小火星

The question was if Kang Woojin speaks English. PD Yoon Byung-seon had asked it quite casually, thinking that these days, actors start learning English since they’re trainees.

However,

“It’s not just a bit, it’s at a native level. Same with Japanese.”

The response from Choi Sung-gun came as a surprise. Speaking at native level? PD Yoon Byung-seon focused on the words ‘native level.’

‘Native level? I mean, Woojin’s pronunciation was good earlier… is CEO Choi exaggerating a bit?’

PD Yoon Byung-seon was currently planning a new variety show at HTBS, a leading network. While they had mostly decided on the cast for the three-part series, it wasn’t confirmed, especially since the show would be filmed in multiple foreign locations.

Above all, they needed someone fluent in foreign languages.

Ideally, someone proficient in both English and Japanese would be great. But Yoon Byung-seon knew such talents were rare. Yet here was Kang Woojin, who could allegedly speak both languages at a native level.

‘Let’s test the waters a bit.’

PD Yoon Byung-seon discreetly pulled Choi Sung-gun to a quiet corner of the studio.

“CEO Choi. When you say Woojin’s English and Japanese are at a native level, how proficient are we talking about? Truly at the level of a local?”

“Hmm? Well, about that…”

Something was off. Choi Sung-gun sensed some urgency in the PD’s eyes.

‘At first, it seemed like he was just casually asking. But his demeanor changed when I mentioned Woojin’s language skills. Could there be a specific reason he’s inquiring?’

He quickly connected the dots. Having sensed the situation, he recalled the PD mentioning his new project.

‘PD Yoon mentioned planning a new show recently, right? And he’s interested in foreign languages? Even asking about it during shooting. Could it be… the show is planned abroad?’

There was no concrete evidence, but it was a strong possibility.

‘It might not just be one foreign country. Maybe they’ll tour multiple countries? Or produce a series in the same format.’

This was all speculation by Choi Sung-gun. However, it was worth probing. With a slight smile, he whispered to Yoon Byung-seon.

“He’s even better than a local. Woojin is not only an incredible actor, but he’s also insanely good with languages. Not just Korean, but English, Japanese, and even sign language.”

“…Sign language? He knows sign language too?”

“Yes, yes. I only found out about the sign language recently, but in any case, his English and Japanese are both at a local’s level. He has to be. After all, Woojin has lived abroad.”

Choi Sung-gun wanted to promote Kang Woojin as much as possible, even if it meant slightly exaggerating, which seemed to be working on the PD.

“He has a lot of international experience.”

“Really? Woojin lived abroad? For how long?”

“For quite some time. If you hear Woojin’s English or Japanese, you’ll be amazed. Anyway, he’s very familiar with overseas environments, the vibe, the culture.”

After hearing this, PD Yoon Byung-seon was momentarily stunned. He wanted more details, but couldn’t pry further. Not only could he not discuss the new show openly, but they were also still filming the ‘Sports Day’ segment.

At that moment,

“But PD, why did you ask about Woojin’s foreign language skills?”

Faced with Choi Sung-gun’s question, the once serious PD Yoon Byung-seon broke into a smile.

“Huh? Oh, haha. No reason, I just thought his English pronunciation was good, so I was curious.”

“I see. If you have time after the shoot, maybe you can hear Woojin speak in English and Japanese.”

“If I have time, I will. Haha.”

As Yoon Byung-seon returned to the crew, Choi Sung-gun quietly watched his retreating figure. Then his gaze landed on Kang Woojin, who was being sternly lectured by Hong Hye-yeon.

‘If you can impress PD Yoon, you’re truly a big catch. How many big shots have you connected with since your debut?’

From dramas, movies, variety shows, and even in Japan. Kang Woojin seemed to be mingling with top names everywhere since his debut. Although timing and luck played their part, Woojin’s talent and charm were undeniable.

About an hour later,

“Let’s take a 10-minute break! Then we’ll wrap up with a closing talk!”

The writer’s shout signaled a break. Soon, the actors started moving. But Kang Woojin remained seated, his expression impassive.

Why?

Because Hong Hye-yeon kept throwing him icy glares.

“······”

Well, she had a reason to be upset. Because Kang Woojin didn’t recognize Hong Hye-yeon, who was sitting right next to him, and they even worked together on two projects under the same agency.

Woojin was berating himself internally.

‘Idiot. No matter what, not being able to recognize Hong Hye-yeon is a bit… Sigh, but the photo shoot image was really different.’

Fortunately, around this time,

“Woojin.”

PD Yoon Byung-seon, wearing glasses, saved Kang Woojin from the icy stares.

“Can I talk to you for a moment?”

Instead of answering, Woojin immediately stood up.

“Sure.”

As he passed by Hong Hye-yeon, she said something to him.

“Hmph, just you wait.”

Woojin hesitated for a moment and then replied softly.

“You look much better in person than in the photos.”

“What did you say?”

“Really. That’s why I didn’t recognize you.”

“Liar.”

“You look better now.”

He felt like he was walking on thin ice. Hoping that Hong Hye-yeon had cooled down a bit. Regardless, Kang Woojin followed PD Yoon Byung-seon, and Hong Hye-yeon, watching Woojin’s retreating back, whispered to herself as she brushed her long hair.

“That tsundere.”

Around 10 PM.

Finally, the much-anticipated episode 3 of ‘Profiler Hanryang’ aired, creating a nationwide buzz. The impressive 23% viewership rating spoke for itself. TVs in countless homes, bars, and restaurants were tuned in to SBC.

Therefore, the official chat board and communities for ‘Profiler Hanryang’ were buzzing.

-“Kyahh!! Finally episode 3!!!”

– I never thought I’d be this excited for a live broadcast

– Haven’t watched it yet, but I’m already excited lol.

– Why is everyone overhyping this? It’s boring.

– I bet Ryu Jung-min will be super cute today too!

– Came here because everyone said Park Dae-ri’s acting is amazing (but I’m only watching for Hong Hye-yeon).

– Kang Woojin! Kang Woojin! Kang Woojin!

– Who is Kang Woojin?

– He’s the actor who played Park Dae-ri. He’s the hottest rising star right now. His acting is insane.

Episode 3 of ‘Profiler Hanryang’ began with Park Dae-ri’s confession and the revelation of another culprit.

There’s another culprit?

[“Phew, this is getting big. Why did I take this case?”]

Despite his grumbling, Detective Yu Ji-hyeong reviews everything about Park Dae-ri’s life, from birth to the present.

The third episode flowed with intense suspense.

Each character quickly moved in and out of scenes, not giving viewers a moment to breathe. By the middle part, Yu Ji-hyeong and Park Dae-ri face each other in the interrogation room once again.

This scene was intense.

The psychological battle between Park Dae-ri and Yu Ji-hyeong was palpable. But their expressions and gazes were fierce. At this moment, Yu Ji-hyeong confronts Park Dae-ri.

[“You had a sister, right? She committed suicide.”]

A change comes over the previously smiling Park Dae-ri’s face. The camera angle focuses fully on his face. His black eyes, still carrying a faint smile, deepened.

They were filled with an indescribable emotion.

[“Yes, I had a sister.”]

It’s eerily calm yet unsettling. But Yu Ji-hyeong kept poking at Park Dae-ri’s weaknesses, mentioning his sister’s suicide, his deceased mother, and…

[“The pleasure of serial killing was awakened by your father, right? It wasn’t five murders, but six.”]

Including the hidden murder. A total of six. Park Dae-ri and Yu Ji-hyeong had to have several more interrogations.

The one who ended this cycle was…

[“His alibi is solid.”]

Jeong Yeon-hee. She verified that there was no manipulation in Park Dae-ri’s alibi. So, there was definitely another culprit. And while revealing the real culprit…

[“Let’s start by sorting out the serial murders first.”]

Hence, they had to verify the serial murders, which Park Dae-ri called his ‘masterpieces’. The interesting part was that Park Dae-ri was quite compliant.

From here, the scene transitions to Park Dae-ri reenacting his murders.

Park Dae-ri calmly demonstrated his murder techniques using a doll, then the screen transitions. The actual murder scenes executed by Park Dae-ri are shown to the viewers. He drags a middle-aged woman like a pet.

His face filled with pleasure.

[“Aaah! Kuhuk! I can’t breathe! Help!”]

Park Dae-ri’s face filled the screen again.

[“I wish your screams were a little louder. They are not quite satisfying enough, you know?”]

Viewers made a variety of comments after seeing Park Dae-ri.

-Damn, that bastard is so annoying, but I still enjoyed it.

-Wow, his acting is intense. When Park Dae-ri appears, the tension definitely rises.

-Please don’t curse at the actor. He’s just really good at acting.

-Kang Woojin: “I wish I got more compliments; they are not quite satisfying enough, you know?

-I feel like that supporting actor might develop trauma from this.

-In my opinion, Kang Woojin acted the best in this drama.

-???: I wish there were more toppings on the pizza, they are not quite satisfying enough, you know?

-Insane, seriously, look at his eyes. Didn’t they say this actor is a newcomer?

-Lol, a new meme has been born.

-‘Not satisfying enough’, that’s meme-worthy.

‘Profiler Hanryang’ transitions to the next scene.

After the onsite verification, Park Dae-ri looked at the place where his ‘masterpiece’ was born and spoke to Yu Ji-hyeong.

[“But, the real culprit copied my murder method exactly. Maybe the atmosphere or vibe is somewhat similar, but considering he knows every single detail – isn’t the real culprit in a similar line of work as the profiler?”]

Something crossed Yu Ji-hyeong’s mind. Indeed, even if one imitates, it’s impossible to perfectly replicate Park Dae-ri’s methods, especially since most of Park Dae-ri’s murders were from before 2010. Information about them would be very limited.

Yet, the murder methods, habits, and every detail were exactly the same. At that moment, Park Dae-ri who shrugged his shoulders spoke again.

[“Even police can kill, you know. He might be of the same kind as me.”]

Close-up on Yu Ji-hyeong’s face.

Episode 3 ended there. At the same time, people all over the internet and TV viewers cried out.

They demanded the next episode.

The next day, on Saturday morning, the viewer ratings for Episode 3 were released.

『[Official] ‘Profiler Hanryang’ unstoppable, Episode 3 rating 24.1%.』

The ratings skyrocketed, and so did the popularity of Kang Woojin, who played Park Dae-ri. His portrayal in Episode 3 was impactful after all.

Headlines read:

『’Profiler Hanryang’ Episode 3’s brightest star, ‘Park Dae-ri’. Viewers: ‘Kang Woojin’s acting is insane!’』

『[Photo] ‘Flawless Acting’ ‘Profiler Hanryang’s Scene Stealer Park Dae-ri/Picture』

The public opinion was completely captivated by Kang Woojin.

It was all the rage the entire Saturday. Until the start of the 4th episode of ‘Profiler Hanryang’.

Riding that momentum, the 4th Episode began.

Using Park Dae-ri’s clues, Yu Ji-hyeong and Jeong Yeon-hee investigated the police, everyone involved with Park Dae-ri’s past serial killings. Of course, it wasn’t easy. But as new clues emerged, the list of suspects narrowed down.

From here, things started to piece together.

Yu Ji-hyeong found it strange.

[“It can’t be this easy.”]

Eventually, they narrowed the list of suspects to five. All of them had careers in the police force, either currently employed or retired. Yu Ji-hyeong and Jeong Yeon-hee methodically interrogated them.

Bit by bit, the true identity of the real culprit was revealed.

Eventually.

[“Four have alibis, but one doesn’t.”]

The only suspect without an alibi was raided by Yu Ji-hyeong, Jeong Yeon-hee, and the police.

The problem was.

[“Hey! Wake up!!”]

[“Is he dead?!”]

The culprit was already dead at home. There were no external injuries, but foam at his mouth suggested a drug overdose.

Indeed.

[“We detected traces of aconitine, a poisonous substance.”]

It was indeed a death caused by drugs. The police initially suspected suicide, but further investigation revealed it was murder. This made Yu Ji-hyeong suspect.

[“Could there possibly be… an accomplice?”]

Thinking there might be a hidden accomplice. Although they found the culprit, the case was not yet closed. Yu Ji-hyeong felt like he was walking through a fog. Although he didn’t know the details, he felt that a massive secret was hidden behind the case.

Later, Yu Ji-hyeong revisited Park Dae-ri, who greeted him warmly.

[“You’re here? It’s been a while. You said you caught the culprit, but he’s dead? What a waste.”]

[“Why did you confess? Since you admitted to all the murders, the minimum you’ll get is the death penalty. You have nothing left. No one would’ve known if you had stayed quiet. Why did you confess?”]

[“Well, I don’t want to talk about it.”]

[“Are you trying to atone now?”]

[“Atonement?”]

Park Dae-ri’s lips quivered. He almost snorted, holding back a chuckle.

[“That’s a fancy word, atonement. But guilt is ultimately defined by people, isn’t it? For me, I am the judge.”]

[“Stop talking nonsense. I won’t be seeing you again. We’ve had our moments together, just tell me.”]

[“…”]

For a moment, there was a hint of loneliness in Park Dae-ri’s eyes as he looked at Yu Ji-hyeong. It wasn’t about Yu Ji-hyeong; it was about himself.

[“Profiler. The hamburger I had in the interrogation room was delicious. Little motivations or goals like that play a big part in life, right? I didn’t have much time, so I wanted some pleasure.”]

[“Not much time?”]

[“If it weren’t for that Jin-beom guy, my works would have remained as legends forever. That’s my only regret.”]

[“…”]

[“No, it’s not just regret. It’s so unfair that it drives me crazy.”]

The scene transitions. The world now knew about Jin-beom’s involvement and the case’s progress. At this point, Yu Ji-hyeong heard a piece of news about Park Dae-ri.

[“He’s in the terminal stage of colon cancer.”]

The revelation of Park Dae-ri’s illness came late. Yu Ji-hyeong, sensing something amiss, quickly drove to meet him.

However.

[“Over here! Over here!!! Shit!”]

Park Dae-ri was found hanging in his cell. Yu Ji-hyeong quickly tried to save him, but Park Dae-ri was already dead. On the floor beneath Park Dae-ri was a note, a final letter to Yu Ji-hyeong.

– With this, my masterpieces are not six but seven. It was fun.

This was the last scene for Park Dae-ri and the fourth episode ended.

Saturday night, around 11:10 pm.

A black van stood outside Kang Woojin’s studio apartment. As expected, Woojin was in the van. The back door opened, and Kang Woojin, wearing a cap, got out.

“You’ve worked hard.”

“Ratings will skyrocket tomorrow, causing a frenzy. Get inside quickly, bro!!”

Only Jang Su-hwan was visible inside the van. After his short greeting, the car drove away. Today, Kang Woojin had been busy promoting with the ‘Profiler Hanryang’ team. After the ‘Sports Day’ event, there were a few interviews left.

Soon.

“Phew- So tiring.”

Kang Woojin took off the cap he had been wearing since his schedule ended. He then checked the time.

“I’m a bit hungry.”

He craved ramen. But he remembered he didn’t have any at home. In fact, Choi Sung-gun had been suggesting he should start building up his physique. Once in shape, it could be useful anytime.

“Well, I’ll eat just for today.”

He put his cap back on and walked to a nearby convenience store. He looked just like an ordinary citizen, reminiscent of when he worked at a design company.

-Swish.

Kang Woojin arrived at a relatively large convenience store. Due to the warm weather, many people of all ages were enjoying beer at the tables outside the store, so much so that there were no empty tables.

“…”

Regardless, Kang Woojin reached into his pocket and took out his wallet.

‘Do I have kimchi at home? Should I buy some kimchi too?’

At that moment.

“Hey! Isn’t that Park Dae-ri? No!”

From one of the tables where only women sat, a loud exclamation was heard.

“It’s… it’s Kang Woojin!”

*****