Chapter 133: Backer (1)
A smile spread across the chairman's face as he stroked the head of his grandson, who had regained his lost laughter. Even so, he pondered.
That new actor from Korea, what was his name Kang Woojin?'
He continued to nurture a misunderstanding, a misconception, all by himself.
It must be that he has a family member or someone important who is in a similar situation as my grandson. I'm sure of it; sign language is too difficult to learn just as a hobby or out of interest.'
The situation seemed quite plausible to the chairman, almost inevitable.
Learning other languages might not be easy, but there are rewards that follow. However, sign language is different. It has limited use compared to other languages and is used by only a select few.'
In other words, sign language wasn't something one would learn to enhance a career or resume. At this point, the chairman began to reminisce about the past, those incredibly difficult days, as he looked into his grandson's eyes.
The sign language he learned solely for his grandchild.
I know all too well. As much as it's done for love, it must have been hell.'
Although he didn't know the face or voice of this actor from another country, the chairman felt a strong sense of kinship with Kang Woojin. Regardless of his ignorance, it was impressive enough that he became an actor while learning such a language.
Then he paused.
Wait. But why Japanese Sign Language? Why not Korean Sign Language? Ah- right, maybe this important person is related to Japan.'
His misconceptions were now compounded with another error. At this moment, his grandson, beaming continuously, added more in sign language.
[It seems Kang Woojin is also good at Japanese Sign Language and speaks Japanese really well! He seemed very comfortable conversing with the PD and the staff.]
[Is that so?]
Japanese too? The chairman felt a bit more certain and genuinely admired.
Japanese Sign Language and Japanese language too? He's not just an ordinary actor. There's a good reason he's making noise,'
The chairman mused inwardly for a moment before shifting his thoughts. He focused on the smiling face of his grandson in front of him.
Anyway, I'm grateful. He's given my grandson his lost smile.'
It had been almost 10 years since he had seen his grandson smile like that. Behind the smiling grandson, on a desk, were several documents. On the cover of these documents was a company name.
Kashiwa.
Kashiwa Group', a major conglomerate within the top ten of Japan's business hierarchy. The Kashiwa Group' engaged in numerous businesses and subsidiaries, including chemicals, textiles, construction, housing, food, electronics, and pharmaceuticals. They had deep business ties with various corporations, including major Korean companies. The chairman was the top predator and owner of this the Kashiwa Group', his name being Yoshimura Hideki.
A blatant display of a chaebol family.
But even a chairman of a chaebol family is human. There was no escaping the sudden tragedy that struck. About 10 years ago, there was a grievous piece of news.
Kashiwa Group's Vice President Tragically Dies in Car Accident; His Wife and Son Were in the Car'
It was Chairman Hideki's eldest son. The car accident involved the couple and their four-year-old son. Tragically, the parents died instantly, but miraculously, the young son survived.
He was protected by his mother's embrace.
Due to the accident, the four-year-old grandson lost his hearing and ability to speak. Of course, Hideki had three sons and a large extended family. However, the loss of his highly promising eldest son and daughter-in-law, and their young son, who was born after much difficulty, acquiring a disability at the age of four, was a heavy blow.
To Chairman Hideki, the survival of his grandson, Yoshimura Shingo, was a great relief, despite the heartbreak of losing his son and daughter-in-law.
Given the circumstances, Shingo, to Chairman Hideki, was as precious as life itself. He had no choice but to cherish him dearly.
I must do whatever it takes to save Shingo.'
Chairman Hideki started raising his four-year-old grandson, Yoshimura Shingo, by himself. Despite leading a major corporation, he had to learn sign language and educate himself about the deaf and hard of hearing.
However, as Shingo grew, he gradually lost his zest for life.
Being the grandson of a conglomerate's magnate, Shingo faced envy and jealousy from those around him, but the primary reason for his isolation was his disability. At school and in the world, Shingo was alone, completely isolated. Consequently, around the age of 8, his expressions faded, and by 10, he had disconnected from the world. He even developed severe depression, worsening his condition.
This continued until he was 14.
For about 10 years, Shingo hadn't laughed, always wearing a rigid, robot-like expression. Apart from his sign language teacher, he cut off all interaction with people. Chairman Hideki, of course, tried everything possible for his grandson, from psychiatric treatments to various therapies, pouring money into them. He mastered sign language and devotedly cared for Shingo whenever he had time.
But it all seemed meaningless.
No matter how many hundreds of millions were spent, it couldn't bring back Shingo's laughter or vitality. He became increasingly confined to his room, his spirit dying. His only pastime was gaming and watching various videos. That's when Shingo started watching Netflix's Profiler Hanryang'.
Shingo had always enjoyed Korean dramas.
Tired of the formulaic acting and direction in Japanese content, he also harbored a desire to escape from Japan. Whatever the reason, Shingo became hooked on Park Dae-ri'. The reason was simple.
A car accident.'
The backstory of Park Dae-ri' had similarities to his own life. Although the context was very different, Park Dae-ri' also lost his parents in a car accident, just like Shingo. Naturally, Shingo became interested in Kang Woojin, who portrayed Park Dae-ri.
Korean actor Kang Woojin was impressive.
Despite being a newcomer, he was making waves in both Korea and Japan. Shingo even found his YouTube channel, where Kang Woojin, a Korean, was posting cover song videos in fluent Japanese. This led Shingo to attend the recording of Ame-talk Show!'.
Returning from the show, Shingo had miraculously regained his laughter.
No amount of money or methods could revive the spirit in Shingo, who seemed to be losing his will to live. But suddenly, there was an explosion of life in him. Chairman Hideki's near-ecstatic gratitude was natural.
It was as if his precious grandson had come back to life.
This gave Chairman Hideki hope, and he felt immense gratitude towards the unknown Korean actor Kang Woojin.
At that moment.
[Grandpa!]
Shingo added excitedly in sign language to Chairman Hideki.
[Do you think I'll be able to talk with Kang Woojin again someday?]
[If the opportunity arises. Of course, you have to create that opportunity. It'll be hard if you stay confined in your room.]
[Yes! The drama Male Friend' will soon be released in Japan! I can't wait to watch it. Oh, and Kang Woojin is going to star in a movie with a famous director from our country!]
[A Japanese movie?]
[Can we go see it when it's released? Let's watch it together, Grandpa!]
[Sure, let's do that. When is it releasing?]
[I read that filming will start soon! I'm so excited. Grandpa! Can I become an actor like Kang Woojin? I can't speak, but I want to be a sign language actor.]
Chairman Hideki was moved to tears but held them back. His beloved grandson needed hope, not tears.
[If you believe you can do it, then you can. That belief is important. I'll help you along the way.]
[Yes! Grandpa.]
To see his grandson, who had been dying inside, turning away from the world, now have a dream and a goal was a beautiful sight. The study room, where they exchanged sign language, was very quiet, but Shingo's clear eyes were brimming with courage.
[Ah! It's time for my sign language teacher! Grandpa, I will study sign language really hard!]
Shingo, full of smiles, dashed out of the study. Watching his retreating figure, Chairman Hideki felt a thrill greater than any large-scale business project's success.
Kang Woojin, was it? I'm so grateful I could cry.
It was sincere. While Chairman Hideki didn't know the exact circumstances, Kang Woojin had achieved in one day what Hideki had been unable to do despite spending a fortune over ten years. Although unintentional, to Hideki, it was as if a mountainous problem had been erased.
Perhaps Shingo sympathized, remembering his own past of learning Japanese Sign Language.
After this thought, Chairman Hideki, who had just donned his formal jacket on his study desk, chuckled. He then uttered something meaningful.
Such an actor deserves great success.
Meanwhile, back at Toega' film company.
The atmosphere in the meeting room turned tense after Director Kyotaro's comment about the resistance being due to stupid, rotten people who fear change'. Noticing this, Choi Sung-gun whispered to Kang Woojin seated next to him.
What's wrong? What happened?
Woojin casually explained the investment issue in an indifferent tone. Choi Sung-gun's eyes slightly widened at the information.
The script reading is delayed until early next year?
Yes.
Choi Sung-gun immediately started brainstorming. With his extensive experience, he quickly grasped the situation.
I suspected as much but to think it would actually come to this. There must be enough people looking unfavorably at Woojin's success in Japan.'
Indeed, the negative comments towards Kang Woojin had increased, both in Korea and Japan. Although Woojin himself paid no attention to them, Choi Sung-gun, who was in charge of his care, was well aware of the situation. It meant that the investors of The Eerie Sacrifice of a Stranger' were likely influenced by these factions.
After all, it was not a small amount of investment money at stake.
Or maybe the investors themselves were reluctant to center a Korean actor in the project. Either way, this is quite a headache.'
In Choi Sung-gun's estimation, the mere postponement to the beginning of next year meant that the entire production schedule of The Eerie Sacrifice of a Stranger' was disrupted. This could lead to the withdrawal of main actors, depending on how far the casting had progressed.
The same could be said for the various staff teams that had already been formed.
This would naturally lead to all sorts of gossip and nonsense in the industry, and if the media and public opinion caught wind of this news, it would severely affect the production. Given the fame of The Eerie Sacrifice of a Stranger,' the negative impact would be more than double.
Moreover, although the project had good momentum originally, we raised its promotional power to the maximum with Woojin, but now it all might go to waste.'
This was true not just in Japan, but in Korea as well. Soon, Choi Sung-gun quickly asked Director Kyotaro across the table, of course, in Korean.
Regarding the investor issue no matter what, with the reputation of the director and writer Akari, isn't it odd for the investment to be withdrawn so easily?
Hearing Kang Woojins translation, Director Kyotaro let out a bitter laugh.
Of course, our reputations are not insignificant. However, the writer is merely the original author. And since the announcement of our project, there has been a lot of noise. The original fans are quite strong and widespread across various countries. Initially, the opposing opinion was more intense.
Yet, we pushed through. The investors expressed concerns, but we proceeded because I insisted. But things started getting shaky again after Woojin joined. I was confident, but they werent.
So, they're pulling out because they think it won't work?
Investors shy away from challenges. Especially in Japan, this tendency is stronger. Right now, Woojin has stirred up Japan, and the attention is as intense as one could imagine.
Director Kyotaro crossed his arms.
But what if this project fails? Everyone, including the original fans, will turn their backs, and they fear being criticized for including a Korean actor. Cowards.
At this point, Kang Woojin.
Swoosh.
Picked up the The Eerie Sacrifice of a Stranger' script lying in front of him. Though intended for the meeting, Woojin used it as a portal to the void space.
Thump!
Secretly entering the void space, Kang Woojin quickly moved towards the white rectangle. There were seven white rectangles floating there. Among them, Woojin noticed the first change.
Ah, damn, as expected, it's come to this?
-[7/Script (Title: The Eerie Sacrifice of a Stranger), Grade C]
The rating of The Eerie Sacrifice of a Stranger, which had been A+, had fallen to C. While A+ was the top-tier, C was just average. Woojin let out a sincere sigh.
Ah, average is a bit disappointing. If we can secure the remaining investment, could it go back up?
However, the beginning of next year was still far off. It was uncertain what could happen in the meantime, and Woojin had no way of predicting it.
And yet, although still faint.
It's the entertainment industry after all. Full of ups and downs.
The shadow of a backer was beginning to emerge.
Afterward.
Having finished the meeting with Director Kyotaro, Kang Woojin took a flight back to Korea on the afternoon of the 30th.
Meanwhile, Hwalin, who had finished recording Ame-talk Show!' as a guest before Woojin, had already arrived in Korea a day earlier. When Woojin arrived in Korea, the airport was quiet. The reason was simple: he had entered the country incognito. Thanks to this, Woojin, who quietly got into a van and,
-Phew'
breathed in the air of Korea, feeling it after a long time. At that moment, Choi Sung-gun, sitting in the passenger seat, offered encouragement.
'The Eerie Sacrifice of a Stranger' will be fine. The director's reputation is high enough to prevent it from falling through.
Yes, CEO~nim. It's okay.
That's good. Well, unfortunately, there's not much we can do at this point. We've already done enough publicity and attracted attention. Honestly, you don't even have the time to worry about that project right now.
I understand.
We just have to wait and see. Anyway, Woojin. You've had a tough time in Japan. I'd like to give you a few days off, but unfortunately, your schedule is too tight. Just go home today and do nothing but sleep.
Then, Choi Sung-gun closed his diary and recited the scheduled plan.
From the blind preview of Drug Dealer' to the teaser poster shoot for Island of the Missing', we're fully booked.
The next day, early morning on the 31st, Tokyo, Japan.
It was the last Monday of August. Although August was ending, Japan's weather was as hot as Korea's.
On this morning as well.
But regardless of the weather, a high-end luxury sedan smoothly drove out of a grand residence. It was Chairman Hideki's car. Another car followed behind, carrying bodyguards. Chairman Hideki, seated in the back of the front car, was visible with his white-flecked eyebrows and dressed in a suit.
-Rustle.
While opening the prepared newspaper, Chairman Hideki called his chief secretary in the passenger seat.
Do you know of a Korean actor named Kang Woojin?
Caught off guard by the sudden question, she turned her head and replied immediately.
Yes, Japan has been quite noisy recently because of that actor. So, yes, I am aware of him.
I see.
May I ask why do you ask, sir?
Find out everything you can about the Korean actor Kang Woojin, as quickly as possible.
Sir?
At her question, Chairman Hideki murmured softly.
I have to express my gratitude to him, that's all you need to know.
****
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