Chapter 407: Roaring sound (3)

Translator: Santos

 

The American morning news that Kang Woo-jin was watching felt a bit more open and casual compared to Korean broadcasts. The anchors often delivered the news with a touch of humor and wit.

And right now—

-[“There’s been much buzz about Disney’s upcoming live-action movie, *Beauty and the Beast*, ever since it was announced. The original is globally popular, so even the announcement of potential candidates stirred up a lot of excitement. Yesterday, the actor for the Beast role was finally confirmed.”]

Two anchors, a man and a woman, along with a guest expert, were discussing cultural news. The main topic was *Beauty and the Beast*, which had ignited conversations overnight.

-[“Actor Kang Woo-jin, who was one of the candidates, made an unexpected announcement on *The Jamie Show*.”]

-[“Yes, and shortly afterward, Disney confirmed the news on their official social media.”]

The news footage switched to various images of Kang Woo-jin, most of which featured his appearance on *The Jamie Show* the previous evening. Woo-jin, watching, momentarily forgot his composed demeanor as he stared at himself on TV.

“Wow—why does this feel so surreal?”

It wasn’t unusual; his face being shown on a major American news broadcast, and even more, being the central topic of discussion. While he’d experienced this kind of attention in Korea, seeing it unfold on American news felt entirely different.

The scene shifted back to the anchors.

-[“Kang Woo-jin’s career trajectory is truly unique.”]

-[“Indeed. He’s accomplished many firsts as a Korean actor. From winning Best Actor at Cannes, collaborating on an album with Miley Cara, securing the lead in *Piero: Birth of a Villain*, and starring in the globally top-ranked *Beneficial Evil*, to now being confirmed as the Beast in *Beauty and the Beast*.”]

-[“Wow, hearing it all listed like that sounds even more unbelievable. And I heard that he’s the first actor to be simultaneously cast in lead roles by both Columbia and Disney?”]

-[“That’s true, but what’s really remarkable is the timeline. It’s taken him less than half a year from Cannes to turning Hollywood on its head.”]

The anchors and the guest expert discussed Kang Woo-jin’s unprecedented rise, analyzing his rapid ascent. Throughout, Woo-jin’s name was mentioned repeatedly. While American news occasionally covered Korean stories, dedicating such an extended segment solely to one Korean actor was unprecedented.

-[“Why do you think Hollywood has taken such an interest in him so quickly?”]

Woo-jin, arms crossed, reacted to the question on TV.

“Yeah, why? Let’s hear your answer.”

The foreign expert with a bearded face on the screen responded promptly.

-[“He’s shown an extraordinary pace even by Korean standards. Would you believe Kang Woo-jin is only three years into his acting career?”]

-[“Three years? Seriously?”]

-[“Yes. Despite his short career, Kang Woo-jin has a mysterious and eccentric aura. People who know him say that while he might seem like a rookie, beneath the surface, he’s like a veteran with decades of experience. One of them described it as the ‘aura of a star.’”]

Woo-jin’s lips curled up slightly.

“Who said that? Who’s saying such flattering things?”

The expert, oblivious to Woo-jin’s curiosity, continued.

-[“His public actions are also far from ordinary. He mentioned the ‘Oscars’ without hesitation during his acceptance speech at Cannes, where countless Hollywood figures were present. He did the same at the *Piero* press conference when his casting was announced. And on *The Jamie Show*, when confirming his role as the Beast, he boldly told his critics to ‘watch the film before judging.’”]

-[“Hmm—he’s got this fearless, rebellious vibe, doesn’t he?”]

-[“Yes, but he’s not reckless. He’s skilled, which is why Cannes and Hollywood are responding to him. His current influence is evident in the success of *Beneficial Evil*. Even those who criticized him have become fans. Opinions may be divided, but one thing is certain: Hollywood has never seen an actor like him before.”]

-[“Is that his secret?”]

-[“That, and his good looks, language skills, and other talents, including his musical abilities. This Beast casting will undoubtedly stir up controversy, but on the other hand, Kang Woo-jin’s recognition will only keep rising.”]

Listening to the expert, Woo-jin gave a thumbs-up to the TV.

“You, I respect.”

The broadcast continued discussing Woo-jin for several more minutes before switching topics. He glanced at the clock; they had talked about him for over 10 minutes.

Right then, his phone rang. It was Choi Sung-geon.

“Did you see the news?”

“Yes, Director.”

“Good. But when Disney ramps up their promotion, it’s going to get even louder. How does it feel to be the first Korean actor to be featured so prominently on American news?”

The truth was, Woo-jin felt like dancing out of excitement, but he answered calmly.

“It’s just okay.”

Choi Sung-geon chuckled on the other end.

“Haha, I figured you’d say that. Get ready. We need to head to Walt Disney Pictures.”

Later on.

Woo-jin met up with Choi Sung-geon and the team and climbed into a large van. Even in the van, which sped down the road, Woo-jin’s name echoed in English from the radio. The morning radio hosts were covering the *Beauty and the Beast* story.

The team couldn’t contain their excitement.

But Woo-jin maintained his poker face, even though he found it all fascinating. How did his name end up spreading across this vast country? As he crossed his legs, he picked up his phone, opening YouTube to check his “Kang Woo-jin Alt” channel, but he didn’t need to.

‘The reaction is insane.’

He was dominating the top 10 of trending videos.

-Kang Woo-jin Confirmed as the Beast! #KangWoojin #Hollywood #BeautyandtheBeast #Disney #TheJamieShow｜International Hot Topics TV

-<<Hollywood Actors’ Reactions to Kang Woo-jin’s Casting as the Beast!!! (Buzzing!)>>｜MovieBuzz

Countless YouTubers, from news-focused to casual ones, were mentioning *Beauty and the Beast* and Kang Woo-jin. It was no surprise since this was the hottest topic. And it wasn’t just on Korean YouTube; the same could be seen on American YouTube. Though Woo-jin didn’t check, it was clear that channels around the world were likely buzzing with this issue.

He clicked on a random video from his channel—

-Swish.

Then closed it immediately.

‘Wow, this is just madness.’

The comments section was overflowing, even more chaotic than before. Social media wasn’t any quieter. It felt as if the entire world was piling onto Woo-jin’s social media, overwhelming YouTube’s activity. Woo-jin couldn’t help but chuckle.

‘The power of Hollywood is something else.’

The media and public response was a deafening roar on a global scale. And Korea, of course, was no exception. It was even more intense there.

『Kang Woo-jin, First Korean Actor Cast as Disney’s Lead in *Beauty and the Beast*!』

『Kang Woo-jin Announces His Role as the Beast on *The Jamie Show*, Outshining Top Hollywood Actors』

『[Star Talk] The First Korean Actor to Lead a Disney Film, Kang Woo-jin: The World Roars for Him/ Photo』

The next day—

-Kang Woo-jin is seriously a maniac LOL it looks like he’s winging it, but he’s taking over the world LOL

-Talk about Korean pride... amazing...

-Isn’t this the first time anyone’s pulled off such massive casting deals, even in Hollywood?

-What’s even crazier is *Beneficial Evil* is still ranked #1 globally.

-I’m not sure how I feel about him playing the Beast.

-↑ You’ve clearly never watched a Kang Woo-jin project.

-From Cannes to now, Kang Woo-jin’s been in beast mode!

-There’s always been controversy around Kang Woo-jin’s projects LOL even with *Beneficial Evil*, but he always silences critics with top-notch acting LOL

Two days later, the noise didn’t die down. If anything, it grew louder. If it were only Korea buzzing, it might have been contained, but with the whole world, including the U.S., joining in, there was no stopping this wave.

It was like a viral trend.

-LOL even major international YouTubers are talking about Kang Woo-jin nonstop LOL

The global media kept adding fuel to the fire, while prominent YouTubers, influencers, and other online personalities fanned the flames. The final touch came from countless international fans.

The opinions were starkly divided.

But ironically—

-Chris Hartnett just mentioned Kang Woo-jin on social media LOL said his acting is insane LOL

Kang Woo-jin’s international recognition skyrocketed exponentially.

『[Issue Check] “World Star” Kang Woo-jin Becomes Top Priority for Luxury Brand Ambassadorships』

And—

『Could Kang Woo-jin’s *Beneficial Evil* Head to the Emmys? Foreign Media Says It’s a Strong Contender』

The insane momentum of *Beneficial Evil* continued.

A week later, February 28th, in LA.

As Kang Woo-jin’s global fame grew, February 28th, the last day of the month, arrived. It was around 10 a.m. The location was the massive 

50,000-square-meter “spt studio” where *Beauty and the Beast* would be filmed. The area outside the soundstage, where the auditions for the role of Belle were held, was bustling.

Vans, trucks, and buses were parked, and over a hundred people were running around.

Naturally, they were the staff for *Beauty and the Beast*.

A large white van had just pulled up in front of the soundstage. And then—

-Swish.

Out stepped a striking woman with deep brown eyes that seemed to occupy most of her face. She had defined features, a prominent nose, and dark eyebrows. Her hair, dark brown at the roots, transitioned to blonde at the ends and fell gracefully over her shoulders. Even in a casual hoodie, her beauty stood out.

Her presence was undeniable.

And for good reason. She was one of Hollywood’s top actresses.

Soon, staff members approached her.

“Maria, after greeting the team inside the set, you need to change into the dress.”

Maria. Her full name was Maria Armas. Though she was from Spain, she was currently one of Hollywood’s leading actresses. Maria sighed and responded in English.

“It’s just a screen test, and I have to wear a dress?”

“What can we do? You know how meticulous Walt Disney Pictures is, and so is Director Bill Roettner. I heard even the male actors wore formal suits for the Beast auditions. Just go along with it.”

“Annoying.”

“Or do you want to drop out of the Belle race?”

Maria’s brows knitted.

“Are you crazy? Who would I be doing that for? I’m not letting Miley smile. Especially with the media constantly comparing us. Ugh—why do I have to be the first one today?”

“Ugh, why is your relationship with Miley Cara so bad?”

“We just clash. I learned that for sure when we worked on the same project before.”

Indeed, today was the day for the official Belle auditions. Maria was one of five candidates. She ran her fingers through her brown-and-blonde hair as she moved.

“But why is *that* actor joining today’s audition?”

“Which actor?”

“You know, the one from Korea.”

“Oh—Kang Woo-jin.”

The muscular man shrugged.

“I’m not entirely sure, but I think the production wants to test the chemistry between the Beast and Belle. The Beast role is already confirmed for Kang Woo-jin, after all.”

Maria chewed her lip, unimpressed.

“I don’t like him.”

“Maria, there are a lot of people here.”

She paused and looked at the large soundstage ahead.

“He’s really not it, you know?”

This time, she switched to Spanish.

“I saw him at Cannes and in the *Piero* interviews. He doesn’t take the ‘Oscars’ seriously; he mocks it. I haven’t even won one yet... And Kang Woo-jin isn’t right for the Beast.”

The muscular man sighed.

“Maria, speak in English. I can’t understand you.”

But Maria continued in Spanish.

“He’s not enough for the Beast. No, he doesn’t fit the role of the prince. The prince should be more handsome.”

Just then—

“That’s unfortunate.”

A low, fluent Spanish voice came from behind them. Startled, Maria and her team turned around. A man with jet-black hair was approaching.

-Swish.

It was Kang Woo-jin.

With an indifferent expression, he stopped a short distance from Maria, whose eyes widened even more when she saw him. Woo-jin, unbothered, said to her calmly,

“You’re not as pretty as Miley Cara.”

And, of course, it was in perfect Spanish.