Chungmuro's Legend: Ryu Chang-min
He was a director whose films, packed with weighty messages, always guaranteed at least moderate box office success. Critics praised him lavishly, regardless of commercial results. Naturally, he topped every actor's list of dream collaborators—the Chungmuro master, Ryu Chang-min.
The intimidating aura radiating from his appearance was truly formidable. Long white hair cascading down, a towering height paired with a sturdy build, sharp eyes gleaming with piercing insight. Even as Director Ryu offered a gentle smile, Woojin couldn't loosen his grip on the tension. Just facing him felt oppressively heavy with the master's presence.
"Must've been tough coming so early in the morning."
"Not at all. Thank you for making time for me, Director."
Woojin clasped the director's hand politely.
"Have a seat, make yourself comfortable."
"Yes, Director."
Woojin exchanged brief greetings with Seong-cheol as well, then sat facing them. Director Ryu took a sip of his tea and spoke.
"I watched the drama. Great stuff."
"Thank you. I heard from my senior—you were a fan…."
"I started watching to check on how this guy was doing, and ended up hooked on Actor Baek Woojin's performance."
"Haha, Director, come on."
Director Ryu pointed at Woojin and Seong-cheol as he continued.
"You two had a lot of scenes together, and your chemistry was fantastic. That's the word these days, right? 'Great chemistry'? Haha."
Praise from a master. Woojin didn't know where to put himself—embarrassed by what felt like excessive flattery, yet soaring with joy.
"I'm still sorely lacking. Thank you for the kind words."
"Meeting you in person is even more impressive. For someone so polite and humble to nail that fearless character so perfectly… it feels like I'm facing a completely different person."
Director Ryu let out a hearty laugh. Seong-cheol, watching Woojin's bashful reaction with a pleased smile, chimed in.
"I felt it acting with him—his analysis and preparation are incredible. I once saw his script, and every page was filled to the margins. I was shocked. How deeply he dives into the character…."
"Hey, you should take a page from that. Your scripts are always spotless~."
"Ahem… It's just a different style, Director!"
Seong-cheol wore an expression of being squarely called out. Laughter rippled through the playful banter and endearing(?) bickering between the mid-career actor and veteran director. As the atmosphere grew relaxed…
"Anyway, shall we talk about the project?"
Director Ryu broached the main topic.
"Yes, Director. Woojin hasn't seen the script yet, right?"
"No. All I know is what you told me, hyung."
"One moment."
Director Ryu pulled a script from his desk drawer and handed it to Woojin.
"The final version."
On the cover: Red Petals, and below it, 'Director & Screenplay by Ryu Chang-min'. Flipping it open slowly led to the character introductions. At the very top: Yeonsangun. His heart pounded even before reading the text.
The day had come to hold a hot-off-the-press new work from a master director in his hands.
"We'll talk as you read through it."
"Yes, Director."
While Woojin scanned the script, Director Ryu and Seong-cheol chatted, waiting patiently. A moment later.
"All done."
Woojin set the script down, and Director Ryu placed his teacup aside, turning to him.
"I've discussed it plenty with Seong-cheol already. Today, I want to hear Actor Baek Woojin's thoughts."
"Yes, Director."
"What do you think of the character Yeonsangun?"
A question about Yeonsangun to the actor already earmarked for the role. It was entirely expected. But why this odd curiosity creeping in?
"Anything goes—image, personality, whatever. Tell me everything you know about him."
Everything I know. The question's scope was vast. Woojin gathered his thoughts briefly, then spoke slowly.
"A reign of about twelve years, deposed in a coup, dead at the young age of thirty-one. In our history, no monarch lived a more tumultuous life."
Surface-level, and
"Most people see him as a tyrant, even a villain. Given his actions, that's understandable."
Standard fare. But,
"From an actor's perspective, though, it's different. Yeonsangun isn't an absolute villain or tyrant. He's profoundly ordinary—pitiable, even."
Woojin's words piqued the interest of Director Ryu and Seong-cheol.
"Why do you think that?"
"Just as I said—from an actor's viewpoint."
Woojin elaborated.
"For the actor playing him, approaching the character as a definitive tyrant is dangerously misguided."
Before he finished, a faint smile crossed Director Ryu's face. The real discussion on the work had begun. It started, unmistakably, with the veteran's broad question:
"I'm curious about Actor Baek Woojin's take on Yeonsangun."
And the young actor's response was utterly captivating.
"I dare say Yeonsangun never saw his actions as evil in others' eyes. Never."
Not just his view of the historical figure inspiring the role, but how he'd approach the character as an actor—method and all. The conversation had seamlessly shifted from the real Yeonsangun to the scripted one. The transition was so smooth that Director Ryu nearly forgot his own initial question.
"I looked up records on Yeonsangun. The only descriptions I found: frail and slender, pale-skinned. Exceptionally athletic—he could ride a horse standing on his head. And when he danced, onlookers wept."
The rookie actor's tale drew his listeners deeper in.
"What intrigues me most is why this ordinarily recorded king suddenly transformed in his tenth year of rule. Pondering the 'circumstances' that drove him to extreme madness, I couldn't see him as a simple villain—not as the actor who must become him."
Woojin met Director Ryu's gaze as he continued.
"In acting, the most crucial element is 'circumstance'. Grasping the situation and your relationship to the other person to deliver lines—that's the essence of performance."
He punctuated his long answer with firm conviction and belief.
Even more than Seong-cheol described—there's something special about this actor.
Director Ryu's faint smile deepened.
"A memorable answer."
"Thank you."
"Any questions about the script?"
Director Ryu added in a low voice.
"Ask freely. Directors and actors see the same work differently."
"Yes. Then…."
Woojin responded as if he'd been waiting.
"I had a question burning since the start. If I may ask casually."
A doubt nagging since Seong-cheol first mentioned it—one only the script's author could resolve.
"Go ahead."
"It's been on my mind since talking with my senior beforehand."
"What is it?"
"One stark difference between your script, Director, and past works on Yeonsangun. Namely…."
After a brief pause, Woojin stated it directly.
"The presence of Jang Nok-su."
At that moment.
Is he about to say what I think…?
Director Ryu's eyes sharpened.
"In works featuring Yeonsangun, Jang Nok-su—an inseparable figure—is so faint as to be nearly absent."
As soon as Woojin finished, Director Ryu straightened up. Far more intriguing than the first question's answer.
Before diving into his query, Woojin shared his own theory.
"After a week of thought, I figured it was to highlight the co-lead, Im Sa-hong. A dramatic device portraying greater evil than Yeonsangun himself."
He gestured toward Seong-cheol with both hands.
"That's why you cast Senior Oh Seong-cheol as Im Sa-hong, Director. To emphasize the image of Joseon's ultimate treacherous minister."
"Huh? Me?"
"Yes. A character's outer appearance ultimately manifests through the actor's looks. No one fits the Im Sa-hong image better than you, who's so familiar to audiences as a villain."
Not a stretch after all, flashed through Director Ryu's mind.
"Seeing Yeonsangun reminded me of Prince Sado."
"Prince Sado? Out of nowhere?"
As Seong-cheol looked puzzled, Woojin pressed on.
"Prince Sado suffered severe mental illness from stress inflicted by his father, records say, and killed over a hundred eunuchs and court ladies— even carrying their heads around. Yet posterity views him mainly as 'the tragic son locked in a rice chest by his father'. The focus shifts from his murders to his family's tragedy. Similar bad acts to Yeonsangun on the surface, but entirely different cases."
Thwack. Director Ryu slapped his knee unwittingly, the sound blending with Woojin's words.
"Most see him as a tyrant. But beyond that, you wanted to weight the 'circumstances' he faced—that's your intent, Director. That's why I said the Yeonsangun in this script can't be an absolute villain."
"You're wondering if you nailed my production intent?"
"Exactly. You aimed for something beyond the 'tyrant' focus of past media, right?"
Silence fell after Woojin's words. Then it shattered with
"Hahaha!"
Director Ryu's booming laughter filling the office.
"Feels like a dagger straight to the heart—thrilling. Haven't felt this in ages."
He nodded in satisfaction.
"You saw it exactly right, Actor Baek Woojin. Just as you said. I'm shocked."
"Me too, Director."
Seong-cheol added.
"The Prince Sado bit gave me chills. I had the same thought writing the script."
Director Ryu drained his teacup in one go.
"Reading the script in such a short time and grasping the director's intent perfectly. Too spot-on to dodge. Haha!"
The hearty laughs continued. Finally, Director Ryu delivered his decisive line to Woojin.
"Let's sign the contract."