小火星

Around Tuesday afternoon, the 16th.

The lobbies of various domestic broadcasters became noisy. They weren’t a quiet place to begin with, but today was particularly bustling. PDs from drama and variety shows seated in the lobby were chatting.

“Have you heard? PD Yoon’s new variety show is supposed to be huge.”

Their topic of conversation was PD Yoon Byung-seon’s new variety show project.

“Rumor has it, it’s going to be a series with more than three parts.”

“Really? Where did you hear that?”

“I heard whispers from the outsourced production companies.”

“Heh, they’re really going big with this, huh?”

And then,

“They secured Kang Woojin as the first guest on such a large-scale project?”

The soaring stock, Kang Woojin, was the main topic. It made sense. Earlier that day, before the news about his leading role in ‘Island of the Missing’ had even cooled down:

『[Exclusive] ‘Entertainment industry titan’ PD Yoon Byung-seon confirms rising star ‘Kang Woojin’ for his variety show』

A huge scoop was thrown into the entertainment world.

It felt like new food sizzling on a hot pan. Regardless of how it was cooked, the combination of Kang Woojin and PD Yoon Byung-seon heated up swiftly.

“Wow, Kang Woojin is truly on the rise, isn’t he? From Director Kwon Ki-taek to now with PD Yoon Byung-seon.”

“It’s insane how much he’s achieved in just a few months after his debut. They’re already calling him ‘one of a kind’ and ‘the first of his kind’, right?”

“When did CEO Choi Sung-gun find such a huge rookie after Hong Hye-yeon? He must be over the moon.”

Due to the immense influence of PD Yoon Byung-seon in the broadcasting world, everyone related to the industry couldn’t stop mentioning Kang Woojin’s name.

“Did you hear Kang Woojin is joining PD Yoon Byung-seon’s project?”

“Yeah, I saw the article. No wonder all my casting offers were getting rejected.”

“Did PD Yoon Byung-seon take a liking to him during ‘Sports Day’? But his rise is indeed abnormal. Which rookie gets more attention than top stars?”

“Rumors say he’s getting a bit arrogant. His nose is up in the air. He’s the top choice for casting, the very top.”

From public broadcasting to cable, and even PD Yoon Byung-seon’s home ground HTBS, the fast-paced industry quickly spread rumors.

And the media?

『’Park Dae-ri’ Kang Woojin’s shocking inclusion in PD Yoon’s new show!』

『[Issue Pick] Monstrous Rookie Kang Woojin, confirmed for PD Yoon Byung-seon’s new show.』

The online reaction was exponentially more explosive.

After the first official article was released, there was non-stop chatter about Kang Woojin throughout the 16th. The timing was impeccable, just when other issues and ‘Island of the Missing’ were starting to fade.

『[Star Photo] How far will Kang Woojin’s momentum go? From Director Kwon Ki-taek’s ‘lead role’ to PD Yoon Byung-seon’s variety show.』

The chatter continued all day on the 16th and as the 17th dawned, the flames of interest hadn’t dimmed. They seemed even more intense than the day before. PD Yoon Byung-seon’s side kept adding fuel to the fire.

『Following the news of Kang Woojin’s participation, PD Yoon Byung-seon’s team said, ‘We aim to create a fun project with someone we’ve been eager to work with.’』

And bw Entertainment fanned the flames even more.

That wasn’t all. The distributor of ‘Island of the Missing’, noticing the resurgence of interest, also joined in. Other works involving Kang Woojin weren’t silent either.

『When can we see ‘Drug Dealer,’ in which Kang Woojin from ‘Island of the Missing’ made a cameo, as filming nears completion?』

One thing led to another. The branches of the tree spread endlessly. That’s why Searching for Kang Woojin on YouTube or portal sites resulted in a staggering amount of information. The list of keywords seemed endless.

Thus, two days passed.

By Thursday, the spreading public opinion added fuel to the fire, reaching an uncontrollable point.

-OMG… Is Kang Woojin appearing on a variety show??? I want to see it now!!

-Wow, Kang Woojin is really making it big, huh?

-Agreed, I’ve never seen a rookie like this. The hype is real!

-But I don’t get it. He’s just good at acting, what’s all the fuss about? Is his agency really rich or something?

-↑ Instead of wasting time leaving hate comments, go wash your underwear or something.

-I saw a comment somewhere saying that Kang Woojin has really worked on his image lol. Saw it on a forum.

-??? What image?

-They’re talking about that event, right? Was it the sports day? I read comments from schoolmates saying he’s a bit different now from before.

-Ahh!! Woojin oppa!! Show us your cruel yet adorable charm!! I can’t get enough!!

-But what’s crazy is, if you look at Kang Woojin’s filmography, he’s worked with all the big names???

-No way, at this rate, he might go to Hollywood next year. LOL.

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.

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By this point, the media turned their focus to:

『[Star Talk] Ultra-rising ‘Kang Woojin’. Tracing his journey reveals a jaw-dropping array of big names.』

The media became increasingly interested in Kang Woojin’s filmography. The reason was simple. His journey had been marked by collaborations with giants of the industry, from writer Park Eun-mi and PD Song Man-woo, to writer Lee Wol-seon, Director Kwon Ki-taek, and PD Yoon Byung-seon.

It was a filmography even top actors would struggle to build.

More than anything, Kang Woojin was a rookie. Yet, his influence was comparable to that of top celebrities. Therefore, the industry couldn’t help but get more excited.

“What’s with him, working only with big names??!”

“Exactly! It’s not like he’s covered in honey or something.”

“He’s just a big-shot hunter, hunting big shots.”

What would happen if the yet confidential project with Director Kyotaro was also leaked or revealed? Even if it wasn’t known, Kang Woojin was bound to remain a legendary newcomer. At this point, more and more people started to keep an eye on Woojin.

Not just the media, but also production companies, advertising agencies, YouTube, and so on.

Many jumped on the bandwagon, hoping to ride on the popularity of the fast-rising Kang Woojin. Thanks to that, by Friday the 19th,

“Woojin, there’s another ad offer. They’re also suggesting you become their product model. I think we should definitely take this one.”

“Yes, CEO. I’ll give it a try.”

Apart from the ‘Mxdonald’ ad, Woojin was flooded with various s and modeling offers. He also received countless invitations to variety shows and YouTube collaborations.

It was as if he had activated a real booster.

At this point, Kang Woojin was.

“Wow- This is really crazy.”

Finding himself frequently entering the void space.

“How am I supposed to survive with a schedule like this? How do the top stars handle this?”

Though he had somewhat adapted to acting, the newfound fame was still foreign to him. He was now being recognized everywhere, photographed, asked for autographs, showered with both fan love and hate comments, and he couldn’t even remember the faces of people he met just a day ago.

Nevertheless, Kang Woojin understood that his complaints might sound like he was being ungrateful.

“Phew- Just have to endure. I won’t really drop dead, right? I have to pull myself together, remember the concept, and go on.”

He had no choice but to grit his teeth and push through.

Meanwhile, as Kang Woojin’s fame soared, the production of ‘Male Friend’ was accelerating. Lead actors were confirmed, and even Director Shin Dong-chun joined, leaving no room for delay.

Consequently, Netflix Korea announced,

『[Exclusive] Director Shin Dong-chun, known for ‘Mise-en-scène’ award winner, to direct ‘Male Friend’ starring Kang Woojin and Hwalin.』

With the announcement that Director Shin Dong-chun would be directing ‘Male Friend’, the production team was set in place. Although it was a short series project, a top-notch team was formed. From now on, Netflix Korea would play a role not just as an investor but also as a facilitator.

The overall handling was done by Director Shin Dong-chun.

“Isn’t this good enough for a supporting role?”

“Looks good. Let’s send out invitations for the supporting roles and hold auditions for the rest.”

The casting of the actors was not a big issue. Besides Kang Woojin and Hwalin, there weren’t many standout roles. Once the actors were set, half the pre-production work for the series was considered done. Such projects usually had a shorter and more intense preparation period.

However, ‘Male Friend’ was slightly different from the usual.

There were production meetings, script meetings, location scouting, storyboarding, and so on. Even though the production time was short, the quality expected was similar to that of a drama, especially since it was confirmed to launch on Netflix in both Korea and Japan. Director Shin Dong-chun, much like during ‘Exorcism’, worked tirelessly, often pulling all-nighters.

Among everything, Director Shin Dong-chun paid special attention to the OST.

“Play the previous track again.”

“Yes, the solo track.”

“Hmm, let’s also listen to Woojin’s guide track.”

“It seems to fit well, doesn’t it?”

“Do you think so? I think it’s a bit lacking.”

He and the music director meticulously reviewed collected tracks. Given his distinct audio sense from ‘Exorcism’ and the fact that the OST was crucial for ‘Male Friend’, this was expected. Regardless, the selection was gradually narrowed down. The opening song, Kang Woojin’s main theme song, Hwalin’s theme song, the ending song, the duet song.

Once everything was finalized, all that remained was the recording of Kang Woojin and Hwalin.

Around this time…

『Will Writer Park Eun-mi surpass 25% viewership again? Star writer Lee Wol-seon’s new work features a dazzling cast.』

Lee Wol-seon’s ‘Freezing Love’ also showed significant progress. It was slower than ‘Male Friend’, but it was unusually fast for a drama series. Over five scripts were already out, and most actors had been cast.

Currently, set construction was in full swing.

During this time, Writer Lee Wol-seon met with Writer Park Eun-mi, who had recently completed her script. They were originally close, and with Kang Woojin as a common point of interest, Lee Wol-seon had reached out first.

“It’s been a long time, Writer Park, hasn’t it?”

“We tend to get along when we meet after a long gap, right? Anyway, what role is Woojin playing?”

“Well, it’s a short but challenging role.”

“Is that so? Well, anyway, it seems your work will also do well.”

“…Why the sudden encouragement?”

“It’s not encouragement. I just believe in the totem.”

“Have you joined a new religion or something?”

“Yeah. Anyway, if I may advise, make sure Woojin attends the script reading, even if his role is small.”

“Why?”

“You might not think it’s necessary, but you’ll regret it if you don’t. You’ll see what changes when he’s there.”

It was a meeting with a peculiar atmosphere.

On the other hand, the set of ‘Drug Dealer,’ where ‘Lee Sang-man’ died, was overflowing with energy. Director Kim Do-hee, the production team, and all the actors including Jin Jae-jun were intensely focused.

Why?

“Cut! OK!! Let’s move on to the next shot!”

“Standby for Jin Jae-jun!”

“Come on! We’re almost wrapping up the filming next week, so let’s put in a bit more effort!”

The absence of Kang Woojin indicated that the filming of ‘Drug Dealer’ was almost over. Of course, when one thing ends, another begins.

The location was not Korea, but Japan.

“Let’s finalize the contract with bw Entertainment and discuss Woojin’s appearance fees as soon as possible. We need to finish this by the end of this week.”

“Understood, director.”

Director Kyotaro, who returned to Japan, immediately began the main production. Just like that, everything progressed smoothly, like interlocking gears.

“As soon as everything is settled with Woojin, let’s start working with the lead actors we lined up.”

Time melted away like snow.

A few days later, Monday, the 22nd.

The location was an upscale traditional Korean restaurant in Cheongdam-dong, with a spacious courtyard, styled like a traditional Korean house. It looked expensive at first glance. In the VIP room, which was a separate building, there were executives from the movie company and distribution company of ‘Island of the Missing’, assistant directors, key staff, and others.

“Oh! Jung-min! You’re here??”

“Yes, hello.”

“Hehe, is the filming for ‘Profiler Hanryang’ almost done?”

“Just a couple of days left.”

Ryu Jung-min, with his perm hair, entered. The room was spacious, with about five tables put together. Ryu Jung-min sat in the middle. Another long-haired male actor was already seated.

“Hyung, it’s been a while. I’ve been enjoying ‘Hanryang’.”

“Oh- Yi-won. You’ve lost weight?”

His name was Kim Yi-won. He too was among the top actors. Although not exceptionally handsome like Ryu Jung-min, he had built up popularity with solid acting skills. He had a slightly masculine appearance.

“Director Kwon told me to start exercising. I’ve been eating only protein bars these days.”

“You have to endure if it’s required.”

Another top actor joined them from behind. This time, it was the muscular Jeon Woo-chang.

“Hello!”

“Oh- Woo-chang, you’re here?”

“Whoa! Jung-min hyung. Filming a drama with a 20% rating and then joining Director Kwon’s project! It’s amazing.”

“Why make a fuss as soon as you arrive?”

The top actors, meeting after a long time, chatted comfortably. Around this time, a graceful-looking actress opened the door.

“Hellooo-”

It was Seo Chae-eun, often mentioned in the same breath as Hong Hye-yeon. Short-haired Seo Chae-eun greeted everyone briefly, then sat at the table with the actors, immediately teasing the muscular Jeon Woo-chang.

“Woo-chang, if you build up more muscle, won’t they burst?”

“Hahaha, nuna – oh, I’m glad to see you too.” (TL: Nuna – big sis)

“No, seriously. Ah! Kim Yi-won, why are you all bones?”

“Mm, hello to you too.”

Seo Chae-eun, contrary to her gentle appearance, was rather sharp-tongued. Should we say she was outspoken? Soon, her gaze met Ryu Jung-min’s.

“You’ve been doing well recently, haven’t you, oppa?”

“So have you.”

“Well, I’m always the same.”

“Not true. Your clinic seems to be doing well. Maybe cut back on the botox a bit.”

“Ah! Do you want to die?”

Domestic actors with tremendous influence gathered in one place. It was expected. This was the venue for the first get-together for ‘Island of the Missing.’ Naturally, all the main actors were present. Amidst the noisy ambiance, Seo Chae-eun, holding a glass of water, looked around.

“Where’s the director?”

The response from Ryu Jung-min came quickly.

“Not here yet.”

Jeon Woo-chang chimed in, scratching his muscular arm.

“By the way, isn’t that popular Kang Woojin coming today?”

Seo Chae-eun clapped her hands as she flicked her bobbed hair.

“Ah! Right! That newbie hasn’t arrived yet? Wow- we’re all here already? He’s so full of himself.”

“Nuna, your nose is up in the air the most here, isn’t it?”

“Jeon Woo-chang, want me to burst your muscles? Seriously, someone just a few months into their debut being the last to come?”

Ryu Jung-min, crossing his arms, chuckled.

“He’s probably the busiest among us.”

“Ugh- I can see it already. He’s totally caught a bad case of the ‘star’ disease. Isn’t he the kind to cause trouble on set? I hate seeing that kind of behavior.”

“Mind your own business.”

“Ha! What? Just because you worked on the same project, you’re defending him? When something’s wrong, it’s wrong.”

Kim Yi-won, spoke up.

“But, Kang Woojin really is impressive. Chosen by Director Kwon as the lead, and he’s even confirmed for PD Yoon’s new variety show. He’s just going to soar. Lately, all our friends from the gathering can’t stop talking about Woojin.”

Seo Chae-eun, looking perplexed, whispered, keeping an eye on the production team.

“But, I heard Kang Woojin is related to Director Kwon. Is that not true?”

Ryu Jung-min refuted immediately.

“That makes no sense. The director is not the kind of person to do that.”

“No- it doesn’t make sense, that’s why I’m asking. How does a newcomer get a lead role within a few months of debut? Anyway, I don’t like him. Even now, he should have been the first to arrive.”

Just then.

-Creak.

The wooden door opened, and a man with an indifferent expression appeared. As a result, all eyes in the room were on him. The quickest to react was Ryu Jung-min.

“Woojin, over here.”

It was Kang Woojin who entered. Woojin, in a white tee, jeans, and a hat, greeted everyone and then…

-Swoosh.

Took a seat opposite Ryu Jung-min, right next to Seo Chae-eun. Then, taking off his hat, Woojin bowed deeply to the top actors.

“Hello, nice to meet you all. I’m Kang Woojin.”

His voice was deep and solemn. While this was familiar to Ryu Jung-min, it was new to the other actors, causing their expressions to shift in surprise.

Among them, Seo Chae-eun, who seemed displeased with Kang Woojin, spoke first.

“You’re quite late. Shouldn’t a newcomer be the first to arrive? Isn’t it too early for you to be so arrogant-”

Kang Woojin stared at her coldly for a moment, then replied without any hint of emotion.

“Do you have a problem with me?”

*****