From the moment Kang Woo-jin arrived at the condo, his heart raced without pause. He was extremely tense. "Is this really where I'm supposed to be?" he thought. Thrust into a completely unfamiliar environment so suddenly, he had no energy to adapt.
Woo-jin forced himself to appear calm, but inside, it was like a battlefield.
"Calm down. Don't panic. They're all just people like me. I'm confident and strong."
He struggled to control his mind in order to conceal his true nature.
Fortunately…
"Hong Hye-yeon, when did you finalize this project?"
The actors who recognized top actress Hong Hye-yeon and approached her paid no attention to Woo-jin. It would have been strange if they had.
Thanks to that…
"I should stay behind Hong Hye-yeon."
He bought himself some time. Woo-jin quietly focused on his breathing, using Hye-yeon as a shield. This apartment was crucial to his disguise. Countless eyes were watching him.
"They're all masters of acting, after all."
The hall was filled with veteran professionals. He had maintained his disguise well so far, but if his identity were discovered here, everything would go back to square one.
So he had to be even more cautious than usual.
"Ah, damn it. Watch your expression, watch your expression."
To be honest, at that moment, just before the script reading, Woo-jin was more focused on his "disguise" than "acting." At that time, that was the priority.
"Hong Hye-yeon, will you be attending the after-party once the reading ends today?"
A tall, handsome actor approached Hye-yeon at the hall entrance. Woo-jin immediately recognized him.
"Ah, Ryu Jung-min. Really handsome."
He recognized Ryu Jung-min, the male lead of the drama Profiler Hanryang, whom he had only seen on the news. He had seen many actors in passing, but Ryu Jung-min exuded a distinctly different aura. At that moment, Ryu Jung-min brought up the actor playing Park Dae-ri, who was right next to him.
"Have you seen the actor playing Park Dae-ri?"
Woo-jin almost raised his hand in surprise but restrained himself.
"That actor is right here, in front of you."
And there was the problem.
"Oh my, this man is way too handsome to be a manager. Really cool."
Suddenly, Ryu Jung-min began to take an interest in Woo-jin, openly calling him Hye-yeon's manager. What on earth was happening? Why the misunderstanding? But Woo-jin focused on the compliment, "handsome," that came from Ryu Jung-min.
"Unbelievable. I almost burst out laughing."
Even if it was just a polite remark, Ryu Jung-min, the nation's "boyfriend," had called him handsome, which could almost make Woo-jin want to dance. But that wasn't all. Ryu Jung-min approached him and said:
"Really, you should try acting. Not doing it would be wasting your face."
Ah, this guy is seriously handsome. Up close, he's even more striking, his long hair flowing around his face. A man that good-looking could easily make women swoon. Woo-jin couldn't help but admire Ryu Jung-min's face. He was completely captivated.
"······"
Ryu Jung-min then casually told Hye-yeon:
"This person is impressive. Has an aura. Or maybe he's just nervous? A rookie?"
It was a misunderstanding. Ah, there was no such intention at all. By then, familiar faces appeared at the hall entrance. It was PD Song Man-woo and writer Park Eun-mi. Ryu Jung-min greeted Hye-yeon and left.
Next.
"Woo-jin."
Hye-yeon tapped Kang Woo-jin on the shoulder and pointed to the center of the square-shaped table.
"That seat is for the popular star playing Park Dae-ri. Of course, you won't be nervous, but try not to overthink it."
Is she joking? I'm totally nervous. Woo-jin tried not to show it and let out a long sigh. Then he checked the central seat she had indicated. Among the actors, he could see the "Park Dae-ri" role card.
-Swish.
Soon, Woo-jin began moving, blending into the crowd. For some reason, his heart started pounding again, as if it might burst.
"Wow, this is really something."
Experiencing this situation for the first time, Woo-jin felt a slight tremble in his fingertips. But now, there was no turning back. All he could do was begin.
Chanting a mental mantra, Woo-jin took step after step. Fortunately, no one in the hall paid attention to him. Finally, when he reached Park Dae-ri's seat:
"PD-nim, um, what's this? The actor for Park Dae-ri isn't here? Are they not coming?"
"He's right here."
PD Song Man-woo smiled and nodded at Woo-jin. And at that moment…
-Swish.
All eyes of the more than one hundred people in the hall fixed on Kang Woo-jin. Wait, hold on. Woo-jin froze. Tens of actors, whispering managers, journalists craning their necks…
Over a hundred people were eagerly waiting for Woo-jin's response.
Who are you?
Woo-jin felt his mind and body go completely blank. Even with reason gone, a single clear command echoed in his head:
"I don't know, damn it."
Conceptualization. Direct thinking. No minor details—only one thing was clear. Habit is a terrifying thing. Because of that, Woo-jin could focus solely on it, scanning everyone looking at him with a cold expression.
Seconds passed.
Woo-jin, regaining his composure…
"Ah, could you introduce yourself?"
He spoke in a low voice.
"Hello, I'm Kang Woo-jin, playing the role of Park Dae-ri."
Immediately, the previously awkward hall fell silent. The atmosphere was peculiar. Woo-jin felt he had to sit down, so he pulled a chair.
-Thud.
The sound of Woo-jin pulling out the chair echoed through the spacious hall.
"······"
"······"
All eyes were fixed. Famous veteran actors with wide eyes, successful actresses from variety shows, male actors from recent hit films, familiar faces whose names were unknown—all stared.
"Stop staring already. I'm nervous."
Woo-jin glanced at one actor and muttered to himself.
"Ah, I bought my padded jacket after seeing that actor in an ad too."
In the front row, Hye-yeon barely smiled, trying to suppress her laughter. The male lead Ryu Jung-min still looked bewildered, staring at Woo-jin with wide eyes.
Regardless, over a hundred people in the hall were shocked for another reason.
The highly anticipated "Park Dae-ri" role was taken by an actor no one had ever heard of. In truth, Kang Woo-jin was no different from any ordinary person. So it was natural for the actors to look at him with bewildered expressions.
The journalists and manager teams attending the reading shared the same reaction.
By then…
"Interesting."
PD Song Man-woo broke the hall's silence.
"Everyone was curious about Kang Woo-jin, who is playing Park Dae-ri. You've all greeted each other, right?"
Finally, all eyes that had been on Woo-jin shifted. He silently exhaled in relief, and PD Song Man-woo continued with the script reading.
"Before we start reading in earnest, let me give you a detailed introduction. Everyone, please open your first copy of the script."
-Flip, flip.
The actors hurriedly opened their scripts, glancing at Woo-jin awkwardly.
"Who is that person? Know them?"
"No, never seen them before. Is he a newcomer?"
"He's so unknown… I know theater, but he's a complete stranger."
All shared the same sentiment.
"PD Song rarely casts unknown or rookie actors, right?"
"Right, and the Park Dae-ri role isn't a lead, is it? Casting a newbie? Impossible."
Of course, the actors near Woo-jin greeted him.
"Nice to meet you, Kang Woo-jin. Any theater experience?"
"Hello, I have no theater experience."
"Your voice is nice. Is this your first work?"
"Yes. My first work."
Woo-jin kept a serious demeanor. With limited knowledge, he kept his answers concise. Yet the surrounding actors interpreted it differently.
"Why is his response so stiff? Could he already have a star complex?"
"He seems fine… isn't that just his personality?"
"I was expecting Park Dae-ri to be something more. Acting feels a bit flat."
"But if PD Song cast him, he should at least have the basics down."
"As long as the basics are good, that's fine."
At that moment, PD Song said:
"Let's start with self-introductions."
The script reading officially began.
Shortly after, the production team and actors introduced themselves. Woo-jin's introduction was slightly awkward, but overall went smoothly.
The reading started with PD Song Man-woo's narration:
"S#1. Forest, morning. Police are scattered throughout the woods."
Profiler Hanryang is set in 2010.
Though the script wasn't complete, four episodes were planned to connect into a 16-part series. Park Dae-ri was the central figure of the first episode and also a key to the overall theme of the drama.
The first scene showed a man in his 50s discovered dead on a mountain.
At that location, the male lead Ryu Jung-min appeared, playing the profiler Ji-hyung. A genius mind, yet naturally lazy, earning the nickname "Yu Han-ryang."
"Ah, not feeling well. Came straight after breakfast."
Next appeared Hong Hye-yeon, playing the passionate detective Jeong Yeon-hee, who obsessively pursues cases once caught.
Seeing Ji-hyung, Yeon-hee frowned.
"Why is Yu Han-ryang here? No one else around?"
"There aren't many profilers nationwide. If you care so much, Detective Jeong, do it yourself. I'll go eat dessert."
"Ha, impossible."
The two bickered as if familiar. Behind them, another man's body appeared. Other actors joined the scene, exchanging lines they had analyzed individually. The atmosphere quickly became serious.
"When is the estimated time of death?"
"Looks like last night."
"What's that red under the fingernails?"
"Manicure."
"Manicure? What hobby does this old man have?"
The actors performed passionately, even during reading. Woo-jin, however, subtly shook his head.
"That actor seems careless with lines."
To Woo-jin, this place was no mere reading room—it was the world of Profiler Hanryang Part 1. He had experienced the lives of every character, past, present, and preparing for lines to come.
In truth, he was the most genuine performer in the room.
"No, that part must be emphasized. The character should be desperate! Why deliver the lines so flatly?"
Indeed.
"Tae-san, your line was too flat. Make it stronger."
Woo-jin felt a sense of validation as PD Song calmly corrected the actor's shortcomings.
Meanwhile, writer Park Eun-mi, wearing a headband, scolded supporting actor Jang Tae-san.
"Tae, did you analyze your character properly? Why do you look so lifeless?"
"Sorry, I tried a different approach. I'll analyze it properly this time."
Everything went as Woo-jin expected. While unfamiliar with the female leads, the Park Dae-ri role mostly interacted with the male lead, so it didn't matter much. Woo-jin, initially tense, gradually began enjoying the reading, comparing the actors' performances with his own experiences.
Sometimes he felt the urge to step in himself.
"Don't. Almost said it out loud."
It felt like sneaking around a playground during free time. Suddenly, Woo-jin realized: Ah, this is ambition for a role.
Meanwhile, twists in Profiler Hanryang began with the profiler Ji-hyung:
"Look at this. Red manicure, top half undressed, murder tools, and a calm posture just before rigor mortis. Haven't we seen similar methods in past unsolved cases?"
It turned out the murder matched five previous unsolved cases by a serial killer. The nation was in an uproar. Yeon-hee said:
"He disappeared in 2004, now returns six years later?"
"Not confirmed yet, but doesn't it look like his 'work'? Like a flashy comeback."
"We knew of a comeback, but why now?"
By mid-first episode, tension grew. Thanks to the actors, the reading atmosphere was intense.
At that moment:
"It gradually diminishes and disappears."
PD Song flipped the page to the next character.
"Quiet park. Ah, Woo-jin."
In the latter half of Part 1, Park Dae-ri appears.
"His first scene is alone, singing without a partner. Capture that feeling, but express it appropriately. Direct it in a tone matching the flow."
"Yes, understood. I'll do it moderately."
But inexperienced Woo-jin didn't understand the meaning of "moderately." How much was "moderate"? Reduce expression? Do it carelessly? He didn't know. But he guessed.
"Phew, so tense. I'll minimize movement since I'll be seated, but express my thoughts properly."
Performing in front of more than a hundred people, all actors, was new to Woo-jin. Heart racing, he had to appear calm. He had to embody the dignified Park Dae-ri.
He focused solely on experiences he had as Park Dae-ri: what he saw, observed, and felt. He slightly reduced movement to match "moderate."
Through this, concentrated and meticulous Woo-jin perfectly became Park Dae-ri. It wasn't a gradual immersion—his atmosphere changed instantly. This was easy for Woo-jin.
He had read, experienced, understood, and absorbed it dozens of times.
Suddenly, Woo-jin's surroundings changed. Hundreds of people vanished, replaced by a peaceful mid-day park. The hall's heat became warm sunlight on his skin. The temperature was pleasant.
Park Dae-ri's expression appeared gentle.
Not overly energetic, just Woo-jin as Park Dae-ri. No difference mattered.
-Thrust and cut.
Park Dae-ri lifted his head. His face bore a gentle but weary smile. A strange expression. Dark eyes subtly laced with madness. Enough to make others uncomfortable.
At that moment, Park Dae-ri's previously strange smile vanished. His face was smooth, wrinkle-free. Why? An odd change. Then he smiled again—a slightly different grin, showing teeth.
There was a small gap in the visible smile.
Within this subtle difference lay meaning. Any veteran actor would notice. The actors watching Park Dae-ri were open-mouthed; they had never seen such an expression. Even Hye-yeon, who watched every moment of him, was no exception.
"Composure overflowing, totally unconcerned about tension. Much deeper than before… How did he prepare Part 2? Can't wait."
Writer Park Eun-mi, creator of Park Dae-ri, was also astonished.
"Bold in front of the best actors… so much clearer than before. Truly insane. Is he still improving?"
PD Song Man-woo, overseeing direction, was no exception.
"Doesn't seem to care about hundreds of eyes. Pride soaring. Whatever happens… monitor, I need to see that on the monitor now."
Park Dae-ri lowered and raised his head, scanning the actors. Right, left. His accumulated emotions captivated the actors' gaze.
Soon…
-Thrust and cut.
Park Dae-ri's sharp gaze fixed on one spot. The shocked eyes belonged to male lead Ryu Jung-min—or more precisely, the person right next to him. Park Dae-ri slightly tilted his head, smiling at his previously stiff face.
He smiled, yet his gaze showed no reaction.
Anticipation wrapped in thrill and pleasure.
Park Dae-ri observed Ryu Jung-min for a few seconds, then slightly opened his mouth.
"Ah, there you are, you bastard."
At that moment, Park Dae-ri's target was Ryu Jung-min, the male lead.
"…A person with antisocial personality disorder."
Meeting Kang Woo-jin for the first time, he muttered to himself.
"Is this the 'moderate' acting you mean?"