A Cafe in Gwanghwamun
“Hot!” Yoon Chang-ho, the director, muttered a quiet curse as he burned his tongue on the scalding coffee, wiping his hand with a tissue.
Damn it.
It had started after that last meeting. He, who had always carried himself with the leisure of a scholar, had begun acting like he was being chased.
“……Little bastards.”
He spat out the curse under his breath without thinking, then startled himself and hastily pulled his mask back up. This, too, had started after that meeting—the inability to bear the mounting pressure, leading him to mumble like this.
He had no choice.
Lee Tae-gyu.
After learning that the lead for his next project—the one he'd thought he'd discovered himself—was a poisoned chalice, it had become impossible to keep his composure. Handle it right, and he'd break even. Slip up even a little, and not only the other directors around him but the public too would rain abuse down on him.
Even now was the same.
At the cafe counter, amid the office workers in lanyards grabbing post-lunch coffee.
“……Oh yeah, did you see Hoshi-jeol?”
“Yeah.”
“I'm thinking of catching a movie this weekend. Is it any good? Kinda hesitating 'cause of all the buzz.”
“It's fun, it is, but…”
“But what.”
“It's complicated. Hard to explain.”
“What're you talking about?”
“The movie itself isn't that fun, but the acting's great. If you're going for the plot, I'd talk you out of it, but for the actors? I'd recommend it. You get what I mean?”
“Seol A-yoon?”
“Seol A-yoon's good too. Good, but not that good this time.”
“Cheon Yoo-seong?”
“You kidding?”
“……Lee Tae-gyu?”
“Yeah. The kid's acting is insane. He's already past Han Ji-cheon, and mark my words, he'll surpass Seol A-yoon within a year. The eye acting? Goosebumps, man. You'll see when you watch it.”
“That actor's hype felt over the top.”
“That's not hype, it's real. Dude, there's always a reason the world's buzzing.”
From the couple chatting animatedly at the next table.
“……Oppa, over there, they're talking about Hoshi-jeol.”
“Just like us last week.”
“Right?”
“You kept nagging me. Said we were going for Seol A-yoon, so why make weird excuses.”
“It's over now~ Why bring it up again~”
“Don't doubt my taste~”
“But oppa, that actor really acts well.”
“Lee Tae-gyu?”
“Yeah.”
“Told you. The only gem from that short film fest? His acting's the best in his age group, hands down.”
On the screen of a freelancer's 17-inch laptop by the window, deep in work.
Lee Tae-gyu
Daecheon Church Acting Gospel Fan Cafe
Lee Tae-gyu's name, circling him whether he wanted to see or hear it or not. Yoon Chang-ho's forehead creased deeper at the sight of the massive fan cafe name.
……Stop searching him up already.
It was driving him mad. His plan to frame Lee Tae-gyu as “the actor who succeeded in films thanks to a director who spotted his drama potential early” had gone up in smoke. The awl was already poking through the sack.
Nangjungjichu—talent pokes through no matter what. But Yoon had thought it should poke through his sack.
“Big-shot director who discovered and groomed a big-shot actor.” Not a bad title.
But Lee Tae-gyu was already being hailed by the public as a “monster actor just starting to emerge” before even stepping onto his set. That made controlling the actor on set a nightmare, and tanked the director's track record if using him as lead.
“……But you know? In Hoshi-jeol this time, Lee Tae-gyu was just supporting.”
“For real?”
“Yeah. By screen time, even less than Seol A-yoon and Cheon Yoo-seong.”
“Whoa, if supporting's that good……lead would be total chaos, right?”
Yoon Chang-ho nearly choked. Damn it, this was it. Beyond the pissing contests between directors rampant in Korean cinema, the pressure of “an actor this big means this level of performance” was squeezing him from all sides.
In that sense.
“So, yeah. But I heard his next project's delayed 'cause he got hurt during filming.”
“Hurt?”
“Yeah. On Model Detective 3. Check it out.”
Yoon Chang-ho was grateful to Kim Kwang-woo and Hong the director. To ease the burden of “Lee Tae-gyu's first feature lead,” he'd scheduled release after Model Detective 3. Now, the injury-delayed script reading gave him breathing room.
Yes. His next film hadn't even started shooting, let alone script reading. He was agonizing.
Lee Tae-gyu……
Canceling the contract was an option. Wrecking his condition on another film was their fault.
Plus.
‘Hoshi-jeol’, Only Lee Tae-gyu and Seol A-yoon Visible!
Who the Hell Is Lee Tae-gyu? We've Got the Scoop!
Film World Spotlights the ‘Monster Rookie’!
‘Hoshi-jeol’s Lee Tae-gyu……What Gu Jeong-hwan Means by ‘Monster Actor’.
“Charisma Over Plot”, Insiders All Agree on Lee Tae-gyu.
As time passed post-release, articles fawning over Lee Tae-gyu—who was devouring Hoshi-jeol's presence—only burdened him more.
Still……
Yoon Chang-ho tilted his head again. It wasn't all bad. Critics' sharp arrows were now piercing Gu Jeong-hwan, who'd papered over plot holes with Lee Tae-gyu's acting.
Why Hoshi-jeol’s Box Office Feels Hollow
This Film Could Have Been a Masterpiece.
Hoshi-jeol’s Historical Distortion Controversy, Gu Jeong-hwan’s Disappointing Response
Crude Plot, Lacking Plausibility
Historical Distortion Can’t Be Excused as ‘Artistic License’
The film's flaws, glaring when ignoring one actor's performance.
And more? Gu Jeong-hwan, blinded by Lee Tae-gyu, hadn't just botched completion—
Top actress Seol A-yoon. Her fans, furious at her reduced screentime, were rising up.
Of course, the film also starred another actor with as many fans.
National little brother Cheon Yoo-seong. His fans too were up in arms, making Gu Jeong-hwan curses easy to spot in Hoshi-jeol articles.
Hmm.
It wasn't strange that anticipation was rising in Yoon Chang-ho's heart.
If it were me……
He could do better. Through meticulous polishing of that sparkling gem—something hacks like Gu Jeong-hwan couldn't—he might craft a blockbuster earning public acclaim, box office gold, and standing ovations from critics!
So.
Too risky……but he wanted to handle it!
Burdening……but he didn't want to back off!
Like him……but hated him!
—Through that process.
……What do I really want? Yoon Chang-ho still couldn't shake the dilemma.
Meanwhile, Hoshi-jeol's audience kept growing.
“……Wh-whoa?!”
Bearing the risk of burdensome prefixes for his two leads.
Opening day: 310,000 viewers. Solid start. Especially with Mun Seong-chan's Everything About My Underwear and Jang Gyu-jin's From the Other Side of the Mirror dominating summer theaters that week.
Boosted by explosive hype for Lee Tae-gyu and expectations for 20-million actress Seol A-yoon.
Week 1: Steady 2 million cumulative.
Word of mouth followed.
Plus backlash against Gu Jeong-hwan for slashing Seol A-yoon and Cheon Yoo-seong's screentime fueling curiosity.
Week 2: 5 million cumulative.
But week 3 slowed.
“……Summer's for horror.”
“What about Hoshi-jeol? Heard it has scary scenes.”
“Was that horror? Thought it was romance.”
“Kinda, but scary stuff too. Thriller vibes.”
“Nah, genre mash-up. Let's do From the Other Side of the Mirror. If horror, go full horror.”
The genre mix overlapping with competitors backfired.
As films clawed at Hoshi-jeol's pie with promo strategies.
Off-screen buzz reignited interest.
Cheon Yoo-seong Visits Lee Tae-gyu in Hospital During Next Film Shoot—What's Up?
Lee Tae-gyu hospitalized during next shoot. Cheon Yoo-seong's over-the-top visit photo sparked odd public sentiment, stirring audiences again.
Whether Lee Tae-gyu's injury was from Model Detective 3 didn't matter. People linked current image to the film's state.
—Oh, that Lee Tae-gyu actor?
Around then, variety shows with Hoshi-jeol supporting and bit actors spilling Lee Tae-gyu anecdotes aired one by one.
—He airlifted a tiger for the role?
DK Entertainment celebs slotted in at perfect timing, hawking his insane acting passion on radio and TV for clout.
100k……200k……300k……
Curiosity over his acting spiked Hoshi-jeol's stalled numbers upward.
How much time passed?
While pouring all into promo for his star's title.
“Do it right, you punk!”
A stinging smack landed on Dream Entertainment CEO Seol Woong's back.
“Ow!”
“You think your oppa became CEO to ruin his one sister's path?!”
“No, Mom! What path?!”
“Quiet!”
Seol Woong—publicly Seol A-yoon's boss, privately blood family—was facing maternal judgment at their family home.
“Rumors of the lead getting eaten by supporting? Is that top-star behavior? Your one job as big bro—schmooze, beg, threaten the director to protect your sister's screentime!”
“Hit him more.”
“Quiet, you.”
“Ow! Why me?!”
“20-million actress who can't protect her own bowl? When will you grow up?! Still a kid……”
“Aigoo!”
“Mom! I'm an actor too!”
Seol A-yoon, lounging on the home sofa mocking her brother after ages away, now fled an unjust lightning bolt, indignant.
Damn, so frustrating……
She had reason. Gu Jeong-hwan's genius(?) editing. Technically fair screentime, but boosted Yi Bang-gwa's mystique and presence—leading to this mess.
What the hell……
Visiting for healing, now irked at Mom roasting her and bro.
“Ugh, stop! Dad! Rein in Mom……”
“Everyone quiet!”
Dad bellowed suddenly. Family froze.
Seeing his phone-holding hand tremble, all puzzled.
Gulp.
He swallowed and spoke.
“……Over 10 million.”
“?!”
“Seol A-yoon, our pride!”
His follow-up.
“Now……a 30-million actress!”
Brief silence, then the family erupted in cheers.
Same time. A hanbang hospital in Mapo-gu, Seoul.
Unlike Seol A-yoon's family cracking open aged ginseng liquor in raucous joy, the atmosphere here was eerily calm.
Click.
The single-room door opened. A man in patient gown, left arm half-cast, headed to the hall.
Thud… thud…
Stepping out, he called someone. Utterly bored expression.
“……Yes, team leader. Oh, really? Thanks.”
Grateful for unexpected news, but Hoshi-jeol's past box office meant nothing now.
“More importantly, I'm fully recovered. Could discharge tomorrow?”
Weeks had passed. Agency fussing over his health.
He'd agreed at first—first fracture for him too.
But now, itchy.
“After this weekend?”
Bone must heal right, per Kim Kwang-woo and Jang Team Leader—luxury single room.
Plus, hospital's moxa, acupuncture, herbs, chiro—body tougher than before.
“Recovery's done ages ago. Stabilized plenty. Wanna act now.”
Faint frustration crossed his face.
“Hah……got it.”
Sighing, he hung up.
Three days. Soon, but impatient.
One film shooting passionately, another script reading soon.
“Whew.”
Lee Tae-gyu—broke arm jumping from 3-story onto truck in Model Detective 3, too hyped on detective's justice.
Thud, thud.
Unplanned long break made him habituated to hunting dokkaebi fire anytime, anywhere.
━━Click.
Hanbang hospital rooftop garden.
“……Oh!”
“Our superstar's here!”
“Discharging?!”
“Why! Stay longer!”
“Grab all the insurance cash first!”
“This punk cursing our superstar.”
“Regret it big time?!”
“First, discharge toast—shots!”
Wildlings offering bossam and soju to patient-gowned Lee Tae-gyu on night rooftop.
I.e., having perfectly copied even insurance-scamming long-term patients' dokkaebi fire.
━━Fwoosh!
Lee Tae-gyu, extra weapons loaded, prepped for Model Detective 3 and tentative 108-Month Full Installment.