Lee Kang-sik and Jo Seung-cheol
The unspoken emotions emanating raw from the gazes of Lee Kang-sik and Jo Seung-cheol, locked onto each other. What was it? It wasn't the legendary bond of Guan Bao like guangpojigyo, nor a complete dog-and-monkey rivalry like gyeonwonjigan… just an ambiguous in-between vibe?
"Dad."
Woojin called out cautiously, and Lee Kang-sik turned his head.
"I'll think of it. You sit."
"No, no. Let's go together."
Even from just a brief observation nearby, tension thick enough to swallow dryly. It felt like watching a lion and tiger growling at each other in the jungle.
Thanks to Woojin's timely intervention, the atmosphere that had only three people sensing amid the crowd filling the meal truck site quickly dissipated.
"Ahem."
Returning to his seat, Lee Kang-sik scooped some soup and immediately coughed awkwardly.
"What's wrong?"
"The soup… it's a bit salty."
Woojin calmly followed suit, scooping some soup himself. Sure enough, it was a touch on the salty side.
"That guy's enjoying it, though."
"Pardon?"
"Look at him. He's scarfing it down."
Tilting his head, Lee Kang-sik pointed subtly at Jo Seung-cheol once more.
"Pfft… cough!"
Sudden drip(?). Woojin nearly spat out the soup in his mouth.
"You okay?"
"Please… just during meals…."
Seeing Woojin's face flush from choking, Lee Kang-sik burst into hearty laughter. He could be such a tease at times like this.
"Gonna head out right after eating?"
"No? Gotta stay till shooting wraps."
"Why? You don't have scenes today."
"Gotta watch! It's not every day you get live tickets to the first acting showdown between Lee Kang-sik and actor Jo Seung-cheol. How could I miss it?"
Woojin said it so naturally. Who wouldn't want to see them acting in the same frame?
Lee Kang-sik, the "godfather of Korean cinema," had a career entirely built on films, while Jo Seung-cheol's filmography was packed with dramas. He had a couple of movies under his belt, but they bombed at the box office. Most people probably didn't even know he'd done films.
Maybe that's why public opinion pegged him as a "TV-specialized drama actor."
So their encounters had always been hyped as a "dream matchup," but never materialized. For it to happen…
Lee Kang-sik doing drama was the most ideal route. Of course, more probable than Jo Seung-cheol jumping into film, but still, consensus was it was a long shot either way.
Impossible is nothing.
The world really had no impossibilities, it seemed. Who'd have thought these two legends would end up exchanging meaningful glances(?) across a table at the meal truck.
"Haha, look at this cheeky kid."
"And today, I'm also Dad's manager for the day."
Woojin smiled as he said it. The thrill and anticipation of witnessing the masters' acting arena up close was the biggest draw, sure. But even beyond that, there was another reason Woojin stuck around set during early episodes when he didn't need to be there.
He'd promised Woo Seung-hyun PD and the directing team before.
I'll look after senior.
Lee Kang-sik currently had no agency or manager. Even after deciding to return from his six-year hiatus, he hadn't sought out a company or assembled a personal staff team. He'd driven himself to the script reading, and handled all Justice-related scheduling directly with the assistant director.
According to him, he just wanted to move quietly on his own….
Plenty of leads operated without agencies. But solo-managing schedules without a manager was rare. For Lee Kang-sik, who wanted to focus purely on acting, the setup was tough. His attention had to scatter.
On set, extras were handled by the "extra lead." Special appearances and up were managed by the directing team directly, but treating a grand senior like Lee Kang-sik casually? Tough.
So they'd agreed to stick together as much as possible till wrap, preparing side by side. Woojin would take care of Lee Kang-sik until crank-up.
Since their pre-camp started, Jun-an had been dropping off supplies at Lee Kang-sik's place for Woojin, visiting frequently. It started as face-time, but repetition bred familiarity. So Jun-an readily agreed to Woojin's idea: look after Lee Kang-sik senior too.
"Gotta wait till Dad wraps and go together. How could I leave first~?"
No sooner had Woojin finished than Lee Kang-sik looked at him approvingly. A gaze 180 degrees from the enigmatic one he'd shot Jo Seung-cheol moments ago—pure warmth.
"Gotta run lines after dinner tonight."
There it was. Lee Kang-sik grinned broadly.
Baek Woojin wouldn't let it slide. Shooting or no, his passion overflowed in daily line drills, honing relentlessly.
"Heh, alright. But Woojin-ah…."
"Yes?"
Suddenly, Lee Kang-sik wrapped Woojin's head in a playful headlock.
"What was that earlier?"
"W-what?!"
"First acting duel between Lee Kang-sik and actor Jo Seung-cheol. Why's mine end with 'and' like a conjunction, but that punk gets full 'actor'?"
"No, Dad! It's just a connector… Actor Lee Kang-sik and actor Jo Seung-cheol."
"Whatever, explain quick!"
"Agh, aaah!"
Even mid-meal or line practice, these pranks hit out of nowhere. The brief tension melted away, leaving only good-natured laughter in the end.
After their first meal on the Justice set,
"Shooting starts soon!"
The assistant director announced to cast and crew.
And so.
Lee Kang-sik senior, absorbing 1983's aura as he paced the set, stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Jo Seung-cheol senior before the camera, facing off.
— Gulp.
Watching from the director's station, Woojin swallowed dryly. On the monitor, the two ran final checks on costumes and blocking with Woo PD.
What was it? War clouds alive and swirling on screen.
"Whew! I'm nervous."
Woo PD returned to his seat after meticulous review, chuckling.
"First scene jitters."
Woojin nodded. The weight of an opener was indescribable. The debut sync of acting, lights, sound, props, costumes, camera—elements meshing organically.
In other words, the set's flow, sustained months minimum, hinged on that first scene. Atmosphere set by the lead-off batter shaped the core. For Woojin, bearing the mantle to carry it forward, eyes glued to Lee Kang-sik and Jo Seung-cheol's opener was inevitable.
Hell, he might be more nervous than Woo PD, megaphone poised for "action."
"Scene 1, take 1 again."
— Snap.
"Camera rolling."
"Sound okay."
Slate clapped.
"Ready, action!"
The air whisked everyone to 1983—precisely October 9 a.m. To the mausoleum of Burma's (now Myanmar) independence hero and revolutionary General Aung San.
"……."
Lee Jin-tae furrowed his brow slightly, checking his watch with a grave expression.
"What time is it?"
"10:20."
"His Excellency is a bit late."
After brief exchange, Lee Jin-tae and Yoon Jong-su scanned surroundings, vigilant.
Moments later.
A navy Benz 280SE with Taegukgi flag led the procession, flanked by police escorts, arriving at the mausoleum. Eyes of officials, reporters, Blue House guards including Lee Jin-tae and Yoon Jong-su—all riveted on the cortege.
The figure emerging from the tinted car wasn't VIP, but Burma's Korean ambassador.
Lee Jin-tae asked as they shook hands.
"You've arrived? And His Excellency?"
"He'll be here soon. Line up."
"Yes, we'll finish prepping."
Word of VIP's imminent arrival: staff formed two ranks. Reporters bustled for final shots. Lee Jin-tae and Yoon Jong-su headed back to the entrance.
"Cut!"
Woo PD's booming call. Tension etched on Lee Kang-sik and Jo Seung-cheol's faces finally eased.
"Individual cuts first. Lee Jin-tae bust shot."
Solo shots followed. Scenes like this, with lively character movement, demanded heaps of individual and group takes. Especially historical recreations—historical accuracy meant matching real paths and appearances.
Lee Kang-sik and Jo Seung-cheol repeated endlessly.
"Why were you even worried…."
Watching monitor feeds, Woojin muttered to himself. Despite fretting over not finding the feel, Lee Kang-sik senior soared on screen. Same for Jo Seung-cheol.
Repeats yielded micro-variations, but core emotional arcs per scene held firm. Heavy theme: North Korean president's assassination. Characters converging on camera bred unrelenting tension for viewers.
"Okay, move to next scene!"
After prolonged solos, Woo PD called. Staff moved efficiently; set reset to Aung San mausoleum.
Connecting frame. Lee Jin-tae and Yoon Jong-su shifting post-lead car to escort true VIP vehicle. Angle widened to full shot on them.
— ♬♬♬♬♬
Trumpet fanfare in ears. Dirge signaling VIP's arrival.
But…
No one at the mausoleum knew. It'd be the last they'd hear alive.
"……."
Nearby waiters unseen from site. Trumpet-cued, they'd waited solely for this: North Korean agents, poised for Republic of Korea president's entrance.
— Click.
Hearing it, they unhesitatingly flipped switches. Irreversible choice.
— BOOM!
KABOOM!
A massive blast engulfed the mausoleum.