Chapter 417: Damang (6)

Translator: Santos

"Wait... I'm actually nominated for Best Actor?"

Though Kang Woo-jin maintained his stoic poker face, he was genuinely stunned inside. If he weren't trying to keep up his composed persona, he probably would have tilted his head in surprise.

“Wow, I didn’t see this coming at all.”

He hadn't anticipated this or even considered the possibility. Woo-jin knew about the Primetime Emmys, of course. Until recently, he hadn’t paid much attention to them, but with the international and local media constantly mentioning *Beneficial Evil* in connection with the Emmys, he’d become aware of its magnitude. After some quick research, he understood its significance—essentially the broadcasting world’s version of the Academy Awards.

The thought that he’d actually be nominated for an Emmy for Best Actor? The feeling was different from Cannes. Cannes had been a goal of his, but the Emmys hadn’t even crossed his mind.

“I didn’t hold back with my acting,” he thought, “but this feels like a lucky break.”

Still, he was glad. Being nominated for Best Actor at an award ceremony of this scale—especially as the first Asian actor to be in the running for the category—was a big deal. His performance and action scenes in *Beneficial Evil* were being acknowledged on an international stage.

Across from him, Song Man-woo PD, Director Kim So-hyang, writer Choi Na-na, Choi Sung-geon, and others were practically buzzing with excitement.

"Best Actor?! Woo-jin is up for Best Actor?!"

“This is unprecedented! He’s the first Korean, no, the first Asian actor to be nominated! This is huge!”

"Woo-jin, congratulations! Even if you don’t win, you’ve made history with this Emmy nomination!”

“From Cannes to this… I knew you did an incredible job in *Beneficial Evil*, but getting a Best Actor nomination so soon? Unbelievable!”

“Woo-jin, you did it!”

“Haha! First Cannes, now the Emmys? This is going to be a huge deal everywhere, in Korea and abroad!”

The *Beneficial Evil* team celebrated Woo-jin’s Emmy nomination with an outpouring of emotion, but Woo-jin himself remained calm.

"Thank you," he replied quietly.

Partly, he was keeping up appearances, but even on the inside, his excitement wasn’t as high as everyone else’s. Having only learned about the Emmys this year, Woo-jin lacked the same level of attachment. It was a difference in experience.

Seeing Woo-jin’s relaxed demeanor, PD Song Man-woo chuckled.

"Come on, Woo-jin, you must have had an inkling about the Emmys, right? You kept up that incredible energy throughout filming, so you must have expected this.”

Expected? I didn’t think about it at all, Woo-jin thought, but outwardly, he gave a small nod.

“More or less.”

Kim So-hyang seemed slightly taken aback. Woo-jin’s nonchalance towards such a big achievement was still hard for her to understand.

“But Woo-jin, it’s the Emmys! It’s practically on par with the Academy Awards! You don’t seem very thrilled?”

“I am happy,” Woo-jin replied.

“Really? It doesn’t look like it!”

Choi Sung-geon, watching Woo-jin with pride, thought, *This guy… he’s made Cannes seem like a small stepping stone.*

Just reaching Cannes had already cemented Woo-jin as a legend, and he’d swept through domestic awards like the Blue Dragon and Baeksang, along with three major Hollywood studios. But now, the Emmys had come into play.

*For any other actor, all of this would be more than enough to write a memoir,* he thought, *but for Woo-jin, it’s all just stepping stones.*

And as he looked at Woo-jin’s expressionless reaction, Choi Sung-geon couldn’t help but laugh internally.

*To him, the Emmys are probably just another rung on the ladder.*

But it wasn’t that. Woo-jin could feel Choi Sung-geon’s gaze and understood his misunderstanding but chose not to correct it.

*Ah, let them think what they want,* he thought.

Woo-jin had become accustomed to misunderstandings and false assumptions. For the next several minutes, the team continued to cheer and celebrate, until Kim So-hyang regained her composure.

“Oh! Sorry, everyone! Let me show you the specific categories *Beneficial Evil* is nominated for.”

She turned on the projector, and the room dimmed as the results for *Beneficial Evil*’s nominations were displayed on the screen: a staggering ten Emmy categories.

- **(Drama Category) Best Drama Series, Best Actor, Directing, Writing, Original Score, Production Design, Cinematography, Editing, Visual Effects, and Stunt Performance.**

It was an awe-inspiring list. Beneath each award title were the names of the nominees. Alongside Woo-jin, PD Song Man-woo, writer Choi Na-na, and several key staff members were also listed. It was truly a legendary achievement.

“This is historic! This is the first time a non-English drama has been nominated in ten Emmy categories!”

"Right! This is like a national achievement! The President might even call for a special recognition!”

Then, glancing at Woo-jin, Kim So-hyang added, “If we win even one award, *Beneficial Evil* will go down in Netflix and Emmy history.”

---

As Woo-jin and the *Beneficial Evil* team celebrated at Netflix Korea, the news spread through the Korean entertainment industry like wildfire.

“The Emmys! Is this real?! *Beneficial Evil* is not only nominated but in ten categories?!”

“What?! Ten categories?! Are you sure?”

"Yes, come see for yourself!"

Broadcasters, studios, production companies, and media outlets across the industry were buzzing.

“Unbelievable! Even one nomination would be groundbreaking, but ten?!”

The announcement was live-streamed, and the reaction was instant, shaking up the entire country.

“Wow… the results are incredible! I thought *Beneficial Evil* might get one or two nominations, but ten?!”

"Not just ten—these are the main drama categories at the Emmys!"

"Has this ever happened before?"

“It’s happened in Hollywood a few times, but for a Korean, or even an Asian drama? Never. This is the first time the Emmys have been taken over by an Asian drama like this!”

Then came the orders from newsroom editors.

“Get the article out! Title it *Beneficial Evil*, *Emmys*, and *Kang Woo-jin*, got it?”

“Yes, sir!”

“No, wait! Lead with ‘Kang Woo-jin nominated for Emmy Best Actor’!”

“Lead with Woo-jin?”

"Yes! Sell Woo-jin first, then follow up with *Beneficial Evil*. Hurry!”

Woo-jin’s name carried explosive weight, and for good reason. *Beneficial Evil* had been a global sensation, and his recent achievements with Universal Movies had shattered conventional boundaries.

“Wow—Kang Woo-jin is actually nominated for Best Actor at the Emmys?!”

“What? Really?”

"Yeah, look."

“Crazy. Look at the Hollywood actors he’s up against! I’m proud of him, but I’m also so jealous.”

“As a fellow actor, I have to admit, it’s impressive. He’s like a trailblazer.”

“Absolutely. He’s been paving the way in Hollywood all on his own. At first, his moves seemed outlandish, but now… he’s genuinely inspiring. And I’m saying that as a junior.”

“At Woo-jin’s level, it doesn’t matter if he’s a junior; he’s automatically a senior.”

Among the ten Emmy nominations for *Beneficial Evil*, Woo-jin was undoubtedly the main attraction. Reporters scrambled to publish their articles as quickly as possible.

- **[Breaking] *Beneficial Evil* Nominated for Ten Emmy Categories, Including Best Actor for Kang Woo-jin!**
- **Netflix’s *Beneficial Evil* Makes Waves with Major Emmy Nominations**
- **Kang Woo-jin Becomes the First Asian Actor to Be Nominated for an Emmy Best Actor Award! *Beneficial Evil* Scores Ten Nominations**

News outlets, influencers, YouTubers, and bloggers were all quick to respond. Within 30 minutes of the official announcement, the headlines had spread like wildfire, even before Netflix Korea or BW Entertainment could release official statements.

- **[Official] Kang Woo-jin Achieves Another Milestone with Emmy Nomination for Best Actor—Cannes Was Just a Warm-Up**

This enormous news swept across Korea, and it was clear that it would soon spread to Japan, Hollywood, and beyond.

This development would make Kang Woo-jin even more of an enigma worldwide.

By now, he was seen as a unique phenomenon internationally, but the Emmy nomination added even more fuel to the fire. Should he actually win the Emmy for Best Actor, he would no longer be just a Korean actor but a hero across Asia.

---

That afternoon, Woo-jin, who had been at Netflix Korea in the morning, was now back on set in Gyeonggi Province for *Beneficial Evil* filming. Despite the global headlines, he couldn’t skip the scheduled shoot.

Today’s atmosphere on set was more dynamic than ever.

Starting with PD Song Man-woo, over two hundred staff, actors, and crew members were energized with the news of the Emmy nominations. The excitement and morale were sky-high.

“Wow! New articles are popping up every minute!”

“Woo-jin! Your Instagram followers are going through the roof!”

“Every online community is talking about *Beneficial Evil*, the Emmys

, and you!”

Choi Sung-geon, still on his phone since morning, looked as if he hadn’t put it down once due to the flood of calls. Woo-jin’s phone, too, was constantly buzzing, though more with messages than calls. The congratulations were pouring in from a variety of people worldwide, many from new connections.

Some were even Hollywood actors Woo-jin had never met, sending him congratulations on social media and declaring themselves fans.

“This is kinda surreal,” he thought.

After all, he was a star among Hollywood stars.

Then his phone began vibrating with a long ring. It was a call from Director An Gabok in LA. Woo-jin moved to a quieter spot on set to answer.

“Yes, Director.”

The familiar, elderly voice spoke.

“Woo-jin, I have to congratulate you first—Best Actor at the Emmys. You’ve accomplished something Asia hasn’t managed in decades.”

“I’ll only feel like I accomplished something if I actually win.”

“Haha, fair enough. Maybe I’m getting ahead of myself.”

“Thank you, though.”

Then, An Gabok’s tone shifted slightly.

“I called partly to congratulate you, but also because we’ve set the script reading date.”

It was the official voice of *Piero: Birth of a Villain*’s director.

“The reading is set for May 17.”

The script reading was scheduled for the following week.