Monday ended, and Tuesday began.
Even though Island of the Missing had already claimed the number one spot in all-time viewership rankings just a few days ago, domestic media and public opinion were still buzzing with talk about it. The slight drop in viewership didn't seem to matter at all.
Island of the Missing was breaking new records every single day.
The total had already surpassed 17 million and was steadily climbing toward 18 million. Kang Woojin was reading an article about himself.
『[Feature] Kang Woojin shakes up the Korean film industry just two years after debut—why his future is so highly anticipated』
He stood in front of the set for the drama Leech, where countless staff members were busy preparing for filming. Fully transformed into Park Hasung from hair to makeup, Woojin wore a serious expression, but inside, he nodded along as he praised the article.
'That's right. They really do have an eye for talent.'
It was a brief moment of waiting before entering the set. Normally, he would be reading the script to immerse himself in his character, but for the past few days, he had been in an unusually good mood. Even so, he tried his best not to show it.
'Damn, I need to shake this feeling off.'
Right then—
"Woojin! Stand by!"
At the call from a staff member, Woojin reluctantly cooled his emotions, as if dousing them with cold water, and calmly got to his feet.
Then, suddenly—
'Come to think of it… Leech is almost done filming too.'
He realized there wasn't much time left to spend on this house set. Ever since Island of the Missing was released, everything had been moving at a rapid pace. The filming schedule was no exception.
'It's already been half a year.'
As he walked toward the camera zone, Kang Woojin felt just how quickly time had flown by.
'Well… I've been doing so much, it makes sense.'
Director Ahn Gabok, who was watching Woojin through the monitor, had deep dark circles under his eyes, and the wrinkles on his face had become more pronounced. Even so, his gaze remained sharp. He was speaking with a film company executive who had come to the set for a meeting.
"Director, are you alright?"
"Why? Are you worried about this old man's health?"
"Ah, no. You just look very tired."
"How could I not be? We're filming at several times our usual pace. Just look at the staff—they're all exhausted. Only Woojin over there looks full of energy."
Director Ahn pointed with his index finger toward Kang Woojin, who was talking with top actor Shim Hanho in the middle of the set. The executive let out a small sigh and shook his head.
"Every time I see him, I'm amazed. I asked CEO Choi about his schedule recently, and apparently he's been busy from morning until night. He even went to Japan not long ago. And yet he's still that composed."
"Being young helps, but considering his ability, you'd have to say he was born with exceptional stamina."
"...That's not something you can solve with exercise alone."
"Someone with that kind of body doesn't have time to worry about their health. They just keep going."
The executive looked at Director Ahn with concern before changing the subject.
"By the way, Director… have you decided on the start time?"
Director Ahn picked up the continuity script on the table and answered in his aged voice.
"At this pace, we should wrap up next week."
"And post-production?"
"We'll start editing alongside filming. Since rough cuts are already being done during production, we should be able to finish before the September 30 deadline."
In other words, it was imminent.
The executive nodded firmly.
"Understood. Then I'll begin preparations around late September to match the Cannes schedule."
For now, securing flight tickets was the top priority.
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Meanwhile, in Los Angeles—
While it was morning in Korea, it was afternoon in LA. The roads were crowded with people and cars as the workday came to an end. Even so, there were those who continued working tirelessly toward the future.
One of them was the global superstar Miley Cara.
Her recently released film had performed quite well at the box office, and she had also been in the spotlight due to a scandal involving a Korean actor. A few days ago, Cara posted an update on her Instagram—followed by over 100 million people—about her current activities and the progress of her new album.
[...Kang Woojin! Congratulations on your new record with your film!]
She had mentioned Kang Woojin.
News of Island of the Missing's success had already reached her. It was also widely known that Woojin would be participating in her new album project, and thanks to Cara's post, a wave of international fans had flooded Woojin's social media.
At that moment, Kang Woojin was inside a large agency building in LA.
More precisely, inside a studio that also served as a meeting room.
A massive monitor, various pieces of equipment, and a U-shaped table large enough to seat dozens filled the space. Cara sat at the head of the table. With her blonde hair tied back and wearing a loose hoodie, she had little makeup on, her blue eyes focused on the large monitor in front of her.
"…Hmm."
Staff members sat on both sides of her, all looking in the same direction. The monitor displayed various elements related to her upcoming album.
"How does it look to you all?"
The overall concept of the album. The outfit themes. The title track. The music video concept. The schedule from production to release. Marketing and promotion strategies.
Information flowed continuously, but Cara, a seasoned professional, calmly coordinated with her team.
The tracks for the new album had already been finalized. All that remained was recording.
A moment later, after listening to the recording schedule, Cara loosened her tied blonde hair and spoke to the manager beside her. As always, her tone carried a slight chill.
"What about Kang Woojin's side? We're starting around July, right?"
"I'll relay it to him. The last time we spoke, mid-July worked for him. How long will his part take?"
"Probably three to five days. Recording and the music video shoot."
"Understood. I'll send over the details and the song guide first."
For reference, Cara would begin official recording first, and Woojin would join later. Even if they recorded separately, everything could be combined during mixing.
Soon, the discussion shifted to the music video.
Since the director and storyboard had already been decided, Cara looked at the storyboard on her tablet and lightly bit her lip—a habit she had whenever something concerned her.
"It feels a bit lacking. This kind of atmosphere was already in the previous work."
"Would you like revisions?"
"I want a clearer overall story. And more acting focus too. Not to the point that it burdens either me or Woojin."
"Understood."
She added one more request, and the team nodded.
"And make sure there's a piano scene in the music video. Of course, Woojin will be the one playing."
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Friday the 18th, Korea.
It was a shaman's house near Sinchon Station.
From the entrance alone, it was dazzlingly ornate, and judging by the long line of customers outside, it was quite famous. Inside, the ceiling was painted with mystical images, candles flickered on the altar, and small dolls placed behind them drew attention.
It looked exactly like a shaman's house.
But the owner wasn't visible in the main area.
She was in the back room.
A woman in her sixties, wearing heavy makeup and dressed in a hanbok, prepared to greet a client before opening the closed door.
Bang!
Unlike the ornate exterior, the room inside was simple. On a bed covered with a gray blanket lay a short-haired woman, face down, deeply focused on something she was reading.
The shaman spoke to her.
"Daughter. Is it interesting?"
The short-haired woman, presumably her daughter, nodded without lifting her gaze.
"Yes. It is."
There was a hint of gloom in her voice. She sat up but kept holding what she had been reading.
It was a script with a gray cover.
Good Evil / Episode 1
It was the script for Beneficial Evil.
The reason she was reading it was simple.
She was Im Haeun, one of the final candidates who had passed the large-scale audition.
With her puppy-like face expressionless, Im Haeun lightly shook the script.
"This writer is good."
The shaman, who had been quietly watching her daughter, let out a long sigh.
"Do you really have to take this project? Why choose a story about a possessed protagonist?"
"I'm not interested in Kang Woojin. It's just a rare opportunity."
"...Have you ever seen Kang Woojin in person?"
"Not yet. But there's a gathering before the script reading. I'll meet him then."
Rubbing her forehead, the shaman muttered as if warning her.
"Be careful. That Kang Woojin… he looks dangerous."
──────────
At that very moment, in Hongdae—
Inside the basement of a fairly large building, on a stage that suited a small theater, a clean-cut man was performing alone.
There was no one else in the theater.
The man was Jo Moochan, who had passed the audition for Beneficial Evil.
He had caught PD Song Manwoo's attention during the large-scale audition as someone completely different from Kang Woojin, and he belonged to a theater company led by the veteran actor Jeon Munguk.
On stage, Jo Moochan held a script.
It was, of course, episode one of Beneficial Evil.
He practiced passionately on his own.
Just then—
An old man entered the empty theater.
He walked between the scattered seats. His gray hair and wrinkled face made him look about the same age as Director Ahn Gabok. His beard stretched from his sideburns down past his chin.
It was Jeon Munguk.
Despite his arrival, Jo Moochan didn't notice, too absorbed in his performance. Reaching the front of the stage, Jeon Munguk tapped the floor lightly.
Only then—
"Ah! Sir!"
Jo Moochan stopped acting and ran toward him. His demeanor was somewhat lacking in strength, giving off an overall naive impression.
Looking up at him, Jeon Munguk spoke.
"Do you think you can beat Kang Woojin like that?"
"...Sir."
"I asked if you think you can win."
"K-Kang Woojin is my idol."
"If your idol is weak enough to lose to you, then you might as well pick a different one."
"..."
"Kang Woojin. That man just rewrote film history. He's at the top now."
He was referring, of course, to Island of the Missing.
"He's cleared the path beautifully."
"Y-Yes."
"Which means if you surpass him, everything he built becomes yours."
"…I understand."
Jeon Munguk's expression hardened.
"Jo Moochan. You represent my theater company. You must never bring shame to it. Risk your life for Beneficial Evil. Kang Woojin is a genius—but so are you. My eyes don't lie."
"Thank you, sir."
"But being a genius isn't enough. To surpass him, you must be different. I can see that in you."
After a moment of silence, he delivered his conclusion.
"Kang Woojin is a monster. If you want to face him… you'll have to become one too."
──────────
A few days later, Jeonju. Early morning.
It was a familiar filming location.
Around the large house set and interior set of Leech, about a hundred staff members were busy moving cameras, lighting, props, and sound equipment.
Despite the early hour, the place was full of energy.
At the center of it all stood veteran director Ahn Gabok.
"No, set up the cameras starting from the house set. We'll begin there."
"Yes, sir!!"
After giving instructions, he pulled a thin bundle of documents from his back pocket.
It was the filming progress script for Leech.
Near the end.
"…It's finally coming to an end."
Today was the final push.
──────────
At the same time, in Kang Woojin's officetel—
Wearing a cap pulled low over his face, Woojin stepped into the elevator with a slightly tired expression. He pressed the basement button and checked his phone.
June 24.
7:10 a.m.
June was already nearing its end.
Stretching his neck from side to side, Woojin muttered inwardly.
'No, this won't do. I need to recharge in the Void Space before filming.'
Recently, aside from a few minor schedules, he had been fully focused on filming Leech.
'This is the last shoot. Time really flies.'
Stepping out into the underground parking lot, he spotted a familiar van waiting for him.
After getting in, he greeted his team quietly. Sitting in the passenger seat, Choi Sunggeon suddenly showed him a tablet.
"It's finally out. Beneficial Evil."
Woojin looked at the screen.
An article was displayed, with his face prominently featured.
『[Official] Netflix confirms Kang Woojin as lead for Beneficial Evil, aiming for global release… bold casting with many rookie actors』
The full cast of Beneficial Evil had been revealed.