Actors Are as Numerous as Stars
There are as many actors as stars in the sky. Last year alone, tens of thousands of them in Korea earned enough from their main gig to pay meaningful taxes. And if you factor in the supporting actors with annual incomes too trivial to count, plus all the aspiring hopefuls? This industry is a literal Milky Way.
Actors in their 20s and 30s? Just showing up on TV or the big screen counts as a win. Hell, even if it's variety shows or YouTube—whatever it takes to match a face to a name in the public's mind—that's an achievement in itself.
Seol A-yoon. Han Joo-hyuk. Ji Kyung-ho. Cheon Yoo-seong. Joo Min-hee.
Out in the world, they get caricatured as the "Hanji-cheon Trio" or whatever, but the truth is, the folks tangled up around Tae-gyu are already a tiny fraction of the entire acting pool. 0.001%—they're thrashing around just to climb higher out of sheer ambition, but their fame is top-of-the-top among their peers. Reaching that level takes more than talent: luck, politics, personality, agency backing, circumstances, allies, rivals... a dozen factors all aligning.
Even actors with slightly less buzz than them are eyeing their spotlight hungrily. The public can only hold so many names in that age group at once—TOP 30, tops. The sly charmer who melts women's hearts. The guy with killer chemistry alongside veteran actors. The master of facial expressions. The one whose aura dominates the screen. The bubbly firecracker winning over the guys. Long-limbed action stars with fluid moves... Each wields a unique weapon in this nonstop battlefield, flying and crawling without rest.
So here's the deal. Out of the ocean of actors, even among the cream-of-the-crop stars cherry-picked for talent and solid agencies, the ones who hit it so big they can't hit a convenience store solo? They're the ones scouting chances to reach even higher right now.
"...Where've you been? Have some coffee!"
"Huh."
"What, a coffee truck?"
"Snacks too. And I saved these two lemonades for you guys."
"Whoa, thanks a ton."
"Who sent this... A-yoon and Tae-gyu? Damn, star actors treating us to a feast on day one."
"Right? Shooting with big shots like them comes with perks."
"What are you talking about? They're both total A-listers."
"Nah, we're still lacking big time."
"Why? I'm gonna grind harder to become a megastar like them."
"Hey."
Hwang Hyeong-tak and Seon U-hui, slyly masking their ambition behind friendly smiles, were mingling with the crew.
"...Oh!"
The rowdy set buzzed. Somewhere in Ikseon-dong where serene hanok houses tangled with neon signs.
"Tae-gyu!"
"Thanks for the snacks!"
"Whoa, this is legit good. Hope it keeps coming."
"What're you saying, haha. I'll dig in!"
Tae-gyu's heart twisted at their bright smiles and waves.
The entertainment world's a jungle, huh...
A jagged stone gets polished down—that much he knew. The more spotlight, the more envy and jealousy. But still.
...This feels off.
Self-harm extortion during a shoot? Come on.
Honestly, this was Tae-gyu's first time facing outright malice on set. With Director Gu Jeong-hwan, it felt like initial posturing. But this? Straight-up sabotage.
"Not eating, Tae-gyu?"
"This is good, try some."
"Ah, I'm good..."
"Of course. Already in standby mode, huh?"
"Stars are different. Learn from him."
"Anyway, thanks, Tae-gyu!"
They cut him off slyly, raising their cups with grins. Tae-gyu bowed politely.
Can't be helped.
No raging fury, but he wasn't about to take it lying down. A "hurt someone on set" scandal would be a headache.
Have to act first...
He knew how the world worked. Just then, as Tae-gyu plotted to escape the frame-up by these two actors—
- Alright, everyone!
By then, camera rails were set up down the Ikseon-dong alley, sound gear lowered from permitted shop roofs.
Click, click.
Director's chair, sunshade, monitors—all ready.
- Wrap it up, let's move!
Yoon Chang-ho's voice boomed through the speakers.
- Scene 21, standby!
A cozy little cafe in Jongno-gu's Ikseon-dong. Yoon Chang-ho nodded in satisfaction, watching the actors seated across from each other amid warm lights and cute wooden decor.
...Perfect.
Starting the first shoot of the tentative '108-Month Full Installment' here was a nod to Seol A-yoon and Lee Tae-gyu.
# 21
Lee Tae-gyu as the sleazy used-car dealer sells a fake listing to Seol A-yoon's father, Cha Jin-tak. Then her manager and agency lawyer show up in her place to confront him.
Hwang Hyeong-tak and Seon U-hui kick it off.
...Time to show this Yoon Chang-ho set who's boss.
Both had stage presence from theater days. Critics called their characters "theatrical incarnate"—striking, distinctive looks. Hwang's bold, oily features. Seon U-hui's icy intellect, like glasses were made for her.
Full makeup turned them surreal, pulling costars into the story effortlessly. They embodied Yoon Chang-ho's signature tone with theatrical aura. In short, they set the "Yoon Chang-ho vibe."
Raw realism meets heightened drama—they knew the boundaries from years syncing with him, where to cut loose.
Loosen up with some physicality.
First takes work better with a scuffle than stiff lines. Boosts chemistry and immersion among strangers.
For Yoon, this scene was lube for Tae-gyu's engine—hook him in, then floor it.
- Standby, everyone.
The Yoon crew—and even newbies—swallowed hard, anticipating the trio's chemistry.
- ...Action!
First take rolled. Hwang Hyeong-tak spoke first.
"Hoo."
A sigh, and he transformed. Loosening his tie, scowling. Brow furrows, sharp eyes, subtle lip twitch—irritation bloomed.
The con giving his star a headache. Barely restrained snark in his tone—perfect.
"...Dokgo Kwang-cheol? No need to answer. I'm Manager Yoo Hye-mi for actress Yoo Hye-mi, and this is our BN Ent. legal rep, Attorney Jeong Yun-ha."
"Jeong Yun-ha."
"Straight to it. We don't want to escalate."
Seon U-hui matched. Rigid posture, precise business card handoff, laced fingers on table. Cold as moving ice.
"We heard you sold her father a fake car recently. Confirmed fact—no need for denials."
Calm delivery shaped the mood. Pressure in words and poise. "No point arguing" hung like a scent, filling the cafe.
"You spoke to Hye-mi too, so you know why we're here..."
"Whoa~"
Tae-gyu's line shattered it.
"For real? No way! Damn, I actually talked to Yoo Hye-mi? The megastar?"
Vulgar vibe spread. Eyes, tone, sleazy grin—crew gawked in awe.
Way beyond script read. Tattoos under short sleeves screamed fake dealer.
"Knew it was her dad, I'd have thrown in extras. Diffuser or whatever..."
"Apologize."
"For what."
"Selling her father junk, insulting Hye-mi over the phone. Sincere apology letter and formal sorry—we'd consider dropping it."
"No, listen."
Tap tap.
Half-fist knuckle rapping the table.
"I never sold fakes, got it?"
Smirk.
Blood-pressure-spiking sneer.
"No wrongdoing, why apologize? Phone would've sufficed. Time's money to me."
Immersion hit. Voice, breath, face, posture—pure sleazy dealer aura.
Gulp.
Crew glued to monitors, hearts pounding for what came next.
Got it.
Now.
Seon U-hui caught Hwang's subtle cue. Time to rev up.
Smooth.
Work to keep this actor's head down in guilt all shoot long.
This was her specialty.
Seon U-hui scanned.
Chair, cup, utensils, decorative dolls and pottery, plants...
Fragiles first. Noisy fallables for max "that hurts" impact.
...OK.
She summoned guilt. Needed real emotion to plant "my screw-up hurt everyone, better shut up" in him.
Perfect timing.
"Wait a sec."
Good flow. Her and Hwang's characters—furious at Dokgo Kwang-cheol's bullshit.
Here.
Indignation—
Stand in a huff, scuffle, crash dramatically, blame his "over-immersion" for injury. Done.
"Bottom line, I'm the victim here!"
"What nonsense."
"It is! Big corp drags a lawyer to bully a small-timer like me—know how much mental anguish?"
"When did we bully?"
"You've been off since you got here!"
Tae-gyu rose slowly. Script cue.
Dokgo tries to slip away; lawyer and manager block for tussle.
"Said solo, show up duo. Can't stand honest folk, huh."
"Bullying? You tormented our actress's dad."
"You? Called me 'you'?"
Scuffle time.
Smooth.
Smooth.
Seon U-hui and Hwang stood, flanking Tae-gyu's right and left.
"Hey? What're you doing."
"Running won't help. Settle here. One sincere sorry, no need to blow up."
"I should be getting apologies!"
Voices rose. Chaos brewed.
Step step.
Tae-gyu backed away slyly. They pursued.
"Threatening like this!"
"We didn't—"
"Look at you two! Scary mugs. Fresh out?"
Seon U-hui's emotion cracked at Tae-gyu's ad-lib.
"Hell, parole from Gangwon poker den? Rented suits for threats—who knows?"
"Absurd."
"Hey? Hands off?"
"No talking sense. Call cops. Hold him."
"Let go! I said let go!"
Turmoil swelled. Seon U-hui, hyped, timed her grab on his flailing arm with Hwang.
Now...!
Veteran theater pro calculated gaps—props, stage, audience.
Her center dipped.
Stagger.
Bringing shoulder to his swing—
...Huh?!
She met it.
━━━CRASH CLANG SMASH!
━━━SHATTER!
━━CLINK CLANG!
Tae-gyu already rolling on floor, his groan...
"Ugh."
...overflowing with nylon-patient fight.
"Aaaaaaaah━━━━━━━!"
"T-Tae-gyu!"
"You okay!?"
"What happened!"
"No, those two..."
"This is bad, for real!"
"Come on, snap out of it!"
"G-Gentle, people!"