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

Chapter 236 Discusses the Exclusive Benefits of the "Official Wife"
The celebration banquet had barely ended when internet media platforms quietly began to buzz with excitement.

The first batch of feelings and reviews about the premiere of "Himalaya" began to bombard Naver Movies, Daum Movies, personal blogs and major social media platforms.

The participants were mainly senior journalists and authoritative film critics who attended the premiere, as well as a few lucky audience members who were selected.

While strictly adhering to the principle of "not spoiling the core plot," these pioneers poured out their heartfelt feelings and shocking moments on online platforms.

This in itself is a powerful pre-launch publicity campaign—the initial positive word-of-mouth will greatly stimulate the emotions of more potential viewers.

result?

Even more amazing than expected!
If the praise after the media screenings was somewhat cautious (with concerns about the second half falling apart), then after watching the entire film, the praise was absolutely overwhelming!

While not all reviews were overwhelmingly positive (art appreciation is subjective), the overall positive feedback rate was at least "overwhelming."

The entertainment sections and film review columns of major mainstream media platforms were almost entirely filled with reports of the premiere of "Himalaya":

[Hankyoreh]:
"An epic tale of humanity forged in a frozen wasteland! Director Lee Seok-hoon's masterpiece, with textbook-worthy performances from Hwang Jung-min and Kang Jae-hoon! The visual effects are unparalleled, and the emotional impact is powerful and lingering! A shoo-in for the top 3 of the year!"

[Senior Entertainment Reporter - Qingfeng Xiyun Xian]:
"Li Shixun conquered the Himalayas with his camera, and even more so, he conquered the hearts of all the audience with 'Himalayas.' The humor in the first half was precise and natural, while the sacrifice, inheritance, and tragic sense of struggle between heaven and man in the second half were breathtaking."

[Film Critic - Bright Moon Reflecting Ice and Snow]:
"I was completely stunned when I came out of the theater. My heart felt empty yet filled with such a sublime emotion. Kang Jae-hoon's Park Moo-kwan will make you laugh out loud and then cry through a whole pack of tissues. The actors, director, screenwriter, cinematographer, and composer are all MVP-level! I highly recommend IMAX; it's absolutely worth the ticket price! Get ready to be blown away!"

……

Such overwhelming and almost unanimous high praise has raised some doubts among many casual netizens and those who haven't yet seen the film:
"Wow, all praise? This overwhelmingly positive review is incredible. Could it be that Kang Jae-hoon's company or the production team hired online trolls?"

"While I'm really looking forward to this movie, the level of praise it's receiving online... is it a bit too perfect?"

however.

These doubts were quickly dispelled by a larger, more "innocent" force—

The credibility of genuine "internet trolls" may be questionable.

However, after the premiere ended at midnight, the first batch of reviews from real, ordinary viewers flooded the internet. Surely they weren't all bribed?
These comments tend to be more direct, more emotional, more personal, and more persuasive:
[Audience 1]:
"Just came out of the movie theater! I was so shocked I can't even speak properly! I cried like a baby during the last half hour!!! That bastard Park Moo-taek! How could he be so good! Kang Jae-hoon, you owe me for all my tears!!! Five stars!!!"

[Audience 3]:
"Waaaaah, Oppa acted so well! The louder I laughed at the beginning, the more I cried afterwards! That ice axe... that little box... I can't take it anymore, I'm going to cry again [crying][crying][crying]"

[Audience 5]:
"To be honest, I watched it because of the subject matter and Hwang Jung-min's reputation, but I became a complete fan of Kang Jae-hoon! He can make you laugh to death when he's being pathetic, and he can make you cry to death when he's being a hero! During the scene on the mountaintop where he had to make a choice, my friend and I held our breath the whole time, and our palms were sweating! Hwang Jung-min is a god, no doubt about it!"

[Audience 7]:
"As someone who has experience in the outdoors, I can say with certainty: the scene recreation is extremely accurate! The professional details are superb! What's even more commendable is that it captures the real predicament and state of mind of mountaineers facing nature—a feeling of both insignificance and greatness! It's not just a visual masterpiece; it's a work worthy of respect!"

[Audience 9]:
"Lim Yoona!!! My Yoona!!! She didn't have many scenes, but her eyes were so expressive!!! The way she looked at the funeral broke my heart!!!! My wife is so beautiful and so tragic, waaaah! Her acting has really improved so fast!"

[Audience 99]:
"I was worried that a Korean mountaineering film might have a small scope... but I was completely wrong! The themes are very high! It's about brotherhood, about promises, and about the eternal topics of humanity and nature! That tombstone at the end... it had a huge impact... I can still hear the wind in my head! I have to see it in IMAX a second time!"

[999 viewers]

The visuals were fantastic, the special effects were top-notch! But... the story was a bit clichéd, wasn't it? Risking everything for a promise felt too idealistic... and given how dangerous it was, why bring back a corpse? I didn't quite understand. Yoona's beauty saved the day, so I'll give it three and a half stars (the extra half star is for Yoona's looks and Hwang Jung-min's acting).

……

The positive word-of-mouth continued to grow like a snowball, directly reflected in the actual box office revenue.

The first day of the film's official release.

The occupancy rate of screenings of "Himalaya" in major cinemas generally exceeded 90%.

In many places, the figure even reached an astonishing 100%!

Among the audience, besides those who had previously seen the media previews and screenings and had a positive impression of the show, there were also many casual viewers whose interest was completely ignited by the overwhelming and almost unanimous positive reviews online.

Many office workers even left work early or adjusted their overtime plans just to be among the first to experience this movie that has been touted as something extraordinary.

Market-savvy cinema managers reacted swiftly to the news.

Seeing the long queues outside the cinema and the "sold out" notifications flashing wildly on the app.

Many cinemas even eagerly adjusted their screening schedules for the coming week that afternoon.

The screenings of other films, which were already scarce, were drastically reduced, and all the precious screening time was devoted to "Himalaya".

The cinema owners grinned from ear to ear as they watched the monitors show the theaters packed to capacity and the cash registers gurgling with bills.

This phenomenon.

While the film's high quality and successful pre-release marketing certainly played a role, the opportune timing of the event also contributed significantly.

Among the other films released this month.

The only truly competitive title is "Inside Men".

With its sharp social critique and the superb performances of its all-star cast, the film achieved amazing box office results at the beginning of its release.

It even broke the box office record for "19+" movies held by "New World" a few years ago.

however.

Even the most stunning films cannot withstand the passage of time.

"Inside Men" had already been released for a full month before "Himalaya" premiered.

Although its daily box office revenue still ranks high on the list, it has shown obvious signs of market saturation and declining popularity.

Faced with "Himalaya," a "new bombshell" that boasts perfect media praise, nationwide discussion, top-notch production quality, and star power, one is at its peak, while the other is already showing signs of fatigue.

In the end, "Inside Man" had no choice but to relinquish its daily box office champion title to this formidable newcomer.

at last.

Under the attention of countless media outlets, industry insiders, and movie fans.

Box office data compiled by the Korean Film Council has been released:

Himalaya's first day (Wednesday, a weekday)

Attendance mobilized: 400,000+! (Precise figures such as 402,187)

……

"A terrifying start!"

"The speed at which word-of-mouth monetization is astonishing!"

"The chemistry between Hwang Jung-min and Kang Jae-hoon, mentor and student, is igniting the market!"

"The 140 billion won investment is expected to pay off soon!"

"Himalaya FM garnered over 40 views on its first day, taking the top spot right from the start! Insider has taken its place!"

Similar headlines appeared on the front page of major entertainment news websites almost simultaneously, demonstrating the market's extreme attention and shock to this figure.

There is usually an empirical estimation method in the industry:

Multiply the opening day box office data by 2, then by 10, to roughly estimate the total box office potential of a movie.

This result is usually not too far off from the final actual score.

Based on the 40 viewers on the first day of "Himalaya", the estimated number of viewers is: 40 × 2 × 10 = 800 million.

This is a number that would make any production company overjoyed.

It's worth noting that the break-even point for the total production cost of "Himalaya" is approximately 400 million viewers.

this means.

Based solely on domestic box office revenue, this film is conservatively estimated to net over 300 billion Korean won!

This does not include:
The company boasts substantial overseas copyright sales, long-term revenue from IPTV/VOD on-demand services, television broadcasting rights, DVD/Blu-ray sales, and subsequent brand collaborations, merchandise, and other derivative products!

in short--

Himalaya not only had a phenomenal start, but based on its current trajectory, from any perspective, its success is practically guaranteed...

"Make a fortune!"

……

The real-time box office data and overwhelming praise on the computer screen made it impossible for director Lee Seok-hoon to suppress the wide grin on his face.

Finally, she simply gave up struggling, letting a smile spread across her face, and even hummed an unknown song softly.

The chemistry between Hwang Jung-min and Kang Jae-hoon as mentor and student is absolutely amazing!

This was simply the most successful casting of his directing career!

Looking back at his previous work, last year's "Pirates of the Caribbean," which was hailed as the "Korean version of Pirates of the Caribbean."

Although it ultimately garnered an impressive 866 million viewers, becoming the highest-grossing comedy film in South Korea, the film's glory was largely bestowed upon the female lead.

Son Ye-jin won the Grand Bell Award for Best Actress for her role in "The Pirates" and was nominated for Best Actress at the Blue Dragon and Baeksang Arts Awards, enjoying immense popularity.

And what about Lee Seok-hoon?

He only managed to secure a nomination for Best Director at the Blue Dragon Film Awards. While this honor is respectable in the fiercely competitive Chungmuro ​​film industry, it falls short of solidifying his status as a top-tier director.

But now... the situation is completely different!

The explosive word-of-mouth and box office performance of "Himalaya" gave him real hope of joining the ranks of top commercial directors.

The film not only received strong word-of-mouth, but also easily crushed the fantasy anti-Japanese war blockbuster "The Tiger" which was directed by Park Hoon-jung, a talented new director from Chungmuro, and starred Choi Min-sik, a national treasure-level actor, in a head-to-head confrontation.

This victory.

This undoubtedly greatly enhanced his reputation, influence, and commercial value as a director within the industry.

This proves that it has the ability to handle top-notch productions of different types and scales, and to deliver both critical and commercial success.

of course.

The success of this film does not solely benefit the director.

The actors also rose to prominence amidst this storm, with Kang Jae-hoon being the biggest beneficiary.

The character "Cho Tae-oh" in "Veteran" was already amazing enough, but the character "Park Moo-taek" in "Himalaya" is a complete transformation and subversion of himself!
The media praised his "transformative acting skills" and said he "carved up half of the film's dramatic tension and human depth." The dual recognition from film critics and audiences has propelled him to the undisputed pinnacle of the new generation of actors.

The internet is abuzz with praise.

How could people in the industry not react?

For a while.

People started contacting Kang Jae-hoon to invite him to meals, to act in movies, and so on.

Traffic is king, popularity is a resource.

Kang Jae-hoon's current net worth is incomparable to what it was back then.

Unfortunately.

Kang Jae-hoon's private social circle is very clean.

The core members are only a handful:

His "Zhao Line" brotherhood members, who share a revolutionary camaraderie, a few like-minded fellow actors from the same period, and... his "small number" of female confidantes.

Meanwhile, the older brothers like Jo In-sung and Cha Tae-hyun, who are "brother-obsessed," subconsciously guard against their popular younger brothers being lured away by other messy circles.

Are you expecting them to act as intermediaries and matchmakers?

It's like a dream.

As for which directors to hire?
If you can speak directly with a top director and submit a project proposal, why would anyone need to go to Kang Jae-hoon?
This trend even reached Yoona's side.

Her phone notifications were also much more frequent than usual, with many of her female friends in the industry, and even some female celebrities with whom she had only casual acquaintances, sending her messages indirectly.

The implication was simply that she should introduce Kang Jae-hoon to everyone.

hetui!

A bunch of vixens.

How dare you show off your limited skills before an expert!

Do you think my blade, Lin Yoona's blade, isn't sharp?
of course.

When talking about Lim Yoon-a, one has to admit that she unexpectedly became the winner of this movie.

She played Choi Soo-young, the wife of Park Moo-taek, in "Himalaya".

Strictly speaking, this was purely a cameo appearance, with the total screen time not even reaching five minutes.

However, despite his limited playing time, he unexpectedly received a lot of positive reviews.

In particular, the restrained yet highly moving crying scene at the funeral was praised by many film critics for its "expressive eyes," "precise emotional delivery," and "heartbreaking nature."

This surprised many people who had previously doubted her acting skills.

This top idol, who was known as "the one who has difficulty transitioning from idol to actor" and "a notorious black hole in Korean entertainment acting", suddenly had a "complete transformation" in acting skills once he stepped onto the big screen.

actually not.

While Yoona's acting skills have certainly improved, the core reason for this "explosive improvement" in reviews is largely due to the filming method.

in short.

The excellent production process of the film industry (ample time, repeated polishing, top-notch guidance) and the character's own positioning of "few but exquisite, beautiful and tragic" "elevated" the performance of Lim Yoon-a.

therefore.

When her agent presented her with a formal offer letter of intent from JK Film for the lead role in "Confidential Assignment".

Im Yoon-a's first reaction was disbelief.

They even suspected that the agent might have been staying up too late and misread the email.

JK Film enjoys a reputation in the film industry as a "blockbuster production factory"—

Haeundae became the fifth film in South Korean film history to surpass 5 million viewers at the box office.
"Dancing Queen" earned Uhm Jung-hwa the Baeksang Arts Award for Best Actress;
"Ode to My Father" moved the entire Korean nation to tears and swept 11 awards at the Grand Bell Awards.
And the currently showing and incredibly popular film, *The Himalayas*.

These are all commercially and critically acclaimed masterpieces that are worthy of being written into the history of Korean cinema.

Landing the lead role in a new project heavily invested in by JK Film is a golden stepping stone that almost every actress dreams of.

Looking back on when she took on the role of "Choi Soo-young" in "Himalaya," Im Yoon-ah's motivation was so pure it was almost "unprofessional"—

Just to find a chance to get close to Kang Jae-hoon!
At that time, she was still deeply mired in negative comments such as "unfit for the big screen" and "a cancer in idol acting skills," and never seriously considered using this opportunity to transform herself and enter the core field of the big screen.

who knows……

The unexpected outcome was absolutely devastating!
Her cameo role in "Himalaya," which totaled less than five minutes, directly led to JK Film's ambitious project, which had been in development for four years—

The female lead for this big-budget production, which is rumored to combine action, suspense, and North-South themes, and features Hyun Bin and Yoo Hae-jin as the two male leads, was offered to her!

When happiness knocks on the door, even the usually rational Lim Yoon-a is somewhat at a loss.

After repeatedly confirming the authenticity and details of the invitation.

A strange thought began to swirl in her mind:
It all seems to have started with that encounter with Kang Jae-hoon.

Yoona actually has some interest and respect for "metaphysics" such as astrology, fortune telling, and Bazi (although she is not completely superstitious).

But now, faced with this career leap that can be described as a "turnaround," she can't help but think:

"Could it be that Kang Jae-hoon has a 'wife-boosting' constitution?"

"Pfft-"

The instant the thought arises.

Lin Yoona was amused by her own idea, which was heavily influenced by "metaphysical and feudal superstition".

"Aigoo, Yoona, what kind of nonsense are you thinking about all day long!"

She slapped her forehead.

This idea is too outrageous and too "Mary Sue"!

She usually just reads horoscopes occasionally to relax, so why is her mind wandering like this now?

But thinking about it calmly...

If it weren't for the fact that he was one of the lead actors in "The Himalayas," she probably wouldn't have even noticed the film.

She wouldn't actively seek out that cameo role, and might miss out on the lead role in "Confidential Assignment."

This process of deduction continues, step by step, until the next step is completed...

There are indeed quite a few actresses who have worked with Kang Jae-hoon and have close relationships with him.

Krystal Jung:
Their collaboration on "The Heirs" sparked a lot of buzz and generated a lot of discussion, but after the series ended, they didn't seem to experience the expected career leap; instead, they went into a period of silence.

Career success rating: 1. (After all, she later played the lead role in a serious drama, although it flopped.)
Kim Ji-won:
He also gained attention because of "The Heirs", but his subsequent resources were mediocre, and he remained a nobody.
Career success rate: Zero.

Bae Suzy:
Riding on the coattails of being the "Nation's First Love," her pairing with Kang Jae-hoon in "The Producers" sparked much discussion, but the show's critical acclaim and awards seem to have failed to achieve a significant breakthrough...

Career impact index: -5. (Anti-fans emerge, causing a negative impact)
Take a look!

What a stark contrast!
They cooperated, they interacted, and there was even some ambiguous "assistance" that was hard to define, but the effect was not good at all.

What does this mean?
This means that Kang Jae-hoon's "wife-boosting" attribute is only applicable to the Empress herself!
Think of this.

Yoona happily crossed her legs, her toes bobbing up and down with delight.

(End of this chapter)