I Was Mistaken as a Monstrous Genius Actor

Translator: Dreamscribe

The American morning news that Kang Woojin was watching felt slightly more open compared to Korean news. The anchors were often seen making witty jokes while delivering the news.

And right now.

-[“There’s a movie that became a hot topic after ‘World Disney Pictures’ announced it would be made into a live-action film, right? It’s none other than ‘Beast and the Beauty’. The original work is so globally popular that even the announcement of the candidate actors caused a stir. Yesterday, the actor for the role of the Beast in ‘Beast and the Beauty’ was officially confirmed.”]

Two anchors, one male and one female, along with a guest expert, were covering cultural news among various stories. The topic of the night was the much-discussed ‘Beast and the Beauty’.

-[“Actor Kang Woojin himself made an unexpected announcement about it on the ‘Jamie Show’, didn’t he?”]

-[“That’s right, and after that, ‘World Disney Pictures’ confirmed it by uploading a series of posts on their official SNS, verifying that it was indeed Kang Woojin.”]

Soon, the news screen, which had been showing the anchors, transitioned to a segment about Kang Woojin. The screen displayed a compilation of various photos, with many from the ‘Jamie Show’ aired yesterday. Upon seeing this, Woojin, forgetting even his usual demeanor, focused on watching himself on the news.

“Oh- why does this feel so strange?”

It wasn’t an odd sight. His face was appearing on a major American news channel, and the news was even featuring him as the main topic. Though he had experienced this several times in Korea, seeing himself on American news felt completely unfamiliar.

The news screen, which had been showing Woojin, then returned to the anchors.

-[“Kang Woojin’s career path is truly extraordinary.”]

-[“Exactly, he has achieved so much as the first Korean actor to do so. From winning the Best Actor award at Cannes, collaborating on an album with Miley Cara, being confirmed as the male lead for ‘Pierrot: The Birth of a Villain’, ‘Beneficial Evil’ starting at #1 in America, and now being confirmed as the ‘Beast’ in ‘Beast and the Beauty’.”]

-[“Wow, hearing it all together makes it sound even more surreal. Moreover, I heard Kang Woojin is the first actor to secure leading roles for both Columbia and Disney at the same time?”]

-[“That’s true, but the more surprising part is the timeline. It hasn’t even been half a year since he turned Cannes upside down and then took Hollywood by storm.”]

The anchors and the expert guest continued the segment in a conversational, analytical tone. Throughout the discussion, Kang Woojin’s name was mentioned countless times. While American news occasionally covered topics related to Korea, dedicating such an extended and exclusive segment to a single individual was unprecedented, making Woojin a unique case.

-[“What do you think is the reason Kang Woojin has garnered such attention in Hollywood the moment he appeared?”]

Hearing the rhetorical question from the news, Kang Woojin, with his arms crossed, reacted.

“Yeah, what is it? Let’s hear the answer.”

On the TV, a foreign expert with a bushy beard around his chin and mouth immediately responded.

-[“He has shown an unprecedented pace, even in Korea. Would you believe me if I said Kang Woojin is only in his third year since debuting?”]

-[“Three years? Really?”]

-[“Yes. But despite his short career, Kang Woojin is mysterious and somewhat eccentric. His character is interesting. According to someone who knows him personally, Kang Woojin may appear like a rookie on the surface, but underneath, he seems like a veteran who has honed his skills for decades. That acquaintance described it as the aura of a star.”]

Kang Woojin’s lips curled up slightly.

“Who is it? Who said such a praiseworthy thing about me?”

Of course, there was no way the expert on TV could know this as he continued speaking.

-[“Naturally, his behavior in the media isn’t ordinary either. At Cannes, surrounded by countless Hollywood figures, he casually mentioned the ‘Academy Awards’ during his speech, and he did the same at the press conference announcing the male lead for ‘Pierrot: The Birth of a Villain’. And on the ‘Jamie Show’, where his casting as the Beast was confirmed, he boldly told critics worldwide to ‘watch the work before criticizing’.”]

-[“Hmm- he gives off a vibe of a fearless troublemaker without brakes, doesn’t he?”]

-[“Yes, but it’s not just al talk. He has the skills to back it up, which is why he’s making waves at Cannes and Hollywood. His influence is already being proven by ‘Beneficial Evil’. Even those who criticized him ended up becoming his fans. While opinions about him may be divided, one thing is clear- he’s a type of actor Hollywood has never seen before.”]

-[“And that’s his driving force?”]

-[“That, along with his looks, multilingual skills, and various talents, has all contributed. His musicality as well. There’s no doubt the casting of him as the Beast will stir up major controversy, but on the flip side, Kang Woojin’s popularity will continue to soar vertically.”]

As he listened to the explanation, Kang Woojin gave a thumbs-up toward the TV.

“You, I acknowledge as an expert.”

The news continued discussing Kang Woojin for a few more minutes before moving on to other topics. Looking at the time, they had spent over ten minutes on him.

Just then, his phone rang. The caller was Choi Sung-gun.

“Did you watch the news?”

“Yes, CEO-nim.”

“Good. But it’ll get even louder when Disney starts their full-fledged promotions. How do you feel, being the first Korean actor to get a solo feature on American news?”

He wanted to reply with something like, Should I do a celebratory dance? but instead, Woojin kept his response calm.

“It’s just… alright.”

Choi Sung-gun chuckled on the other end of the line.

“Heh, I figured you’d say that. Get ready. We’re heading to ‘World Disney Pictures’.”

Later.

Kang Woojin, who met up with Choi Sung-gun and the team, got into a large van. Even as the van sped off quickly, Woojin’s name echoed in English. It was coming from the van’s radio. Just like the morning news, the radio was reporting on the ‘Beast and the Beauty’ updates.

The team members immediately started making a fuss.

But Kang Woojin’s poker face remained strong. Still, internally he found it all fascinating. How to put it – he felt like, how did my name end up spreading across this vast America? Woojin crossed his legs and picked up his phone. The first thing he accessed was Youtube. While it was to check the status of the ‘Kang Woojin’s Alter Ego’ channel, there wasn’t even a need for that.

‘The response is insane.’

He had already taken over the top ten spots of live trending videos.

– Kang Woojin confirmed as the Beast! #KangWoojin #Hollywood #BeastandtheBeauty #Disney #JamieShow | GlobalHotTopicTV

– <<Reactions of Hollywood actors to Kang Woojin being confirmed as the Beast!!! (Excited!!)>> | MovieBell

From issue-focused YouTubers to general content creators, everyone was talking about ‘Beast and the Beauty’ or Kang Woojin. It was only natural, as it was currently the hottest topic. This wasn’t limited to Korean YouTube, the situation was similar on American YouTube. Woojin didn’t check it himself, but it was obvious that YouTubers around the world were buzzing with the same topic.

Kang Woojin clicked on a random video from his “Kang Woojin Alter Ego” channel.

-Swipe.

Then he immediately closed it.

‘Wo, it’s seriously gone crazy.’

The comment section was overflowing. It was several dozen times messier than before. Social media wasn’t quiet either. It was as if every country in the world had converged on Woojin’s social media, making it feel like the entire world was rushing in. For some reason, Woojin found himself smiling.

‘Hollywood’s power is truly incredible.’

The media and public opinion were louder than a roar, on a global scale. Naturally, Korea was included in this global phenomenon, and the intensity there was unmatched.

『Kang Woojin becomes the first Korean actor to star in a Disney lead role, confirmed as the Beast in ‘Beast and the Beauty’!』

『Kang Woojin declares to the world on the ‘Jamie Show’, beating out top Hollywood actors to secure the lead role in ‘Beast and the Beauty’.』

『[StarTalk] The first-ever Korean male actor to lead a Disney film, Kang Woojin, The world roars for him / Photos』

A day passed.

-Kang Woojin is such a crazy bastardㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋIt looks like he’s just winging it, but he’s conquering the worldㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-This national pride is insane….damn…..

-But seriously, isn’t this the first time someone has pulled off such a massive casting game like this? Even Hollywood hasn’t seen anything like this before, right?

-The real crazy thing is that ‘Beneficial Evil’ is still number one in the world amidst all this.

-Ah, but personally, I’m not really feeling Kang Woojin as the Beast.

-↑This guy definitely hasn’t watched any of Kang Woojin’s work.

-Kang Woojin’s been in beast mode since Cannes, boosted like crazy, and going full throttle!!!

-Kang Woojin’s projects always come with controversies ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋSame with ‘The Eerie Sacrifice of a Stranger’ ㅋㅋㅋ But every time, his insane acting shuts down the debates ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

Even two days later, the uproar showed no signs of settling. On the contrary, the noise kept growing louder. If it were only Korea making a fuss, it might have been manageable, but with the entire world, including the U.S., buzzing, no one could stop this chaotic momentum.

It was like a controversy spreading like wildfire.

-ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ Even overseas big company YouTubers are going crazy over Kang Woojin contentㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

The global media threw fuel on the fire, while famous YouTubers, internet broadcasters, influencers, and countless others fanned the flames. And finally, what poured oil on the blaze was, of course, the throngs of people worldwide.

The polarizing opinions were stark.

But ironically, the more polarized it became,

-Chris Hartnett mentioned Kang Woojin on SNSㅋㅋㅋㅋ Said Kang Woojin’s acting is insaneㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

Kang Woojin’s global recognition skyrocketed exponentially.

『[Issue Check]’World Star’ Kang Woojin, global luxury brands rush in…World’s #1 Choice for Ambassador』

And.

『Will Kang Woojin’s ‘Beneficial Evil’ go to US Emmy Awards…Foreign media says “Has Nomination Qualifications”』

The insane momentum of ‘Beneficial Evil’ remained steady.

About a week later, the 28th. LA.

As Kang Woojin’s global reputation continued to intensify day by day, the 28th of February, the last day of the month, dawned. It was around 10 a.m. The location was ‘SPT Studio’, an ultra-large set complex spanning over 50,000 pyeong (approximately 165,000 square meters) where the live-action filming of ‘Beast and the Beauty’ was set to take place.

In front of one of the numerous warehouse-style stages, specifically the one where the audition for the Beast role had been held, there was a bustling scene.

Several vans, trucks, and buses were parked, and over a hundred people, primarily foreigners, were moving around busily.

Of course, they were the staff for ‘Beast and the Beauty’.

In front of the stage, a large white van had just arrived. And then,

-Swoosh.

From the van emerged a foreign woman with striking dark brown eyes and an impressive facial structure. Her features were sharp, with a prominent nose, thick eyebrows, and hair that shimmered from brown at the roots to golden blonde as it reached her shoulders. Even though she was dressed casually in a hoodie, her beauty stood out unmistakably.

Her aura was extraordinary.

Naturally, it was to be expected. She was one of Hollywood’s top actresses.

Soon, foreign team members approached her.

“Maria, after entering the set, you need to greet the team and then change into the dress costume.”

Maria. Her full name was Maria Armas. Originally from Spain, she was now one of Hollywood’s top actresses. Hearing the muscular man’s instructions, Maria let out a small sigh and responded in English.

“Do I really have to wear a dress for just an audition?”

“What choice do you have? You know how meticulous ‘World Disney Pictures’ is, right? And Director Bill Rotner is the same. He said all the male actors wore suits during the audition for the Beast role. Just bear with it and put it on.”

“Such a hassle.”

“So, are you giving up the role of Beauty ‘Belle’ then?”

Maria immediately furrowed her brows.

“Are you crazy? For what, to make someone else happy? No way I’m letting Miley laugh at me. Especially with the media already comparing her to me. Ugh, why am I the first to start?”

“Ha, why are you and Miley Cara so at odds with each other?”

“We’re just incompatible. I realized it clearly when we worked together before.”

Indeed, today was the official audition for the role of Beauty ‘Belle’ in ‘Beast and the Beauty’. In other words, Maria was one of the five candidate actresses. Soon, Maria, brushing her brown-and-gold mixed hair, began moving.

“But why is that actor participating in today’s audition?”

“That actor?”

“You know, the one from Korea.”

“Ah- Kang Woojin.”

The muscular man shrugged his shoulders.

“Not sure. I don’t know for certain, but my guess is the production team wants to test the chemistry between the ‘Beast’ and ‘Belle’. Since the ‘Beast’ role has already been confirmed as Kang Woojin.”

Maria, chewing on her lips indifferently, grumbled.

“I don’t like him.”

“Maria, there are people around.”

She suddenly stopped walking, staring at the massive warehouse-like stage ahead, and spoke again.

“He’s just so unlikable.”

This time, it wasn’t in English but in Spanish.

“I saw Kang Woojin at Cannes and in the interview for ‘Pierrot: The Birth of a Villain’. He disrespected the ‘Academy Awards’ and treated them like a joke. It’s a place I haven’t even won an award at yet… And Kang Woojin doesn’t suit the role of the ‘Beast’.”

The muscular man let out a sigh.

“Maria, speak in English. I don’t know what you’re saying.”

But Maria continued in Spanish.

“He’s a little lacking to play the ‘Beast’. No, rather than the ‘Beast’, he doesn’t suit the ‘Prince’. The ‘Prince’ needs to look more handsome.”

It was at that moment.

“That’s a shame.”

A low-toned, fluent Spanish voice interjected from behind. Thanks to this, both Maria and her team members turned their heads. A man with black hair was walking toward them.

-Swoosh.

It was Kang Woojin.

With his expression nonchalant, he approached close to Maria. Maria’s already large eyes widened further upon seeing Woojin. Regardless, Kang Woojin spoke flatly to her.

“You’re less beautiful than Miley Cara.”

It was again in native-level Spanish.