I was Mistaken as a Monstrous Genius Actor [EN]: Chapter 359

“Miley Cara is appearing in a Korean project?” the female reporter echoed, her hand instinctively smoothing her long, permed hair as she processed the male reporter’s words.

“Are you serious?”

The male reporter simply shrugged. She stared at him for a moment, then her eyes narrowed, and she chuckled.

“If you were trying to make me laugh, you succeeded. That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve heard all year.”

A joke. It had to be. Miley Cara was a global superstar, easily in the top five, both in acting and singing. Her latest album was currently dominating the Billboard charts. Who would believe that such a major star would suddenly appear in a Korean project?

But the male reporter, still wearing his hat, repeated his statement.

“Unfortunately, Peggy, I wasn’t trying to be funny.”

“Then what is it? Why are you saying such nonsense? I’m busy.”

The male reporter held out a tablet towards her.

“I agree it sounds absurd, but for some reason, rumors about Miley Cara are spreading like wildfire on Korean social media.”

“……”

The smile vanished from the female reporter’s face, replaced by a furrowed brow. She looked down at the tablet. It displayed translations of Korean articles and social media posts the male reporter had compiled. Most were from Cara’s fans. One Korean article headline read:

『Miley Cara Spotted on ‘Beneficial Evil’ Set! Is Her Appearance Confirmed Due to Her Connection with Kang Woo-jin?』

Most of the articles he had gathered had similar headlines. The social media posts from Cara’s fans echoed the same sentiment. Though phrased slightly differently, the core message was:

Is our Miley Cara really participating in a Korean project?

The female reporter, after quickly scanning the content, ran a hand through her permed hair again, this time with a serious expression. The male reporter added an explanation.

“I haven’t verified everything, but Korean social media and online communities are buzzing about this. It’s only just started, so Hollywood is still quiet.”

“……This is baffling. Why are these rumors suddenly spreading?”

At her question, the male reporter swiped the tablet screen. A photo, seemingly from a filming location, appeared.

“This is from the set of a Korean project called ‘Beneficial Evil.’ They were filming overseas in Bangkok. It’s apparently a Netflix original production. And this male actor here is Kang Woo-jin.”

“Kang Woo-jin—the one who won Best Actor at the Cannes Film Festival.”

“Yes, you were stunned when you saw his acceptance speech where he declared he would aim for an Oscar next year.”

“I remember. There were tons of articles about him after Cannes, and there’s already a lot of buzz in Hollywood.”

The male reporter nodded, as if he already knew, and swiped again.

“The rumors started because of this blonde woman.”

“……She certainly looks like Miley Cara.”

“This photo seems to have surfaced and sparked everything. You know, right? Kang Woo-jin also collaborated on Miley Cara’s latest album, and she appeared on his YouTube channel when she visited Korea.”

“They were often seen together at Cannes too.”

“Isn’t this worth something? I owe you one from last time, so I’m giving this to you, Peggy.”

The female reporter looked at the blonde woman on the tablet again. Miley Cara was a global phenomenon. Her appearance at Cannes and the explosive reaction to her new album, which had topped the Billboard charts, were still fresh in everyone’s minds.

In other words, news about Miley Cara was gold right now.

She pulled out her chair and sat down, opening her laptop. Then, she asked the male reporter, who was still perched on the edge of her desk.

“Kang Woo-jin, Miley Cara—and the Korean project is called ‘Beneficial Evil’?”

It was a sign that ‘Beneficial Evil’ was about to go global.

Later.

Kang Woo-jin, on the set of ‘Beneficial Evil,’ was ten minutes away from his standby call. The team members around him were all glued to their phones, checking the reactions that were exploding in Korea and Japan.

“Oppa! ‘Leech’ has 780,000 viewers! 780,000!!”

“Crazy! How many did ‘Island of the Lost’ get on its first day???”

“Around 700,000!”

“Wow!! That’s 80,000 more??!”

“Is ‘Leech’ going to break another record?!”

“Wow—even with the Cannes Film Festival buzz, 780,000 on a weekday… amazing.”

“What about ‘Strange Gisaeng’? Have the results for ‘Strange Gisaeng’ come out?”

Kang Woo-jin, who had been pretending not to listen, interjected calmly.

“880,000.”

The team members, including the stylist, erupted in excitement.

“880,000!!! That’s more than the first day! Huh?? But how do you know, Oppa?”

“I got a call.”

“Wow! 880,000! I’ve never seen such numbers before! The Japanese media were saying ‘Strange Gisaeng’ would flop! Serves them right!”

“Hey, hey, even so, ‘serves them right’ is a bit much.”

“No, but when I read the articles, I got a little pissed!”

That’s how well ‘Strange Gisaeng’ and ‘Leech’ were performing. Yesterday, only ‘Strange Gisaeng’ was breaking records, but today, both films were soaring. The 880,000 and 780,000 viewers were more than enough to break records in both countries.

At that moment.

“Woo-jin-ssi!! Congratulations!!”

“Wow—the number of viewers is really amazing?!”

Numerous staff members of ‘Beneficial Evil’ flocked to the stoic Kang Woo-jin, showering him with congratulations and praise. Some pointed out the obvious.

“I’ve never heard of anything like this, ever! It’s crazy that the films you star in are being released simultaneously in Korea and Japan, and both are breaking viewership records!”

The common factor between the two films was that Kang Woo-jin was the lead.

There had never been a case where an actor had films released in two countries, and those films were reaching such heights. Naturally, this situation was unprecedented in both Korea and Japan. Woo-jin had caused an unparalleled event in both countries.

Then, all the staff members predicted an incredible future.

“If both movies surpass 10 million viewers, that would be super, super amazing, right?”

“It’s more than that! Woo-jin-ssi will become a legend!!”

Soon, everyone was jumping up and down in unison. Except for Kang Woo-jin.

“But Woo-jin-ssi! Why are you so calm after dropping such a bomb? You’re too quiet!!”

That wasn’t true. Kang Woo-jin had been doing an extreme shoulder dance internally just a few minutes ago. Even now, his heart was filled with a broad smile.

‘Hehe, this corner of my mouth keeps trying to go up. Calm down, Kang Woo-jin. Calm down.’

He was desperately trying to cool his heart, but the domestic media was not.

『[Issue Pick] Cannes Palme d’Or Winner ‘Leech’ Attracts 780,000 Viewers on Opening Day… Unrivaled No. 1 at the Box Office!』

『‘Leech’ Mobilizes 780,000 on a Weekday, Higher First-Day Performance Than ‘Island of the Lost’ with 20 Million Viewers!』

『‘Man of Cannes’ Kang Woo-jin Succeeds Again, ‘Leech’ Seen by 780,000 on Opening Day!』

As soon as the results of ‘Leech’ were announced, they swarmed like a pack of dogs.

『“Could Exceed 20 Million” ‘Leech,’ Which Overturned Cannes, Breaks Records with 780,000 Viewers』

Even the reservation rate for today, the second day of release, was still number one for ‘Leech.’ Therefore, the articles that poured out were filled with various expectations.

『[Movie Talk] 780,000 on Opening Day, No. 1 at the Box Office, Rave Reviews from Viewers, Will Cannes Palme d’Or and Best Actor Winner ‘Leech’ Cause a Sensation in Korea Too?』

The media atmosphere was at its peak, and public opinion was no less. Clearly, the public had enormous expectations for ‘Leech.’ It had swept the Cannes Film Festival, and global figures had praised the film. Usually, if the expectations for a film are high, the disappointment is also great.

However, the viewers who saw ‘Leech’ were not disappointed.

“Ah—it’s so much fun. I have to watch it again.”

“Wasn’t it crazy when the genre changed in the middle? When Kang Woo-jin’s expression completely changed.”

“I looked it up, and it’s called the Ripley Syndrome [a psychological disorder where someone creates a false persona]. But seriously, isn’t Kang Woo-jin a psycho? His acting is like—possessed.”

“Honestly, I didn’t even notice Shim Han-ho [another actor in the film].”

“I agree, I don’t think there’s an actor who can beat Kang Woo-jin in acting.”

They had experienced a pleasure that exceeded their expectations.

[「Leech」/ Released October 27, 2021]

[Rating 9.5]

[Viewer and Netizen Reviews/ 1988 Participants]

-The scenario, directing, actors, everything was good… chilling…/ r****

-The moment Kang Woo-jin, who entered the mansion, changed his expression, the genre changed/ t****

-Ripley Syndrome. Nowadays, people have it because of Instagram, believing fiction to be true? Anyway, Kang Woo-jin’s acting is really good/ f****

-I fully understand why Cannes gave this film the Palme d’Or and why they gave Kang Woo-jin the Best Actor award/ h****

-It’s a subtly unpleasant movie…./ 4****

-It’s a movie that needs no words, and everyone must watch it at least once in this day and age, and Kang Woo-jin is now the undisputed number one actor in Korea/ a****

-It leaves a lingering feeling and gave me goosebumps, and I deleted Instagram/ d****

-This movie is about the problems of modern society through Ripley Syndrome. Director Ahn Ga-bok is a genius/ 6****

-ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋOMG, isn’t Kang Woo-jin really suffering from Ripley Syndromeㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ/ b****

-Why is everyone praising it so much?? To my eyes, it just looks like a moron destroying a family/ c****

-I changed my underwear several times because of Kang Woo-jin’s acting… he carried it all by himself/ 1****

·

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In a way, the local reactions to ‘Leech’ and ‘Strange Gisaeng’ were starkly different. ‘Leech’ was being welcomed from the start and with its release, but ‘Strange Gisaeng’ had been receiving criticism from production until now.

However, the more the complaints about ‘Strange Gisaeng’ grew, the more the criticism and insults raged, the more its box office grew.

『850,000 + 880,000! 「Strange Gisaeng」 Surpasses 1.73 Million in Two Days, Still No. 1 in Reservations on Its Third Day of Release!』

『Is Controversy and Resentment Becoming a Strength? 「Strange Gisaeng」, Full of Criticism but Steadily Breaking Records』

The more that happened, the more Kang Woo-jin was mentioned like crazy. Actors, directors, the public, the media, and many others in the entertainment industry of both countries. The two countries were turned upside down, but that wasn’t the end of it.

『Headline of a Major New York Media Company Article: “Kang Woo-jin, Who Declared War on the Academy Awards, Miley Cara Seen in His Upcoming Project ‘Beneficial Evil’”』

Perhaps it was having an impact worldwide.

A few days later, on Sunday, the 31st. LA.

The movie scene in Korea and Japan was in an uproar, but LA was relatively calm. Among the many film and distribution companies in LA, a familiar old man was sitting in a medium-sized meeting room of one of the top five film and distribution companies. He sat in the middle of the U-shaped table, exuding the aura of a veteran.

“……”

Director Ahn Ga-bok, the still-spirited old man with short white hair and a wrinkled face, was silently looking out at the LA scenery. Of course, he wasn’t alone. The CEO and some executives of the management company to which Director Ahn Ga-bok belonged, as well as an interpreter, were also present. Five people in total, including Director Ahn Ga-bok. They all seemed to be waiting for someone.

So, why was Director Ahn Ga-bok in LA and not in Korea?

Especially at this time when ‘Leech’ had been released in Korea. It was strange timing. Usually, since ‘Leech’ had been released in Korea, Director Ahn Ga-bok would have to make appearances for promotion and marketing. But he was now in Hollywood.

At that moment.

“Director.”

The slightly overweight CEO of the management company spoke quietly to Director Ahn Ga-bok, who was sitting next to him. His expression showed that he was excited but trying to suppress it.

“The results for ‘Leech’ from yesterday, Saturday, have just been released. 1.21 million, and it has surpassed 4 million viewers in total on its fourth day of release. It’s faster than ‘Island of the Lost.’”

“Hmm.”

Director Ahn Ga-bok, after a short hum, asked back.

“How is ‘Strange Gisaeng’ doing?”

“That one is even more unstoppable than us.”

At that moment.

—Click!

The door of the meeting room, which had been closed, opened, interrupting the CEO’s words. Soon, foreigners of various appearances entered in a line. Four in total. As the foreigners entered, everyone, including Director Ahn Ga-bok, who had stopped talking, stood up and exchanged handshakes and brief greetings.

“It’s an honor, Director Ahn Ga-bok. Congratulations again on winning the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival.”

“It was truly amazing to see you win the award, breaking the tradition of Cannes.”

“Thank you.”

About 10 minutes later.

—Swish.

Everyone, who had been exchanging pleasantries and conversations, sat down. Then, a foreign man with a bald head and glasses, who looked to be in his 60s, sitting across from Director Ahn Ga-bok, spoke to him in English. His tone was full of sincerity.

“Director, we would like to entrust you with the megaphone [the director’s role] for our film.”

It was an offer to direct a Hollywood film.

End