A Simple Drink Proposed by the Affectionate Young Junior—Far from Simple
“This is just…”
“Ahem.”
Lee Kang-sik and Jo Seung-cheol, who had ended up awkwardly seated at the same table, cleared their throats repeatedly in embarrassment.
After guiding the two actors to the inner seats, Baek Woojin and Woo Seung-hyun PD exchanged silent glances from the outer spots.
“One seafood pancake, some seasoned whelks, and two bottles of makgeolli, please!”
Woojin placed the order right away.
In the meantime, Lee Kang-sik and Jo Seung-cheol sipped water, gazed out the window, or fiddled with their phones, showing no particular reaction.
The atmosphere seems okay at the start. They didn’t bolt out the door the moment they saw each other—that’s something.
The food arrived quickly.
On a day of drizzling rain, in a quiet makgeolli house after work, the sweet taste of booze and snacks shared together. Wasn’t it the perfect combo to break the awkward tension?
As Woojin filled the glasses in front of him, he said,
“Seniors, Director! Great work today.”
“You too, Woojin.”
Woo PD chimed in.
“Let’s have a round first and then talk!”
Woojin raised the makgeolli glasses he’d filled for everyone, proposing a toast. Woo PD and Jun-an hyung followed suit, as did the impassive Lee Kang-sik and Jo Seung-cheol.
—Clink!
The first satisfying round went down smooth.
That’s the stuff!
“Heh.”
Lee Kang-sik set down his glass with a soft chuckle and turned to Woojin.
“You did this on purpose, didn’t you?”
“What me~? It’s a celebration for the first shoot. As a junior, it’s only right.”
Ignoring Woojin’s cheeky response, Lee Kang-sik turned to Woo PD.
“Director Woo, you’re an accomplice too, right?”
“Me?! No, I only found out when we got here.”
“Whoa, Director! Dodging like that?”
“I’m innocent.”
Lee Kang-sik alternated glances between Woojin and Woo PD with a bright smile, then turned to Jo Seung-cheol.
“Hey, Seung-cheol.”
He rubbed his chin for a moment before continuing.
“About earlier… I’m sorry.”
His voice was low.
A smirk tugged at Jo Seung-cheol’s lips.
“What’s there to be sorry for? I wasn’t exactly in the right either. Let’s call it even.”
“Feels awkward.”
“Same here. One more round.”
“Sounds good.”
The two clinked glasses.
With that single gulp, the long-buried resentment seemed to wash away in an instant.
Woojin, Woo PD, and Jun-an nodded quietly.
Good, it’s done!
Yeah, the seniors probably needed a moment like this.
He had no right to meddle in a dispute between others that had nothing to do with him, or the relationships it formed.
But as they said, so much time had passed that they’d likely forgotten it long ago.
And now, positioned to work together as a ‘team’?
Of course healing old wounds made sense.
Especially since he already knew their sincerity.
The knot that seemed impossible to untie unraveled surprisingly quickly and easily.
Once the genuine apology sank in, the mood flipped 180 degrees.
“Anyway, so you told him everything about what happened between us?”
“Come on, I said—I only told this junior here, the writer, and the department head.”
“Really? Woojin, be honest. Did this guy sneak in some trash-talk about me?”
“Hmm… just a tiny bit?”
Woojin teased.
“No way~ Hey, Woojin!”
“Puhahaha!”
The roaring laughter didn’t stop.
Once the ice broke, fun stories poured out nonstop.
The tipsy buzz helped too.
“Well, dragging up old stories here is kinda silly… but when the chance comes, you gotta clear the air, right?”
“Exactly.”
“Yeah. That’s why it dragged on like this.”
“I’ll say it once, so listen up.”
Woo PD and Jun-an, who hadn’t known the full story between Lee Kang-sik and Jo Seung-cheol, widened their eyes.
A moment later, “…that’s how it was.”
Jo Seung-cheol wrapped up.
The first thought after hearing it all: Yep, you gotta hear both sides.
Jo Seung-cheol admitted he’d envied Lee Kang-sik, who’d succeeded first.
He’d gritted his teeth to follow in his friend’s footsteps, and that effort helped him establish himself as an actor.
In the process, things got weird between them due to his own mistakes, he said.
Then, six years ago—the infamous ‘casting change incident’ Lee Kang-sik had mentioned.
Jo Seung-cheol insisted he hadn’t gone seeking it out.
With production delayed unexpectedly, the director had approached him first.
The film company had hidden that Lee Kang-sik was already locked in, so unaware, he’d accepted.
He only found out after shooting wrapped.
He’d tried reaching out late, but Lee Kang-sik had already left for overseas and couldn’t be contacted.
In the end, six years lost to a lack of communication.
“Hearing it now, I feel even worse for misunderstanding all this time.”
“Enough with the sorrys. It’s all good now.”
“Let’s step out for a smoke.”
Lee Kang-sik and Jo Seung-cheol headed outside briefly.
With the misunderstanding cleared, they needed some time to talk alone.
“Whew, it worked out well.”
Woojin let out a deep sigh of relief. The tension fully released, and the buzz hit harder.
Good thing his nosiness paid off in a sensitive spot.
“Today’s shoot was great, of course, but tomorrow it’ll be even more alive.”
Woo PD smiled.
“They’re so cool. Admitting faults and making up like that.”
“Woojin set the stage.”
“Aigoo, Director, you always praise me—it’s embarrassing.”
“I told you during Wanted, I don’t say empty words.”
“Haha, just us now—cheers.”
The first shoot had its share of excitement, joy, and worry.
But it ended on a high note with drinks.
—Clink!
Man, what a great day.
* * *
They say the first five shoots are usually an adjustment period on set.
But for Justice, a solid vibe was locked in by the second shoot.
And why not?
Excluding the minor friction between Lee Kang-sik and Jo Seung-cheol, the atmosphere had been warm and lively from crank-in.
Now even that subtle tension was gone.
What was there to worry about?
Their real-life rapport improved beyond measure, and the acting chemistry between Lee Kang-sik and Jo Seung-cheol showed zero flaws.
Lee Jin-tae and Yoon Jong-su as fiery, loyal friends and colleagues—it came through 100%, no, over 100% on camera.
Every time he watched, Woojin marveled, This is acting! while soaking in the seniors’ seasoned depth.
A relaxed, freewheeling acting duel.
This is what true, cool rivalry looks like.
“Cut! Great work!”
With everyone giving their all, time flew.
At Woo PD’s call,
—Clap clap clap clap clap!
“Senior, great work all this time!”
Shoots for episodes 1 and 2 wrapped before he knew it.
The opener, heavily invested in by the writer and director.
Acting was key above all.
Even in his brief special appearance, Jo Seung-cheol left a powerhouse impression with top-tier performance, earning applause.
“Thank you. See you all at the wrap party. Fighting!”
He thanked the cast, adding, “Next time, Kang-sik does a cameo in my project.”
“Hahaha!”
“Promise! Hurry up!”
He even left a fun making-of interview.
“Do well.”
“Yeah, I’ll call after wrap.”
Lee Kang-sik and Jo Seung-cheol shared a warm hug.
“Thanks, Woojin.”
“No, really, great work.”
“Thanks to you, I had a blast. See you at wrap.”
“Yes, I’ll keep in touch.”
Then a reluctant goodbye with Woojin.
And so, Jo Seung-cheol left the Justice set.
Now it’s my turn.
Watching the great seniors live had taught him tons.
Truly fun times.
But yeah, sitting back made him antsy too.
Time to quench that acting thirst.
“Prep first scene of episode 4!”
The AD’s call.
To Woojin, it rang like,
‘Are you ready?’
“Let’s go.”
Of course. Prep’s been done forever.
* * *
Was the set heat making it hotter?
Or just the weather?
This summer felt brutally hotter than last.
Still, shooting progressed smoothly.
Pre-produced drama, but scripts updated live with story changes.
Woojin and Lee Kang-sik huddled daily, anywhere, analyzing lines.
Shoot, analyze, shoot, analyze.
Simple routine, but as fun as his acting-obsessed daily life.
Endless tireless days.
Mid-August rolled around.
“We’re here!”
At Jun-an’s voice, Woojin and Lee Kang-sik snapped awake from dozing.
They’d arrived at Incheon Airport since morning—for Thailand location shoot departure.
“Whew, slept deep.”
“Me too. When’d we nod off…?”
Woojin and Lee Kang-sik grabbed their bags from the car and headed inside.
A few entertainment reporters at the entrance snapped photos.
“Overseas shoot in ages.”
“First for me. Kinda nervous.”
First overseas, first flight ever, actually.
“Tight schedule—gonna be rough.”
“That’s why I’m excited.”
Home grind or abroad grind.
First time overseas—beyond shooting, gotta see as much as possible.
“This way!”
Crowded airport anyway, but fans spotting Woojin and Lee Kang-sik turned it into a sea of people.
At the third-floor departure hall, Woo PD waved from afar.
“Come on over~”
“Hello, Director. Everyone else here?”
“Yep. All gathered over there. Let’s go.”
Crew and some actors clustered aside.
Woojin greeted each warmly.
Soon,
“Time to board!”
As boarding neared, Woo PD led the cast.
—Click, click.
“It’s Baek Woojin!”
“Whoa, first celeb sighting.”
“On a shoot probably.”
“Lee Kang-sik too. Drama shoot? What’s it called…”
“Justice?”
Amid focused stares and murmurs, overheard voices rang clear.
The urge to shout ‘Thank you!’ nearly burst out, but he settled for a smiling nod.
Endless greetings later, they finally boarded.
—Vrooom!
The plane carrying the Justice team soon took off.