Chapter 244: Tidal Wave (11)

Translator: Dreamscribe

‘Beneficial Evil’ is SSS+ grade? Kang Woojin, looking at the white rectangle, was genuinely surprised without any concept. His eyes also widened slightly.

“Wow- Crazy, it jumps up like this all of a sudden?”

Clearly, ‘Beneficial Evil’ was SS grade. In the past, it was the highest grade that came out of the void space. But that just got overturned. SSS+ grade. The maximum grade of the void space was renewed once again.

“Wait a minute, after talking about Netflix earlier, this happened- it’s obvious that the grade soared because it was decided to go with Netflix, right?”

It had been about an hour since the meeting with PD Song Man-woo. The content was the final platform of ‘Beneficial Evil’. Among numerous possibilities, ‘Beneficial Evil’ was almost confirmed for Netflix due to Woojin’s choice, and it was a challenge to the world, bearing many risks.

After that, the SSS+ grade was set.

Soon, a smile spread across Kang Woojin’s lips as he looked at the white rectangle of ‘Beneficial Evil’.

“It means that the worldwide launch will be a hit? That’s awesome.”

Honestly, Woojin still found it difficult to predict how the result of the SSS+ grade would manifest in reality. To put it in perspective, the biggest result he had seen in reality was the S grade ‘Profiler Hanryang’. Even so, this would produce a result several times more destructive than Hanryang.

Even thinking roughly, it would be enormous.

What could it be? What would happen? Honestly, even imagining it was difficult. Well, Woojin had no experience and there wasn’t much data. Although KPOP and Hallyu were making some noise globally, no major work had exploded on a global scale yet.

“Hehe, wouldn’t it spread all over the world and be serviced in each country’s language??”

Even if that was a bit of an exaggeration, it would at least cause a big stir in major European cities. For now, Kang Woojin forced down his rising smile. Taking this excitement into reality could cause problems with maintaining his concept.

“Ah- fuck, I want to announce it to the whole neighborhood.”

Since it was a result only Kang Woojin knew, he was dying to shout it out. But he had to hold back. Woojin, who had spent quite some time in the void space, knew well that the grade of this void space was somewhat precarious. Even if it was currently SSS+ grade, it could plummet if any problem arose midway.

‘Let’s stay as composed as possible and focus only on the acting I can do.’

It was still the starting point. It was a very sensitive time, and changes that occurred now were dangerous. It was best for things to flow naturally without Woojin’s involvement.

Then, taking a small breath to calm himself, Kang Woojin scanned the other white rectangles again.

-[8/Scenario (Title: Leech), SSS grade]

‘Leech’ also had its grade increased. A change that arose timing-wise after the audition. Woojin rubbed his chin. Come to think of it, the old man. No, Director Ahn Ga-bok said something about the benchmark of acting after the audition. There was a strong scent of misconception, so this change was undoubtedly starting from there.

‘Or it could be due to the selected actors.’

Legendary top actress Oh Hee-ryung also joined. The actors picked from the audition were all top tier.

‘Thinking about it, the actors in Leech are all crazy high level. This is seriously insane.’

Anyway, the rise in grade was something to celebrate. Additionally, ‘Island of the Missing’ and ‘The Eerie Sacrifice of a Stranger’ also rose to SS grade. Though not certain, it was likely due to Kang Woojin’s rising influence.

Soon after.

-Swish.

Woojin, who had been looking at the white rectangles, lay down on his back on the endlessly dark floor of the void space and stretched out. He let out a refreshing noise like ‘Keu-‘. Then he laughed.

“I’ll have to fucking focus on my acting.”

While imagining a tremendous future.

After that.

Returning to reality from the void space, Kang Woojin went to the salon and then immediately got involved in the schedule.

Of course, today’s schedule was also hellish. In the morning, he had to update various things related to bw Entertainment. Recently, bw Entertainment moved its office backed by Chairman Hideki. Additionally, the business was expanding. Therefore, the main website had to be revamped, and everything related to marketing, such as SNS and Youtube, was upgraded.

Naturally, everything about Kang Woojin, the star of bw Entertainment, had to be newly inserted.

The most important thing was the profile photo. Thanks to that, Kang Woojin had to change into outfits for four different seasons and take hundreds of photos since the morning.

“Nice! Woojin-ssi! This time, a bit more cocky look! Lift your chin a bit too!”

“Ah- yes.”

“Good, good!”

This continued until lunchtime. Meanwhile, PD Song Man-woo, who had concluded things with Kang Woojin, visited Netflix Korea with the key staff of ‘Beneficial Evil’. There was no need to delay as everyone agreed that striking while the iron was hot was the best approach.

“Welcome, PD-nim. We’ve been waiting after your call.”

“My call was quicker than expected, wasn’t it?”

The meeting between Executive Director Kim So-hyang and PD Song Man-woo was crucial, but it proceeded very smoothly without any hindrance.

“For this project, let’s aim for a proper global reach with Netflix.”

“Thank you! I’m thinking of putting my life on the line for this, but what did Writer Choi and Woojin-ssi say?”

“Writer Choi Na-na is fine with it, she’s too busy writing to care much. Woojin-ssi, well, you know his personality, right? He said let’s go for it without any worries.”

And so.

“Please take care of us, PD-nim.”

“Likewise.”

Drama giant PD Song Man-woo. No, ‘Beneficial Evil’ and Netflix Korea officially joined hands. From this moment, ‘Beneficial Evil’ became a Netflix original aiming for the global market.

‘Beneficial Evil’ was already a hot topic due to the crossover of PD Song Man-woo, Writer Choi Na-na of ‘Male Friend,’ and Kang Woojin. The announcement of it targeting the global market with Netflix would only fuel the excitement further.

Of course, there was also a side that had already excited.

It was the people related to ‘Leech.’ Director Ahn Ga-bok and the ‘Leech’ team.

Not to mention the publicity.

『[MovieIS] Director Ahn Ga-bok’s ‘Leech’ held a large-scale audition? Rumors circulating』

『Rumors of an ‘audition’ for ‘Leech’… Most participating actors are top-tier』

They were busily moving forward for the next step of the audition. Among them, actors who auditioned around yesterday also stood out.

“Still no contact??!”

“No, not yet. It’s only been a day, so don’t be too anxious and let’s wait a bit.”

Although there was an unexpected landmine named Kang Woojin, everyone was still waiting for the results. Of course, actors like Jin Jae-jun, Hong Hye-yeon, and Hwalin, who had connections with Woojin, were no exception.

On the other hand, the confirmed top actors for ‘Leech’ also showed unusual behaviors.

For a brief moment during the audition. More precisely, Oh Hee-ryung, who witnessed Woojin’s acting. She was waving her hands in a cosmetics commercial shoot set.

“Noona, are you practicing sign language again? You already do it well, though?”

She was practicing sign language.

“It’s not about doing it well.”

“Huh?”

“Sign language has to be the default- if it doesn’t come naturally like speaking, it won’t work at all.”

“Wh-who? You, noona? To whom?”

“To Woojin-ssi.”

Great actor Sim Han-ho was no different. He was even deeper than Oh Hee-ryung. Sitting in the living room of a large house.

-Buzz, buzz.

Although his phone had been vibrating for a while, he didn’t pay attention and was busy writing something. Actually, he didn’t even hear the vibration.

“Why? Why does Chairman Yoon Jung-bae act like this here? Is my analysis correct?”

He doubted and doubted again. The Chairman Yoon Jung-bae he created, his actions and thoughts that he decided. He dug in, scrutinized, and explored.

‘This emotion is wrong. Let’s broaden my thinking. Think more.’

Sim Han-ho’s script was already worn out. The blank spaces were filled with words without any gaps. But he didn’t stop. This was after he saw the daunting junior’s portrayal of Chairman Yoon Jung-bae. Honestly, it wouldn’t have been surprising if Sim Han-ho had crumbled.

That’s how terrifying Kang Woojin’s performance was.

But Sim Han-ho, with his tiger-like face, was relentlessly attacking. Moreover, he was advancing. Rather, Sim Han-ho now felt gratitude towards Kang Woojin.

Because he had helped him break out of his shell.

Meanwhile, the atmosphere in Japan was unusual.

『There was a hidden story behind Kang Woojin’s piano performance that overturned Japan, it turned out to be an extraordinary fan service』

『Famous voice actress Asami Sayaka revealed the story of Kang Woojin’s piano performance, it was a performance for her daughter』

Not only the media but also public opinion. Among the public opinion, there was a tsunami on SNS. All three major SNS platforms in Japan were the same. Every single one was flooded with posts tagged ‘#KangWoojin’.

[hiro_88_552]

[Oh my god… A piano performance for just one person…. If it was my daughter’s story, I would have fainted on the spot]

[#KangWoojin, #AsamiSayaka]

aiko]

[Japanese actors should learn from Kang Woojin! It’s such a sophisticated fan service! That girl will support Kang Woojin until she dies!]

[#KangWoojin, #KangWoojinPiano, #AsamiSayaka]

[mini5161548]

[Listening to Kang Woojin’s ‘Merry-Go-Round of Life’ like crazy. Because of this, he will receive tremendous support from the Japanese people! Including me! I love Kang Woojin!]

[#KangWoojinMerryGoRoundofLife, #KangWoojin]

·

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How should one describe this atmosphere? Yes, the whole of Japan was excited. Kang Woojin’s piano performance had already taken Japan by storm early on. Normally, it would be hot news for a few days to a week at most. However, the famous Japanese voice actress ‘Asami Sayaka’ dropped a bombshell.

『The endlessly shared SNS post/photo by Asami Sayaka』

The issue of Kang Woojin’s piano performance entered an entirely new phase.

『Kang Woojin’s fan service for a single girl shakes SNS』

It went beyond an issue and touched the emotions of the Japanese people. And very intensely at that. Whether it was Kang Woojin’s showmanship or whatever, it didn’t matter. Japanese public opinion was enamored with Woojin’s unimaginable fan service. Thus, on Japanese Youtube and communities, it was all about Kang Woojin.

The event exploded on the 4th and throughout today, the 5th, it hit everywhere in Japan.

『The positive story of Korean actor Kang Woojin spreading on SNS, he is fueling the Hallyu wave』

Even as the 6th day dawned, a day later, the waves hadn’t calmed. They grew even more explosively. As a result, in just two days, it was mentioned on famous Japanese entertainment shows.

“Right now, Japan is in a frenzy over Kang Woojin, isn’t it? Sayo-san, what do you think of Woojin-ssi?”

“Hee- He’s cool! I watched the piano playing video over 10 times. But did you know it wasn’t just played, but there’s a touching story hidden behind it?”

“I know, I know, I saw the SNS post by voice actress Asami Sayaka.”

“Isn’t such a fantastic fan service something you’d only see in movies?”

“Looks like you have completely fallen for Woojin-ssi?”

This trend naturally spread rapidly among people’s conversations. Whether online or offline, it was similar. It wasn’t an issue one could commonly see. Moreover, the protagonist wasn’t a Japanese actor but a Korean actor. The one who comforted a Japanese girl with disabilities.

The Japanese public was almost fanatical, and there was no way the Japanese entertainment industry would stay quiet.

Though Kang Woojin was absent, the filming speed at the set of ‘The Eerie Sacrifice of a Stranger’ was increasing.

“Woojin-ssi, who would have thought there was such a backstory to him playing the piano at the restaurant that day!”

“Right, no one knew, right?”

“I thought he was just playing the piano because it was there. For one young fan… playing the piano.”

“Isn’t it insanely cool that he played the OST of the fan’s favorite work?”

“I understand why Japan is in such a stir right now.”

“With that indifferent face, he’s actually so kind and gentle inside.”

“At this rate, when Woojin-ssi returns, the number of his Japanese fans will increase tremendously.”

“His SNS is about to explode even now!”

At the anime production company ‘A10 Studio’, preparing for the ‘Male Friend Remake.’

“With this level of piano skill, can’t we entrust it directly to Woojin-ssi?”

“If possible, that would be the best choice. The impact when ‘Male Friend Remake’ releases will be significant!”

“But… will Woojin-ssi do it?”

“We have to give it a try; it’s too good of a story to miss. I’ll try to reach out right away!”

“Yes, then please do. We will focus on casting the voice actors.”

Recently, the editing team for the Kashiwa Group advertisement featuring Kang Woojin was also working hard. The timing was perfect to release the advertisement. They increased the speed to the maximum to reveal it to the public as quickly as possible.

And the top trend ranking on Japan’s number one portal site had remained Kang Woojin for the third consecutive day.

1. Entertainment / Kang Woojin (-)

It was the first time for a Korean actor.

At the same time, in Korea.

Around the late morning of the 6th, when the waves caused by Kang Woojin in Japan was gradually spreading to Korea, the ‘Leech’ team released an official announcement.

『[Official] ‘Leech’ Actor Lineup Confirmed! Sim Han-ho, Kang Woojin followed by Oh Hee-ryung, Jin Jae-jun, Han So-jin』

It was about the confirmation of the main actors.