Chapter 81. Kim Gija

Even though he was on the payroll from CEO Do Yoon-seop, Kim Gija was still a bona fide entertainment reporter with a background in social affairs. He'd graduated from a decent university with a degree from one of those ink-stained humanities departments. From that perspective...

······What the hell.

He'd never come across a description like that. Not in any liberal arts class, not ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠even in that fleeting early Joseon historical records seminar he'd taken as part of his Korean literature minor.

Of course, he knew better than most. Unlike the feeble portrayals in media up until the early 2000s, King Jeongjong had actually been a pretty tough warrior. But...

······Yi Bang-gwa as Yi Bang-won's trauma?

How far were they going to take this? Sure, he was a general who commanded blood-soaked battlefields, but wasn't King Taejong Yi Bang-won himself no slouch?

Yet in Hoshi-jeol, Yi Bang-won standing beside Yi Bang-gwa came off like a green rookie. Like a pup yapping at the heels of a tiger.

And that was just the start. Every major event of the late Goryeo and early Joseon era tied back to Jeongjong somehow. Even Queen Won-gyeong Min was subtly woven in.

This was pushing it.

The problem was, every time that doubt crept in...

...his doubts evaporated like smoke. He jolted upright without realizing it. A thrilling shiver raced through his body. It was too real for CG, too impossible for reality—that piercing gaze was to blame.

······Crazy, they're really going this route?

Tiger-like eyes. His body froze. Overwhelming terror triggered his survival instincts.

How far into the film had they gotten? Kim Gija swallowed dryly as he thought.

Gulp.

A beast who danced between life and death on battlefields where thousands perished. The film's take on him—something historical records never captured—made perfect sense.

His heart pounded faster, breaths grew ragged. Kim Gija realized it then.

That's plausibility.

The world's most dangerous beast, but tame him and nothing's impossible. It wasn't a stretch for the woman who'd become Queen Won-gyeong to take an interest in this context.

What the hell is this...

Kim Gija shook his head. The title was misleading. Hoshi-jeol (好時節)? No. This was the season of a massive tiger rampaging through the turbulent late Goryeo and early Joseon era, surrounded by two ambitious souls locked in friendship and love.

In other words, Hoshi-jeol (虎時節)—a historical romance, sure, but the genre bent in a wild direction. Comrades and rivals, jealousy and affection and pity and love all muddled together.

That was the kind of film this was.

"············"

"············"

"············"

Glancing around at the deathly silence—not even breathing could be heard—Kim Gija thought,

It's over.

The winner was already decided. Not the box office, but who'd benefit most from this film.

Lee Tae-gyu.

A good chunk of the faces in this theater were familiar anyway. Reporters who'd already been wined and dined by CEO Do Yoon-seop.

If his acting's this good too...

Chiljak-dong-si—the chick pecks from inside as the hen pecks from outside. Kim Gija recalled the idiom as DK Entertainment went all-out to push him.

Spot-on. He clicked his tongue watching Lee Tae-gyu deliver like that.

·········Seol A-yoon's gonna get ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠eaten alive.

And so, anticipating the new world awaiting that actor after Hoshi-jeol's official release...

Kim Gija dove back in, limbs trembling freely.

The press screening ended. Next up was the Q&A with director Gu Jeong-hwan and the Hoshi-jeol leads.

"We're sorry, but..."

"Actor Lee Tae-gyu can't join us due to an injury from his next project's shoot. We appreciate your understanding."

Questions from reporters DK had greased focused heavily on Lee Tae-gyu, injured during Model Detective 3 filming.

"Is actor Lee Tae-gyu badly hurt?"

"The injury?"

"Next project—is that Model Detective 3? What happened..."

The moderator, fed up, smiled and reined them in.

"Okay, folks, sorry. This is the Hoshi-jeol Q&A, so please focus on the film or the actors here with us."

Finally, the real session kicked off, but...

"Director, about that early axe fight scene..."

"The moment Yi Bang-gwa impersonates Yi Seong-gye..."

"A question on the opening direction. What's the intent behind emphasizing Yi Bang-gwa..."

Questions still zeroed in on the Jeongjong role Lee Tae-gyu played. Proof of its impact, regardless of screen time.

"Question for actor Cheon Yoo-seong. Playing Yi Bang-won trying to mend ties with Yi Bang-gwa..."

"For actress Seol A-yoon. As Queen Won-gyeong Min caught between Yi Bang-gwa and Yi Bang-won..."

Mics flew between Seol A-yoon and Cheon Yoo-seong hiding complex expressions, and beaming director Gu Jeong-hwan, for about an hour.

"Alright! That's it for the Q&A."

"Thank you all for coming to the Hoshi-jeol press event..."

Reporters bolted up. The session's content didn't matter to them. What counted was that the screening and Q&A were over.

Time to earn their pay from DK Entertainment.

Articles hyping Hoshi-jeol while slyly building buzz for Lee Tae-gyu's Yi Bang-gwa role.

It was bizarre. More exposure for the absent Lee Tae-gyu than for on-site stars Seol A-yoon and Cheon Yoo-seong.

Mentioned via his Q&A absence, interest in Lee Tae-gyu snowballed into blatant promo pieces unrelated to the event.

Interest in Lee Tae-gyu blanketed the sky. Then, counterpieces emerged.

From press attendees and critics not on Do Yoon-seop's dime.

Of course, not being DK-backed didn't make them all paragons of integrity. This industry was a jungle. Attention was currency, and they wanted a slice of Lee Tae-gyu's pie.

Like Seol Woong of Dream Entertainment (Seol A-yoon's agency), Cheon Yoo-seong's agency's head, and directors eyeing the summer box office wars in July-August.

Including some from Stranger Tastes.

Precisely, big-name directors who'd been tied up shooting and post-prod during the Arena Short Film Festival, now freeing up time.

"············Whoa, finally catching a breath. What's this?"

Horror/thriller director Jang Gyu-jin.

"············Why so many messages piled up?"

Comedy director Mun Seong-chan.

"Gu Jeong-hwan? Hah, I beat that guy."

"Sharpened my blade this time."

"Fine, bring on Seol A-yoon and Lee Tae-gyu."

Other directors geared up for the summer theater showdown.

Crunch!

Amid this inferno, actors nursing grudges against Hoshi-jeol burned hottest. The two who'd lost roles in director Yoon Chang-ho's next film to Seol A-yoon and Lee Tae-gyu.

"·········Can't accept it."

"·········Fucking assholes."

Ji Kyung-ho and Joo Min-hee.

It was natural they couldn't buy it. Not romance of all genres. If it'd been like Italian Romance or Monster City—totally different fields, mixed environments—maybe. But losing in their wheelhouse bruised egos.

"Lee Tae-gyu... something's off with that guy."

"Obviously."

Joo Min-hee nodded at Ji Kyung-ho's words.

Yeah. Concede 100 times, she could admit losing to Seol A-yoon's acting. Infuriating, but top-star power defied imagination.

But.

"Honestly, oppa shouldn't have lost too."

"DK Entertainment, those bastards?"

"100%. Too big too fast for his talent."

"Right. No way he deserved this hype."

They nodded at each other.

The gambler in Monster City? Too brief. Lines and direction could carry short bits.

"Yeah, the cult elder was fine. I admit it."

His role in Sai-bi Church Maknae Son was solid too.

"But none were straight drama."

"Exactly."

"Straight up, I could do that flipping my eyes and drooling."

"Ah, oppa! Try it and watch your image shatter."

Truth was. Real skill shone in drama. Ji Kyung-ho figured he could top even Han Joo-hyuk in non-hammy drama roles.

In that context.

"DK's CEO Do, rumors been swirling forever."

"Know it. Our manager's gunning for one slip-up."

"My take: 100% this time too."

"Yeah."

Ji Kyung-ho couldn't swallow losing to Lee Tae-gyu's near-drama romance turn.

"Huh? Look, more popping up!"

He flashed his phone.

Post-screening, alongside reporters and critics pushing Lee Tae-gyu's Jeongjong Yi Bang-gwa, another critic joined.

"·········Im Chae-hyeok? Wait, wasn't he the one hyping Lee Tae-gyu during Monster City?"

"He was?!"

They burst into incredulous laughs.

Critic Im Chae-hyeok. Back when Monster City dropped and no one eyed Lee Tae-gyu yet, he'd praised his acting in detail. Now, citing historical records to shove him forward.

"············Min-hee, I'm writing the hit piece."

"············For real?"

Ji Kyung-ho, still buzzing, nodded quietly.

"DK Entertainment's rep ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠in the industry sucks anyway. 100%. They're pulling dirty tricks behind the scenes."

"Still."

"Does this make sense? Some hack who can't nail drama beating me in romance?"

Yeah. Ji Kyung-ho believed true acting chops came down to drama, not freak roles.

"·········Oppa, calm down a bit."

"Calm what?! Aren't you pissed we lost the roles?!"

"Let's watch first."

"Hoshi-jeol?"

"Yeah. Judge after. Reporters are split anyway. If the acting sucks, we snipe then."

"·········Hoo."

Ji Kyung-ho simmered down barely.

He nodded at Joo Min-hee.

Fine. Let's see.

Right before public release, Ji Kyung-ho headed to the Hoshi-jeol VIP screening.

Thus, lights out—

And an hour in...

Face drained white, Ji Kyung-ho quietly pulled out his phone and deleted the drafted hit piece...

< Chapter 82 (Free up to here). >