Prestige Seats and a Virtual Invitation
The seats provided by the production company were none other than business class. Or more precisely, Prestige class…
“Whoa…”
Baek Woojin settled into his seat, his eyes widening as he looked around. No wonder the name sounded so flashy. He'd seen it plenty in movies and dramas, but riding it for real was something else. A seat where you could stretch out your legs and lie flat for the whole flight!
“Heh heh. So when you said it was your ‘first time’ earlier, you meant flying like this, not overseas shoots, huh?”
Lee Kang-sik sidled up, whispering mischievously.
“W-Well, that could be it!”
Damn, those eagle eyes of his. He couldn't play it off. Woojin felt a flush of embarrassment.
“You'll probably pass out the first time you try first class, son.”
“...Have you?”
“Of course~ I flew it back in the day. Took it to Cannes for the film festival.”
“Dad, you're way more impressive than you let on.”
Lee Kang-sik burst into a hearty laugh at Woojin's innocent tone. The more he saw of this junior, the cuter he got. Woojin continued.
“It's great and all, but it feels a bit off.”
“Why's that?”
“Jun-an hyung and the staff are all in economy. Feels like I'm the only one living it up…”
There were dozens of cast and crew heading to the Thailand set— the two leads, the director, and writers Kim Soo-rim and Seo Min-kyeong who would join later on-site. Business class was reserved for the key directors and actors.
“If it bothers you, just make sure to manage your condition perfectly to match the perks. Give them the best performance they deserve for treating you this well.”
Lee Kang-sik patted Woojin's shoulder with a pleased smile.
“Right, I will.”
“Good. Now, let's enjoy these six hours in comfort!”
Lee Kang-sik vanished behind the partition to his seat.
Ding! Ding! Ding!
The seatbelt lights flicked off, followed by the safety announcement. Gazing down at the clouds from cruising altitude, they looked just like fluffy white cotton candy. Everything was novel on a first try, and Woojin couldn't tear his eyes from the window.
But soon enough, after digging into the in-flight meal, drinks, and snacks, he was…
“……”
…out cold, script clutched in his hand.
Exhaustion from days of nonstop shooting had piled up. His firm resolve to study lines until landing crumbled under heavy eyelids.
“...Sir?”
How much time had passed? A unfamiliar voice roused him. Woo Seung-hyun PD was gently shaking his shoulder.
Woojin rubbed his eyes and sat up.
“Oh, we've landed.”
“Thought you were dead, Woojin-ssi. You were sleeping so soundly.”
“And you, sunbaenim?”
“He got off first. Let's go.”
Woojin followed Woo PD out.
“Fighting, fan!”
“Thank you.”
The flight attendants cheered softly from the aisle. Woojin waved back with a smile and stepped off the plane.
Wow!
Bangkok's weather was surprisingly pleasant upon arrival. A local staffer from the production company's partner greeted the team right outside the airport. They loaded their luggage onto the bus and drove another three hours.
Along the long western coastal road hugging the Thai Gulf north-south, they arrived at Hua Hin, a beach resort town—the main location for this overseas shoot.
“Everyone, good work!”
The assistant director and advance scouting team, who had arrived early, welcomed them at the hotel entrance.
Familiar faces from set, but reuniting abroad doubled the joy.
“Let's get the luggage in first, then eat. Actors, head straight to your rooms as per the front desk!”
As the assistant director called out, the staff sprang into action. Woojin watched for a moment before whispering to Lee Kang-sik.
“Dad, you go up first. I'll help with the bags.”
“Hoho, trying to hog all the good deeds? Not on my watch! We'll all pitch in and eat sooner!”
They insisted the staff had it covered, but the two actors rolled up their sleeves without hesitation. After sorting luggage and checking in, Woojin and Lee Kang-sik got adjacent single rooms.
“Dad, straight to dinner?”
“Yeah, let's grab the director.”
“Got it, be right out.”
Click.
The room blended luxury with an antique charm, like stepping into a curio shop. True to the resort's old Thai royal heritage, it drew the eye immediately.
“Let's go.”
Stowing his curiosity, Woojin dropped his bags and headed to the restaurant. The team had booked out an entire annex wing, so the hotel dining would run on the cast's schedule during the location shoot.
“Shooting starts the day after tomorrow.”
Over dinner, Woo PD outlined the details. Sets, props, local equipment, and extras still needed prepping.
“You've all worked hard, so rest up tomorrow.”
A full day-and-a-half off. With personal interpreters from the local production, it was pure free time now.
“Dad, then maybe check out the area…”
“I'm dead to the world till tomorrow.”
Before Woojin could suggest heading out together, Lee Kang-sik cut in firmly.
“We came from Bangkok, so I'm Bangkok-ing.”
“……”
Lee Kang-sik tossed out his solo pun, waved, and vanished—reminding Woojin to skip script reading just till tomorrow.
After eating, Woojin stepped out with Jun-an.
“Nice to meet you. I'm Tuachap Laochoat, your interpreter. Call me Andy for short.”
The man spoke fluent Korean and added he was staff from the local production partner.
“Where to first?”
“Hmm, maybe the night market?”
“Sure thing. Oh, and the shoot spots the day after tomorrow are nearby—want a quick look?”
“Yeah, sounds good.”
Andy drove. The sunset scenery was stunning, the breeze through the window refreshing. After twenty minutes, they toured a few planned sites.
Places echoing Lee Jung-hyuk's childhood—forced from his mother's arms and homeland at birth. The scenes coming up? Action sequences, of course. Fitting for a life so brutal, without a moment's breath.
“One more spot, but the set isn't ready yet. We'll save it.”
Woojin nodded at Andy's words.
“This is the Golden Triangle, right? That drug-ridden border mountain zone between Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos.”
“Yep, that's the setup. That set being cleaned over there? It's the protagonist's house.”
Until returning to Korea at 30, Lee Jung-hyuk's life was sketched in broad strokes in the script. To truly feel it in detail, imagination was key.
And that was an actor's job.
Woojin wandered the site, lost in thought. The location's power was real; visiting ahead made a surprising difference, even if perfect immersion wasn't guaranteed.
“Hmm… this might take a bit. Woojin's the type to take it all in meticulously.”
“No rush. We've got time—take it slow.”
Andy smiled at Jun-an's words. Soon,
“Hyung, let's go.”
Woojin, done sketching mental images, rejoined them. They left for the nearby beachside night market.
“Woojin, mask up here.”
“Just me?”
“Yeah. Korean dramas are huge. Someone'll recognize you for sure.”
Hallyu fever via dramas and films? Thailand's was no slouch, beyond Japan or China. Andy said Woojin's debut had exploded there.
“Woojin, you should do a Thai drama sometime. Everyone would love it.”
“Haha, if the chance comes, I'll push for it.”
They'd just met, but Andy was warm and friendly—great chemistry with Jun-an hyung, too. The night market tour never dragged.
Street food, performances. A feast for eyes and ears. One for the memory books.
* * *
“Woojin, take this.”
Back from the quick market run, Andy handed Woojin a USB.
“Your Thai lines, recorded myself. Director said he'd pass it on, but he forgot.”
Whoops. Lee Jung-hyuk had to be fluent in Thai. Some local shoots required Woojin speaking it.
Lee Kang-sik had only suggested pausing joint readings—not solo practice. He'd blanked on that obvious fact.
No time to slack off…
“Thanks, Andy.”
“Recorded slow. Hit me up anytime if you're stuck.”
“Will do. Good work today.”
“See you tomorrow.”
After parting with Andy, back in the room.
“That guy's a keeper.”
Jun-an grinned fondly.
“If Andy were a girl, you'd confess.”
“Hey, love knows no borders.”
Can't take him anywhere. Woojin chuckled and headed in.
“Plans for tomorrow?”
“Not sure yet. Thought I'd rest like the director said, but after seeing the sites… lots to do.”
“Tomorrow's tomorrow. Tonight, just crash—no script. Though I know you won't listen…”
“Haha, I'll pace myself and sleep.”
“Good. I'll wake you in the morning. Night.”
“You too, hyung. Rest up.”
Jun-an hyung returned to his room. A longer-than-usual day wound down into peaceful quiet.
Maybe listen to the lines and get them in my mouth a bit.
Post-shower, Woojin flopped on the bed. He analyzed upcoming scenes while eyeing the script.
Then, firing up his laptop, he played the files from Andy's USB.
> "Today, I'll kill them all…."
> "Death is all traitors deserve…."
> "Run, and you still die…."
Wait—what? Matching them to the script, every Thai line dripped with deathly vibes(?). What kind of life had Lee Jung-hyuk lived in the Golden Triangle…
A irresistible curiosity bubbled up.
“What if…?”
Curiosity born from passionate work—who could stop that? Woojin pulled something from deep in his bag.
The diary.
Scribble scribble scribble.
Woojin jotted notes on his site impressions and analyses of scenes with Thai lines.
Does it open even in a foreign land?
Setting the pen down, he leaned against the headboard.
“Open sesame.”
As he whispered,
Whirr.
Will you accept?
Usually, writing analyses opened the virtual world. A character invite like this? Long time no see.
Guiding you to the virtual world.
The diary rustled, lifting from the desk into the air. Light enveloped him.
5 seconds until transfer.
5, 4, 3, 2, 1
As the count hit zero, Woojin was pulled into the virtual world.
Into the reborn universe—
Step.
His feet touched down.