One Week After Release
Summer box office season, dubbed the peak period, was heating up with fierce competition—and the first film to ignite was undoubtedly Hoshi-jeol.
Honestly, opinions were split. From historical distortion controversies to the genre that defied easy categorization, plus the plot veering off from what the posters promised.
But.
One thing was clear.
This was an indisputable fact. Even Han Joo-hyuk, who had just returned home after watching the movie, agreed.
Thud.
Han Joo-hyuk set a bottle of soju down on the marble table in the living room. A strange smile played on his lips.
It kept circling in his mind. The fresh shock of Hoshi-jeol's early scenes, and how the momentum built there fueled experimental direction in the mid-to-late acts.
Pour.
He filled his glass with soju, downed it in one go, and smirked at the laptop screen's comments.
'Back in the day.'
'...I hoped no one would ever pull that off.'
Actor as plausibility. Back then, it felt like an impossible realm.
Honestly, even up until last year, he'd thought it unreachable.
Smirk.
Han Joo-hyuk poured another shot, downed it, and grinned. Yeah, that was then.
But now.
'It's possible.'
He knew it.
'...Me too.'
That it wasn't impossible.
That's why, just before filming Model Detective 3—which DK Entertainment was funding— he'd realized he'd already crossed another milestone.
Sweat, blood, tears. A set so intense and grueling it went beyond "gritting one's teeth."
'Lee Tae-gyu.'
Thinking of the guy gave him chills. His acting passion was so overflowing he threw himself into action like a real detective, ending up injured.
Because of that, Model Detective 3's schedule was delayed.
'...Yeah, that's how you do acting.'
Han Joo-hyuk didn't regret it one bit. No—if anything, he was glad.
'Use this break to feel how much your status has risen.'
He wanted Lee Tae-gyu to become an even bigger deal.
To grow even more.
Since Lee Tae-gyu's emergence had spurred his own growth, Han Joo-hyuk wanted them both to level up—to compete at even higher heights.
A rival's growth expands your own vessel, he believed. In that sense, he wanted Lee Tae-gyu to become a true megastar.
Besides.
To become a megastar, you need all kinds of experience.
Popularity chief among them. Enduring the crushing pressure of fame so intense you can't even walk the streets—that's what separates true greats.
'From now on... every production company in Korea will come crawling with cash.'
Han Joo-hyuk could tell this movie would skyrocket Lee Tae-gyu's popularity, injury recovery or not.
Separate from Hoshi-jeol's box office, Lee Tae-gyu had delivered "legitimate" acting here—universal appeal across genres and ages.
Clap clap clap clap clap—
DK Entertainment's board of directors, gathered around a massive round table, applauded CEO Do Yoon-seop.
"Congratulations, sir!"
"Now we can take on Daeil!"
"It's done!"
"That kid's the real deal!"
"It's exploded!"
In this day and age, where you could track your actors' stock in real-time.
It had blown up—Hoshi-jeol had been out a week, and DK knew their next superstar, Lee Tae-gyu, had soared.
"Haha, I need a separate wallet for all these business cards now."
"Overseas inquiries keep pouring in!"
"CF offers non-stop."
"If MBS and SBC just let him do variety..."
"Directors are losing it. Haha, ones who ignored us unless it was Kim Kwang-woo."
"We could package other rookies and still profit."
The directors buzzed with intel from their pipelines, all zeroing in on "Lee Tae-gyu."
That's how this industry worked. Hard to launch once, but impossible to fade after.
"...Everyone, sit down first."
CEO Do Yoon-seop, calming them, knew it too.
Things had been hectic till now.
Lee Tae-gyu. Promo articles, reviews—he'd greased every wheel to hype the guy.
"...But from now on, it'll be smoother."
No more props needed for the kid who'd exploded in popularity just a week after Hoshi-jeol's release.
Now, they could just pluck the ripe fruit.
"Right to CF shoots."
"Just the ones we have could fund HQ expansion."
"Or overseas..."
"Hold on."
Do Yoon-seop raised a hand, offering a differing view.
Sure, prime time to cash in. Lee Tae-gyu, bothered by the Model Detective 3 delay from his injury, had shown willingness for any CF or variety.
But.
"Listen up, everyone."
Do Yoon-seop planned to nurture Lee Tae-gyu carefully now.
"From now on, we're selling Tae-gyu as a superstar."
Superstars need superstar management.
He'd concluded Lee Tae-gyu had the potential to span all ages.
"So, for all incoming variety and CFs, design schedules around roles that build 'familiarity' with the public."
Like this one. The kid had delivered straight drama in Hoshi-jeol—anyone who saw it couldn't help but like him.
Except.
Anyone not obsessed with historical accuracy...
Ma Professor from OO University. Authority on late Goryeo and early Joseon.
Specializing in Yi Seong-gye, his prolific papers spanned the era's chaos.
In short, Korea's top influencer on the period.
Oh ho—
As the author of KCI-indexed papers with double-digit citations spoke, his grad students—under his guidance—tensed up.
"...A movie?"
His brightening face drew inward sighs of relief.
Hoshi-jeol. Grad students who'd spat blood after watching it had pooled pennies for tickets to "legitimately" troll their more knowledgeable advisor.
'It'll blow up.'
'Spit blood if you watch.'
'Rest at home a few days.'
'Get so obsessed you skip lab.'
'Too drained for errands.'
'A week of freedom.'
'Spare us.'
With those hopes.
"Yes. If you're free this Saturday, we've booked Yongsan CGV."
"Hm. Got time then."
The slaves—no, grad students—knew his schedule cold.
"But... you know I don't watch movies alone?"
"Booked two seats, of course."
"Best ones."
"Total VIP!"
"Go with your wife?"
"Heard she's a Cheon Yoo-seong fan. Perfect together."
Chirping like chicks, desperate not to miss the chance.
"Hm. Been hearing buzz..."
As Ma Professor crossed his arms and they paled.
"Not 'suffer the inaccuracy' prank, right?"
Flustered!
"N-no, we haven't seen it."
"Yeah, no time."
"Tons of data sorting from last time."
"Better you see first anyway... not that, sir!"
Ma Professor burst into hearty laughter at his waving slaves—no, students.
"Kidding! Haha!"
He was curious too.
Hoshi-jeol. Professors with shaky creds blabbing to media irked him.
Hack journalists cherry-picking quotes for "authority."
Non-experts yapping about late Goryeo/early Joseon grated now.
"Was wondering what it's about anyway. Thanks, all."
"...Haha!"
"...Almost got us."
"...Your humor's killer!"
"...YouTube material, prof!"
Thumbs up amid proud smiles from Ma Professor.
'Raised good students.'
Rewarding. Invited to drinks to combat lab loneliness, weekend hikes for health, driving practice for his wife's shopping, thesis scares over meals to keep tension sharp...
They appreciated his "favors," he thought.
'That's why power trips are bad.'
Nodding sagely.
"...Thanks, I'll enjoy it. If good, recommend to you—prep papers till then. Oh, revise that appendix list. Manuscript draft on my desk? Proofread typos. Oh, who was getting the plant?"
Quick reminders tossed, he left and called his wife.
"Hey, honey. Date night after ages?"
She taught at a top uni too.
"Nothing big—students booked tickets for us."
His shoulders lifted. As husband, sure—but as fellow prof, it saved face.
"Yeah, let's hit a movie."
Saturday arrived—
"Hoshi-jeol coming in~"
Entering the theater, he grinned at his arm-linked wife.
"Movies after so long, huh?"
"Yeah."
"Best seats here."
"Your students are gems."
"Hahaha."
"Not hyped 'cause late Goryeo/early Joseon?"
"Nah, honey. You know me—no ruining vibes."
He smiled at her words. True. Media history didn't faze him much.
Everyone else was an idiot but him, after all.
Enjoy clean, save gripes for reviews.
- I'm Yi Bang-gwa, Goryeo's top swordsman.
Hoshi-jeol's opening sucker-punch left him unfazed.
'...Fair perspective.'
Yi Bang-gwa: records incomplete. Even early Joseon debated him, renaming his temple posthumously to Jeongjong.
'Paired with Cheok Jun-gyeong in martial prowess, per reviews. Youngster swinging beside Yi Seong-gye? Plausible.'
Fun, actually. Ignorant fans' wild guesses sparked real wild histories and hypotheses pros knew.
Flash—!
Mind-bending bursts midway.
'Whoa!'
Even that couldn't halt expert Ma Professor's thoughts on Hoshi-jeol.
'Hm. Huangsan showdown interpreted that way.'
Not bad. Geographically south of Jirisan/Namwon, but isolating Ajibal Pass?
'Oh ho.'
Crises too.
- Hiiiik!
Yi Bang-won cowering as Yi Bang-gwa raised a hand—Ma Professor tilted his head.
'Hmm...'
Choe Young's duel mention. Eyebrow twitch.
'...Movie license...'
He endured. It was a film.
Wife giggling at Cheon Yoo-seong, tapping his shoulder excitedly.
Yeah, laughable level, he thought.
Until Seol A-yoon.
- Honey, I'm off.
Mid-early film. Min-ssi seeing off Yi Bang-won for the "coup" with Yi Bang-gwa.
- I resent Father. Swore marriage too soon.
Muttering at the men's backs.
Then, from her lips.
The one line that shouldn't.
- That man... I want him...
Ma Professor's roar exploded through the theater.
Have they lost their minds?!