As bustling as the waves in Namhang were, so were the hands of Yeongguk’s mother. She was preparing colorful vegetable japchae, marinated beef galbitang, and dishes filled with the scent of the sea. It looked as if she was getting ready for a holiday feast.
The front door then opened, and a woman with a bojagi[1] entered the house as if it were her own.
“Yeongguk’s mom, didn’t you say you’re going to Seoul tomorrow? Why are you making so much food?”
“It’s for my son, Yeongguk.”
“Aigo! Look at that care! I thought there was some kind of celebratory banquet today. Give me that. I’ll help you with this!”
“What are all these?”
“I made some cockle salad yesterday, and the saltiness made it so delicious. I also brought some salted seafood. Yeongguk loves salted seafood. You can’t buy such quality stuff in Seoul even if you have the money to pay for it.”
“I don’t know how to thank you.”
“We’re from the same region, so it’s only natural that we help each other! I’d like to go with you, but I can’t because I have to run my shop. While you’re not here, I’ll look after Namhang!”
The woman, Mrs. Yang, affectionately placed her bojagi on the dining table. She was the one who had set up a fish shop in Namhang Market with Yeongguk’s mother and had recently moved to this area. She was, in a way, an inseparable friend to her.
“Oh, I almost forgot about the most important thing. Here, take this too.”
“What’s this?”
“When I heard that you were going to Seoul, I collected a little money from everyone in Namhang. Our dear boy lives alone in Seoul, and we’re always worried about whether he’s eating well and dressing properly. We couldn’t put in much, but we added a bit for transportation fees and some pocket money for Yeongguk.”
“I don’t know if I can accept all this…”
Mrs. Yang pushed the white envelope into the apron of Yeongguk’s mother without hesitation and rolled up her sleeves as she stood next to her.
“When are you going to finish all this cooking by yourself? I thought it might not taste good if we prepared it in advance. You have to pack, so let’s hurry up. Don’t worry, and I’ll help you today!”
At that moment, Mrs. Yang’s gaze fell upon a small picture frame on the table. It was a photo of a young boy and his mother, with the background of Namhang. The photo was taken three years ago by PD Yoo Myeonghan when they were filming Men of August.
“When did this little boy grow up so much? He appeared once in that funny show where he fell into the water. My daughter, Myeongja, watched it. She kept saying she wanted to see ‘Yeongguk-oppa’ while singing all day long. I had to tell her to wake up from her dream!”
“Myeongja is a middle school student this year, right? That makes her four years younger than Yeongguk.”
“Do you really think so? If Yeongguk were my son-in-law, I wouldn’t have any complaints! Why don’t you take your mother-in-law with you too? Aigo, that boy wouldn’t even think about it. It’s a joke, just a joke.”
Yeongguk ‘s mother smiled silently. The people of Namhang were warm-hearted. Even after all these years, they still remembered the boy from Namhang. The boy who had been carrying blocks of ice from the ice factory since dawn, sailing through the mouth of Namhang and setting up a fish stall for his mother.
It was as if they had all cherished the boy as their own child. The mother looked lovingly at the bright smile of young Yeongguk in the picture frame.
* * *
Sonwon Entertainment.
Despite the typhoon that had swept through, the employees’ expressions were bright. It made sense as the pus deep in their skin had been removed, making them feel refreshed and relaxed. Many actors had left along with the loach-like person who had not only caused trouble but was also now under investigation by the authorities. Of course, those with actual talent stayed. The ones who left were just those who only showed their desires, without ever having learned to act.
“Yeongguk, are you going to study here?”
Now, here was a young man who frequented the CEO’s office as if it were his own home. Kim Seonghwan had called for this meeting today to assign a dedicated manager to Yeongguk, who still didn’t have one. The employees’ expressions brightened when Yeongguk appeared. He had a cheerful disposition, and his manners were ingrained into his being, never disrespecting anyone.
“I have finals coming up soon. I’ve been missing school a lot these days because of filming, so I need to study like this to keep up.”
“I thought you only wore out your script from reading it so much, but how hard are you studying if your self-study book is this worn out? You’re not aiming for Korea University, are you?”
When CEO Kim Seonghwan asked skeptically, the young man responded with a faint smile. A look of surprise crossed the CEO’s face.
“Huh? You’re serious, aren’t you?”
“It’s better to set high goals, right?”
How unfilial he was to his mother in his past life. During his school days, he had built a wall between himself and his studies. In this life, he wanted to do his best and be filial to his mother. He didn’t want to neglect his studies because of acting. As proof, he had never missed being the top student since entering high school.
“Your mother is coming tomorrow, right? How about showing her around the filming set? I think it would be nice if she could see you acting, have a delicious dinner, and then go back.”
“Would that be okay?”
“What’s the problem?”
“It’s my first time showing her my actual acting.”
“Come on, what’s there to worry about? Your mother is coming to see her son, not to evaluate your acting. She’ll be relieved to see how much you enjoy being on the set. She hasn’t been able to call you properly because she’s worried about disturbing you at work. Take this opportunity to show her around Seoul and the filming set. I’ve already obtained permission from PD Kim.”
CEO Kim Seonghwan was a good person. He was busy running the agency, but he took care of Yeongguk like his own child. It had always been that way, from arranging an apartment for his mother, who was alone in Namhang, to occasionally calling her to alleviate her worries.
“By the way, you know you’re filming a CF today, right?”
“I know, but I’m not sure if I can do well.”
“Yeongguk, you always do well at everything. I’m not worried. Thanks to PD Kim personally asking the advertiser this time, the promotion will definitely be effective. It’ll help your public recognition too. Since it’s a beverage CF, you don’t need to feel too pressured.”
“It’s not that I feel pressured about filming the CF. It’s just a bit awkward.”
“Think of it as a rite of passage. Once this drama is aired, you might be flooded with CFs. You won’t have time to film ads while chasing after scripts by then. It’s better to film at least one at this pre-shooting stage. By the way, you’ll have someone go with you to the CF filming set today…”
Just then, a knock was heard from beyond the CEO’s office. It seemed like a bad omen. At first glance, he looked more like a gangster than a manager, with his imposing build. However, the voice that followed was unexpected.
“Hello, I’m Lee Bongchun!”
His thin voice was in stark contrast to his bear-like appearance. In his past life, he had worked with various managers. However, finding a manager who clicked with an actor was rare. A relationship where both knew their place, not one of superior and subordinate, but on a horizontal plane. Lee Bongchun, with his modest name, bashfully shook Yeongguk’s hand.
* * *
Advertisements.
The pay for celebrities’ advertisements (CF) is beyond imagination. In particular, for top celebrities, their advertising fees alone can often be enough to buy a house in the metropolitan area. But did every CF enjoy the halo effect of a celebrity? Not really.
The public’s reaction was as capricious as the weather forecast. As a result, advertisers (companies) faced deep concerns. Using a non-celebrity might result in a lower marketing effect, and the image might not be as appealing, whereas spending money on top-tier celebrities might not yield the desired impact. However, just like now, they would occasionally discover a celebrity with maximized ROI (Return on Investment), like finding a pearl in a mudflat.
“Director, this CF is for apple juice, right?”
“Yes, Yeongguk! Anyway, the costume team was right. The outfit looks great! The red color could be tacky if worn incorrectly, but the hue is fantastic, and it’s a perfect fit too!”
The unfamiliar soft lining of the suit embraced my body. The outfit itself was a stylish semi-fitted suit that one might doubt I was doing a CF for suits rather than a beverage. Moreover, the color was red. It brought to mind the Red Devils from the previous World Cup[2].
“Yeongguk, today’s concept is a devil who desires an apple. You can see from the storyboard that there are only movements and actions, and you can express them however you want. What we want is for the viewers to be captivated through the screen.”
The CF director’s request was as complex as a café order. It seemed clear, yet abstract, like ordering a drink and asking for syrup to be removed, whipping cream to be added only to a third, and making it a little sweeter.
CF directors generally fall into two categories. Some pursued perfection, from movements and facial expressions to lines, while others were dreamers who drew metaphysical pictures like this one.
I shouldn’t have agreed to this.
It’s all because of PD Kim Jin, a snake of a man. He asked me to shoot a CF before the drama aired. The reason seemed plausible. The effect would be maximized if the main character’s face appeared in a CF before the drama’s airing. Plus, it was a golden opportunity given my increased public recognition thanks to my appearances in variety shows.
I never had any connections with CFs before.
In my past life, I lived far from CFs. I was tall, but as my image became more rugged, I barely received any contact from advertisers.
“How should I express this?”
The storyboard was simple, contrary to the director’s difficult request. The scene involved beautiful women everywhere, me biting an apple and then glancing at the camera. There were no lines to deliver. The storyboard relied solely on actions and eye contact.
CF filming was even more challenging than dramas or movies with lots of lines. It’s an abstract expression that could keep me awake all night, quite different from the simple storyboard.
Eventually, the CF shoot began.
As white as the set, women dressed in white gowns from various countries appeared. Some leaned on chairs as if to lie down, while others crossed their arms with an arrogant expressions. A bold woman even blatantly scanned the man.
Sexy and provocative!
Walking through the pure white set in a red suit, as if scattering red paint on a white canvas, it was an impressive sight. I walked slowly and leisurely without sparing a glance towards the surrounding beautiful women.
Great! Good job!
The CF director gave a thumbs up as I continued walking in my red suit without paying attention to the women. Finally, I picked up a red apple placed alone on a white table. My long fingers grabbed the apple, and I smiled. I recited the line I had thought through thoroughly.
“Handsome men love apples.”
I bit into the apple. With the tangy juice, a clearly provocative gaze was directed toward the camera.
[1] A bojagi is a traditional Korean wrapping cloth.
[2] South Korea’s national soccer team is commonly known as the “Reds,” and the team’s supporting/fan group are known as the Red Devils.
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