I Was Mistaken As A Monstrous Genius Actor [EN]: Chapter 349

While Kang Woo-jin of ‘Leech,’ who had made history at the Cannes Film Festival by winning both the ‘Palme d’Or’ and ‘Best Actor Award,’ was at the Cannes Film Festival after-party, news of this extraordinary Cannes Film Festival was rapidly spreading across various countries.

France, of course, as well as Japan, Hollywood, and beyond.

It was simultaneous. In most of the countries that attended this year’s Cannes Film Festival. It’s common for people to make a fuss after Cannes, a festival for global filmmakers, but this time it was several times more unusual than usual. There were many things to see, a lot of excitement, and many ‘firsts’ in various ways.

『74th Cannes Film Festival Concludes! Focus on Palme d’Or Winner Director Ahn Ga-bok and Best Actor Kang Woo-jin, Korean Film Makes a Huge Impact at Cannes』

Cannes broke a 20-year-old precedent by awarding two major awards to one film, Korea’s first Palme d’Or and Best Actor Award, Kang Woo-jin in his second year since debut, his fluent French acceptance speech and interpretation, his declaration towards Hollywood, and so on.

With such an event, it was natural for the world’s film industry to be captivated. So, photos of Director Ahn Ga-bok and Kang Woo-jin spread all over the world. Especially Kang Woo-jin’s face, his recognition skyrocketed globally. His declaration of war towards the Academy Awards was a significant matter.

Furthermore.

『Kang Woo-jin, Who Collaborated with Miley Cara, Whose New Album is Scheduled to Release in 12 Days』

『Korean Actor Who Participated in Miley Cara’s Album, Kang Woo-jin, Wins Best Actor Award at Cannes』

As Woo-jin’s recognition increased, the promotion for Miley Cara’s new album, which was releasing two days later, also soared. Of course, Cara’s own popularity was already huge, but now it was twice as strong.

While the world was in turmoil, Kang Woo-jin had no time to pay attention.

He was getting his energy drained at the Cannes Film Festival after-party.

-Bzzzz.

His phone was also ringing non-stop. Messages, texts, DMs, etc., congratulatory messages were pouring in. Regardless, Kang Woo-jin, wearing a white tuxedo.

‘Ugh.’

While outwardly shaking hands with world-famous figures with a composed face, he was groaning inwardly.

‘I want to go to the hotel quickly-‘

He deeply regretted not bringing a script or screenplay.

Meanwhile, in Korea, where morning had dawned, there were already numerous articles even at dawn, but now that most of the public was awake, it was several times more bustling. From the news of almost every broadcasting station in the country.

[“The movie ‘Leech’ has won the ‘Palme d’Or’ and ‘Best Actor Award’ for the first time in Korea. Director Ahn Ga-bok’s 100th film, and actor Kang Woo-jin’s result that surprised the world in just two years since his debut. Above all, it is noticeable that this year’s Cannes broke the long-standing tradition for ‘Leech.’ We will connect with the international department to check the details, this is reporter Song Jung-min.”]

Radio sounds from many cars rushing to work, in the cell phones of the public on buses and subways, on famous portal sites and various online communities, and on many social media platforms, everything was filled with the names of ‘Leech,’ Kang Woo-jin, and Director Ahn Ga-bok. Articles were being updated every second, and various video platforms, including YouTube, were overflowing with content from the Cannes Film Festival.

-Kang Woo-jin Makes History at Cannes!!!｜Man Who Watches Movies Every Day

-[Subtitles] Kang Woo-jin’s Best Actor Award Winning Moment & Acceptance Speech Compilation at the 74th Cannes Film Festival｜News Girl

-Leech Wins Korea’s First Palme d’Or and Best Actor Award! Highlights of This Year’s Cannes Film Festival｜Issue Monster S

-Kang Woo-jin Giving Acceptance Speech in Fluent French? Why is He So Good at French??!｜Movie Times

-‘Leech’ Palme d’Or Winning Moment (feat. Kang Woo-jin’s Interpretation)｜Crazy Reporters

-Kang Woo-jin, Best Actor at Cannes in His Second Year Since Debut, Is Incredible!! [Live Video]｜Man Who Reads Movies

Of course, this continued from morning to lunch and into the late afternoon. No, it expanded as time went on. Everywhere you looked, everyone was talking about Director Ahn Ga-bok and Kang Woo-jin. There was no place quiet, from the media, public opinion, the entertainment industry, corporations, to the government.

『Top Actors’ Social Media Posts Congratulating Director Ahn Ga-bok and Kang Woo-jin Trend!』

『President Sends Congratulatory Message to ‘Cannes Award Winners’ Director Ahn Ga-bok and Kang Woo-jin… “They Have Done a Great Job, Confirming the Originality of Korean Cinema”』

Korea was buzzing. It was truly a festival.

『Large Corporations Eye ‘Leech’ That Turned Cannes Upside Down, Advertising Industry Already in a Casting Frenzy』

As if they would pounce as soon as Kang Woo-jin and the ‘Leech’ team returned. Around this time, Kang Woo-jin in Cannes, France.

“Hello, Director Ahn Ga-bok. Mr. Kang Woo-jin.”

“Nice to meet you.”

“Hello.”

They were in a large studio. They were filming an official interview video prepared by the Cannes Film Festival. All the staff were foreigners, as were the hosts and dozens of reporters who attended. Unlike Korea, where it was late afternoon, it was morning in France, and Kang Woo-jin and the ‘Leech’ team had various interviews scheduled all day.

They were scheduled to board a plane back home in the early afternoon today.

Around this time, Kang Woo-jin was wishing inwardly.

‘Ah- I’m starting to miss Korea.’

No, he was starting to get tired of Cannes.

12th, Noon. Japan.

While Korea was experiencing a surge of global interest due to the Cannes Film Festival, Japan, which had two films in the ‘Competition Section,’ was in a somber mood. The reason was simple.

『Complete Defeat for Japan at Cannes Film Festival, No Awards Despite Having Two Films in the “Cannes Film Festival” Competition Section』

Japan did not win any awards at Cannes this year. Certainly, the atmosphere was positive when they had two films in the ‘Competition Section,’ but now they were disappointed, overshadowed by the enormous success of ‘Leech.’ The entertainment industry, the film industry, the media, and public opinion were all in the same atmosphere.

『”Korea” Surprised the World, and “Japan” Just Watched It』

『Japanese Film Industry Defeated by “Leech,” Public Criticism Spreads on Social Media “Learn from Korean Films”』

『Film Critic “The Reason Why Japan Was So Clearly Defeated by Korea is Thanks to Japan’s Outdated Film Production System”』

『”Quality Over Quantity” ‘Leech’ Wins Two Major Awards, Japan Was Empty-Handed』

At the same time, Kang Woo-jin’s name recognition also skyrocketed in Japan.

『Will Kang Woo-jin, Best Actor at Cannes Film Festival, Visit Japan Again When “Strange Gisaeng” is Released?』

『”Strange Gisaeng” Starring Kang Woo-jin, Who Won Best Actor Award at Cannes in Just Two Years Since Debut, Explodes in Popularity Among the Public↑』

Of course, there were mixed reactions. Due to this Cannes issue, new fans flocked in, but many Japanese people who criticized Kang Woo-jin were also added.

And a few hours later.

While Japan was downcast, soaked in a sense of defeat, the area around Incheon Airport in Korea was the opposite, like a lively club. That meant that a crowd of people had gathered like a swarm of clouds.

It was around the arrival hall.

From the arrival gate where the door opened, security guards and airport staff were lined up, with a gap of about two people barely passing through. There seemed to be at least 30 of them. Hundreds of people surrounded them.

“Be careful!!”

“Agh!! Don’t push!”

“Who is it! Who just stepped on my foot!!”

“Hey! Let’s keep our places!!”

“Hey!! Don’t come forward! You’re blocking the camera!”

They were reporters. They were all jostling with large cameras, trying to move forward even a little. Of course, there were more general onlookers watching this scene than reporters. Among them, there were also many of Kang Woo-jin’s fans. The common thing was the cell phone in their hands. They were ready to take pictures as soon as someone appeared.

Outside the airport.

“Move quickly!!”

“How many minutes left??”

“10 minutes! They’ll be out in 10 minutes!”

“Run! Run!”

News teams from various domestic broadcasting stations were lined up. They all started running into the airport, where a huge crowd had gathered, as if they were being chased by something.

It was then.

-Swoosh.

The door of the arrival hall opened, and the group everyone wanted appeared. Soon, the hundreds of reporters who had been shouting closed their mouths and started pressing the shutter like crazy. The arrival hall quickly began to flash, and the reporters who were flashing their cameras shouted loudly. It was hard to understand what they were saying because they were all mixed up.

And.

“Oh my- a lot of people have gathered.”

The first to show his face to the reporters was Director Ahn Ga-bok with short white hair. In his hand, he held the ‘Palme d’Or.’

“Director!! Director Ahn!!!”

“Hello, Director!!”

“Congratulations!! Please say a few words!!”

“Please wave the trophy once!!”

“Director Ahn Ga-bok!!”

Director Ahn Ga-bok, who stood at the entrance of the arrival hall as soon as he appeared, waved his hand to the hundreds of reporters. Behind him, the actors of ‘Leech’ who had been with him in Cannes appeared one after another. The great actor Shim Han-ho, who was empty-handed but dignified, Oh Hee-ryung and Han So-jin with their arms crossed, and even Jin Jae-joon.

-Flash! Flash! Flash!

The media coverage in Korea was as intense as in Cannes.

Then.

-Swoosh.

A man with a black cardigan, natural hair, and a calm face appeared last. He was right next to Jin Jae-joon.

“Oh! Oh!!!”

“He’s out! There!”

The shutter sounds of the reporters became even more excessive. It was natural.

“Kang Woo-jin! Mr. Kang Woo-jin!!!”

The last one was Kang Woo-jin.

With his appearance, all the pieces of ‘Leech’ were put together. Before they knew it, a line had formed in the arrival hall, from Director Ahn Ga-bok to Kang Woo-jin, and the reporters and onlookers who had gathered were constantly taking pictures of them.

“Trophy! Director, Woo-jin!! Please hold up the trophy once!!!”

Director Ahn Ga-bok and Kang Woo-jin raised the trophies they held in their hands, which had made history in Cannes, above their chests. The reporters showed energy close to frenzy.

-Flash! Flash! Flash! Flash! Flash!

It was a triumphant return.

At the same time, Tokyo, Japan.

It was the chairman’s office of the giant ‘Kashihi Group’ headquarters. Inside the vast chairman’s office, an old man in a suit sitting in the upper seat of a luxurious sofa stands out. It was Chairman Yoshimura Hideki, whose eyebrows were mixed with white hair, but whose eyes still held force.

“······Hmm.”

He was making a humming sound with his arms crossed. Currently, Chairman Hideki was sitting on the upper seat of the sofa, watching a large TV in front of him, and Japanese news was playing on the TV.

The content was related to this year’s Cannes.

So, naturally, Kang Woo-jin’s appearance also came up. Chairman Hideki leaned his back deeply into the sofa and showed a wrinkled smile.

“Heh heh, to think he would make such a mark on the world so quickly.”

He was reminiscing about Kang Woo-jin in the past. It was when they had a dinner and meeting after the filming of ‘Strange Gisaeng’ was completed. At that time, Chairman Hideki knew that they were aiming for Cannes with ‘Leech’ and had some expectations. But he never dreamed that they would produce results that would turn the world upside down.

“Cannes, Asia, Korea’s first ‘Palme d’Or’ and ‘Best Actor Award’- the accolades are magnificent.”

Above all, what Chairman Hideki was focusing on was Kang Woo-jin. Currently, he was the main investor of Kang Woo-jin and BW Entertainment. In other words, the backer.

‘Have I ever had a backer and seen such quick results? As expected, Korea and Japan are too small for Kang Woo-jin. His potential should be at least the size of the world.’

Chairman Hideki had only met Kang Woo-jin not long ago, but he was strangely proud.

‘Even in that huge Cannes, without any hesitation, he declared war on the Academy Awards in that place full of Hollywood bigwigs. He’s gone beyond eccentric.’

Kang Woo-jin’s ‘no-backing-down’ acceptance speech was a big topic in Japan as well. His French skills were a bonus. Here, Chairman Hideki clicked his tongue.

“Next year- is it even possible for Kang Woo-jin to go to the Academy Awards within a year from now?”

Intense expectations and calculations were overflowing. At this point, it would be disappointing if Kang Woo-jin didn’t advance to the Academy Awards ceremony. But there would certainly be realistic problems. The Academy Awards were not a place to aim for with just spirit or courage. It was the most prestigious and authoritative film festival in the world.

-Swoosh.

Chairman Hideki, who had been thinking for a while, pressed the intercom and called his secretary. Soon, a woman with a neat appearance and her hair tied in a single braid entered the chairman’s office. It was Secretary Tetsukawa Riri. As she gave a small greeting, Chairman Hideki crossed his legs and said.

“Contact CEO Choi and tell him to inform me of everything Kang Woo-jin needs when he advances to Hollywood next year.”

“Understood, Chairman.”

“Kang Woo-jin is already moving at an absurd speed, but if I pour everything into it, it will go even faster.”

As Riri picked up her tablet, Chairman Hideki, who had turned his gaze back to the TV, changed the subject.

“By the way, what does it mean when Kang Woo-jin said ‘I have a house in LA’ during his acceptance speech?”

Riri, with a straight posture, answered immediately.

“I haven’t heard anything from CEO Choi Sung-gun. It seems that Kang Woo-jin prepared it personally. I will look into that as well.”

“No, no. Hmm- it was my mistake. I should have prepared it when we were talking about the LA branch of BW Entertainment. It’s too late to talk about it now.”

A slight regret was evident on Chairman Hideki’s face as he murmured quietly. Then he tapped the armrest of the sofa with his index finger. It was about 10 seconds. Soon, he met Riri’s gaze again and smiled slightly.

“Kang Woo-jin has turned the world upside down, so the main backer can’t just not give him a gift. Soon, ‘Strange Gisaeng’ will be released too.”

“Do you have something in mind?”

“Whether it’s Japan or LA, Kang Woo-jin will have to travel all over the world from now on.”

“Yes, I think so too.”

Chairman Hideki, who got up from the sofa with a swoosh, put his hands in his pockets and said definitively.

“We should give Kang Woo-jin one of our private jets.”

End