Chapter 81

When the main creative team of "Boys Over Flowers" arrived at the KBS press conference hall, it was already packed. As previously mentioned, South Korea had been closely following the adaptation of "Boys Over Flowers," and with its imminent release, the level of attention was naturally very high...

Moreover, the huge online discussions following the announcement of the main cast, despite being mostly critical, had effectively provided free publicity for "Boys Over Flowers"...

Before even finding a seat, Lee Seung-hoon was momentarily blinded by a flurry of camera flashes, making it hard for him to open his eyes. The others were fine, having experienced such scenes before, but this was Lee Seung-hoon's first time facing such a situation, and he remained somewhat distracted even after sitting down...

The press officer, as usual, made some introductory remarks and then invited the main creative team to introduce themselves...

"Hello, everyone, I am Go Hye-sun, who plays Kim Sam-soon!"

"Hello, everyone..."

"Hello, everyone..."

"Hello, everyone, I am Lee Seung-hoon, who plays Yoon Ji-hoo!" When it was finally Lee Seung-hoon's turn to introduce himself, the audience couldn't help but let out a collective gasp...

What were the people in the audience doing? They were professional entertainment journalists, and there was nothing in the entertainment industry they didn't know. Lee Seung-hoon was already somewhat popular, and his previous image was deeply ingrained in their minds. Now, appearing in the costume and makeup from the show, it was a complete transformation, a total颠覆...

Even though everyone knew that Yoon Ji-hoo would be played by Lee Seung-hoon and had seen his costume, there was still a glimmer of hope as long as he didn't speak. But once he opened his mouth, the voice matched, and naturally, there was a collective sigh of amazement...

"Next is the Q&A session!" The press officer reaffirmed his presence...

"Hello, Director Kim Ji-sang, I am a reporter from XXX newspaper. May I ask what made you decide to direct this idol drama adapted from a manga?"

Would I say it was because an old friend asked me to help his son?

Director Kim Ji-sang cleared his throat, "Firstly, I would like to thank KBS for their trust in me. Of course, the script by Ms. Yoon Ji-ryun attracted me, and KBS also found the ideal cast for me!"

"So, the cast was not chosen by you but recommended by KBS?"

What do journalists do? They look for loopholes in your words. This guy was being considerate by asking directly, otherwise, he would have written it in the newspaper without giving you a chance to explain...

"Have you ever seen a director who doesn't audition actors? So, I can responsibly say that all the actors here were carefully selected by me, KBS, and Ms. Yoon Ji-ryun, and they are the most suitable for this drama..."

"But, apart from Mr. Kim Bum and Miss Go Hye-sun, the others are not professional actors. How do you think they will succeed?"

Always being asked such questions, Kim Ji-sang was getting angry. After all, he was one of the top directors and had the right to be a bit arrogant, "So, I am the director, and you are the journalist!"

After saying that, he narrowed his eyes and leaned back, clearly indicating that he didn't want to answer any more questions...

The journalists didn't care; after all, the lead actors were more interesting than the director...

"Mr. Lee Min-ho, this is your first time playing a lead role. What are your thoughts?"

Lee Min-ho straightened his posture slightly, "Firstly, I would like to thank the director, the scriptwriter, and the production team for their trust. I will work harder in the future and not let down the expectations of everyone and my fans!"

A typical official answer, no one was interested...

Next, Go Hye-sun, Kim Jun, and Kim Bum all gave flawless answers, which made the journalists grind their teeth in frustration. Fortunately, there was still the most controversial newcomer, so they turned to Lee Seung-hoon, who was about to gain some insight...

"Mr. Lee Seung-hoon, how were you selected for the role of the second male lead?"

Lee Seung-hoon was already impatient; this press conference was too annoying, but he still controlled his emotions, "Of course, it was the director and the team who selected me!"

The headline was ready: "Boys Over Flowers" Second Male Lead, Selected for Unknown Reasons...

"As a comedian who debuted in a variety show, how do you feel about playing such an important role as the second male lead in your first acting role?"

Damn, extras don't count as actors? "Firstly, I need to clarify that before officially joining 'Infinite Challenge,' I had experience as an extra, though I won't specify which production. Even after joining 'Infinite Challenge,' I have appeared in many dramas, even if not in major roles. You can't deny that I am an actor!"

Lee Seung-hoon felt he had answered well, but the headline read: "Lee Seung-hoon Defends Himself as an Actor, But Can't Name Any Works..."

...

"May I ask, how do you feel about replacing Kim Hyun-joong, who was highly anticipated online, with you in the role?"

The barrage of questions had already left Lee Seung-hoon dizzy, "Who is Kim Hyun-joong?"

This was the first reaction of Director Kim Ji-sang—trouble. After all, Lee Seung-hoon would be acting under his direction, and it was natural to know a bit about him. He knew Lee Seung-hoon was a newcomer to entertainment, but that was for variety shows, right? At this moment, how could you say you don't know Kim Hyun-joong? This would attract anti-fans...

So, he couldn't pretend to be asleep anymore and took the microphone, "I will answer this question. I don't know where you heard that Kim Hyun-joong was supposed to play the role, but at least I, the production team, and Ms. Yoon Ji-ryun never considered him. Moreover, Seung-hoon won the role through intense competition, outperforming many other candidates with his excellent acting..."

Actually, Kim Ji-sang's reaction was a bit over the top. Yes, Lee Seung-hoon's response did attract a lot of anti-fans, especially from the "peanut" fans, but it was his true self. Even Liu Jae-suk didn't know him, so who was Kim Hyun-joong?

So, sometimes, the audience isn't that harsh...

Finally, the exhausting press conference ended. In the backstage, Lee Seung-hoon immediately bowed to Director Kim Ji-sang, "I'm sorry, Director, for causing you trouble!"

Lee Seung-hoon wondered if he should pay more attention to others in the future. After all, in this industry, it's not good to say you don't know someone... But according to Brother Roh, several new groups appear in the music industry every month, and each group has many members...

Forget it, he would just talk less in the future...

"It's fine. Anyway, we have the buzz now, and the attention has definitely increased a level!" He seemed to be too lenient, "But, to be honest, we did initially favor Kim Hyun-joong, but in the end, we chose you. This isn't a secret in the industry! So, you must do a good job in this role, or you'll not only embarrass yourself but also make me lose face!"

Lee Seung-hoon nodded heavily. His seniors, including Lee Jae-suk, Tae-ho, and now the director and scriptwriter, all placed high hopes on him. Even if not for himself, he would do his best to live up to their expectations.

PS: Thank you to all the readers for your support, donations, and votes. I won't thank you individually, but I see and remember everything. Also, thank you to those who quietly contribute clicks and recommendations. Your support is the biggest motivation for me to keep writing. Thank you!