Chapter 1

Genius Actor Obsessed with Acting © Bigstone

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Truly Obsessed with Acting. Episode 1

For days, I had been lying in my room like a corpse, wondering if I ever had any vitality.

“Ugh... Ugh...”

It started again. The pain tightened my throat, making it hard to breathe. I fumbled on the floor for the painkillers and stuffed them into my mouth.

I could finally breathe.

“It’s a month at most. The cancer has spread to your spleen, liver, diaphragm, pancreas, and kidneys. At this stage, surgery is meaningless. Chemotherapy...”

“How much time do I have left?”

“...A month at most.”

The doctor had passed a death sentence on my body.

Today marks the end of that month.

Pain and fear had filled the past month to the brim.

Now, I was no longer afraid of death.

Why had I, once the top actor in South Korea, come to this?

Looking back, my life had been a rollercoaster.

Right after graduating high school, I wandered into the film industry, eager to become an actor. Thanks to my striking appearance, I managed to grab opportunities relatively easily.

“There’s no such thing as a masterpiece created by God. Just look at the aura he exudes. Just point the camera at him, and it’s a romantic movie.”

“You must hear this a lot, but you’re incredibly handsome. There’s something mysterious about you.”

“That’s what I mean. There’s something that just draws people in.”

The agency’s CEO and staff didn’t hide their excitement and praised me endlessly from the first day they saw me.

“Have you ever acted before?”

“No, never.”

“Okay. Don’t worry about it. We’ll take care of it, so just follow us.”

The CEO assigned me the best acting teacher in the industry, showing just how much they expected from me.

Despite the teacher’s strict Spartan training, I didn’t find it difficult at all.

The more I learned, the more interesting acting became. From speech and voice control to the integration of voice and body, imagination and discipline, and even the finest techniques.

“You’re doing well. If you keep this up, you’ll be a big name in the industry.”

The acting teacher didn’t hold back with his praise.

My first opportunity came sooner than expected.

I was cast as the lead in a romantic fantasy film. The role relied more on looks than acting, so the casting was easy. However, the director was still concerned about my acting skills.

“Your acting is still lacking...”

“I’ll do my best with the right attitude.”

The film was a huge success. I became the prince of South Korean women.

After the success of my first film, scripts kept pouring in without a break. I shot movies and dramas one after another, without a chance to reflect on my acting. They were all similar genres and roles.

My popularity soared. I was overwhelmed by the schedules from movies, dramas, variety shows, commercials, interviews, and more.

Naturally, acting lessons became a distant memory. The roles I played didn’t require much acting skill.

“Not coming to class today?”

“I have a VIP party tonight. Sorry.”

Relying solely on my good looks, I started to neglect my acting lessons. With money and fame pouring in, I thought it was no big deal. My arrogance knew no bounds.

Back then, I thought everything would last forever.

But that was it. That was my peak, and the decline was about to begin.

Fresh and handsome new actors started to appear. My once-fresh looks began to seem stale to the public.

‘If only I had pulled myself together and focused more on acting back then...’

Sharp criticism of my awkward acting began. Suddenly, I became a juicy target for journalists. They pounced on me, tearing me apart.

– The Only Obstacle in the Film: Controversy Over the Acting Skills of the Cast

– Actor Bae Woojin, Desperate for a Silent Film

– Actor Bae Woojin’s Acting Skills Spark Controversy in ; Becomes a Nuisance Character!

Acting lost its appeal. My pure passion for acting faded away.

All I cared about was being popular.

I partied wildly with women day and night. Women kept coming, and I threw myself into the endless waves.

Unaware that it was a quagmire, a cruel trap, or the sweet temptation of a Parisian hell.

The final blow was just around the corner.

A date etched in my mind, one that would never be erased: December 24, 2003, Christmas Eve.

I was heading to an orphanage with my old friend Oh Haeil. It was a promise we had made a few months earlier.

“Woojin, thank you so much. The kids really like you, so I promised to bring you.”

“Dude, I can’t say no to my only friend. What, do I just dress up as Santa?”

‘I should have gone to the orphanage. Then nothing would have happened...’

On the way to the orphanage, I received a call.

“It’s Chae Eun.”

The granddaughter of JC Group, a film production and distribution company. I couldn’t refuse her call. She had introduced me to the world of the wealthy and shown me a different life.

“Everyone’s here. Hurry up and come.”

Haeil shook his head desperately, but... I ran to her.

Trampling the hearts of dozens of children waiting for me...

And that event was a death trap. The next day, I dominated all the search rankings and news articles. My career was shattered in an instant.

– Actor Bae Woojin, Drug and Assault Scandal

– Reconstruction of the Drug and Assault Incident Involving Bae Woojin

– Actor Bae Woojin Arrested at a Club – The Mastermind of a Hallucinogenic Party?

I took the fall for the drug and assault incident involving the wealthy troublemakers. I had only joined them for a Christmas party...

“Man, the advertisers are going crazy, demanding compensation.”

The agency’s phones were ringing off the hook.

“It’s PD Jang. The drama I was supposed to join is canceled.”

“Damn, I don’t know. Look, mobilize all our resources. Contact the president of the fan club and have them post comments saying it’s all a misunderstanding.”

“It’s already turned into an anti-fan club. They announced a protest in front of the company tomorrow.”

That’s how my career and popularity vanished like a mirage, one by one.

After a year-long trial, I was acquitted of all charges. But all that remained was the label of drugs and violence. I had been completely erased from the public’s mind.

After that, I dedicated myself to acting studies. With the determination to start from scratch, I auditioned for any role, whether a supporting character or a minor part. I dreamed of a comeback and kept challenging myself.

“There’s a first meeting in two weeks. It’s a script reading, so come prepared with an analysis of your role.”

“Got it. Thanks.”

That’s how I managed to land a supporting role in a daily drama. I threw myself into it, considering it a chance given by heaven, but...

“Sorry, but there’s a lot of opposition from above. Let’s try again next time.”

A casting cancellation call.

My short acting career ended like that.

After that, I gave up on everything and started to rot my body with alcohol and cigarettes.

***

Beep, beep, beep, beep.

The front door was roughly opened.

“Hey! Hey! Bae Woojin. Bae Woojin.”

The only person who had stuck with me until the end, my friend Oh Haeil.

Despite Haeil’s loud voice, I couldn’t react.

“Hey, snap out of it.”

Maybe because I had taken too many pills, my head was numb.

“Snap out of it. Hey! Woojin.”

Haeil’s persistent voice helped my eyes focus. I grabbed Haeil’s hand tightly.

“You bastard. You didn’t answer my calls. I thought you were really...”

Haeil stopped mid-sentence.

“Hae... Haeil.”

I called out to Haeil with all my strength. Each breath felt like a knife slicing my throat.

“I... I want to... see Seoul’s night view... one last time... before I die.”

Haeil turned his head away from my gaze.

“It’s cold outside, so you need to dress warmly.”

Haeil opened the closet. The once-lavish wardrobe of the top South Korean heartthrob was now meager and shabby.

“Hey! There’s not a single decent jacket? Really.”

Haeil took off his own coat and wrapped it around me.

“Can you walk?”

With Haeil’s support, I slowly made my way to the living room.

The living room was cold, empty, and desolate.

“Wait, Haeil. Just a moment...”

“What is it?”

I knelt down and touched the living room floor. As I swept the floor, tears streamed down my face.

“Here... Mom... died... one night... She was banging on the door... I told her to be quiet... to leave me alone... but... it wasn’t that... I always thought of myself... Mom was in pain... asking for help... banging on the door... but I... didn’t know she was dying...”

Tears and snot mixed on my face.

“It’s not your fault.”

Haeil patted my back.

“No... If I hadn’t been like that, Dad wouldn’t have died... and Mom wouldn’t have... died like that.”

After the incident, advertisers canceled contracts and sued for breach of contract. The film I was shooting was scrapped, and I was dragged into a lawsuit for damages.

My parents sold their house and the land they had bought for retirement. They even used my father’s retirement fund.

My father worked at a logistics center and died from overwork. I locked myself in my room and drank.

My mother worked odd jobs, from washing dishes to cleaning stores, to make ends meet. Her once-beautiful hands became dry and withered.

My mother passed away one night without any help.

‘Mom, Dad, I’m sorry. I’m really sorry. I really messed up.’

***

The taxi stopped in front of N Tower. We went up to the observatory.

Since it was close to closing time, no one was there.

I clung to the railing and looked down at Seoul’s night view. The night of Seoul was breathtakingly beautiful. The lights between the skyscrapers were like stars scattered in the night sky.

“Once, I was... as... dazzling as those... lights.”

“You were blinding. Remember? When we went to school, surrounded by girls... It was chaos. I was late and got scolded by the teacher... And your debut work, . Your presence was brighter than any star.”

Haeil smiled faintly.

“I think I... went crazy... over that... and ruined myself.”

A bright full moon shone on me like a spotlight.

Even condemned prisoners have a last wish before they die...

I made a wish to the moon.

“I want to... live... one more... time... properly.”

Choke.

Blood gushed from my throat.

The pain hammered mercilessly into my heart, lungs, and liver.

“Hah, hah...”

“Hey! Bae Woojin. We need to go to the hospital.”

I shook my head. It was time to go.

“Thank... you, Haeil. For being... with me... to the end. I should have... kept my promise... to you... I’m just a nuisance. You’re a... great friend.”

“Hey, hey, hey. Bae Woojin. Try to focus. Don’t close your eyes. Hey, hey! Bae Woojin.”

I crouched in the corner. My body grew cold. The curtain of my last stage was slowly descending from the sky.

My breathing stopped.

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