* * *
“Long ti no see, Professor.”
Sunwoo Seonuk bowed politely, bending at the waist as he greeted Geum Bitgang, who sat across from him.
“That’s enough. You should start saving your back now. Don’t go around bowing everywhere like that.”
“I don’t bow this deeply just anywhere. Only in front of you, Professor.”
Geum Bitgang lifted her teacup with one hand and took a sip of callia tea at the perfect temperature. The fragrant floral scent wrapped around the tip of her tongue.
“So. Why did you ask to see ?”
“Still impatient as ever.”
Geum Bitgang gave no reply—only twitched an eyebrow. What Sunwoo Seonuk held out was a thick envelope.
‘I don’t even need to look.’
Geum Bitgang already knew what would be inside. Ever since she had broken her long hiatus, scripts had been pouring in nonstop.
“If it’s a script, take it back. I’ve got a truckload I haven’t read yet.”
“It isn’t.”
“Then what is it? A book?”
“Not that either.”
Smiling, Sunwoo Seonuk gestured for her to open it quickly. Shrugging once, Geum Bitgang opened the envelope.
“It’s a play script.”
At that mont, Geum Bitgang thought of Yeoreum standing onstage. She couldn’t even explain why. It was just that so long-ago Juliet was painfully vivid in her mind.
“You’re a drama critic. Theater, though....”
“Please don’t do that. You, of all people, know how much I love theater.”
Though Sunwoo Seonuk was a drama critic, as he said, he loved theater. Enough to maintain deep friendships with directors and playwrights.
“Scale?”
“It can’t compare to the grand theater where your final play, , was staged—but it’s still a venue with its own romance.”
“Just say Daehakro. Critics always have to dress things up like this.”
Geum Bitgang picked up the script. There was no title written on the very first page. It was still untitled. Which ant nothing had been decided yet.
‘If there isn’t even a working title, then the script must’ve been finished not too long ago.’
Flipping to the section listing the characters, Geum Bitgang let out a small laugh.
“You really found last year’s final performance impressive, didn’t you?”
It seed she wasn’t the only one who wanted to put Han Yeoreum on a theater stage.
* * *
Reporter Wi rubbed the hot pack tucked inside his padded jacket pocket with gloved hands. It was December now. Award season was in full swing. Journalists had gathered in droves, waiting to film the red carpet of the Baekryong Film Awards.
It wasn’t just reporters waiting out in the cold. Fans too—each offline event was precious to them—lined up along the red carpet.
“Kyaaah!”
Every ti a van stopped, screams burst out everywhere, white breath puffing into the air. Wi pressed his shutter tirelessly.
“This year’s award season is pretty fun, huh?”
“Seriously. Who would’ve thought the Yejong Awards would expand their categories like this?”
The Yejong Film Awards had introduced a new category: Series. Now even works released by cable broadcasters were eligible for awards.
“Think Netholics will co to Korea within a year?”
“That’s probably why Yejong expanded the categories. They’re likely planning to pit cable networks against OTT platforms in the series category.”
With Netholics surging in neighboring Japan, Yejong had made its move. Reporters, sensing a possible shift in the entertainnt landscape, watched the red carpet with keen interest.
“Han Yeoreum!”
“Yeoreum!”
The mont a van stopped and its door opened, a rookie actress whose montum had been terrifying lately stepped out.
“Looks like the Best New Actress winner has arrived.”
Soone muttered as Han Yeoreum smiled brightly, eting fans’ gazes one by one. Wi curled his lips upward and fired his shutter nonstop.
‘Is it just my imagination?’
It felt like Yeoreum was staring straight into his lens, waving directly at him.
Even after Yeoreum left the photo wall and another van stopped at the red carpet, people couldn’t tear their eyes away from her retreating figure.
From the rookie who would claim the Baekryong Film Awards’ Best New Actress.
* * *
My fingertips were frozen stiff from the subzero temperature. The mont I entered the hall, Coordinator Hwang and Manager Choi rushed over.
“Warm up for a second.”
“Yeoreum, are you really that cold? You’re shaking so much!”
A soft blanket and hot packs were pressed into my hands. Even so, the trembling didn’t stop. The grand hall felt almost like a movie theater.
“Hey! You wild colt!”
“Hello, Ms. Yeoreum.”
I took my seat at a table draped in white cloth, together with the team.
“You prepared your acceptance speech well, right? It’s your first award ceremony—leave a dignified impression.”
“Just do what you did at the Seoul Drama Awards—say everything and cry. The staff will cut you off mid-speech anyway.”
Kwak Cheolsik and Yun Hyeonjo joked to help ease the tension.
“Right, right.... Yeoreum, Yeoreum’s definitely winning Best New Actress....”
Watching Director Gong tremble while holding a water bottle completely lted my nerves. He spilled more water than he drank. Seeing soone more nervous than made laugh.
“Director, relax.”
Finally, letters appeared on the screen. It was ti to receive the report card.
[44th Baekryong Film Awards]
“If we don’t win it, who will?”
There was no upset. I won Best New Actress.
had drawn the largest audience of the year, and went on to achieve strong results at the Baeksan Arts Awards as well. One work ca with at least six awards attached. was an undeniable box-office hit.
[Han Yeoreum wins Best New Actress at the with acting everyone acknowledges...]
[Star Photo / Best New Actress Han Yeoreum’s refreshing smile~]
[After Baekryong, will she sweep Yejong as well? A terrifying rising star, Han Yeoreum]
“The 47th Yejong Awards. This year was once again filled with wonderful works and outstanding performances from incredible actors.”
Ti passed unbelievably fast. After the Baekryong Film Awards and the Baeksan Arts Awards, the day of the Yejong Film Awards arrived.
At the Yejong Film Awards, where joined in the nominations, the barrage of shutters aid at was so intense my ears rang.
Flashes fired nonstop, leaving aching afterimages of light.
“Series Best Picture of the Year.”
“And the Series Best Director goes to....”
“I personally enjoyed this one a lot. Series Best Art Direction.”
swept the Yejong Film Awards. Best Picture. Best Director. Best Art Direction. Best Sound.
“Congratulations! Series Best New Actress. And the winner is....”
And finally—
“Han Yeoreum, as Seoryeong.”
Best New Actress, once again.
With that, I beca an actress who had swept Best New Actress at two film festivals. The trophy in my hands glittered madly under the lights.
“...Thank you.”
My throat tightened. I hadn’t cried at the Baekryong Film Awards. Maybe it was because this award was for , where I was the lead—the weight felt different.
“It still doesn’t feel real, standing in a place I’ve dread of since I was young.”
Monts of living as Seoryeong flashed by. Paths walked sotis with Jeongan, sotis with Myungdo, sotis alone.
“I used to wonder if anyone would ever recognize my na... if even one person would rember .”
The final chapter of that Seoryeong faced ca to mind. Clear letters had been engraved on the screen: Chapter 16, Final Destination.
“Thanks to a great project, a great director, and wonderful staff and colleagues, I received so much love as Seoryeong.”
But Seoryeong and Han Yeoreum were different. Seoryeong reached a destination called a happy ending. Han Yeoreum was only just beginning.
Suddenly, I rembered the ti when no one rembered my na.
The audition date being moved up by a week, but I never received the ssage and lost the chance.
Barely getting accepted, only to be cut because I didn’t know the script had changed.
Even the traffic accident on my very first shoot.
Endless misfortunes flashed by in rapid succession.
And over them overlapped mories that were the exact opposite of my miserable acting life.
This ti, not stolen by Do Gyeoul.
My life.
Fragnts of Han Yeoreum.
“I’ll continue working hard as an actress who can convey good stories, and I’ll keep making my na known.”
Han Yeoreum, who received insane praise starting from her debut web drama,
Han Yeoreum, who took on countless interviews and comrcials with a positive image,
Han Yeoreum, smiling brightly after receiving an award at Korea’s top film festival—
What Do Gyeoul once had, I now have.
Because they were things I was ant to have.
“I’m Han Yeoreum. Thank you.”
I bowed deeply. Applause echoed. Realizing it was for made my eyes burn.
What nas would I carry in the future?
Pi Chaewon, who focused only on studying but finally made friends,
Jung Yeondu, who received attention instead of indifference,
Juliet, who fell in love at first sight with Roo and promised love,
Influencer 1, who was scared but bravely caught a drug criminal,
And Seoryeong, who kept her promise to the very end.
I was excited for the next na I would take on.
Because there were still so many nas left for Han Yeoreum.
My heart pounded in my ears at the sa rhythm as the applause.
As I lifted my head, tears clinging to my lashes, what appeared before my eyes—
Ding-! Ding-! Ding-! Ding-!
「Mission: Beyond the Character」
Keyword: Variety Show Debut
Haven’t you been consud by a strong character? Aren’t people calling you by your role’s na instead of your own? Oh dear. If this continues, your image might solidify. At tis like this, you need to act strategically—approach the public in a more friendly way.
Success Condition
[Win public favor with an image of being sincere about acting!]
「Mission: With Impact」
Keyword: Triple Crown
You’ve won Best New Actress at a film festival. Now it’s ti to win an acting grand prize. Aim to achieve the , a perfect opportunity to imprint yourself on the public!
Success Condition
[Win Best New Actress at an Acting Awards Ceremony!]
「Mission: Temperature with the Audience」
Keyword: Core Fans
A fan club has ford! Congratulations. But you’re still lacking ‘core fans.’ How about gathering more through perfect fan service? They’ll surely beco your strongest allies.
Success Condition
[Hit the trending videos chart with a ‘Legendary Fan Service’ video!]
「Mission: Recognized by Critics」
Keyword: Imrsion
You’re rising fast, and while public recognition matters, critics’ responses are important too—you know that, right? Earn positive imrsion scores from even the strictest critics. Open a new horizon in acting!
Success Condition
[Win a Theater Award at the Hongsang Arts Festival!]
They were status windows. I smiled brightly, looking straight ahead. No matter how many missions appeared, ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) there was nothing to fear.
‘Who am I?’
The actress who won the Baekryong Film Awards’ Best New Actress for playing an outstanding supporting role in her very first film; the cable miracle who elevated a fusion historical drama’s artistic value through flawless acting; the true form of Seoryeong, who even led to a single-screen finale event for the final episode; and the Best New Actress winner at the Yejong Film Awards—
‘Being watched right now by one familiar fan who ca all this way.’
Because that is who I am.
Because I am Han Yeoreum.
Continued in Part 2.]
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