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

Chapter 235 Director, Send the Money! — A Record of the Premiere Celebration and Empty Promises

Kang Jae-hoon's "surprise attack" was successful, and the "surprise" effect was significant.

Yoona's kiss was soft and sweet, filled with undisguised joy.

Valentine's Day dates are incredibly sweet and romantic, except that you can't stroll hand-in-hand through the streets of Tokyo like ordinary couples, everything is perfect.

Going to Senso-ji Temple to fulfill a vow is of utmost importance.

Like ordinary tourists, the two were wrapped in thick down jackets, fully armed with hats and masks, with only their eyes showing.

Inside the incense-filled temple, Kang Jae-hoon held her hand and silently and devoutly offered her the amulet, fulfilling the promise he made two years ago.

Lin Yoona looked at his solemn and devout profile.

What welled up in my heart was not just the joy of witnessing my wish come true.

There is also a strange sense of destiny entwined within it.

Then, they went to draw lots and petition again to ask for new amulets related to the future.

Delicious food is an essential embellishment.

Avoid peak hours at famous stores.

In a secluded corner private room of a small shop in a deep alley, but with an excellent reputation.

Kang Jae-hoon carefully peeled off the perfectly roasted king crab legs for her, and she playfully licked away the scent that clung to his fingertips with the tip of her tongue.

Delicious food in front of me, with my loved one by my side.

Every moment felt like honey overflowing from stolen time.

of course.

Valentine's Day nights are naturally filled with indescribable passion and tenderness.

In the well-soundproofed hotel suite, without having to worry about any sightlines, the accumulated longing and love found the most direct and unrestrained way to be released.

The person in the entryway is impatient.

The figures overlapped amidst the rising steam on the glass bathroom door.

Each kiss was accompanied by a satisfied sigh, lingering until they exhausted their last bit of strength, then fell into a deep sleep in each other's arms, listening to each other's breath.

Even as sunlight once again pierces through the gaps in the curtains, heralding a new day.

The marks left on each other and the mingled scents silently tell the story of last night's perfectly fulfilling rendezvous.

……

December 16th.

The biting cold of the winter night did not deter the starlight and the heat wave in front of the CGV cinema in Myeongdong.

The official premiere of "Himalaya" took place as scheduled after more than a month of preparation.

Unlike media screenings, which are limited to a select group, premieres have a much wider invitation list.

Veteran film critics, journalists from major mainstream media outlets, and numerous celebrities who came to show their support included many familiar faces who had connections with director Lee Seok-hoon and lead actors Hwang Jung-min and Kang Jae-hoon or were seeking opportunities for collaboration.

Police tape was put up on both sides of the main entrance of the cinema.

A red carpet was laid out.

The massive snow-capped mountain backdrop and movie posters exuded a majestic aura under the spotlights.

The fan zone was already packed with enthusiastic moviegoers.

Support banners and elaborately crafted light boards twinkled with colorful lights.

In addition to the seats reserved for industry professionals, the organizers also generously offered 100 prime seats as a perk for fans, inviting them to watch the midnight premiere for free.

When it came to drawing fans, Kang Jae-hoon didn't forget his own roots and specially asked the organizer for a full twenty spots to give to his fan site admin.

As for the appearances and support from celebrities, Kang Jae-hoon took a more heartfelt approach than a large-scale one, only inviting members of the "Jo Line" men's group.

The reason is self-evident—

For a film like "Himalaya," which boasts solid production, rave reviews from the media, massive marketing hype (record-breaking pre-sales), and ignited audience anticipation, attending the premiere is far more significant than simply being a friendly gesture.

This is more like a golden opportunity for exposure.

A platform for gaining exposure and increased visibility at major industry events.

It's even a symbol of "status"—being personally invited by the film's lead actor, Kang Jae-hoon, is itself a recognition of status and a boost to popularity.

However, due to the fact that all the brothers had a full schedule, only Jo In-sung and Lim Ju-hwan, who were not currently busy with filming, were able to make time to attend.

The red carpet event ended amidst a flurry of flashing lights and screaming fans.

The guests entered the venue one after another and took their seats, waiting for the premiere to officially begin.

This brief gap naturally became the golden time for the media to swarm the creators and obtain first-hand interview materials and press releases.

Not long after.

The lights in the cinema gradually went out, and the noise receded like the tide.

The giant screen lit up.

The movie "Himalaya" has officially begun.

The version shown at the premiere was identical to the previous media screening version and had not been edited or modified.

Therefore, for media outlets and film critics who have already seen the first half, their focus is mainly on the plot development, climax handling, and final ending of the second half.

For the celebrity guests and lucky fans watching for the first time, the magnificent aerial shots of the snow-capped mountains at the beginning instantly captivated them, leaving them firmly seated and uttering soft gasps of amazement.

The plot unfolds methodically, starting with how Park Moo-taek, played by Kang Jae-hoon, shamelessly uses all sorts of bizarre tricks to join the mountaineering team of Eom Hong-gil, played by Hwang Jung-min.

When we move on to that highly comedic tavern scene—

Just a second ago, Park Moo-taek was full of bravado, declaring:

"Women? Ha! Feelings will only slow down my ice axe-pulling speed!"

next second.

The camera cuts to the next scene.

He was clinging tightly to Hwang Jung-min's leg, crying so hard that his face was covered in snot and tears, and he was shouting incoherently with a heavy nasal tone.

His pathetic, wailing appearance, coupled with the rapid backlash against his earlier boastful words, and the close-up of Hwang Jung-min's completely suppressed, immobile, and utterly hopeless expression...

"Pfft..."

"Hahahahaha!"

A series of low chuckles erupted from the audience.

The laughter was kind, empathetic, and a reaction to being struck by the character's genuine imperfections and endearing qualities.

at this time.

Jo In-sung sitting next to Kang Jae-hoon —

Amidst the roaring laughter of the audience, this older brother, known for his long, handsome legs, subtly turned his head in the darkness and nudged Kang Jae-hoon beside him with his elbow.
"Wow, I feel that you have made great achievements in the 'waste fee' track. You are exceptionally talented. I strongly suggest that you continue to cultivate in this direction in the future. Don't waste the talent that God has been feeding you."

Kang Jae-hoon: "...?!"

He wanted to retort, but his mind instantly flashed through the "glorious deeds" that Zhao Yincheng had mentioned:
The early FILA down jacket creative advertisement, featuring a man crying his eyes out on a bus, was jokingly referred to by netizens as "the most crying man in all of South Korea";
In "The Producers," Baek Seung-chan is constantly "bullied" by senior actor Na Joon-mo, played by Cha Tae-hyun, and looks aggrieved.
And then there's Park Moo-jak on the big screen, clinging to his senior's leg and crying like a 300-pound child...

These classic scenes all hit the cute spot of "humiliation fee".

While making the audience laugh out loud, it also subtly evokes a protective instinct to "pat their head".

Sitting on the other side, Lim Ju-hwan obviously heard Jo In-sung's吐槽 (tu cao, meaning to complain or criticize), and couldn't help but burst out laughing. He quickly clenched his fist to cover his mouth, but his shoulders couldn't help but shrug.

Kang Jae-hoon glanced at them resentfully, then looked helplessly at himself on the screen, still delivering a pathetic performance...

have to.

Image is... we can do without it, box office success is what matters most!

After the initial wave of laughter, the film's pace suddenly quickens, the conflict escalates, and the emotional intensity is pushed to its peak.

Yan Hongji, having reached his physical limits, had to bid a tearful farewell to the pinnacle he had pursued throughout his life. That moment of farewell was silent yet heavy, filled with the tragic grandeur of a hero in his twilight years and the meaning of passing on his legacy.

The groundwork has been laid.

The biggest suspense left over from the last media screening—that choice halfway to the edge of the cliff—slammed into the retinas of all the viewers.

The summit of Mount Everest is a wall of death.

From an extreme overhead perspective.

The howling mountain winds sounded like the wailing of ghosts, and the steep cliffs seemed bottomless, like the open gates of hell.

Park Moo-taek's entire body was almost suspended in mid-air.

His left hand gripped the inherited ice axe like an iron clamp, while his right hand held tightly to the safety rope around his waist that connected his life to that of a young teammate below him.

In the strong wind.

Every sway of the rope tugged at everyone's heartstrings.

The camera briefly focuses on the young team member below, who is also hanging on the rock face.

His face was contorted with extreme fear, his lips were purple, and his voice, broken and fragmented by the wind and snow, was filled with a heart-wrenching pain:

"team leader----!"

"Cut...cut the rope! Please! Otherwise, we'll both die!!!"

Your wife... Sister-in-law Xiuying... is still waiting for you to come home!!!

The camera abruptly cuts back to a close-up of Park Moo-taek's face.

A silent flashback suddenly inserts—

The light and shadow flow gently.

It is a heartwarming scene of him and his wife Sooyoung (played by Lim Yoon-a) at home.

She gently wiped away the sweat from his training, her eyes sparkling as she asked him if he was tired.
It was in the hospital. She held his hand and placed it on her slightly protruding belly. They looked at each other and smiled, their eyes filled with anticipation for the future...

committed to.

Family.

An unborn child.

The camera abruptly pulls back to reality.

The camera didn't focus on Park Moo-taek again, but instead on the survival knife in his hand—

The reflection of the gleaming blade showed Park Moo-taek's eyes, strained with extreme pain.

now.

The top-notch visual composition (the stark contrast between vertical and horizontal perspectives, the tiny figures against the massive snow-capped mountains), the intensely suspenseful sound effects (the sounds of wind, ropes groaning, and heartbeats), and the raw, ultimate test of humanity are all presented to every viewer with tremendous impact.

The hearts of ordinary viewers were already in their throats, holding their breath, wondering what he would choose.

Is it the cruel instinct to survive, or to die for one's duty?
Veteran media professionals and industry insiders, based on their understanding of the character's growth arc and the narrative habits of genre films, had already subtly predicted that Park Moo-taek would ultimately choose to save the character!

The character's arc has reached its peak!

Cut the rope to survive?

Not only did it collapse, but it also signifies the collapse of the entire first half of growth!

This is an impossible outcome.

however!
A shocking twist followed!

Once he made up his mind, the struggle in Park Moo-taek's eyes faded, replaced by a ruthless determination.

He immediately began frantically cutting with the knife.

The camera didn't show him cutting the fabric directly, but instead focused on the face of the new team member hanging below.

Every "swoosh" of the blade rubbing against the fibers was amplified infinitely through top-notch audio equipment, as if scraping directly onto the heart of every audience member, making them tingle and restless.

The new recruit's face first showed extreme fear, then transformed into a resigned despair, and finally he closed his eyes tightly, awaiting the final judgment.

only……

The expected feeling of weightlessness did not materialize.

But all I felt was—

A heavy object whizzed past his wide-open, astonished eyes and plunged into the abyss!
"?!!"

The young team member abruptly turned his head to look down into the unfathomable abyss, his gaze following the rapidly shrinking dark figure—

What was seen plunging into the depths of the churning, thick clouds below was none other than Park Moo-taek's mountaineering backpack, filled with essential supplies and equipment!

"Coward!"

Just as the young players' minds went blank.

Park Moo-taek's familiar yet unusually bold roar exploded from above:

"When I was falling off a cliff and almost dying, I wasn't a coward like you, all you did was call for your mother!"

The camera cleverly inserts a very fast flashback here: when Park Moo-taek was a newcomer and encountered a similar danger, he cried so loudly and snot flowed down his face that he was far more pathetic than the "softie" he is now...

The narrative's pacing, with its alternating tension and relaxation, gave many seasoned media professionals and industry insiders a jolt, but Park Moo-taek's ultimate decision to sacrifice his equipment to save his teammates was entirely within their expectations.

The hero's growth arc should be like this.

however.

Just as everyone breathed a sigh of relief at this "expected" choice, another twist occurred! During the thrilling tug-of-war and the impact of the backpack falling off the cliff, Park Moo-taek's goggles were accidentally knocked off.

Having successfully climbed back up the rock face, he quickly developed symptoms of snow blindness because his eyes were exposed to the strong ultraviolet radiation from the snow without the protection of his goggles. His vision began to blur, sting, and his eyes watered uncontrollably.

Snow blindness is not a terminal illness and usually heals itself after a few days of rest in normal conditions.

But at this moment, in the "death zone" at an altitude of over 8,000 meters, losing clear vision is tantamount to being sentenced to death.

Fate has once again presented a cruel test of humanity:

The newly rescued and still shaken team members were unsure whether they could safely descend the mountain, but there was still a glimmer of hope.

If we were to bring Park Moo-taek, who was already suffering from snow blindness and had lost almost all of his essential supplies and equipment, down the mountain...

Both of them are doomed.

At the critical moment of life and death, Park Moo-taek showed unusual calmness.

Relying on the remaining blurry light and shadows and his memory of the terrain, he groped his way to a relatively sheltered recess in the ice wall and gave the order in as calm a tone as possible:
“Listen, I’m temporarily blind. You still have the strength. Follow the marks we made on the way here and go down the mountain to call the rescue team. I’ll wait for you here.”

"Captain—! I can't!"

The young team member's voice was choked with sobs and filled with immense panic.

Park Moo-taek's tone suddenly turned stern:

"That's an order! Go now!"

After a painful struggle and near collapse, the young team members, under Park Moo-taek's stern rebuke and their survival instincts, finally made their way down the mountain, looking back every few steps and with tears streaming down their faces.

The wind and snow quickly swallowed his tiny figure.

On the desolate snow-covered slope.

Park Moo-taek slowly sat down, leaning against the cold rock wall.

He still gripped the ice axe, a symbol of heritage and spirit, tightly in one hand, while his other hand trembled as he pulled a small, openable, round metal photo box from his inner pocket.

Pry open the latch.

Inside the photo box, two tiny photos are embedded—

On the left is his youthful appearance when he first joined Yan Hongji's mountaineering team;

On the right is a photo of him and his wife, Sooyoung, at their wedding.

Despite his blurred vision, Park Moo-taek still tried his best to "look" in the direction of the photo, a gentle and affectionate smile appearing on his lips.

The smile carried the warmth of memories, the regret for unfinished business, the endless longing for loved ones, and also... a sense of calm that everything had settled down.

The wind and snow intensified, swirling up countless piles of snowflakes that gradually covered and blurred the figure frozen into a sculpture...

The scene suddenly switched.

A warm, bright, and bustling scene at a large indoor bookstore book signing event.

At this time, Yan Hongji, who had already retired, was dressed in elegant and comfortable casual clothes, exuding the scholarly air and composure unique to successful people.

His first professional mountaineering guide and personal memoir, "The Mountain Is There," immediately topped various bestseller lists upon publication.

At this moment, Yan Hongji was sitting behind the autograph table, beaming with joy and in high spirits.

"Your writing is excellent!"

"Thank you!"

"I especially loved your account of the thrilling experience of climbing K2!"

"Sign here?"

He skillfully signed the book's title page, and occasionally wrote a few short words of encouragement for excited fans, or granted requests for photos.

however.

In the brief moment, he inadvertently caught a glimpse of an emergency news broadcast on the bookstore's wall-mounted television—

The anchor's somber expression, the satellite cloud image of the Mount Everest region, and the striking subtitles displayed on the screen...

Everything was announcing a devastating piece of news that he could not accept: his disciple, whom he regarded as his own son, and his best brother, Park Moo-taek, had perished on Mount Everest.

Yan Hongji attended Park Moo-jae's funeral, which was held without a body, with immense grief and self-blame.

Facing the tearful and nearly broken widow, Xiuying, this once tough and resolute man, with red eyes, made a heavy promise with all his might:

“I will definitely…bring him back. I promise you, I will never leave him there alone.”

A vow, once made, carries the weight of a mountain.

Yan Hongji resolutely took action, making phone calls one by one to reunite his old teammates who had long since gone their separate ways, whose edges had been worn down by life, or who were tied down by family ties.

The words spoken on the phone were simple yet struck a chord:

"Wu Zhai hasn't returned."

"I have to go up and take him home."

"I need you."

This is the end.

A group of elderly, weak, sick, and disabled people, who had long since passed their peak and were marked by the years, resolutely gave up their livelihoods, put aside the warmth of their families, and even risked their potentially incomplete bodies and their remaining careers for a promise and a brotherhood.

Their goal was pure and tragic:
To fulfill the promise to his deceased brother, he brought him home so that he could rest in peace.

The process was far more difficult than imagined.

Age, physical fitness, injuries, extremely harsh weather, and the unforgiving rules of the "death zone" on Mount Everest all became huge obstacles in their path.

Every step of the climb felt like wrestling with death, and every breath was accompanied by the burning pain in the lungs and the warning of physical limits.

The result... was not satisfactory, but it made the reality and cruelty all the more apparent.

When they finally found Park Moo-jak's body, partially buried by snow, under an ice wall after overcoming countless hardships, before they could even grieve, an even colder and more ruthless reality was laid bare before them:

Park Moo-taek's body was located in the "death zone" at an altitude of 8700 meters.

At this altitude, the oxygen content is only 30% of that at sea level. Human functions will rapidly decline, judgment will decrease, and every movement will consume enormous amounts of life energy.

Even Sherpa guides, who are naturally adapted to high altitudes and are known as the "Tigers of the Snow Mountains," can usually only carry equipment weighing less than 25 kilograms at such altitudes.

To carry down a frozen adult male body, which may weigh up to 100 kilograms and is covered in ice and snow, requires at least 12 climbers working together, and the process will be so slow that they can only move a few dozen meters per hour.

This extremely high-intensity work will completely drag the entire team into a high-risk situation of hypoxia, extreme fatigue, and frostbite, and may even directly lead to more people slipping, suffering from severe altitude sickness, or even death.

As captain.

Yan Hongji had to make the most painful choice.

On one hand, there's the promise to his brother's widow;
On the other hand, there is the responsibility to the lives of his old brothers who trust him and follow him on his adventures again.

If you insist on moving the body.

It is very likely that we will fall into the cruel moral dilemma of "sacrificing multiple lives to save one deceased person".

In a suffocating silence.

Yan Hongji stared at Park Moo-jae's body for a long time.

The wind and snow swept across his weathered face, and his eyes churned with endless pain, struggle, and the helplessness of ultimately having to bow to reality.

In the end, he made a decision that went against his vow but was incredibly difficult—to give up the move.

They chose to find a relatively stable ice crevasse nearby, carefully placed Park Moo-jae's body inside, held a simple yet extremely solemn snow mountain funeral, and built a small tombstone with stones, so that he could rest forever on the snow mountain peak that he loved most and which ultimately accepted him.

This is the end.

The film concludes in a vast, tragic, yet somewhat relieved silence.

The last frame of the film—

The image is frozen on an ice cliff at an altitude of 8700 meters.

The ice tomb at Park Moo-kwan's house appeared so small yet so eternal amidst the howling winds and boundless white snow.

The subtitles slowly appeared:

"Dedicated to all climbers."

—The film ends.

The lights in the screening room came on.

Snap snap... Snap snap snap...

Like a spark.

The applause started from a few scattered corners.

Then it spread like wildfire.

Whoosh—!!!

The thunderous applause lasted for more than a minute!

Whether a film is excellent often depends not only on the story itself, but also on the director's storytelling skills and vision.

The core idea of ​​"Himalaya".

It undoubtedly praises humanity's spirit of challenging the impossible when facing the mysterious and unpredictable natural world, its courage to explore beyond its own limits, and the brilliance of humanity and brotherhood that emerge in extreme environments.

Although the overall narrative cannot be described as a masterpiece-level script.

However, it excels in its novel subject matter, unique perspective, steady and suspenseful narrative pace, top-notch production quality, and strong visual impact.

Although the emotional scenes in the latter half of the film felt a bit forced, overall it remains an excellent work with genuine emotions, high production quality, strong intellectual depth, and visual impact.

Judging from the spontaneous and sustained applause that the audience gave at the end of the film, which lasted for a full minute—

The emotions and values ​​conveyed in this film have successfully resonated with audiences and won their approval.

It was undoubtedly a successful attempt that was quite accomplished in both commercial and artistic aspects.

……

The Q&A session with reporters after the movie ended was a pleasant one for both the guests and the hosts.

Faced with a barrage of praise and professional questions from the media, Kang Jae-hoon displayed the humility and poise expected of a popular actor, delivering answers that were both sharp and insightful, while also emphasizing teamwork and the director's contributions.

The flashbulbs focused on him for longer than on his teacher, Huang Zhengmin.

The process was finally completed.

The premiere finally came to a close, followed immediately by a celebration banquet.

That's right!

The premiere had just ended, and even the initial word-of-mouth from the first midnight screenings hadn't yet spread—

The production and distribution companies, with their deep pockets, booked the entire area of ​​a high-end Korean restaurant near the CGV cinema.

This feeling...

It's like having a "985/211 Celebration Banquet" already set up at home right after the college entrance exam, even before the scores are released, brimming with confidence to be the first to succeed.

Kang Jae-hoon naturally went.

One of his important (and unspoken) purposes for this trip was to find a way to subtly suggest that director Lee Seok-hoon give him a "red envelope" (a monetary gift).

It's heartbreaking to think about it.

When he took on this role, he was still a relatively unknown actor, and his salary was only 50 million won, which was practically a steal!

But now?

How popular is Kang Jae-hoon?
What level of popularity?
What is its commercial value?
The high level of attention and discussion surrounding Himalaya in its early stages was largely due to his good looks and the large following he naturally attracted.
In any case, it can be said that it "benefited" the movie.

Logically and emotionally, the director should at least offer some compensation, such as a "heartfelt red envelope" of one or two hundred million.
Jiang Zai Xun had even secretly planned in his mind where the money would go—to give those few desperately needy… uh, businesses… a timely help?

however--

Director Lee Seok-hoon is now like a clay Buddha crossing a river!

Despite the glamorous premiere, booming pre-sales, and amazing word-of-mouth, the film is a success.

But the movie has only just been released; the real box office surge is yet to come.

The high costs of initial publicity, the additional CG effects in post-production, and the exorbitant expenses of filming the avalanche scenes have likely squeezed the production budget to its limit.

Lee Seok-hoon's meager "surplus money" (if he had any) must be used entirely for an even more aggressive publicity campaign.

Online promotion, offline advertising, reputation management, and even potential roadshows... there are money to be spent everywhere!
The box office performance of a film depends heavily on the word-of-mouth buzz and ongoing marketing efforts in the first week or two.

Only after the film has actually finished its theatrical run and the lengthy settlement period is over, and the box office revenue (after deducting the major shares from theaters, distributors, etc.) finally ends up in the hands of the production company (usually a company in which the director or producer holds shares), and only then can they actually receive real money...

Only then might director Lee Seok-hoon be able to take a small portion of the net profit to give him a "big gift".

But that's at least six months from now!
The day lilies are cold!

Kang Jae-hoon couldn't make his hints any more obvious.

He couldn't exactly rush up to the director, grab him by the collar, and yell, "I'm desperate for money! Director Li! Can you give me some advance payment to save my life?!"

That’s too cheap!

Besides, Li Shixun did promise to give a big bonus when the profits were split, although the word "future" sounded very vague... but since he had already said that, continuing to pester him would make him seem ignorant, or even a bit like taking advantage of the situation to "blackmail" him.

therefore.

The celebration banquet was a feast...

The meat was fragrant, the wine was smooth, the atmosphere was lively, and the director's promises were grand and promising...

(End of this chapter)