Former Warrior Turns Into A Million-Dollar Actor [EN]: Chapter 22

The Drama’s Legacy (4)

* * *

“What a load of crap. What am I supposed to do when the role is all about action!”

It had been a good 12 weeks since Han Ji-young accidentally became a fan of ‘The Dog of Seoul’.

It started when she came across drama shorts on YouTube. After watching the legendary bathtub scene and the punching machine video, she fell head over heels for Park Gun.

“Seriously, I need to shut the mouths of these people in my next work…”

In fact, Han Ji-young’s nickname was ‘Dumpster Fire Detector’.

Whether they were actors or idols, everyone she stanned [supported] ended up embroiled in controversy and disappeared from the broadcasting scene.

How many years had it been since she received that dishonorable title and began to doubt her own judgment?

“No. This time it’ll be different.”

The pre-broadcast commercials started. Han Ji-young, with a pizza she bought on her way home from work in front of her, put her hands together and prayed.

This actor, who is cold-faced but clumsy.

May only flower paths [a Korean expression wishing someone good fortune] await Park Gun.

*

‘The Dog of Seoul’ bombarded living rooms with a speed befitting its final episode.

When Jung Yeon-woo revealed Choi Seung’s secret, many fans lamented, and some who had expected it clenched their fists and shouted.

“I knew it, I knew it! I told you there was something between them!”

“Hey, calm down. The writer already dropped hints, and analysis posts have been circulating since episode 2.”

The ensuing apartment shootout scene.

If the action up until now had been raw and unrefined, this time the editing team masterfully brought the directing to life.

The police special forces, armed with various firearms, begin to be hunted down by Choi Seung’s guerilla tactics, utilizing the terrain.

In the end, the special forces are wiped out, but Choi Seung also sustains several serious gunshot wounds.

Soon, Ma Dae-hwi and Choi Seung’s last conversation is broadcast to viewers.

ㅡYou, are you perhaps Dae-seung?

ㅡLong time no see.

Without warning, the secret of birth is revealed.

Choi Seung’s real name was Ma Dae-seung. The two were biological brothers with the same parents.

Ma Dae-hwi’s mother ran away from her father, taking only her first son, and Choi Seung was raised under his father before flowing into the underworld.

In another drama, they would have played sad music, but the writer doesn’t spare even a shred of sympathy for a criminal with a painful story.

The brothers’ reunion, skipping over decades, ends with a cruel dryness. Ma Dae-hwi lowers his head in grief, and Choi Seung meets his death with his eyes open.

Director Park Doo-i, who was watching the final episode with his trainees, shouted in frustration.

“What, is it going to end like that?”

“Director, please be quiet! I can’t hear!”

The screen that had gone dark changes. Jung Yeon-woo, sentenced to 25 years, committed suicide while in prison.

The ‘Jung International’ gang are all arrested, and Ma Dae-hwi leaves the Special Investigations Unit and takes off his police uniform.

As newly appointed police officers salute, Yong Joon-sang, playing Ma Dae-hwi, narrates indifferently.

ㅡ300 children are abandoned every year.

ㅡ27.8% of juvenile delinquents have a criminal record.

ㅡIndifference and violence do not disappear. They are merely postponed. Until the dogs that bit Seoul return and roam this land again.

After the narration, ending music plays against the backdrop of an old photo of three boys.

The trainees stared at the screen with their mouths open until the phrase ‘Thank you for loving The Dog of Seoul’ appeared.

“Wow, that’s crazy.”

“They just kill off the main character like that in a K-drama?”

“They’re not even letting us be sad. Eun Hee-wook, you’re a heartless human being…”

While everyone was saying something, a trainee who saw Park Doo-i asked.

“Director. Are you crying?”

“What are you talking about, when did I cry!”

“Oh, something flashed again?”

The final scene, which even moved a pro fighter to tears, struck the hearts of many viewers.

The JNBC public relations team quickly uploaded ‘Top 3 Legendary Death Scenes in Korean Drama’, and the comments section was set ablaze by the influx of fans.

Park Gun, Yong Joon-sang, and The Dog of Seoul topped the topicality index until the next day, marking a grand finale.

Peak viewership 26.2%.

Average viewership 19.4%.

The greatest achievement among cable channel’s own productions this year.

*

The broadcasting world is ruled by numbers.

If it had been a flop, it would have been buried without a sound, but if it was popular, all sorts of love calls would pour in.

Just like now.

-I heard yesterday was the wrap-up party? Congratulations on finishing your first project well.

“Yes, yes, thank you.”

-Saying 30% is easy, but in this day and age, how easy is it to exceed 20% on cable? In terms of movies, it’s like attracting ten million viewers.

“I think I was lucky. I’ll do my best in the next project as well.”

-So, there’s a good pilot entertainment show going in. It’s not because I’m in charge of it, but the format is really well done. It would be great if Park Gun could come on…

“Ah, I’ll pass it on to our actor. No, it’s not that I hate entertainment shows at all. I’ll contact you again, PD [Producer].”

Park Sun was beside himself. From the request of the youngest writer at the entertainment bureau to come on the show, to the subtle threats that they weren’t at a level to be picky.

He still had difficulty dealing with the all-out offensive of the broadcasting station people, who clung to him like drowning ghosts.

“Ugh, this is why you need an agency.”

Still, it was good to get calls, even if it was like a well-fed ghost.

He still couldn’t believe it. His brother, who had been discharged from the military, stormed into his former workplace and was suddenly scouted as an actor, and his debut work was a big hit.

The series of events were so overly dramatic that they were like a movie script in themselves.

“This would be good to talk about on an entertainment show later. If only my brother gets a little better.”

Even after going into drama filming, his brother acted like someone who had taken the wrong medicine for a while.

It was common for him to call out the names of foreigners like Ariara or Cale while sleeping, and he would suddenly stare at the sky.

When asked why he was looking there, only cryptic answers came back.

‘They said the guys come from the sky.’

Fortunately, the strange behavior gradually improved, but he couldn’t let his guard down.

As he knew it, there was no perfect cure for soldiers’ PTSD [Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder], was there?

‘Something happened…’

There was no way he would talk even if he asked, and there was no reason to ask, so Park Sun just waited.

He would open up when he felt like it. If he needed help in the process, he was willing to put in all his effort.

Then the phone rang again. It was an unknown number, so Park Sun answered, thinking it was another PD.

“Yes, this is Park Sun.”

-It’s been a while. How have you been?

It was a low and pleasant voice. Who is it?

“I’m sorry, but I don’t have your contact information saved… May I ask who this is?”

-It’s me, CEO Noh Joong-man from Roman.

“Ah, yes? Yes! CEO!”

-I haven’t even properly apologized to Park Sun. When you think about it, thanks to the two of you, we were able to cut off a bigger problem.

“It’s nothing. That’s all in the past.”

While trying to speak calmly, Park Sun calmed his racing heart. If the head of a large agency was calling directly…

-It’s been difficult to schedule a meeting. I contacted you because I wanted to meet with actor Park Gun, can you pass it on?

“Yes, I’ll tell my brother and get back to you as soon as possible. Should I contact you at this number…?”

-Do as you please. I’m the one who’s eager to see you.

The call ended with a low laugh. Park Sun stared at the number on the screen for a while.

A representative from a large agency, the CEO himself, had contacted the manager directly. Although there was a connection, it was an indication of Park Gun’s increased value.

“But really, his presence is different.”

There had been no contact yet from DG and Joinus, which were called the two major mountains [top agencies], but he had finished meetings with several teams from small and medium-sized agencies.

However, it was too obvious that they were trying to lowball him as much as possible, so he excluded them from the options.

What conditions will Noh Joong-man offer?

“Okay, let’s do it!”

Even if he was just a road manager, now that he didn’t have an agency, the manager had to support everything from schedule management to the actor’s schedules.

Park Sun came out to the living room, burning with enthusiasm. His father, Park Yeol-ho, tilted his head back while watching TV.

“Oh, Sun is here too?”

“Yes, I think I’ll be a little late today. I have a lot of meetings scheduled regarding my brother’s agency!”

“Make sure you eat, your brother left a long time ago while you were sleeping.”

This time, Park Sun tilted his head.

“My brother? Where to?”

“He said he was having lunch with people from the broadcasting station?”

*

JNBC headquarters underground lounge.

The main players of ‘The Dog of Seoul’, including the PD, writers, and actors, sat around with a cup of coffee each.

After the wrap-up party last night, PD Na Jong-mo was treating everyone to lunch today.

Yong Joon-sang had a schedule and left first, and the rest of the main actors stayed to enjoy tea time.

“Meeting? Everyone’s here right now, so if you leave your number, I’ll contact you.”

When Park Gun hung up the phone, PD Na Jong-mo asked with a curious expression.

“Oh, an agency? Where did they find you?”

“I don’t know. I haven’t heard the details.”

“Well, it’s about time all sorts of calls started pouring in. The drama did really well. The agencies that were trying to swallow you up must be having a headache right now.”

“It’s all thanks to Hee-do for teaching me so much.”

Seo Hee-do, who raised both hands, made a crying sound.

“Hyung [older brother or male friend], please just drop the formalities. How long are you going to be so distant?”

“I have a hard time speaking informally to anyone.”

“I heard you were discharged not long ago. Then you can treat me like a junior, so I can get used to it in advance.”

Laughter erupted at Seo Hee-do’s words, who had not yet served in the military.

PD Na Jong-mo rubbed his chin and asked.

“But Hee-do, aren’t you busy with your schedule? Advertisements, entertainment shows, and writers lining up to film your next project.”

When a drama succeeds, actors enjoy a golden age for a while.

Advertising offers poured in for the main actors, and even supporting actors and extras received one or two calls.

Seo Hee-do swept back his hair, which he had dyed blonde.

“Don’t even mention it. The president told me to drop the album and start choosing my next project, and gave me a script bomb [a lot of scripts], so I went straight to the shop and bleached my hair. I’m really going to take a year off this time.”

“What about our Park Gun? Any news?”

*