Overwhelming Scale and the Foreshadowed Rumor
The vast set in Gyeongbuk Yeongcheon. At last, the first day of filming had arrived for Four Square Entertainment’s unprecedented blockbuster historical drama, Yeoyo War.
Spanning eight hundred thousand pyeong, the location rivaled the country’s largest historical drama complex in Yongin. Its sheer scale was so immense it defied the eye’s ability to take it all in at once. Beneath a sky just beginning to blush with dawn, majestic Goryeo-era architecture rose as if drawing breath. The enormous castle walls dominated the view. Built nearly to real-life specifications and soaring twenty meters high, they looked sky-piercing from a distance and breathtakingly detailed up close. Far beyond them stood the splendid yet sturdy imperial palace sets, every roof tile faithfully reproduced from ancient records. Inside the walls, the civilian district had been crafted with equal care—the texture of wood and earthen walls rendered so perfectly they seemed to breathe with the lives of commoners. Hundreds of thatched cottages, tiled homes, government offices, and marketplaces formed a complete living world at full scale, overwhelming anyone who beheld it.
The director overseeing the shoot stood with a walkie-talkie in hand, staring up at the walls in a daze. “That wall height… they really built it for real, without CG? This is a first in the entire history of Korean drama.”
The assistant director beside him nodded enthusiastically. “Every single tile on the eastern palace roof was verified against historical texts. People are already saying this set alone could carry an entire drama.”
A rookie actor at the entrance lowered his phone with a sigh, having given up on capturing the sight. “It won’t even fit in the frame… Is this seriously a set? I can’t believe we’re going to act here.”
A veteran supporting actor seated on horseback brushed dust from his armor and chuckled. “Four Square has outdone itself. This isn’t a drama set—it’s a blockbuster film lot. Act half-heartedly and the set will swallow you whole.”
Yoon Eun-jung, costumed in flawless imperial regalia, walked toward the center of the set with her staff. The lavish empress attire only heightened her pure, elegant beauty. She paused, captivated by the panorama before her. The overwhelming grandeur she had felt upon first arrival had not diminished in the slightest.
It’s incredible. I heard the set wasn’t even fully finished… Who could possibly call this a mere backdrop?
Her stylist leaned in, whispering in awe. “Unnie, this set is on another level. With a scale like this, it’s going to be the pinnacle of your career.”
Eun-jung fought to steady her trembling voice. “…Yes. It really is. The CEO… truly thinks on a massive scale.”
Her eyes shimmered with reverence for the colossal set, mingled with deep affection and pride for the man who had created it. This vast complex symbolized his power, and standing at its heart proved she was the one he had chosen.
It was the beginning of Yeoyo War.
Two thousand horses gathered from across the nation. Two thousand riders clad in heavy armor. Two thousand extras portraying Khitan soldiers, plus the full crew. In total, five thousand people filled the wide plain. Dawn mist curled across the golden fields as Goryeo cavalry armor caught the first rays of sunlight. The snort of horses and thunder of hooves shook the earth, turning the set into a living battlefield thick with tension. Massive camera cranes and drones hovered overhead, ready to capture every moment, while the distant castle walls loomed like an imposing sentinel in the background.
The actors waited on one side, absorbing the overwhelming spectacle. Choi Min-ho, cast as a Goryeo general, sat atop his horse and shook his head at the walls. “What a sight. If two thousand horses charge at once, won’t it feel like an earthquake?”
Jo Jin-ho, playing the cavalry captain, agreed. “You’re right, hyung. Those riders are professionals brought in from all over the country, and the armor is weighted exactly like the real thing. When we film the charge, it’s going to feel like an actual battle. I’m already nervous just riding alone—two thousand at once? Chills.”
Actors and crew gathered in clusters, all of them marveling at the production’s staggering scale while quietly proud to stand at its center.
Soon the signal came. The actors moved to their marks, focus sharpening. And so the first shoot of Yeoyo War began.
The sun had already begun to sink, staining the sky with the deep hues of sunset. After a full day of filming that had started at dawn, the director’s voice rang across the set.
“All right, everyone—excellent work today! We’ll wrap here. Tomorrow’s call is early, so get some proper rest.”
A languid atmosphere of exhaustion and satisfaction settled over the site. Staff packed equipment while actors changed out of costumes, bodies heavy with fatigue. Most would catch what sleep they could on location or inside vans before the next predawn call.
That was when the massive trailers began rolling in.
A fleet of enormous vehicles far larger than luxury tour buses advanced in a stately wave. The entire set stirred at once.
The director tilted his head, walkie-talkie still in hand. “What’s this? All the equipment is already here…”
The assistant director’s eyes widened. “Those aren’t containers… Are they RVs?”
“What kind of RV is that size? Can you even call something that big an RV?”
Actor Han Seok-jung crossed his arms. “Classic Four Square move. What’s CEO Nam cooking up this time…”
Kim Hye-joo counted as more trailers appeared. “One, two… ten? Wait, there are more coming. What on earth are they?”
A staff member came running. “They’re ultra-luxury RVs! They’re being assigned as actor accommodations!”
The set erupted in murmurs.
“Those are RVs?”
“I heard they have beds, showers, full kitchens—hotel level.”
“The same kind famous Hollywood actors use?”
“He must not have wanted us sleeping in cars before dawn shoots. So like the CEO.”
Forty colossal trailers arranged themselves neatly. Each one looked luxurious from the outside, easily twice the size of a normal tour bus. A few were so enormous it seemed doubtful they could even drive on public roads. They were mobile residences assigned individually to the lead actors and key staff.
Eun-jung watched the procession with sparkling eyes, her heart already fluttering.
CEO… Are you trying to surprise me again?
Then a familiar black sedan glided into view. A Four Square staff member recognized the license plate and shouted, “Hey! Isn’t that the CEO’s car?”
The set buzzed once more.
“He really came?”
“I thought he wasn’t coming today.”
The man who stepped out was none other than Namgoong Min. Dressed in an impeccable suit, he paused after exiting the vehicle to slowly survey the trailers and the grand set. As he began walking, staff bowed deeply in greeting and actors stared in surprise.
From a distance, Eun-jung watched it all and allowed herself a secret, radiant smile. Her eyes brimmed with overwhelming happiness and a quiet, intimate joy.
CEO… You came after all.
Min approached at a measured pace, first bowing to the nearest staff members.
“Thank you for all your hard work, everyone.”
A staffer hurried forward. “CEO, you made the trip? You must be exhausted after such a long drive…”
“Not at all. You’re the ones who have been working since dawn. How was the first day of filming?”
His courteous tone and warm words brightened every face. The director smiled broadly.
“It went smoothly thanks to you, CEO. The set’s scale is so impressive that everyone poured their hearts into it.”
“I’m glad to hear that. If any difficulties arise during the shoot, please don’t hesitate to tell me.”
Min turned and gestured toward the trailers. “Long-location shoots always bring accommodation headaches. For the duration of filming, the actors and key staff may use these trailers freely. Please don’t feel burdened.”
Exclamations of delight rose from the gathered cast and crew.
“As expected of the CEO… the way he wins people over is truly impressive.”
“Even one of those must cost a fortune. Four Square really operates on another level.”
Min took the time to personally thank and encourage every major actor and staff member. His presence alone— the CEO of the production company visiting an unprecedented large-scale historical drama set—did wonders for morale. Adding forty ultra-luxury trailers was simply icing on the cake. Praise for both Four Square and Namgoong Min naturally flowed from every corner of the site.
While greeting the others, Min spotted Eun-jung and walked slowly toward her. She watched him approach with a smile, her heartbeat quickening. The closer he came, the warmer her cheeks grew.
When he reached her, he placed a gentle hand on her shoulder and spoke in a soft, caring voice.
“You worked hard today, Eun-jung. The first shoot can be nerve-wracking. Rest well. And absolutely do not get sick.”
His words were as tender as ever, his gaze filled with warmth. Eun-jung’s face flushed crimson. She nodded silently at first, then broke into a bright, heartfelt smile.
The watching staff and actors exchanged meaningful glances. They had all sensed the subtle current flowing between the two.
“There’s definitely something between them…”
“The CEO is especially gentle with Eun-jung.”
“Because she’s the top actress? Or… is it something more?”
“There were rumors, weren’t there? About the two of them…”
“I thought it was just talk, but seeing them together… it makes sense now.”
The whispers spread, yet Eun-jung paid them no mind. In fact, receiving his warm attention in front of so many eyes only made her feel more special. Though the meaningful stares pressed in from all sides, she struggled to contain the surge of emotion. If no one had been watching, she would have thrown herself into his arms. Instead, she held the impulse in check and answered with a quiet smile.
“Thank you, CEO. As you said, I won’t get sick no matter what.”
Watching her radiant smile, Min answered with one of his own. Amid the quiet curiosity and meaningful looks that now filled the set, the two of them seemed to exist in their own private world for a moment. And Eun-jung, simply by being at his side, felt once again the complete and perfect happiness of belonging to him.