Top Star By Luck [EN]: Chapter 94

94. A Peaceful Gyeongbokgung

Peaceful Gyeongbokgung [the main royal palace of the Joseon dynasty].

As always, a mix of tourists and elderly people taking walks created a moderately bustling atmosphere.

Then, three figures appeared in the front yard.

“Gyeongbokgung is truly beautiful,” Lee Minki said.

He was accompanied by Boyana Olsen and his manager, Park Hanmo.
The three, an unlikely trio, stood somewhat awkwardly on the outskirts of the palace grounds.

‘Let’s see…’

Lee Minki looked around Gyeongbokgung, a hint of disappointment in his eyes.

“(Since we’re filming a music video, it would be great to shoot in a prime location.)”

“(There are so many people,)” Park Hanmo observed.

“(Yes, especially today,)” Lee Minki agreed.

Indeed, unlike usual, the courtyard of Gyeongbokgung, which was typically less crowded, was overflowing with people.

Many were dressed in hanboks [traditional Korean clothing], and several cameramen were filming them.
The problem wasn’t just the number of people.

They were occupying all the desirable photo spots in Gyeongbokgung.

Not just the main gates, but also in front of the pavilions, under the trees, and even under the eaves—everywhere was packed.

“(Is there some special event today?)” Lee Minki wondered, narrowing his eyes. Manager Park Hanmo offered a suggestion.

“(Maybe there are group tours. They might have rented hanboks together.)”

“(Ah, that’s possible,)” Lee Minki conceded.

It wasn’t a complete disaster.

There were still a few spots where they could potentially film.

However, Lee Minki’s fame posed a challenge.

‘People are starting to recognize me.’

Even now, people were glancing in their direction.

The gat [traditional Korean hat] concealed his face somewhat, but he couldn’t hide his natural charisma.

Moreover, Boyana Olsen, standing next to him, was impossible to miss.

“(Do they sell kimbap [Korean seaweed rice rolls] here?)” she asked.

Aside from her striking features, her skin was so pale it seemed to glow.

Taller than most men and dressed in a beautiful hanbok, she was a magnet for attention.

‘What should I do?’

It was a race against time.

The longer they stayed, the more attention they would attract, and the more difficult it would be to move around.

‘Then, instead…’

Lee Minki spoke up.

“Let’s find a secluded spot where there aren’t any people.”

“Let’s go to the very edge, to a corner.”

* * *

Did you know?

Gyeongbokgung is a popular tourist destination for foreigners, but less so for Koreans who live nearby.

However, there was another group of Koreans who particularly loved this place.

“Wow, so many people in hanboks! Who are they? Are they actors? Is it a special day?”

“Didn’t you know? This place is a favorite among fans of historical dramas.”

That’s right.

Gyeongbokgung was a mecca for historical drama enthusiasts.

Every afternoon, especially on weekends, it was filled with people dressed in elegant hanboks.

They would film short skits with dramatic lines or take photos for social media.

Today was no exception.

“The moon is so beautiful tonight. Where is my beloved, enjoying his wine?”

A university drama club was filming a short scene.

It was more of a situational performance, as they had to condense everything into a short time, leaving no room for a proper storyline.

But they were determined.

‘If we win this contest, we can buy a new camera!’

Most aspiring actors studying theater and film arts struggled financially.

The [Joseon Beauty] contest, recently announced by the city of Seoul, was a lifeline for them.

The first prize was a substantial 20 million won [approximately $15,000 USD]. They could do so much with that money.

But because the prize was so large, the competition was fierce.

“Arari, arariyo [a traditional Korean folk song refrain].”

Another group was filming nearby.

“Looking at you, you have the face of a Hwarang [elite warrior group of Silla].”

“The general has ordered the retreat from Wihwado [an island in the Yalu River].”

Some people seemed to be in the wrong era.

“Head disciple, the Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword Technique is actually the secret art of Jongnam [a famous Taoist mountain].”

“What does a third-generation disciple know? As a twelfth-generation disciple, I cannot forgive your arrogance.”

“Waiter! Bring me the menu!”

“Yes!”

Others seemed to be in the wrong genre altogether.

They instinctively knew that these other groups were their competitors.

‘This contest won’t be easy.’

But in the back of their minds, they also believed:

‘Still, I’m better.’

That their quality was superior.

A battle of dragons and tigers was unfolding everywhere.

Model Jung Sujin, who was filming in the best location in Gyeongbokgung, muttered with annoyance.

“Oppa [term used by a female to address an older male, often a brother or close friend], are you taking the picture properly?”

“……”

“Can you hear me?”

She was increasingly irritated.

Model shoots often lasted for hours in the same spot, leaving her feet swollen.

She was already exhausted, but the man holding the camera wasn’t even looking at her, instead gazing elsewhere.

‘Are you kidding me?’

Jung Sujin narrowed her eyes.

Her annoyance reached its peak, and she was about to unleash her pent-up criticism.

“Sujin, shh,” the cameraman said, stopping her.

“What?”

“Sujin, wait a moment, just look over there for a second.”

He didn’t apologize but asked her to look in a different direction.

She was dumbfounded but also curious about what could be so important that it drew his attention away from her.

“……Am I seeing things?”

In the distance, three people were chatting in front of a bench near the edge of Gyeongbokgung.

It was such a secluded and shady spot that people rarely went there.

There was even a trash can and a vending machine nearby, making it an unappealing location for photos.

But the location was secondary.

The combination of the three people was strange.

‘……Everyday hanbok?’

One person was wearing everyday hanbok, which was clearly not a formal hanbok.

The kind of outfit that school ethics teachers often wear.

It was a man with an unremarkable physique wearing all-black everyday hanbok.

He was even wearing A****s sneakers.

It was clear he wasn’t there for the contest but just sightseeing.

But the other two were definitely unusual.

‘A white person?’

It was a tall, white woman.

With a slender figure like a goddess from Norse mythology, and fair skin and sharp features reminiscent of an elf, she was eye-catching.

If she were a man, she might have taken her breath away.

It was Boyana Olsen.

A rising star who had made a name for herself on the Billboard charts since her debut.

Of course, in Korea at this time, she was still relatively unknown. Only avid music listeners would recognize her voice.

‘Who is she? She’s so pretty. Is she a model?’

So Jung Sujin didn’t recognize her either.

Boyana Olsen wasn’t exactly American or Scandinavian.

She was a true-blue Aussie [Australian].

Here, a true-blue Aussie also meant that her ancestors were British.

Anyway.

‘Her proportions are crazy; she can pull off that style with a hanbok.’

Ironically, Jung Sujin was discovering a new appreciation for hanbok through a foreigner.

But even Boyana Olsen paled in comparison to the person standing in front of her.

“Isn’t that Lee Minki?”

That’s right.

Lee Minki was standing there.

Incredibly, he was standing alone in front of a vending machine on the outskirts of Gyeongbokgung.

Despite his recent surge in popularity, he was an actor who had risen even higher after briefly faltering due to the [Kim Doha Scandal].

‘His fit is crazy.’

He had a visual that would guarantee a 20% viewership rating if he appeared as a Sungkyunkwan [royal academy] Confucian scholar from the Joseon Dynasty.

And that too, with no less than.

A Westerner with elf-like looks and an ethics teacher wearing a modified hanbok.

‘What on earth is that picture?’

Jung Sujin was confused.

‘Are they filming a historical drama? No, there’s no way a Westerner and a modified hanbok would appear in a historical drama.’

No.

Could it be that she was too trapped in a culturally exclusive way of thinking?

There’s no reason why a Westerner can’t appear in a historical drama. It’s a world where Asians appear as lords in Western medieval fantasy movies.

But even if that were the case, what’s with the modified hanbok?

The modified hanbok crossed the line.

It was like wearing a wedding dress and playing the role of a noblewoman in a medieval movie these days.

‘Am I too rigid?’

Jung Sujin was shocked for a moment, then asked the cameraman to confirm that she wasn’t wrong.

“Oppa, isn’t that historically inaccurate?”

“Sujin, concentrate and be quiet.”

“Huh? What did you say, Oppa?”

“Hey, Lee Minki has appeared; why does that little historical accuracy matter?”

“Ah…… Yes.”

That’s right.

Historical accuracy didn’t matter much compared to Lee Minki.

“The angle isn’t good. Sujin, can you move aside a little?”

The cameraman pushed Jung Sujin aside.

Solely because it was a good location to film Lee Minki, despite having occupied the best spot in Gyeongbokgung.

‘I’m already out of his mind.’

Jung Sujin let out a hollow laugh.

But if the subject is Lee Minki, it can’t be helped.

In just a few seconds, all eyes in Gyeongbokgung were focused on that side.

“It’s Lee Minki.”

“Are they filming a historical drama?”

“A Westerner in a historical drama?”

“Why is Lee Minki coming to the beginner zone and smurfing [playing at a lower level to dominate]?”

“The hanbok is so pretty.”

“Celebrities look good in anything.”

“……I must quickly show this appearance to Ppomppu*, Clien*, Naver*, Instiz*, TheQoo*, Ruliweb, DC*, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, MLBPark*, Bobae**, Reddit* to everyone in the world [Korean online communities and social media platforms].”

Already, the contest didn’t matter anymore.

Real-life Lee Minki appeared in the middle of Gwanghwamun [a major public square in Seoul] wearing a hanbok, so what was the big deal?

A white heron can appear where crows play and mess things up.

But that didn’t matter anymore.

It was more worthwhile to capture Lee Minki’s appearance, even for a moment.

‘Ah, I wish I could get just one autograph.’

That was the moment Jung Sujin thought so.

“Gasp!”

Lee Minki started shuffle dancing.

Shuffle dancing in place.

He was literally dancing.

The Sungkyunkwan Confucian scholar wearing a hanbok began to shuffle dance, showing off perfect angles.

‘Huh? What kind of sight is this again?’

To make matters worse.

Why is he acting so out of place?

‘Could it be that they’re also aiming for the contest?’

Don’t do it.

Contest prize money is just pocket change for a popular actor like you.

Could it be that he’s taking advantage of the fact that there are no restrictions on participants in the contest?

That’s so unfair.

It was a complete misunderstanding.

Lee Minki’s aim was different from the start.

“Actor, your angles are alive.”

“Thank you.”

It was all about impact.

If appearing in Gyeongbokgung wearing a hanbok was to showcase the Korean background.

Then dancing so conspicuously now was…

‘I have to somehow make the impact stand out in the Treatment [the name of the music video].’

Even if he only appears briefly in the music video, it was to establish himself as a memorable moment.

The [Treatment] music video wasn’t just a music video of a popular song.

It was more than that.

It was a music video that would surpass 50 million views.

‘Moreover, Boyana Olsen will reach number one on the Billboard charts in a few years.’

She was still relatively unknown.

So he wanted to leave his mark at least once while she was unknown.

Because you never know how even small things like this might lead to repercussions in the future.

“(Mineun has good dancing skills,)” Boyana Olsen said, following his movements with an excited voice.

But no.

Lee Minki’s dancing skills themselves were just mediocre, but the power of his honed body lines was cheating.

“It looks like he’s moving carelessly, but the feeling is amazing.”

Even if they do the same movements, the feeling that comes across is different.

Even minor steps are cool and stick in your eyes.

It was literally cheating.

“(Bend your legs a little harder,)” he instructed.

“(Like this?)” she asked.

“(Yes, harder. Manager, you should dance too.)”

“(I’ll be satisfied with watching. We need someone to hold the camera,)” Manager Park Hanmo replied.

He seemed to refuse.

“(Hey! You there! Camera! Camera please!)” Boyana Olsen called out.

“(You’re still clumsy,)” Lee Minki teased.

“(That’s why I said I didn’t want to,)” Park Hanmo grumbled, but true to his diligent nature, he participated.

And so, just 10 minutes after Lee Minki arrived at Gyeongbokgung in a hanbok…

[Lee Minki is shuffle dancing in Gyeongbokgung wearing a hanbok right now?]

[?]

[??]

[????]

[Is it a flash mob?]

[There are three of them]

[????]

The incident had already begun.