Chapter 73
Director Katahiro's words put the conference room into a moment of silence. Originally, it was a quiet conference room, but now he can't hear even a small breath.
First, it was the woman who was sitting opposite Katahiro who broke the silence.
"Learn Korean…". First of all, can I say one thing first?"
"Yes, say it."
"You have to be very careful about using a foreign actor as your main character. There is a language problem, and there is a domestic recognition problem. But is there a reason why you want to use Korean actors?"
It was a polite voice, but it was a fairly sharp question.
Katahiro answered seriously.
"First of all, you don't have to worry about the linguistic part of the actor I'm paying attention to. I heard he speaks Japanese very well."
"Who told you that?"
"Yes, I heard from an actor named ‘Ryosuke Sato' who recently appeared in a Korean drama."
"He is the most famous Japanese actor in Korea these days, starring in <Spring Without Flowers>."
"Yes, because the drama sold so well."
The people in the conference room nodded their heads. They were also people who were involved in the video, so they were always monitoring the best works in Korea.
The man sitting on the right asked.
"If you know a Korean actor, was he an actor in that drama?"
"Yes."
The man nodded and said.
"I remember the main actor in that work. I remember that his acting skills got better as the episodes went on. But isn't the image so different from the main character of "The World's Sickest Match"? What we need in our work is an actor with a lot of cuteness, and he has such a normal impression. "He's handsome, though."
Katahiro said with a slight smile at the man's words.
"The actor I'm trying to write is not the main character."
"Then?"
"The supporting actor is Kang Jinseok, who played ‘Nakamura'."
Everyone in the conference room threw a word at Katahiro's words.
"You want to use an actor who plays a supporting role in a drama as the main character in our drama?"
"The actor who played ‘Nakamura'… The acting was really great. Come to think of it, I think he was very fluent in Japanese."
"If you think about the image… It's a lot more precious than Shinnosuke, but….”
"Do we have to gamble like this?" This isn't art, it's business!"
Thump!
To make the noisy conference room quiet, the woman sitting opposite Katahiro hit the desk.
The woman said as the conference room became quiet again.
"Director Katahiro. You didn't answer all my questions earlier. But before that."
"Yes."
"The actor Kang Jinseok is fundamentally problematic to write in Japan. Actor who appeared in Japanese colonial era's background work against Japanese video fans….”
At the time the woman was talking, the man sitting next to Katahiro cut off the horse.
"That's not it, Mr. Markey."
"What do you mean it's not?"
"Korean actors who appear in the film set in the Japanese colonial era do not arouse antipathy from the Japanese public. If you think about how an actor named ‘Juil', who appeared in "Gakgak mask" in Korea in the past, became known to Japan."
“….”
"The Japanese public is not very one-dimensional. Except for very few, they see the work as a work. It would be the same in any country."
Director Katahiro bowed his head in appreciation of the man's words. Because the man told them what he wanted to say at a glance.
The woman still seemed to have a small complaint left, but she shrugged her shoulders as if she had no choice in the words of the two.
"If you say that, I will follow the director's opinion. When it comes to casting, the director's authority is the first priority."
"Thank you."
"But that audition, I'll attend it, too. It's not even a work that costs a penny or two, so I'll have to see it with my own eyes as an investment director."
The woman looked sharply at director Katahiro.
"A Korean actor named Kang Jinseok."
***
Time flew by so fast.
Obviously, when the filming of "The Way They Chose" began, it was late June, when it was getting hotter, but it was October when the wind was quite chilly.
I've been really busy, but when I look back, I've only done two things.
Filming and resting.
The amount and weight of the first "Juyeon" I took on for the first time were considerable, and I couldn't afford to do anything other than shoot and rest.
"What…" The staff and the producer liked it, saying it was the first time filming as easy as this one, and that there would be no more in the future….’
Then I couldn't even tell how hard it was to shoot "Tough".
For your information, the mood of the shoot has reached its peak since Park Hayeon kicked out her fans.
The atmosphere was good before that, but after that, the staff and actors felt like they had to work together as a team.
And surprisingly, nothing much was said on Park Hayeon's fan cafe or SNS.
‘I thought there would be some noise.'
It was such a relief.
Anyway, I was physically and mentally exhausted throughout the shoot, but I had a lot of fun.
It's a waste of time to sleep and I can't wait to wake up in the morning.
"We're here."
"Oh, yes."
When you're in such thoughts. The taxi driver, who was driving silently for a long time, said.
I paid for the meter and got out of the taxi.
"This is… Is it a charnel house of twenty-thousands?'
This is the first time I've been to a charnel house in my life. I came here today to do Lee Manseok's favor.
To give a letter of his heart to his younger brother, Lee Minyoung.
‘I don't mean to deliver it myself.'
I entered the building quietly. When I went inside, I saw a guide wearing a neat suit.
As he approached the guide, he asked politely.
"Is it your first time here?"
"Oh, yes. The… Late Lee Manseok, there must be someone who comes every Thursday, do you know who it is?"
I said the guide thought for a moment and spoke calmly.
"If you come every Thursday… It's only a few minutes. However, I can't give you an accurate answer just by the name of the deceased."
"Oh, I see. Do you remember the middle-aged man who comes every Thursday?"
"Well…. I think there's someone like that. What is this about?"
I took out a letter that had been pinned in my bag in the suspicious gaze of the guide.
"I want to convey this letter to him…. Is there any way?"
“…Letters?"
"Yes."
The guide alternated between the letter and me as if he hadn't expected it.
"Do you think it's weird…?’
It was understandable. It's because someone suddenly comes and asks me to deliver a letter to the bereaved family.
"By any chance… What do you have to do with the deceased?"
"What? What do you mean, relationship?"
"Seeing you come to deliver a letter to the bereaved family like this, you must be quite a close acquaintance."
When he asked back, the guide said with a subtle smile.
"Sometimes. People who come like teachers and leave letters or money to the family members of the deceased. Most of them beg for forgiveness from the deceased or receive great grace."
“….”
"I think they are courageous people. It's a little late, but they're trying to ask for appreciation and forgiveness somehow."
The guide, who was speaking calmly, asked me again.
"That's why I asked. What was your relationship with the deceased?"
"Oh, yes. I see….”
"I asked because the bereaved might be curious. Even if you don't tell me, I'll give him the letter, so if you're really uncomfortable, you don't have to tell me."
"It's not inconvenient or anything like that. It's just….”
I hesitated because I didn't know what relationship to call it.
My relationship with Lee Manseok.
It was the most difficult question I've heard in recent years.
"The helper who fulfills each other's wishes… Would you understand if I said?'
However, it is really difficult to explain this special relationship in a way that others can understand.
‘Let's just say I got help.'
As the guide said, the letter will be delivered even if you don't have to say it.
However, even considering unnecessary misunderstandings and Lee Minyoung, who will suddenly receive "Oppas's letter," it was necessary to clear up the issue.
"It's my benefactor. He taught me how to work… He also taught "Family Love."
The guide listened to me and nodded.
"I see. Leave it to me, and I'll pass it on."
"Thank you."
"Yes, and… Are you going to see the deceased by any chance?"
I was going to do that if possible.
"Yes, I'd like to see him."
"Then just write down your name here. Those who are not bereaved are always required to write a guest book."
The guide, who put his name on the documents he received, explained some precautions.
"Then, take your time to see him. You don't have to tell me when you go out."
"Thank you."
The place where the remains were placed was the center of the building, quite inward from the entrance.
There were a lot of people outside, but when I went inside, there were not many people.
"Here it is."
Lee Manseok's ashes on the altar. Two pictures were placed next to the urn.
Both were very old pictures, and one was Lee Manseok's solo picture.
And the other one.
"Brother… The picture they took with Lee Minyoung.'
If Lee Manseok's memory had not been obtained, the picture was so crumpled that he could not recognize their faces.
There were some torn places.
Nevertheless, it was clear that Lee Manseok and Lee Minyoung had really happy smiles.
"Whoa….”
After a moment of silence, I took a flower out of my bag. It is the same flower that I gave to Yeonmi before entering Seoguk University.
When I looked up the Internet, I decided to use this flower because it was not polite to offer flowers with flowers other than chrysanthemums.
I put flowers next to the altar. After fixing it firmly so that it wouldn't fall off, I slightly lowered my head and said my last goodbye.
"I'm going to go."
And when I raised my head, the urn twinkled slightly as if it were going well.
***
Again, again, again.
With the familiar sound of shoes, Lee Minyoung came into the charnel house.
"Hello."
Lee Minyoung greeted the guide with a light smile.
Then, the guide called Lee Minyoung, naturally headed toward the altar as usual.
"Sir, wait a minute."
"What?"
"Yesterday, a man came and asked me to deliver this letter."
The guide gave Lee Minyoung a letter written by Jinseok.
"···A letter to me?"
"Yes, he was greatly indebted to the deceased… He asked me to deliver a letter."
"What do you mean grace to my brother…".”
Lee Minyoung received the letter, muttering in a dazed voice.
"First of all, thank you. I'll read it."
"Yes."
Lee Minyoung immediately opened the letter. The guide looked at Lee Minyoung reading the letter with a happy smile.
With the expectation of ‘I'm sure he will be happy.'
“…?”
However, not long after reading the letter, Lee Minyoung wrapped the end of the letter.
For a while, too.
He carefully opened the crumpled letter again with a bewildered gesture.
Lee Minyoung's shoulders have been shaking irregularly. I couldn't see his face because it was covered by the letter, but the guide could see that Lee Minyoung was crying.
"What kind of letter is it….’
The guide asked carefully.
"I… Sir? Are you all right?"
Despite the guide's question, Lee Minyoung was unanswered. He just covered his face and read the letter in tears.
Lee Minyoung, who had been reading the letter for so long, put the letter down and said.
"This… May I know who gave it to you?"
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