Lee Jin-wook Himself (2)
Assistant Director Kim Hyun-tae thought to himself.
'He's different. His character immersion is spot on.'
The moment the camera started rolling, Jeong Seo-hoon transformed like a ghost had possessed him.
He wasn't forcing a grimace or straining his eyes unnecessarily.
It was as if Lee Jin-wook's soul had truly entered him—his presence shifted so naturally.
'Great aura. He's going to be a huge star someday.'
Kim Hyun-tae replayed the just-shot scene over and over.
It was a simple moment: after the call with Gu Je-man, jumping toward the Han River. But he'd captured delicate details in his expression and gaze.
Looking down at the water below his feet, then lifting his eyes to the distant horizon, clenching his teeth just a bit—that mix of fear of death and hidden cunning.
Lee Jin-wook jumps into the Han River, but it's a faked suicide to evade investigation.
He had to convey immediate emotion to the viewers while planting seeds for later reveals, and Jeong Seo-hoon nailed it in one take, no NG.
No need for second or third jumps. One and done.
'Come to think of it, Mr. Jeong hasn't had a single NG today...'
Thinking about it gave him chills.
Even the actors matching scenes with him hadn't called NG once.
'He's incredible.'
It was only the first day of shooting, but he exuded stability beyond veteran actors.
Yet he had his own distinct color, setting him apart.
'He's gonna make it big.'
Kim Hyun-tae recalled Song Jeong-woo's instructions.
After wrap, send the 'exhausted rookie actor Jeong Seo-hoon from his first day' straight home.
Of course, stuff him with nutrient-packed meat first.
"Huh? What's this?"
Then a voice that should never echo on set made his heart sink.
"What happened?"
"The winch won't reel! It's jammed and not working!"
"What?"
Safety measures were triple-redundant.
Jeong Seo-hoon had jumped with a secure rope, equipped with bungee-like shock absorbers.
Below the bridge was a shock-absorbing net, and on the water, rescue teams waited in boats.
No major disaster, but any glitch in safety gear stiffened the atmosphere.
"Reel it in quick and pull him up. Our Seo-hoon must be freaked."
"The winch isn't turning at all, so we'll probably have to pull by hand."
A few burly crew rushed over, but the rope was taut vertical, hard to yank.
If it were bent horizontal, they could've tugged like tug-of-war, but straight down?
Call rescue? As they hesitated, a calm voice rose from below.
"Let go. I'll climb up."
"Pardon? But Seo-hoon..."
Kim Hyun-tae shut his mouth.
Jeong Seo-hoon spun lightly in midair, grabbed the rope barehanded, and ascended swiftly using just arm strength.
He tapped the bridge wall casually with his feet, and in seconds, stood atop like nothing happened.
Stunned, Kim Hyun-tae whipped around, yelling.
"Did we get that on camera?"
"N-no, we didn't..."
"I got it."
Jeong Su-ryeon held up a small handy cam, and Kim Hyun-tae sighed in relief.
"Su-ryeon, good job. Perfect. Where'd you start filming?"
"From when the camera rolled, all the way."
"Great. Really great."
Glad it ended as a happy accident, but nearly a big incident—and worrying if they missed footage?
Kim Hyun-tae chuckled wryly at himself, relieved they captured the gold.
'Stick this in the making-of and it'll pull mad views.'
Song Jeong-woo and Kim Sang-hee.
The biggest lesson working with them: obsess over ratings awake or asleep.
"Su-ryeon, head home first. I'll treat Jeong Seo-hoon to something good and drive him."
"Me?"
"Yeah. Our Seo-hoon got a scare today. Comfort him good."
Knowing they were siblings, he'd asked her discreetly.
But other female staff grumbled inwardly.
Assigning one person for escort home? Unprecedented.
"Lucky Su-ryeon. Straight home from set. We got tons left at the studio."
"It's 'cause Jeong Seo-hoon almost had an accident. Special care."
"Why her, though? I could've done it."
Chattering idly, they packed gear and wrapped.
Jeong Seo-hoon and Jeong Su-ryeon hopped in the car and headed home.
"Hey, let's do beef. Beef."
"Not feeling it."
"Still, free legal chance—might as well."
"Blood alliance in danger, and all you think is beef?"
"Rope didn't snap, just winch jammed. Net right below anyway. But damn, you climbed with arm strength alone? Secret workouts?"
Jeong Su-ryeon poked her brother's arm in awe, jolted by the steel-hard feel.
"Whoa, dude. Why so solid? Thought it was metal. You really working out?"
"Yeah, a bit."
"Not a day or two. Where?"
"Army."
"You said generals' kids tutoring kept you slammed—time for gym?"
Jeong Seo-hoon's original body was slim and average. Arm-climbing a rope? Impossible.
But earlier, he'd felt he could do it.
Not quite soldier-level, but easy enough.
What to call it?
The more the camera rolled and he immersed in the scene, the more the soldier's body and mind synced.
"Seriously no beef? Rude. Receipt gets expensed by team."
"Eat alone."
"Then it's embezzlement, duh."
Ignoring her whining, Jeong Seo-hoon went straight home.
The thrill of gripping and climbing still buzzed in his nerves.
Even off-camera, he'd felt the soldier's senses. Heart-pounding.
He grabbed a pen, madly sketching battlefield vistas on his sketchbook.
Recalled the river jump scene.
Overlapped with the Korodot Sea landing battle.
Leaping bravely from the landing craft, charging the beach under heavy gear, smashing enemy trenches, claiming victory.
The glorious instant he truly became a soldier.
He poured the memory onto paper until the sketchbook ran out.
Excitement lingered.
He sat at his dad's dusty, abandoned home gym machine—hyped for days, ignored after three.
'I can go back. See that longed-for place again...'
Glad today wasn't the last shoot; more to come.
But no set visits until episode 4's done.
Could he hold out? Body itched.
Should've made excuses to rejoin Team 1 today? Just sit and watch?
But a rookie post-accident, post-wrap? Nah, he'd nixed it.
Hoped to dream of that place tonight.
Showered his workout-weary body and crashed early.
But as always, no comrades in his dreams.
Promotion for drama Illegal kicked off in earnest.
Buses rolled with ads, portal sites blasted drama trailers in mega-banners.
Official board launched: teasers, concept pitches, characters, cast reveals.
Core fans of leads like Cha Do-jin and Yoo Jeong-ah spread clips, building buzz organically.
Top stars reuniting after ages had fans and public buzzing with hype.
Strategically leaked bait started rippling deep.
First Ratings Good Ratings (1)