I was Mistaken as a Monstrous Genius Actor [EN]: Chapter 120

Choi Seong-geon blinked at Kang Woo-jin’s low reply.

“‘Kang Woo-jin’s Alt Account’? So, you’re saying you want to name the channel ‘Kang Woo-jin’s Alt Account’?”

Was it a rejection? Honestly, Woo-jin had just answered casually. Well, he had never thought about a YouTube channel name in his life.

‘Since they said it’s important to have a casual, hobby-like feel, ‘Kang Woo-jin’s Alt Account’ doesn’t sound too bad. Is it that bad?’

Kang Woo-jin voiced his thoughts aloud.

“Yes, ‘Kang Woo-jin’s Alt Account.’ Is it strange?”

Choi Seong-geon, who was stroking his chin, shook his head.

“Hmm, ‘Kang Woo-jin’s Alt Account’ channel, it sounds okay? It’s like you’re being nonchalant and not trying too hard. The feeling that you just made it up is a good laugh point.”

“Is that so?”

“You were pretending not to think about it, but you did have something in mind, huh?”

No, not at all. It just popped into my head. Choi Seong-geon, unaware of this, pulled Woo-jin along while opening his planner.

“You have about 10 minutes before your shoot, so let me explain things in the meantime. How things will go from now on. You should start knowing about it.”

Soon, Kang Woo-jin and Choi Seong-geon moved to a quiet corner, passing through the hallway bustling with the filming crew. Choi Seong-geon, with his planner tucked under his arm, met Woo-jin’s eyes. His expression turned serious.

“First, about Director Kyotaro. As you’ve seen, Japan is in an uproar over the ‘Strange Sacrifice of a Stranger’ issue. The casting rumors about a Korean actor. As I said, I’m the starting point. You can say I handled it.”

“Ah, yes.”

“Of course, everything has been discussed with Director Kyotaro’s side. The plan is roughly set, and it’s going as planned. Originally, Director Kyotaro was planning to reveal you around the time of the official filming, but from our perspective, that timing is not ideal. So, we persuaded him.”

As Woo-jin listened with an indifferent face, Choi Seong-geon lowered his voice further.

“This is also intended to cover up your past, but it’s also meant to amplify several things at once. ‘Hanryang’ is a hit in Japan right now, right? It’s still number one on Netflix Japan, and it’s being featured on Japanese broadcasts beyond the internet. And ‘Ametalk Show!’ is also in the mix. We even got you a solo appearance. Right?”

“Yes, sir.”

“If it were just this, there would be no need to move on the Director Kyotaro matter. But let’s think bigger. The filming of ‘My Guy Friend’ is in its final stages, and it’s confirmed to launch on Netflix Japan, right? Even the OST [Original Soundtrack] you and Hwa-rin participated in is being released. It’s a follow-up to ‘Hanryang,’ but honestly, your current recognition in Japan is weak.”

“I know. I have to rely on Hwa-rin’s popularity in Japan.”

“Yeah, Kim So-hyang, the general director, and Director Shin Dong-chun probably think the same. Even though ‘Hanryang’ was a hit, it’s not like your popularity skyrocketed. It’s a bit ambiguous.”

“So, you’re using the ‘Strange Sacrifice of a Stranger’ issue.”

At the question, Choi Seong-geon’s lips curled up.

“It’s a bit lame to ride on someone else’s popularity, whether in Korea or Japan. Don’t you think?”

Is that so? For now, Woo-jin added a touch of bravado to match the mood.

“I think so. It’s a disservice to Hwa-rin.”

“Okay, then let’s say the ‘Strange Sacrifice of a Stranger’ buzz is building, and it’s revealed that the Korean actor cast is you. Everything that was a bit bland will change 180 degrees. ‘Hanryang,’ ‘Ametalk Show!,’ and ‘My Guy Friend.’ The Japanese will be exploding with curiosity, searching for you. Interest will also amplify.”

“And the promotional power of ‘Strange Sacrifice of a Stranger’ will also increase.”

“Exactly, it’s a win-win. We can gain a lot just from this, but that’s not the end.”

Suddenly, something clicked in Kang Woo-jin’s mind.

“‘Kang Woo-jin’s Alt Account.'”

“Right. Your YouTube channel. Look at how your SNS [Social Networking Service] and past videos are blowing up just because ‘Hanryang’ had a brief surge, and your Japanese fans have skyrocketed, right? What if ‘Strange Sacrifice of a Stranger’ hits in succession? Whether it’s in Korea or Japan, wouldn’t they look for you on YouTube? Several times, maybe even dozens of times more, unspecified people will be looking for you.”

Choi Seong-geon’s smile deepened.

“Most of them will flow into the ‘Kang Woo-jin’s Alt Account’ channel.”

Indeed. If it was revealed that the Korean actor cast in ‘Strange Sacrifice of a Stranger’ was Kang Woo-jin, the Japanese public would first have a question mark. Who is that? They would wonder.

So, they would search for it.

The influx would undoubtedly be enormous. Anyway, Choi Seong-geon, who had recited a rather extensive plan, shrugged nonchalantly.

“Well, of course, we’re not going to blow it up all at once. These things need to be handled carefully and step by step. For now, we need to expand the playing field, whether it’s in Japan or Korea. We need to maximize the hype to create a huge impact.”

Woo-jin, who was deeply impressed but pretended to be calm due to his concept, bowed his head.

“Please take good care of me.”

“This kind of behind-the-scenes work is my specialty, why the sudden request?”

Choi Seong-geon, gesturing to return, took a step.

“With such a big issue exploding, there’s no room for your past rumors to gain traction.”

He finished his statement.

“When a war breaks out, who cares about kids playing house? Don’t you think?”

Afterward.

Kang Woo-jin, having finished filming ‘My Guy Friend,’ went to the office where the YouTube team was gathered, even though it was late at night. He had to check the edited cover song videos. The YouTube team’s office was located near BW Entertainment, which Choi Seong-geon had secured, and only the PD [Producer/Director] was there to greet Kang Woo-jin.

“Let’s listen to it right away.”

In conclusion.

-♬♪

The quality of the completed video was outstanding. At least, Kang Woo-jin thought so.

‘It’s a bit awkward to see my face, but if I close my eyes and just listen to the song, it’s amazing??’

There were a total of three results. A short interview video of Kang Woo-jin, the Japanese version of ‘Ballerina’ by ‘Elani,’ his first cover song, and an English version. The interview consisted of questions and answers and lasted about 3 minutes, and the cover song videos were also about 4 minutes long.

“This time, it’s the English version.”

-♬♪

There weren’t many embellishments in the video. Only the background of the recording studio booth was visible, and the angle was of Woo-jin’s side profile as he sang passionately. Because Woo-jin, wearing headphones, sang calmly, his vocals stood out. Soon, the PD gave a thumbs up.

“Woo-jin, your English and Japanese pronunciation is so good that I listened to it several times. It’s clean and smooth, and it’s addictive. Even your vocal skills are above par.”

“…Thank you.”

“If the influx is good, subscribers will be showering you with praise. It’s not because it’s my job, but I think this will be a real hit. But have you decided on a channel name?”

“Ah, I’m just going to go with ‘Kang Woo-jin’s Alt Account.'”

“Haha, that’s good. It feels like you just made it up casually, so it’s less burdensome.”

Afterward, Kang Woo-jin, the PD, and Choi Seong-geon, having finished checking the videos, immediately proceeded with opening the channel.

[Channel Name: Kang Woo-jin’s Alt Account]

[Subscribers: 0]

[Videos: 0]

They had only opened it, not officially launched it.

“Sir, when do you think we should start the video launch?”

“It’s hard to say exactly, I’ll contact you after seeing how the atmosphere is going, so please open it at the right time.”

“Yes, then we need to talk about the backup videos before the launch.”

“Ah, right.”

The backup videos the PD mentioned were due to Kang Woo-jin’s busy schedule. YouTube requires regular video uploads, but if Kang Woo-jin’s schedule is too tight, he might struggle.

Therefore, they needed to secure as many videos as possible before the launch.

“Have you thought about the second cover song?”

“Hmm, I don’t know.”

At this moment, Woo-jin casually suggested an idea.

“Just like we sing K-pop in Japanese and English, can’t we sing J-pop or pop songs in Korean?”

Choi Seong-geon stroked his chin.

“That’s good?”

Two days later.

The issue related to Director Kyotaro in Japan had grown several times larger. The size of the controversy was only increasing because Director Kyotaro’s side remained silent.

『Fake News? Or Real? 「Director Tanoguchi Kyotaro」 Silent Amid Controversy』

The more it was like this, the more the Japanese media and public’s curiosity exploded. The media was firing off speculative articles every day, and the public was chattering on various communities and social media. Around this time, speculations about who the Korean actor was began to pour out.

-It must be Lee Ho-tae, he appeared in a Japanese movie in the past.

-It’s definitely one of the top Korean actors, right??

-If it’s not fake news, they would have cast a top actor.

Starting with top Korean actors who had participated in Japanese works in the past, there were some with some credibility and some that just mentioned anyone.

Whatever it was, the recognition of ‘Strange Sacrifice of a Stranger’ was reaching its peak in Japan.

This was naturally the same in Korea.

『Japan is Hot with the Issue of Master 「Director Tanoguchi Kyotaro」, Is the Casting of a Korean Actor True?』

『Japanese Bestseller Movie ‘Strange Sacrifice of a Stranger,’ Director Tanoguchi Silent Amid Controversy Over Casting a Korean Actor』

Although not as much as in Japan, the core of the issue was a ‘Korean actor,’ so interest was high. They even brought up the top actors speculated by the Japanese.

『Top Actor ‘Lee Ho-tae’ Joins the Noisy ‘Strange Sacrifice of a Stranger’ in Japan?』

『Lee Ho-tae’s Agency: “The Joining Article is a Misinformation, There Was Not Even a Discussion”』

So much so that even the staff on the set of ‘My Guy Friend,’ where Kang Woo-jin was filming, were gossiping about it.

“Did you see the article? You know Director Tanoguchi Kyotaro? He’s a master in Japan. That director cast a Korean actor. And it’s even a lead role?”

“Come on, no way. It’s just a rumor, if it was a project of that size, we would have heard about it here. It’s 100% a rumor.”

“Probably? Yeah, it’s too far-fetched.”

However, while Director Kyotaro was the main focus in Japan, there were many other issues in Korea.

For example, ‘Island of the Missing.’

‘Island of the Missing,’ which had recently completed its script reading successfully, quickly shared news from the set with the world. It was a work by Director Kwon Ki-taek, with a lineup of top actors, and above all, it included the monster rookie Kang Woo-jin, who was a twist.

『[Movie Talk] Mega-Movie ‘Island of the Missing’ Script Reading Starts, Top Actors Focused on Acting/Photo』

『’Ultra-Class Rookie’ Kang Woo-jin Stands Proudly as a Lead Among Top Actors/Photo』

It was a world of difference between just hearing about it and seeing photos of Kang Woo-jin on set. Soon, movie news was filled with ‘Island of the Missing.’

Several days later.

‘My Guy Friend,’ which was nearing the end of filming, also began to pull the bowstring of promotion taut.

『Kang Woo-jin and Hwa-rin’s Two-Shot on the Set of ‘My Guy Friend,’ Already Sweet/Photo』

Many things were planned for ‘My Guy Friend’ in the future. Poster shoots with Kang Woo-jin and Hwa-rin as the main focus, production presentations, various promotional schedules, and so on.

Meanwhile, Director Shin Dong-chun explained the approximate wrap-up schedule to Kang Woo-jin and Hwa-rin on set.

“Woo-jin, Hwa-rin. At this pace, we should be able to finish by August 15th. Let’s push a little harder!”

The filming of ‘My Guy Friend’ had started around July 20th. They had shortened the schedule, which was originally set for a month, by about a week.

Time steadily melted away. In the midst of that.

-More evidence that Kang Woo-jin has a split personality lololol(pic).JPG

Woo-jin’s past rumors were continuing. They were mainly centered around communities, and some reporters were also persistently clinging to this issue.

『Past of Monster Rookie Kang Woo-jin Appears in Various Communities “Completely Different from Now, Like a Completely Changed Person”』

Thanks to this, there were quite a few negative comments on Kang Woo-jin’s SNS and various videos.

-There’s a controversy about this person having a split personality, why isn’t there any explanation????

-Eyewitness accounts from past acquaintances keep popping up, but he’s just keeping his mouth shut lolololol

However, Kang Woo-jin ignored it.

“Yeah, so what?”

It was something he had entrusted to Choi Seong-geon, and honestly, he was too busy with his schedule to pay attention to it. The small-citizen buff also played a part.

Around this time, ‘Ametalk Show!’ and Choi Seong-geon found a common ground.

The agreement was conveyed to Kang Woo-jin.

“August 30th, the recording date for ‘Ametalk Show!’ is confirmed, Woo-jin.”

The angle for ‘Ametalk Show!’ was properly set.

August 14th, Tokyo, Japan.

The huge ‘Toega’ film company that was producing ‘Strange Sacrifice of a Stranger.’ In one of the large conference rooms, a familiar man was visible. It was Director Kyotaro, with his gray hair. He was currently the hottest director in Japan, and articles related to ‘Strange Sacrifice of a Stranger’ were still being released. There was no sign of the controversy subsiding.

Three men were sitting across from Director Kyotaro. They were people from famous Japanese media companies. In other words, reporters. Director Kyotaro was currently fulfilling his interview schedule. They had already been going for about 30 minutes, and various questions and answers had been exchanged.

Then, a reporter asked Director Kyotaro a new question.

“Director, your current work, ‘Strange Sacrifice of a Stranger,’ is noisy with controversy even before production. Do you have anything to say about that?”

“……”

“You’ve been consistently silent, but if the issue is baseless, wouldn’t it be better to just say it clearly?”

At the question, Director Kyotaro let out a sigh and stroked his chin. Then, he suddenly opened his mouth. It was Director Kyotaro’s first statement since the controversy broke out.

“I can’t tell you everything yet, but it’s confirmed that a Korean actor has joined ‘Strange Sacrifice of a Stranger.’ The role has already been assigned. It’s a male actor.”

“…R-Really? Is he one of the top Korean actors as speculated??”

At this, Director Kyotaro shook his head calmly.

“No. He is not a top Korean actor, he is a rookie.”

At that moment, the reporters’ brows furrowed.