Chapter 175: Stranger (5)
Translator: Dreamscribe
On the morning of November 17th, the place where Kang Woojin found himself was in a large complex center called ‘Pacific Yokohama’ in Tokyo. Various events are held here, and the space currently rented for Kang Woojin’s fan signing event was the convention hall inside.
It was moderately sized.
It had the feel of a medium-sized area with a stage at the front and seats for the audience arranged. The seating capacity was roughly 1500 seats, divided into two floors, the first and the second. It is usually used for corporate announcements or various events, and this morning, it had been confirmed for Kang Woojin’s fan signing event.
The organizer was, of course, Netflix Japan.
This was part of Kang Woojin’s confirmed schedule in Japan, and while the popularity of ‘Hanryang’ and ‘Male Friend’ was a reason, in a larger sense, it was akin to promoting Woojin. With ‘Hanryang,’ ‘Male Friend,’ and shows like ‘Ame-talk Show!’ Kang Woojin’s popularity in Japan was soaring, especially since there hadn’t been any official communication with the fans until now.
This fan signing event was somewhat Kang Woojin’s first fan meeting in Japan.
Therefore, Netflix Japan had announced this fan signing event to the public long ago. Given Woojin’s rising popularity and the buzz around ‘The Eerie Sacrifice of a Stranger,’ the news spread rapidly beyond social media.
Thanks to that.
『Tickets for 「Kang Woo-jin」’s fan signing event held in Japan sold out within minutes』
The originally planned 300 attendees for the signing event sold out in minutes. Thus began Kang Woojin’s first fan signing in Japan, and having experienced such events in Korea before, Woojin wasn’t nervous about the number. However, it was still exciting and a bit nerve-wracking since it was his first time with fans from another country.
But.
“I heard that there are more than 700 people gathered in the outside plaza?”
The news Han Ye-jung threw at Woojin, who was in the waiting room, brought a sense of shock. 300 people had already taken their places inside the convention hall, but over 700 fans in the plaza outside ‘Pacific Yokohama’? Probably those who didn’t make it through the application.
That means over a thousand fans had gathered.
In terms of numbers, it was almost like a fan meeting rather than a signing event. Despite maintaining his solemn expression while putting down the tablet he was looking at.
‘Thousand people??!’
He internally screamed. It made sense for 300 fans to fill up the place, but over 1000 fans coming?? As excitement surged within him, Kang Woojin forcibly suppressed it and asked Han Ye-jung in a low voice.
“What happened?”
Han Ye-jung, with her blue bob, shook her head slightly.
“I don’t know. Netflix Japan staff have gone out to check.”
“700 people?”
“Yes. But that’s just an estimate, and it could be more. I briefly saw outside before coming here, and it looked like the plaza in front of a concert hall.”
“······”
“Fans who didn’t get through the 300-person first-come-first-served application just came.”
Indeed, that was the case. Currently, the plaza in front of the large ‘Pacific Yokohama’ entrance was bursting with people. Interestingly, hundreds of fans were orderly lining up in an L shape to the very end. There wasn’t a specific rule, but it seemed like everyone followed suit after someone started.
Most were female fans, but there were also male fans spotted occasionally.
700 people? No, easily over 800. There were internet broadcasters holding smartphones or action cams, fans who brought posters of Kang Woojin, and fans holding small banners in Korean. The scene was truly diverse.
In the midst of this, a male streamer holding an action cam was interviewing a group of young-looking girls.
“Where have you come from?”
“Osaka!”
“Ah- all of you? That’s quite far. How old are you?”
“19!”
“You came even though you didn’t get into the fan signing?”
“Yes, yes, just- we wanted to see Kang Woojin~nim even if it’s just for a moment when he leaves!”
That was it. All of them had gathered just to catch a glimpse of Kang Woojin’s departure, hoping to see him in person even if they couldn’t get into the signing event.
Anyway.
“Did you figure out the number of people??!”
“It’s over 800!”
“For now, send some guards outside!”
“Yes, yes!”
The Netflix Japan staff organizing the fan signing event became anxious. Nobody had anticipated this situation.
“Wow- But the fans have gathered like a Korean idol’s fan signing event, right?”
“Indeed. It’s quite surprising.”
“It seems like Kang Woojin’s popularity has really skyrocketed.”
“We’ll need to discuss this with Kang Woojin~ssi’s side first.”
At this time, Woojin had already started the fan signing event in the convention hall. 300 fans were waiting in the audience seats and in front of the stage, and Kang Woojin was sitting at a desk on the stage, exchanging signatures and brief greetings with the fans. Of course, fluent Japanese was coming out of Woojin’s mouth.
“Hello.”
“Wow! Hello! Eeh-Kang Woojin~nim, you’re really cool!”
“Thank you, what’s your name?”
“Yonetsu Akina!”
“Yonetsu Akina~nim.”
“Plea- Please! call me by my first name without the last name!”
“Akina~nim?”
“Akina!”
“Akina.”
“······Yes.”
The female fan, enchanted, left the stage. The fan signing event itself was proceeding without any issues. The Netflix Japan filming team was recording it to post on their official Youtube channel. The few invited reporters were also busily snapping photos.
At this point, a Netflix Japan team leader ran up to Choi Sung-gun, who was sitting off to the side of the stage.
“Excuse me, I’m sorry sir!”
“Hm?”
Soon, the employee explained the situation outside. Choi Sung-gun, who had already heard some of it, stroked his chin as he organized his thoughts.
“Hmm-”
In reality, there wasn’t much to ponder.
‘We just need to finish the 300-person signing and leave.’
The scheduled time was roughly 2 hours. After the signing, they could simply greet the fans outside while leaving. However, Choi Sung-gun felt it was a bit of a waste.
‘Over 800 people- that’s not a small number to ignore. Altogether, it’s over a thousand.’
Kang Woojin’s second visit to Japan was already impactful, but more attention wouldn’t hurt. Considering the dedication of the fans outside, their support on Japanese SNS, Youtube, and communities could be significant. If they become the starting point, Kang Woojin’s recognition would solidify even further.
But signing for all thousand fans was impossible.
‘Still, a simple greeting shouldn’t be a problem.’
A few words of greeting would only take a few minutes.
‘Spreading a good deed would be the icing on the cake.’
Soon, Choi Sung-gun gestured for the Netflix Japan employee to wait and then,
-Swoosh.
approached Kang Woojin, who was busy signing autographs on stage. The event paused momentarily as Choi Sung-gun whispered the current situation and his thoughts to Woojin. After all, the decision was up to Kang Woojin.
“What do you think?”
I don’t mind, Woojin thought to himself, feeling that anything would be fine. He was just grateful that so many people had come to see his ordinary self.
Then he paused.
“Ah.”
Woojin remembered a phrase he had heard somewhere.
‘For us, it might be just a few minutes to a few dozen minutes, but that small action means a lifetime to the fans who came to see the star, right?’
It was probably from a video he had seen briefly on Youtube about the importance of fan service. He wasn’t sure, but perhaps it applied to this situation as well? Then, Woojin had an idea and spoke softly while also checking the audience in front of him.
“CEO~nim, since it’s come to this, how about I sing the ‘Male Friend’ OST for the fans?”
“Sing? A song?”
“Yes. They’ve come from far away, so just greeting them feels insufficient. Looking at the condition of this convention hall, singing seems like the best option. How about the ‘Male Friend’ OST and one of my Youtube cover songs, so two songs in total?”
“That sounds good. You mean to give it a fan meeting vibe? How’s your throat?”
“Two songs won’t be a problem. However, since there’s a difference with the 300 who applied for the fan signing, we should call the outside fans in after the signing is finished.”
“Right, that’s obvious.”
“And gifts only for the 300.”
The gift mentioned here was a small frame containing a ‘Male Friend’ poster. Kang Woojin’s words quickly formed a plan.
“Two songs, so it’ll be about a 30-minute delay. Does that mean you’ll have to eat in the car?”
“It’s fine.”
Thus, Choi Sung-gun conveyed the suggestion to Netflix Japan, and they received a response that there were no issues. Kang Woojin’s fan signing event quickly transformed into a mini fan meeting.
And
“Eeeeeeh?!!”
“Really?!”
“Kyaaaa!”
“Thank you!! Thank you!”
Hundreds of fans outside were ecstatic.
About an hour later, after finishing the signing event, Kang Woojin stood in the center of the stage holding a handheld microphone. The problem was.
‘…Pretending to be cool while proceeding, but now that I’m actually standing here, my heart feels like it’s going to burst?? Ugh.’
The realization that his heart was racing madly due to the gaze of over a thousand fans in the audience seats. However, his experience and ability to maintain his persona were not for nothing. Woojin, trying hard to suppress his nervousness, pitched his voice into the microphone.
“Thank you for coming all the way here. Although I’m not much, I will sing two songs for you.”
Screams and shrieks poured out immediately. All of this was captured by the Netflix Japan filming team and various reporters. Of course, over a thousand fans all lifted their phones above their heads. Woojin was being filmed from every angle.
-♬♪♪ -♬♪ -♬♪
The intro of the OST ‘Male Friend’ that Kang Woojin sang filled the hall. Then, his high-quality vocals penetrated the fans’ ears.
Simultaneously, on Japanese SNS.
[@__27GGGG__]
[(Photo) I can die happy now!! I would have been content just seeing Woojin~nim leave… but he’s singing for us…]
Kang Woojin’s act of kindness spread.
The next day, the 18th, around late lunchtime. Gimpo Airport.
Even now, many people were passing through the departure area, where dozens of reporters had openly gathered. The atmosphere wasn’t sudden. From the conversations among the gathered reporters, it seemed.
“Should be coming out soon, right?”
“Yeah, should arrive around 2.”
It appeared that the media had already been officially informed. Surrounding onlookers widened their eyes in curiosity, scanning the dozens of reporters. They could predict that a well-known celebrity was about to appear.
At that moment.
“There! Kang Woojin! Kang Woojin~ssi!!”
Along with the unanimous shout of the reporters, lightning struck towards the departure area. No, it was the flash of cameras. The name of the celebrity appeared from the mouths of the onlookers.
“There! It’s Kang Woojin!”
“Really??!”
“Ah, right! He was in Japan, wasn’t he?? Must’ve returned today!”
“Let’s get closer!”
Kang Woojin had returned to Korea after completing his schedule in Japan. Exiting the departure gate, Woojin was wearing a denim jacket, showing no signs of fatigue. Dozens of teams hustled around him, and reporters ceaselessly snapped photos of him.
The reaction was truly that of a top actor.
What was peculiar was.
-Swish.
Kang Woojin, while exiting the airport, stopped at a certain point in the lobby. The reason was simple.
“Kang Woojin~ssi!! How was your chemistry with the actors of ‘The Eerie Sacrifice of a Stranger’?!”
It was for a modest interview with dozens of reporters. Naturally, it was a setup prepared by Choi Sung-gun. It wasn’t good to always be running away from the media. Plus, they aimed to create simultaneous buzz in both Japan and Korea.
Amidst the barrage of questions, a shout from one reporter struck Woojin’s ears.
“Today, ‘Drug Dealer’ has reached 7 million viewers!! Kang Woojin~ssi, do you have a running guarantee??!” (TL: I have explained it previously but if you don’t remember running guarantee is when a actor is given pay based on the no of viewers)
At the same time.
Around when Kang Woojin had arrived in Korea.
“Hmm- seems he’s back.”
Director Ahn Ga-bok was viewing the current internet situation on his phone. He was in a car, moving somewhere, accompanied by many people, including the film company’s CEO and staff. Director Ahn lowered his phone, recalling a conversation from the day before.
Kang Woojin had called him while he was in Japan.
It started with Director Ahn Ga-bok, slightly tilting his head.
“That’s right, Woojin. I heard you’ve arrived in Japan.”
From the other end of the phone, Kang Woojin’s low voice was heard.
“Yes, Director~nim. I’m currently in Japan. I called to say that I will work hard on ‘Leech’.”
Director Ahn Ga-bok had already heard about Woojin’s willingness to join through Choi Sung-gun. Apart from that, Kang Woojin had reached out to him personally.
“Heh, your character is all over the place.”
“Is that so?”
“Something like- the seasonality is so apparent to the eye. Of course, I’m talking about charm.”
“Thank you, and I look forward to working with you.”
“······Likewise. Please take good care of me in the future. By the way, as of today, ‘Leech’ has started pre-production.”
At this point, Director Ahn Ga-bok returned to the reality inside the car. He brushed the stubbly white hairs on his chin, chuckled lightly, and said.
“He has a wide range, but there’s something peculiar about him that resonates with people. Quite unique.”
He spoke to the employee driving.
“Let’s go a bit faster.”
It was to accelerate the pace of the movie ‘Leech’.
Meanwhile, in the living room of a somewhat cramped apartment.
At first glance, it looked like a typical apartment. However, the furniture set up in the living room didn’t quite give off the feel of a family home. It was almost barren. There was hardly any furniture; just a refrigerator and a simple dining table in the kitchen, and in the living room, all that could be seen was a desk made by combining two two-person desks into one for six people.
The space was unfamiliar, but the two sitting at the desk were well-acquainted.
“How, how about it? PD-nim??”
“······It’s killer. That’s how it looks to me.”
It was the shy writer Choi Na-na and the bearded PD Song Man-woo. Among them, PD Song Man-woo, holding a stack of papers, overlapped two bundles and muttered.
“Let’s try it with episodes 1 and 2 only.”
“Eh- Yes, yes!”
“Be prepared, of course, but let’s not be disappointed even if it doesn’t work out. Honestly, the chances of it not working are high.”
“That’s… probably true?”
PD Song Man-woo’s face turned as if he was a general facing a battle.
“Woojin~ssi’s appearance fee is currently at least over 40 million won per episode, at the minimum.”
*****
