Theater Chaos – The 'Gank' Phenomenon Erupts
[Report+] "Did I come to the movies for this...? Do you know what 'Gank' is?"
There’s a new slang term called Gank. A portmanteau of "audience" and "critical," it refers to acts that disrupt others' focus while watching movies or plays. Spot on.
It started with just a few articles. Sparked by complaints posted online by a handful of audience members who went home after the screening.
But.
People poured fuel on this fledgling public outrage.
Posts suspecting Ma Professor as the 'Gank' culprit started popping up on the student-only board where you need to verify your student ID to post or comment.
And suspiciously well-informed folks chimed in, backing the claims.
These reactions spread across online communities, gaining massive upvotes and exposure, then picked up by journalists, turning it public.
···In the midst of controversy over a viewer who ruined the fun by jumping up mid-Hoshi-jeol screening and spewing unspeakable curses···
···Netizens speculate the 'Gank guy' is a certain prof at OO University···
Honestly, it could've ended there. Everyone who needed to know already did, and without specifics, OO University outsiders wouldn't pinpoint him.
But.
Those rolling the snowball knew.
Comments on portal main news scratched at the pride of a humanities prof who valued authority and honor above all.
Bam!
Ma Professor's face flushed red. Everyone – his grad students – had expected him to slam the keyboard in his private study like this.
"···Ha!"
But.
"Ignorant bastards, what do they know? Can't enjoy? Cinematic license? Prof level? Hah, savages without a shred of intellect!"
The grad students hadn't predicted this. Unable to stomach the masses calling him out – anonymity be damned – Ma Professor vented his rage at the world.
Tap, tap, tap tap tap···
A fury-filled column. A 2,000-character rant on Hoshi-jeol poured into a daily newspaper after revealing his identity.
···Some claim 'cinematic license.' But with basic common sense, even without deep knowledge of the era···
Even grad students hoping for petty revenge hadn't foreseen Ma Professor's rage echoing across Korean society.
"···Hm?"
This soon became prime fodder for Gu Jeong-hwan, the ten-million-director stoking Hoshi-jeol buzz, and DK Entertainment's Do Yoon-seop.
Pure pandemonium. Fights broke out between TV-regular friendly profs and heavy-hitters in academia; critics clashed over cinematic license vs. distortion. Amid it all, mentions of Lee Tae-gyu kept flowing steadily.
"Seen Hoshi-jeol?"
"Duh. But is it really historical distortion?"
"Dunno. First watch, I was there for the actors – didn't notice anything off. But thinking back, some parts don't add up···"
"Right?"
"Kinda wanna rewatch for that reason."
"I don't care about distortion···it's thrilling, so second viewing for sure."
"Yeah, gives you chills."
The week-one heat for Hoshi-jeol erupted like a volcano heading into week two – peak summer season. Hoshi-jeol's growing presence devoured attention from films prepping to claim summer throne, forcing top directors to take notice.
Late to the group chat party, directors pored over old messages.
Two directors competing against Hoshi-jeol this summer.
Comedy's Mun Seong-chan and horror/thriller's Jang Gyu-jin. Honing blades with All About My Underwear and Beyond the Mirror for summer supremacy.
Their jaws clenched typing. Grind. 'Lol' hid pure tension.
···Festival my ass, I'm taking it.
···I'm winning.
Playing chill, but desperate. Directors live and die by pride. Hated losing after pouring everything in – no thought of defeat.
They pictured the hottest film now.
···Hoshi-jeol.
Buzz doesn't guarantee box office. But.
Summer box office wars weaponize everything: promo articles post-release, actor variety show appearances.
With Hoshi-jeol armed well...
'Gotta see it.'
'Going.'
To craft promo strategies outshining Hoshi-jeol, claiming the 'kill switch' through summer's end.
Thud, thud.
Two genre kings headed to theaters for Hoshi-jeol.
"···That man···I want him···"
"Pfft!"
Comedy director Mun nearly burst out laughing. Comedy's drop in tension – his specialty – spotted Hoshi-jeol's humor.
···What, like this?
Plot details like Yi Bang-gwa and Yi Bang-won assassinating Jeong Mong-ju? Irrelevant.
Nor Gu Jeong-hwan's trick splicing Seol A-yoon's unrelated audio into her line during a cut.
Just.
"If I can't have him···"
The drop from sly editing.
"···I'll make my man greater still."
Yeomal Seoncho love triangle's cornflaky laughs caught Mun's eye.
Theater brightened.
"No joint bath today?"
"No, this is plenty···"
"Why! Crave me more!"
"Wife's gotten feisty lately···"
Built-up emotions made Min-ssi and Yi Bang-won's bedroom spat sweetly tense.
But.
This romance sageuk shed laughs as it deepened into solemn emotion.
"If you won't punish Jeong Mong-ju's gang, then punish us instead."
Post-assassination, forcing Goryeo's Gongyang Wang into transition kicked off true Yeomal Seoncho chaos.
"Where are you looking right now!"
"Still seeing my brother in your eyes?"
"You···knew?"
"Anyone not an idiot knows."
"Blind bats aside. How can you not see me as I am!"
"A youthful delusion. I see you now as you are···"
"Don't lie!"
"···"
"Watch me. Watch how I surpass brother Yi Bang-gwa!"
First Princes' Rebellion
From Yi Bang-won's rebellion over crown prince nomination, Hoshi-jeol shifts from cutesy romance to earnest brotherhood.
"I'll make you – with our house's full might – Joseon's highest man."
Yi Bang-won craving to top Yi Bang-gwa; Min-ssi to elevate her husband beyond.
First Princes' Rebellion ignites.
From devoted marriage, spilling blood and fire on screen.
"Kill them!"
Yi Bang-won and Min-ssi's plot: soldiers torch and slash Hanyang.
"Kill Yi Bang-seok and Yi Bang-beon!"
Blood sprays in palaces, city heart, hillsides, red-light bridges, bar streets.
Whoosh────
Bukhan Mountain valley. Pitch black below cliffs.
Flick.
Tiny torch lights. Rebellion leaders, bloodied, bow.
"Ji-an Army's Yi Suk-beon, command received!"
"Supreme Commander Jo Yeong-mu, mission complete!"
"General Shin Geuk-rye, orders followed!"
"Regional Commander Yi Geo-i, mission complete!"
"Loyal servant Jo Jun, handled as ordered!"
Many more bow. At end: Yi Bang-won and Min-ssi.
Tiger pelt mat. Mindful of wife, Yi Bang-won speaks sternly.
"Did you kill Bang-seok and Bang-beon?"
"Yes! Tried capture, but their guards resisted···"
"Good work."
Leader-like. Benevolent gaze and firm command to followers; Min-ssi nods.
Then.
"Brother Yi Bang-gwa."
"Didn't join."
"···Knew it."
Yi Bang-won resolute.
"Now, gather scattered forces."
Resolve ripples among leaders.
They sense it. For success, they'd split into 10s, 20s, dodging the final threat.
"Before facing Father, we surpass brother Yi Bang-gwa."
Facing Goryeo's top swordsman.
Valley falls silent.
Whoosh────
Only raging stream, rustling Bukhan grass break quiet.
Grip.
Min-ssi grabs trembling Yi Bang-won. He turns, draws courage from her love, nods.
"But fear not, all!"
Voice empowered.
"I know your might here outstrips 100 foes each!"
Eyes each leader, infusing courage.
"If not me, trust yourselves!"
"Trust the me who trusts you!"
"If you trust that, we win!"
"Got it?!"
Her faith steels him; followers ignite.
"···Yes!"
"We'll obey!"
"Understood!"
"We can do it!"
"We follow!"
Zeal spreads.
"Good!"
"Let's do this!"
Deep Bukhan valley. Yi Bang-won rises, sword skyward.
"Brother's human too! We can beat him – ignore exaggerated rumors···"
"Bang-won-ah."
Eerie voice echoes valley; chills grip screen audience.
"···!"
"···!"
"···!"
"···!"
Some rebel leaders collapse in terror.
"Do you···really···think so?"
Yi Bang-gwa emerges from grass, eyes flashing at Yi Bang-won and followers.
Gulp.
Horror expert Jang hears swallows, gapes.
What.
Thump!
···This is my genre.