An Offer from the Queen of Dramas
“Yes, I understand.”
Kim Tae-gon, the team leader, quickly ended the call. As he slipped his phone into his pocket, he was still staring at Woojin with a shocked expression.
What kind of call could make him react like that? Woojin wondered. It feels like an emergency meeting that was wrapping up has suddenly restarted…
“This is a first for me. I’m totally flustered.”
“What is it, team leader?”
Curiosity must have gotten the better of Lee Min-seong, who had been looking glum until moments ago, as he urged Kim Tae-gon on. Woojin naturally leaned in toward him as well.
Kim Tae-gon spoke in a low voice.
“We just got a meeting request.”
“From who?”
“Writer Kim Soolim.”
“No way… insane?! For real?”
“Yeah. Writer Kim said she wants to meet Woojin in person…”
At the name Kim Soolim, Lee Min-seong’s mouth fell open in astonishment. Jun-an, sitting beside him, had eyes wide as saucers too.
But unlike them, Woojin looked puzzled as he glanced back and forth at the three of them.
“Why is everyone so surprised?”
“This is huge! Woojin-ah, are you seriously asking because you don’t know?”
Lee Min-seong made a fuss. Of course Woojin knew Kim Soolim’s reputation. What he didn’t get was,
“Actors meeting with directors or writers is super common. Why the shock?”
“Because it’s Kim Soolim!”
“……”
The conversation felt like it was looping endlessly, like a Möbius strip.
Kim Tae-gon calmed his excitement and spoke in a steady voice.
“So, here’s the situation…”
After hearing his explanation, Woojin finally understood their reactions. Writer Kim Soolim had never once initiated a meeting or casting offer to anyone before. The network always approached her first for scheduling, and actors or agencies expressed interest in participating…
That was how skilled she was—proven by her results. Her pride and self-confidence, the title of Korea’s top drama writer, weren’t given lightly.
Woojin nodded and murmured,
“That’s incredible.”
“…You seem way too nonchalant.”
“So, Woojin-ah, what do you think?”
Once again, all three sets of eyes turned to Woojin. Just as bad news piles up during tough times, good fortune seemed to cascade when things were going well.
Woojin pondered for a moment before opening his mouth.
“I’ll meet her. Please set it up with Writer Kim.”
Kim Tae-gon and Lee Min-seong nodded with smiles.
“But…”
Woojin added one condition.
“I’d like to meet her alone.”
It was yet another surprise.
* * *
Writer Kim Soolim readily accepted Woojin’s condition, and the meeting was arranged smoothly.
The next day, in the morning. Woojin arrived at the officetel entrance and rang the bell without hesitation.
A moment later.
—Click.
As the door opened, “You’re here!”
Kim greeted Woojin with a bright smile. She was a woman in her forties of average height, build, and looks. Yet an extraordinary aura emanated strongly from her.
“Hello, Writer. I’m actor Baek Woojin.”
“I’m Kim Soolim. Nice to meet you. Come on in.”
“Excuse me.”
The officetel interior was spacious as he followed her in—easily over 70 pyeong. It felt more like an office than a residence.
“Have a seat here.”
“Thank you, Writer. Here, please take this.”
Woojin handed her the set of drinks he’d brought.
“What’s this?”
“Couldn’t show up empty-handed when you called me.”
“You didn’t have to, but thank you~ Coffee?”
“Sure, sounds good.”
“Americano?”
“Yes.”
“Alright. Sit tight for a sec.”
Kim took the gift to the kitchen. While she was gone, Woojin glanced around. The desk was piled with papers, and a large whiteboard on the wall was covered in dense writing—from character relationships to settings. It was so intriguing it drew his feet toward it naturally.
“That’s still under wraps, you know?”
Startled by Kim’s voice as he peered closely, Woojin turned to see her holding coffee cups.
“Ah, sorry. It was so interesting I got carried away…”
“Just kidding. Don’t worry about it—come sit.”
Kim smiled and handed him his coffee.
“Writer, may I ask why you wanted to meet me?”
“Straight to the point, huh, Woojin-ssi.”
Kim gave him an amused look.
“Truth is, I’ve heard a ton about you from Min-kyeong.”
Seo Min-kyeong from ?
“One of my works is Witch School. Know it?”
Her fifth drama. The first terrestrial broadcast after the 2000s to break 30% ratings, ending with massive popularity. A comic fantasy set in a fictional third world, praised for expanding Korean drama genres. Directed by Park Min-jae PD, who later moved to tvKR for a huge sum.
In a way, it was the starting point that birthed Wanted and today’s Baek Woojin.
“Yes. I watched every episode live.”
“Hahaha.”
Kim burst into hearty laughter at his words.
“Thanks~ Anyway, Min-kyeong was my assistant writer back then.”
She continued.
“I had three assistants, but she stood out. Always so eager to learn everything.”
Woojin found himself drawn into her story.
“She came at me like she’d wring every last drop out of me—totally different level from the others. A passion I’d never seen before. She was adorable like that.”
Kim’s eloquent writing extended to her speech.
“I taught her everything I could, then let her go. And seven years later?”
She trailed off expectantly.
Woojin knew the answer.
“She debuted with Wanted.”
“And it was a massive hit. I was over the moon.”
She sipped her coffee before going on.
“I watched that drama live too, just like you—closely.”
“Thank you.”
“Your best scene was the episode 10 cliffhanger, right?”
“Yes, Writer.”
“Before it aired, Min-kyeong called me. Said to look forward to the ending. And she added…”
Kim grinned.
“‘Baek Woojin has the kind of passion I’ve never seen before—the kind that never stops striving.’”
An exclamation point flashed in Woojin’s mind.
“Get what I mean?”
Kim set down her cup.
“The passion I first saw in Min-kyeong? She saw it in you.”
The mood turned serious.
“I’ve been keeping an eye on you since. Then Hanbando sealed it for me.”
The regrets staff vented on set as ratings dropped post-lead swap.
“‘If it had been Baek Woojin instead of Ahn Jong-hoon…’ I heard that so many times~”
Kim patted Woojin’s arm with her signature laugh. Then, abruptly,
“That’s why I called you here today.”
She finally said what she’d really wanted to.
“I want to cast you in my next project. What do you say?”
Her crisp voice carried strong intent. The confident smile tugging at her lips was a killer point. Kim was already brimming with certainty.
Of course it’s a yes.
The sweetest offer an actor could dream of. She had no doubt Woojin would accept instantly.
But,
“……”
His expression showed not joy, but anguish and reluctance.
Is he… actually thinking it over?
Kim couldn’t hide her bewilderment.
Top stars would jump at this once-in-a-lifetime offer. A rookie just over a year into debut turning it down? For my project?
As incredulity bordered on absurdity for the pride-wounded writer,
“Writer, I’m truly grateful for this huge offer to a mere rookie like me.”
Woojin expressed his thanks with polite, sincere demeanor.
“As everyone knows, appearing in your work is on every actor’s bucket list. I’ve dreamed of working with you too.”
Kim’s face brightened at his words. A pleased smile formed as she nodded.
That’s more like it.
Before he finished, she reached for a handshake, about to add words of encouragement—
“But…”
“I’m sorry. I already have a project in mind for my next one.”
Her expression stiffened more than before. For the woman who’d worn the “top” label in dramas for 15 years, rejection was a first—and it stung deeply.
“No, why on earth?!”
She shot up from her seat, shouting before she knew it.
“I never dreamed of rejection, but… fine. These things happen. Exceptions exist!”
It was a cry of refusal to accept.
Her voice rose, gestures more agitated.
“What I can’t wrap my head around is…”
She sighed heavily, sat back down, and continued.
“Rejecting without hearing the plot or the character details.”
Woojin barely held back I already know.
He knew her new drama cranking in 2011 was Justice—a smash hit in the original timeline from late 2011. The whiteboard notes matched what he’d seen before.
—RRRRR.
Her phone rang at a perfect moment, but her focus stayed on Woojin. As it stopped,
“It’s not that your work doesn’t move me, Writer. I haven’t read the synopsis yet.”
“Then what’s the issue?”
“Timing. If I’d gotten your synopsis first, my answer might’ve been different. And…”
Woojin cleared his throat, voice growing more earnest.
“There’s one decisive reason. I wanted to keep it secret, but out of respect for you, I’ll share.”
The same reason that had instantly convinced Kim Tae-gon and Lee Min-seong.
“The truth is…”
Hearing it,
“……”
Kim suddenly felt an inexplicable pressure from Woojin—beyond that, an indescribable aura.
A moment later.
“Fine. I’ll accept that much.”
“Thank you, Writer.”
“But!”
After a pause, she fired a determined question.
“What if we delay scheduling?”
“Pardon?”
“Not this year, but next. Would you do it then?”
A game-changing counteroffer—her maximum concession.
Their talk continued awhile longer, ending with both rising satisfied.
“Thank you for today, Writer.”
“You too, Woojin-ssi. Get home safe.”
“Yes, see you soon.”
Woojin bowed politely and left.
—Click.
As the door shut, Kim dialed someone.
“Yes, Director. Sorry, was in a meeting and missed your call.”
After brief greetings, she said with a smile,
“Scheduling… let’s push it back.”