Endless NG in the Traitor Scene
Right after lunch, they dove straight into filming the scene labeled [#S8-20 / Indoor / External Minister Lee Wan-young, Informant Yeom In-seop]. This was one of the most crucial moments in episode 8 of Joseon Sunshine.
Yeom In-seop—the comrade in the righteous army to Kim Jeong-wan and Lee Ae-jin’s couple, played by Woojin and Da-hee—was the key figure holding the biggest secret of this episode. And the actor bringing him to life was none other than Ahn Jong-hoon.
Scene: #S8-20
Indoor — External Minister Lee Wan-young & Informant Yeom In-seop
“Filming starts now!”
“Oh Seong-cheol sunbaenim and Actor Ahn Jong-hoon, standby please!”
The assistant director took command of the set, signaling everyone, and the staff moved with crisp efficiency. Shooting prep wrapped up in no time. Oh Seong-cheol and Ahn Jong-hoon took their marks in front of the camera. Once blocking was checked, “Slate!”
The set fell into instant silence. Woojin held his breath beside Da-hee, glued to the monitor next to PD Im Eun-bong. At that moment, no one’s heart was pounding harder than Woojin’s.
A thrill hard to put into words, excitement wrapping around him like a shiver. This was his first time seeing Ahn Jong-hoon act live on set. Seong-o had warned him—Ahn Jong-hoon had changed, flipping out at the mere mention of Baek Woojin.
How much has that hostility and rage toward me actually fueled your growth?
Curiosity surged past the excitement, tingling from his scalp down. He surely remembered their conversation from last year’s Daehan Arts Awards backstage.
“Hyung, long time no see—you’ve really changed. One hit show and now you think you’re untouchable?”
“Watch your mouth. He’s not the Baek Woojin who just got roles stolen anymore. Just fight with your own skills from now on, don’t eye everyone else’s stuff.”
Exactly one year later, Baek Woojin had grown dazzlingly, acknowledged by all. So what about Ahn Jong-hoon…?
Come on, show me what you’ve got! Woojin shouted inwardly. To everyone else’s eyes, it might look normal, but this was the spark of a pride clash between two men, invisible to the crowd. A true actor’s duel—through performance alone. Cameras don’t lie.
“Ready, action!”
PD Im bellowed, and filming began. But not even ten seconds in—
“Cut!”
Woojin’s eyes were locked on the monitor when it ended abruptly. Ahn Jong-hoon had flubbed his line, an NG on something that should’ve sailed through. No big deal, so they rolled right into the next take.
“Going again~ Ready, action!”
The camera frame whisked back to the late Joseon era, a time of turmoil.
“The deed goes down tonight at 11 p.m. Four men total, led by a guy named Kim Jeong-wan…”
A strange tension built between Yeom In-seop spilling the plot smoothly and External Minister Lee Wan-young listening with keen interest.
Yeom In-seop’s short monologue continued. Having sniffed out the assassination plot against himself, how could Lee Wan-young not find this delicious?
“…That’s it.”
“Heh, not bad, eh?”
Lee Wan-young smirked slyly, pulling something from his bag—a solid gold ingot.
“Take it.”
“Thank you, my lord!”
Yeom In-seop fumbled to tuck the ingot into his robes, bowing repeatedly. The camera panned to Lee Wan-young’s upturned lips as he watched.
What’s that about?
Woojin tilted his head at the monitor, glancing at Da-hee beside him.
“Da-hee-ya, something feels… off.”
“Yeah, I thought the same. You felt it too, oppa?”
“Cut!”
Sure enough, PD Im pulled off his headset, pausing the shoot, and approached the actors.
“Jong-hoon-ssi, hold on. Right here…”
He gave Ahn Jong-hoon detailed direction, then returned to the director’s table.
“Let’s go. Ready, action!”
They resumed. But…
“Cut! Again!”
Takes piled up, one after another, but “Again!” No okay from PD Im. His initially gentle tone grew laced with irritation. By the twelfth take, still no satisfaction.
“Haa…”
PD Im shook his head, removing his headset. Thud! He slammed the script onto the table like discarding it. The once warm set turned icy fast. Even Seong-cheol, who’d been patting Ahn Jong-hoon’s back saying it was fine, reached his limit.
“Jong-hoon-ssi! What’s the problem?!”
“……”
Ahn Jong-hoon bit his lower lip in silence.
“Hold on, Director Im. Let’s break for ten minutes.”
Seong-cheol sighed, standing.
“Jong-hoon, you smoke?”
“Yes…”
“Come with me.”
He led Ahn Jong-hoon off-set. PD Im returned, seething quietly as he rewound footage.
“Woojin-ah, Da-hee-ya.”
Suddenly, Jun-an hyung whispered, calling them over. A nod suggested he had something to say. They followed him to a quiet corner of the set.
“What’s with the vibe?”
Jun-an hyung asked. He must’ve just come from resting in the car—managers usually chilled there during actor shoots, like drivers in the army crashing early during training.
His eyes wondered why the morning’s good mood had soured.
“No big deal. Just endless NG.”
“Who?”
“Ahn Jong-hoon.”
“Knew it. Couldn’t be you or Da-hee!”
Jun-an hyung nodded.
“But hyung…”
“Yeah?”
“Who’s that next to you…?”
A fidgety guy stood awkwardly beside him.
“Hi! I’m Jeong Su-ho, Jong-hoon hyung’s manager.”
“Nice to meet you. Baek Woojin.”
“I’m Shin Da-hee.”
“N-nice to meet you!”
He bowed 90 degrees. Young, green as a manager.
“How’s Seong-o?”
“Oh, good! He said to pass on his regards if I saw Woojin-ssi today.”
“Anyway, Su-ho-ssi.”
“Yes!”
“One thing I’m curious about.”
“Go ahead!”
Woojin kept his cool, though he had a hunch.
“Jong-hoon… how much rehearsal did he do?”
“Rehearsal…?”
“This script. How much did he review?”
“Well…”
Su-ho gave a awkward smile, stammering, then sighed.
Ahn Jong-hoon’s acting wasn’t trash by any means. As a Best Newcomer with three years of lead roles, he had solid basics. Plus, a special appearance with light scenes—not tough for him.
So what was the issue? The delay, the mood killer. Su-ho’s words nailed it.
“Jong-hoon hyung… first saw the script on the way here today.”
Woojin, Da-hee, even Jun-an burst into disbelieving laughs. Delivered a week ago, first look en route to set?
“Lines too…?”
“Yeah… memorized on the drive.”
“That explains it! Now it clicks.”
Da-hee nodded. The weirdness Woojin and she sensed wasn’t overreacting.
“And…”
Su-ho spilled more, summed up like this:
He’d highlighted only Yeom In-seop’s parts with marker and passed it on. Ahn Jong-hoon skipped the full episode 8.
Anyone who read it knows: Yeom In-seop’s betrayal wasn’t just despair over Joseon’s hopelessness. Deep down, it was his incurably ill daughter’s medical bills. After ten years, he couldn’t lose his precious only child. Torn by agony, he went to Lee Wan-young.
But Ahn Jong-hoon’s take showed zero torment. At the gold ingot, relief for his daughter should mix with guilt over dooming comrades. Instead, pure sleazy collaborator vibes—fake acting.
No wonder Seong-cheol and PD Im soured.
No analysis effort at all?
Even for a three-scene cameo, this wasn’t page count. Basic actor failing.
“Jong-hoon hyung blew up at me on the way. Hated the role, said it made no sense…”
“Why?”
“……”
Su-ho hesitated, eyeing them.
Woojin smiled. “It’s fine. Speak freely.”
“It’s… about Woojin-ssi…”
Ahn Jong-hoon griped from the start: informant role sucked. Dragged Woojin’s part in too, nitpicking.
“Kim Jeong-wan gets sweet scenes with the actress, fights cool for the country. Why am I the traitor selling out comrades?”
“Hyung… it’s acting, it’s fine…”
“Yeah! Fine up to there! But why’s my role worse than Baek Woojin’s? Fucking bullshit!”
“……”
“Pull over! I’m not doing this shoot—can’t! Fuck!!!”
Su-ho wrapped with his “exhausting drive” verdict.
Woojin was speechless. Absurd. Da-hee and Jun-an mirrored him. What, elementary school?
“Gasp!”
Silence, then Su-ho clapped his mouth.
“What?”
“I-I didn’t say too much, right?”
Da-hee asked; he looked stricken.
Woojin patted his back. “Don’t worry. Off the record between us. Promise.”
“R-really? Thank you!”
Su-ho bowed nonstop. Jun-an hyung slung an arm around him fondly.
“Been there myself.”
“Sudden memoir mode?”
“What’s with the flow?”
Laughter broke the tension. If only the set thawed like this.
“Anyway, I’ll chill in the car with him longer.”
“Sure, hyung.”
“See ya, oppa!”
Jun-an and Su-ho headed to the lot. Only then did Da-hee ask Woojin.
“Why does Ahn Jong-hoon hate you so much?”
“Beats me.”
“Something happened between you two, right?”
“Nothing big.”
“What? Tell meee~”
Woojin ruffled her whining head, chuckling.
Then—
“Okay!”
PD Im’s call echoed from the resumed shoot. Finally cleared.
“Let’s go.”
“Not telling?”
“After wrap today.”
“Promise!”
Woojin headed back to the director’s table with Da-hee. A different pounding in his steps—not the earlier thrill.
He’d overestimated Ahn Jong-hoon. Personality unchanged? No shock. But blurring work and personal?
Wait till tonight’s scene, Jong-hoon-ah.
Woojin clenched his fist. In their night confrontation, he’d act so sharply, Ahn Jong-hoon would squirm.