-shattering vows of eternal love.

All that remains is the quiet, everyday life unique to that era, flowing gently like a stream.

Two young people, both passionate about the stage, naturally came together amidst the sweat and laughter of rehearsals, the sharing of boxed lunches in the cramped backstage space, and the tacit understanding that developed through simple conversations. Kim Mi-hye leans more towards the traditional view of women.

After recognizing Hwang Jung-min, she gradually withdrew from the stage, where she also had talent.

They believe that since men should focus on their careers, someone at home has to sacrifice and take care of things at home.

Kim Mi-hye's "stepping back" is not an abandonment, but another form of support and encouragement.

that's it.

With his persistent efforts and his wife's silent support, a turning point quietly arrived in 2001.

After Kim Mi-hye repeatedly encouraged and even "begged" him to try again, Hwang Jung-min accepted the film that would later become a turning point in his life—"Road Movie".

He delivered a groundbreaking performance in this film.

To get closer to the character.

Hwang Jung-min lived and ate with real homeless people, observing, imitating, and immersing himself in their lives, completely breaking himself down and merging into the soul of those marginalized individuals.

The complex emotions he portrayed with another male lead in the film—emotions that transcended worldly norms and ethics, yet were filled with desperate struggles—shocked the film industry at the time.

Thanks to this movie.

Hwang Jung-min won the Best New Actor awards at the Blue Dragon Film Awards, Grand Bell Awards, and Busan International Film Festival the following year.

Since then.

He then truly began to distinguish himself in Chungmuro, ushering in his own era.

Looking back on the past.

A complex mix of emotions appeared on Huang Zhengmin's face:
"Actually, your teacher's wife was forced to decide to set up my personal studio and learn those boring things like artist management, finance, taxation and law."

At the time, Hwang Jung-min's management team lacked a systematic approach to resource promotion and had low communication efficiency.

After winning the Blue Dragon Film Award for Best Actor for "You Are My Destiny," he did not immediately receive a steady stream of good scripts and top-tier resources.

in contrast.

With the arrival of the growth phase, issues such as how to accurately position oneself in the market, how to efficiently connect with complex projects, and how to handle public opinion and business cooperation have become more important than ever.

crucial moment.

Kim Mi-hye stepped forward.

"It is because of your wife that I was able to take care of all these messy worries, help me select scripts, negotiate contracts, manage finances, and maintain connections... that I was able to immerse myself in each role without distraction, filming one movie after another, and finally... that I have achieved what I have today."

"so……"

Kang Jae-hoon carefully pondered the bitterness and wisdom revealed in his teacher's words:

"Only when actors truly begin to manage their own destiny can they fundamentally avoid being swept along by external forces and truly have the confidence and space to become the masters of their roles?"

This sentence is like the finishing touch, revealing the core of Hwang Jung-min's tumultuous life.

"That's right!"

Huang Zhengmin nodded heavily.

He was genuinely pleased that his apprentice was able to grasp the key points so accurately.

This goes beyond the realm of mere acting skills.

It is about thinking about an actor's "survival rules" and "autonomy".

however.

This sense of relief lasted for less than two seconds.

Even the smile on his face froze before it could fully open.

Take control of your own destiny?
This kid... his words have a hidden meaning!

Hwang Jung-min quickly calculated in his mind:
His brokerage contract with his own company, SEM, has four months left until it expires.

Given the bond between master and apprentice, such contract renewal issues are usually discussed in more private and casual settings—for example, during the Spring Festival, when Kang Jae-hoon visits with gifts to offer New Year's greetings, after everyone has eaten and drunk their fill, they naturally start chatting about everyday topics.

But now he...

In this makeup room on set, do you discuss with yourself the idea that "actors control their own destiny"?
This is indicative...

So it seems this kid wants to go solo?
Thoughts raced through my mind.

Hwang Jung-min's face regained its gentle smile, and he politely nodded to the makeup artist who was still carefully adjusting the bloodstains on his face:
"Excuse me, teacher, could you please take a short break and have some water?"

The makeup artist, being an industry insider, was very perceptive and immediately put down her brushes and sponges.
"Nei Nei, you two can continue your conversation. I'm going out for some fresh air."

After saying that, she quietly got up and left, considerately closing the dressing room door behind her.

"There are no outsiders here. Just say what you're thinking."

Their relationship has long transcended that of a typical mentor-student and boss-artist relationship; it's more like family. They don't need to hold back their words or test each other like they do in the world of fame and fortune.

Kang Jae-hoon was aware of the sensitivity of this topic.

But that's it.

They must fully disclose their predicament and choices.

He believed that with Hwang Jung-min's experience and connections, he was at least aware of his apprentice's chaotic private life, even if he didn't encourage it.

Huang Zhengmin was naturally aware, to some extent, of the romantic entanglements surrounding him.

Just didn't expect it.

These seemingly troublesome emotional entanglements unexpectedly became a "catalyst" that prompted Kang Jae-hoon to think about the future and want to become more responsible.

"so……"

Hwang Jung-min raised an eyebrow slightly, his tone revealing neither joy nor anger:
"One of the reasons you want to start your own business is to better... protect your woman?"

"Yes, teacher."

Kang Jae-hoon answered without the slightest hesitation.

Since he has chosen the seemingly irreversible path of "wanting everything," it is his responsibility to do his best to protect them and shield them from the storms of life.

Kang Jae-hoon continued to explain his concept in detail:

He doesn't want to completely break away from SEM, but rather hopes to establish an independent personal studio under SEM, with greater autonomy and flexible operating space.

Simultaneously.

He is willing to give up 30% of the shares of the new studio to his master and mistress to express his gratitude for their years of cultivation and guidance, and regards this as a long-term form of "filial piety".

Huang Zhengmin listened and pondered for a moment.

This is a major issue, involving the company's structure, profit distribution, and future development direction, and it's not something he can decide on his own immediately.

"This matter... wait a couple of days, come to my house, sit down with your teacher's wife, and we can talk about it over a meal."

When it comes to specific economic issues and contract details, Hwang Jung-min always leaves them to his shrewd wife, Kim Mi-hye.

After all, Jin Meihui managed the household and even the SEM company perfectly, handling both internal and external affairs, while he was used to being a hands-off manager.

"Okay, teacher."

Kang Jae-hoon responded respectfully.

He understood it in his heart.

The teacher did not object or deny it on the spot, nor did he ask too many questions. Instead, he instructed him to consult with his wife, who held the reins of the finances—this in itself represented a certain degree of understanding and even agreement in principle!
leftover.

The question is how to persuade that shrewd, capable, and business-savvy teacher's wife.

As for how to effectively increase the approval rate of the teacher's wife, Kim Mi-hye, and turn this initial intention into a written contract...

Almost instantly, a perfect "secret weapon" popped into Kang Jae-hoon's mind—Lee Sung-kyung.

In Kim Mi-hye's eyes.

Lee Sung-kyung is not only good-looking and considerate, but more importantly—

Down-to-earth, not impetuous, with a down-to-earth attitude towards daily life.

This quality won the favor of traditional women like the teacher's wife.

In contrast.

Kim Mi-hye probably ranked her disciple Kang Jae-hoon, who was embroiled in numerous romantic entanglements, second only to Lee Sung-kyung in terms of reliability.

The fact that the teacher's wife finds Lee Sung-kyung pleasing to the eye might increase her tolerance for Kang Jae-hoon's antics and her trust in his lies about "wanting to settle down and take responsibility" by a few percentage points.

At this time.

The assistant director announced over the walkie-talkie that they were ready to shoot the next flashback scene.

Hwang Jung-min casually picked up the script next to him, rolled it up, and tapped it lightly on Kang Jae-hoon's forehead with a "thud."

"Get out of here and stop interfering with my filming."

"Teacher, please take your time!"

As he rubbed his forehead, which didn't hurt at all, Kang Jae-hoon chuckled and bowed as he left the dressing room.

Before leaving, he waved to the makeup artist who was waiting outside the door:
"Thank you for your hard work, teacher!"

The door closes again.

Hwang Jung-min suppressed his smile, looking at the imposing image of Mayor Park in the mirror with deep eyes.

Regarding the apprentice's future.

He was actually full of expectations.

Perhaps, this kid really can carve out a world different from his own?
As for that tangled mess of emotional debts...

Ugh.

Children and grandchildren have their own blessings to enjoy.

[PS: I'm a bit tired today, so this post will be shorter. I'll make up for it tomorrow.]

(End of this chapter)