Episode 474: Monster (2)

Around 6 PM.

It was fitting to say that the front of the Dolby Theater, where the Academy Awards would open, was magnificent. Various lights coming from the Dolby Theater, huge statues and sculptures installed here and there, billboards and screens, etc. Excitement was at its maximum.

The crowd of people was literally crazy.

There was a red carpet all the way from the entrance to the Dolby Theater, from the front steps to the distance, and there were easily thousands of people crowded together against the iron fence erected around it. Everyone wore tuxedos. Reporters other than reporters and the broadcasting team. Of course, the onlookers surrounding them were even more numerous.

And the red carpet.

What can they say? Rather than saying there was a red carpet, it was almost as if the entire floor was red from the beginning. The area covered with the red carpet was so large and wide.

There it was.

"Hey, they even got a crane, right??"

"Was it there last year?"

"There was nothing like that. They brought something like that to the entrance ceremony. Look at that."

Although cameras the size of cannonballs used by reporters and broadcasting stations were impressive, there were also cranes and similar filming equipment that could only be used for filming movies.

"Is this the red carpet or a film set??"

So, was it a huge filming location? Hundreds of reporters said what they wanted to say. It was quite jaw-dropping in scale, and although it was definitely the Academy Awards held every year, today's excitement was special.

And then the actors slowly entered the red carpet.

The cameras became busy as top Hollywood actors wearing tuxedos and dresses appeared.

*Pababababak!*

Not only was there a flash like lightning, but the shouts of the gathered reporters rang out loudly. All those sounds combined will make your ears hurt. Meanwhile, funny scenes also occurred.

"Robert! Robert!! You're nominated for Best Supporting Actor! Can you get the trophy??!"

"Haha, no matter what I answer, you're going to write a strange article about it."

"No, no – didn't you say it was a mistake last time?"

"No way."

As expected, the Academy Awards red carpet was different from Korea's. Was it more free-spirited? Hollywood actors put on various performances on the wide red carpet. While marching, they suddenly approached reporters for casual conversations, did strange dances, and struck unusual poses they had prepared in advance.

Of course, not only actors but also top directors and celebrities were invited.

The number of attendees gradually increased.

As more stars appeared, the live broadcasts being aired worldwide also exploded in popularity. There was an official live broadcast team prepared by Academy Awards, but the influencers and internet broadcasters who showed up on the red carpet were also significant.

The atmosphere and excitement soared by the second.

Around this time—

"Ah!! Miley!! Hey, Miley!!"

An actress walked down the red carpet in a gray and white dress. It was Miley Cara. The blonde star wasn't nominated today, but she had been invited as a guest.

"Miley!! Hey! Miley!!"

"This way! Look this way, Miley!!"

"Miley, weren't you coming with Kang Woo-jin??!"

The excitement of thousands of reporters was at its peak. The hottest actress in Hollywood this year was, of course, Miley Cara.

Someone called Cara from behind as she waved at the reporters for a moment. When she turned around, a male actor was walking toward her. He was the same actor who had competed with Kang Woo-jin for the role of 'Beast' in the past.

Cara smiled slightly.

"What? Are you asking me to share the spotlight?"

"Haha, Miley, why are you fighting as soon as you see me? I just said hello because I was happy to see you."

"Really? It's nice to meet you. But can you please step away? I'd feel bad if strange articles came out for no reason."

"And What to Kang Woo-jin? Miley, aren't you falling for him too much? This is the first time I've seen you like this."

"Shut up."

Even though the two were bickering, they greeted the reporters as if nothing had happened. Naturally, the cameras focused on them, setting off flashes.

Did Cara walk halfway down the red carpet like that?

"Huh?"

The male actor suddenly tilted his head. The movement of the thousands—nearly 10,000—spectators on both sides was unusual. It felt like a huge wave of people was shifting toward the entrance of the red carpet. The constant flashes had also noticeably decreased.

At this, Miley Cara and the male actor turned around.

"Ah."

Cara smiled happily. The male actor sighed softly and muttered.

"Oh no, the supporting role has to step aside—the main character is here."

At the beginning of the red carpet, as seen by the two—

"Kang Woo-jin!! Kang Woo-jin!!!"

"Wow!! It's really Kang Woo-jin!!"

"Hey, Woo-jin!! Give me your hand! Look over here and wave!"

"Oh, give it to me!!"

"Aaaah!!"

"Kang Woo-jin is here??! Where? Where?!"

"Whoa!! Over there!! Over there!!"

"Ugh! Get out of the way!---Kang Woo-jin!!!"

Because Kang Woo-jin—the man everyone was obsessed with—had arrived.

However, unlike the thousands of people going wild and screaming, Woo-jin had—

An innocent expression.

But his thoughts were the complete opposite.

'Wow, I feel sick. Dizzy. My ears are ringing. Will I trip? Should I avoid the cameras? I don't know—I just need to focus on keeping up my image and walking.'

There was nothing extravagant about his red carpet entrance. His neatly slicked-back black hair, all-black tuxedo, and polished shoes made him look sleek. Today, he was purely Kang Woo-jin, without any performances or gimmicks, but the tension was higher than ever.

Kang Woo-jin wasn't alone.

Right next to him was Chris Hartnett in a white tuxedo, and to the right was director Ahn Ga-bok in a classic suit. Around them, the actors and key staff from Perriot had gathered. In other words, the Perriot: Birth of a Villain team.

"Kang Woo-jin!! Show us your Joker smile!!!"

All the reporters and live broadcast crews rushed toward them. No matter what anyone said, they were the hottest team at this year's Academy Awards.

Then, Chris, smiling and waving at the cameras, leaned toward Kang Woo-jin and said—

"Woo-jin, let's go first. The 'Joker' should take the lead."

Kang Woo-jin, looking at him indifferently, answered in his mind—

'What are you talking about?! You, the experienced one, should go first! I might trip over my own feet!'

However, Woo-jin, unable to show his nervousness, took a firm step forward.

"Okay, let's go."

Kang Woo-jin dominated the Academy Awards red carpet.

About an Hour Later, Inside the Dolby Theater—

The interior of the Dolby Theater, where the Academy Awards were being held, was nothing short of magnificent. The venue stood four stories high, with an incredibly tall ceiling. Lights were installed everywhere, the seating was arranged close to the stage, and some of the most famous actors, directors, and filmmakers in the world occupied those seats.

The front stage was extravagant.

The platform where the Academy Awards trophy stood was wide, and the numerous monitors surrounding it added to the grandeur. All of the round structures decorating the stage were emblazoned with the Academy Awards logo. In front of the stage, the broadcasting team and event staff were busily preparing.

Indeed, the scale of the Academy Awards was every filmmaker's dream.

The people gathered were just as dazzling. They dominated the global film industry, especially Hollywood. If you combined their net worth, how much would it amount to? It had to be an astronomical figure.

Kang Woo-jin had a different thought.

'Wow, Shit, those lights are insane. Is that supposed to represent a trophy? How much money do you even need to pull off a stage like that?'

He was seated close to the stage on the first floor.

'I can't believe I'm actually sitting here at the Academy Awards. Isn't this a huge honor for my family?? Damn, I really want to take a picture.'

His urge to snap a commemorative photo burned inside him, but he forced himself to resist. From the moment he had entered the theater—no, even before that—everyone had been sneaking glances at him. The broadcast cameras frequently panned to him as well. It felt like he was surrounded by CCTVs.

So, Kang Woo-jin did what he had to do.

He sat up straight, fixed his gaze on the stage, and maintained his composed demeanor.

At that moment, Chris Hartnett, seated beside him, spoke up.

"Woo-jin, you made such a big deal about coming to the Academy Awards, but you don't look happy at all."

Truthfully, he was thrilled. But Kang Woo-jin responded with a calm, detached remark that completely contradicted his inner excitement.

"It's just about what I expected."

"... Hahaha, only you would say something like that after making it all the way here."

Director Ahn Ga-bok joined the conversation.

"There was always tension at every awards ceremony—whether in Korea, at Cannes, or at the Emmy Awards. I suppose the Academy Awards are no different. Isn't that right?"

"It's similar."

"Or maybe you were confident all along."

Chris clapped his hands together as if he had an epiphany.

"Right! Woo-jin, you've been aiming for this since Cannes. If you were confident back then, it would be weird if you started acting all nervous now."

The Perriot team seated nearby nodded in agreement. As Woo-jin's composed image spread, he was internally screaming—'No, that's not it at all!!'

Just then, lively classical music burst through the massive hall.

At the same time, on the front stage, a large trophy statue in the shape of a standing human was unveiled.

—Swoosh.*

A man in a tuxedo appeared alone. Holding a cue card, he was a well-known MC and comedian, set to host today's Academy Awards. He walked to the standing microphone at center stage and greeted the audience.

["Hello~ Hello~"]

Despite nearly 10,000 of the most influential figures in the film industry sitting before him, he showed no sign of hesitation as he began his opening speech.

["Shall we have a little chat before we get started?"]

As expected from the Academy Awards, famous for their casual and unpredictable format, the host opened with humor.

["This year's Academy Awards had a clown theme going strong, didn't it? Oh! Kang Woo-jin is here, right? Where are you, Kang Woo-jin? Kang Woo-jin!"]

Suddenly, the camera angle shifted, focusing on Kang Woo-jin seated in the audience. Naturally, all eyes in the Dolby Theater followed suit. The host gave Woo-jin a thumbs-up.

["Joker! That was incredible. The whole world is going to be blown away when that movie releases!"]

The room was filled with the biggest names in the global film industry—winners and legends of the Academy Awards.

["I've really become a fan. So... when's the next movie coming out? Next movie!"]

It all started with the phenomenon that was Kang Woo-jin.

Meanwhile, in Korea—

Back in Korea, where it was lunchtime, the Academy Awards were being broadcast live across various locations. People watched the ceremony on their phones in subways, on buses, and in bustling cafés.

Large screens in electronics stores displayed the event, drawing in passersby.

Among them, a two-story pork belly restaurant in the heart of Gangnam was packed with lunchtime diners. The Academy Awards were being aired on a massive TV mounted on the wall—likely because the restaurant owner knew it was the hottest topic at the moment.

Naturally, all eyes in the restaurant turned to the screen.

"Wow... Kang Woo-jin is right there among all those crazy Hollywood stars. This is unreal."

"He's not just there—he's a freaking legend. The fact that he's there makes it even crazier."

"Remember when the top Hollywood actors started name-dropping Kang Woo-jin? Man, that was wild. It gave me goosebumps."

"But don't you think it's too much to expect him to win Best Actor?"

"Just being nominated is already a massive success. Honestly, though... winning Best Actor might be tough. I've heard there's some subtle discrimination at the Academy Awards."

While devouring their pork belly, they couldn't stop talking about one thing—Kang Woo-jin.

"Ugh, why am I so nervous? It feels like I'm watching the World Cup or something!"

"Same here! I really hope Kang Woo-jin wins!"

"The online comments are saying it's unlikely. Apparently, the other nominees are all Hollywood veterans. But honestly, I can't even imagine what it would be like if Kang Woo-jin actually won."

"Yeah... It's probably tough, right? Since he's a Korean actor, they might have given him a lower score."

Seated among the crowd were Kang Woo-jin's best friends—Kim Dae-young, Lee Gyeong-seong, and Na Hyeong-gu.

"Pfft, look at all these armchair experts acting like they know everything."

"Damn, I need to pee again. This is killing me! Hey, Kim Dae-young! You work at Woo-jin's agency—don't you have any insider info?"

"Are you nuts? Even the company put everything on hold to watch this. How would I know anything?"

"Shut up, guys! Isn't it time for Best Actor? The previous award just ended."

Indeed, on the TV screen, two Hollywood actors—one male and one female—stood side by side, ready to present the Best Actor award.

—["I think it's time we stop talking and announce the winner."]

—["Agreed. Oh, but Daisy, I can't do it. My hands are shaking too much. Can you do it?"]

—["Phew... Alright. I'll do it."]

The female presenter took the cue card in her hands. On the massive screen behind her, the names and faces of the five nominees appeared in a row. At the very end, Kang Woo-jin's name stood proudly.

The pork belly restaurant erupted.

"AHHHH! KANG WOO-JIN! KANG WOO-JIN, TAKE IT!!"

"Yes!! Please, please, Kang Woo-jin!!"

"If Kang Woo-jin wins, I'M BUYING EVERYONE A ROUND!!"

"WOOOOAHHH!!"

On screen, the female presenter's eyes widened as she read the name on the paper she pulled from the envelope.

Then, she suddenly smiled—gazing out at the massive audience before her.

New York's Times Square froze in collective shock. For a brief moment, time seemed to stop.

The massive digital billboard towering over the crowd displayed the image of the presenter on the Academy Awards stage, her voice booming across the square.

—["The Academy Award for Best Actor goes to... Kang Woo-jin from Perriot: Birth of a Villain! Woo! Jin! Congratulations!!"]

Tens of thousands of people who had been watching the screen gasped simultaneously.

"...Huh? Kang Woo-jin?? Did they just say Kang Woo-jin??"

A beat of silence. Then, chaos.

Times Square exploded with noise. Cheers, shouts, and even disbelief rippled through the crowd like a shockwave.

"Wait, what?! KANG WOO-JIN WON?!"

"No way—HE ACTUALLY WON?!"

"THIS IS INSANE!!"

People whipped out their phones, capturing the moment in real-time. Social media feeds flooded with posts. News outlets around the world scrambled to break the headline.

[—KANG WOO-JIN WINS BEST ACTOR AT THE ACADEMY AWARDS!]

A group of Korean tourists burst into tears, hugging each other.

"I can't believe it... A Korean actor won Best Actor... Woo-jin did it!"

A middle-aged man wearing a business suit, who had been casually glancing at the billboard while sipping his coffee, suddenly dropped his cup. The hot liquid spilled onto the pavement, but he didn't even seem to notice.

"What the hell... He actually won?"

Two young college students, both aspiring filmmakers, grabbed each other's arms, shaking with excitement.

"This is history. We just witnessed history!"

A young woman in a stylish trench coat, who had been scrolling through her phone, looked up at the screen in disbelief. She immediately called someone, her voice trembling.

"Mom! Are you watching? Yes, the Academy Awards! Kang Woo-jin just won Best Actor! Yes, I swear! It just happened!"

In the middle of Times Square, a massive wave of excitement took over, people jumping, clapping, and screaming.

"He actually did it!!"

Meanwhile, back in the Dolby Theater, Kang Woo-jin sat frozen in his seat.

The cameras zoomed in on him. The world watched.

His jaw was clenched, eyes dark, unreadable.

For a brief second, it looked like he wasn't breathing.

The entire Dolby Theater erupted in applause. People stood, clapping and cheering. Some actors smiled in admiration, while others shook their heads in awe. Chris Hartnett, sitting beside Woo-jin, patted him on the back, grinning.

"Woo-jin, you did it, man."

Director Anga Bok, visibly moved, nodded firmly.

"Go. Get your award."

The presenter on stage, still smiling brightly, gestured towards the aisle.

"Kang Woo-jin! Come on up here!"

But Woo-jin remained still.

His mind was blank. His heart pounded in his chest, the sound echoing like a drum inside his head.

'This... This isn't real, right?'

For a moment, he genuinely wondered if he was dreaming. If this was some elaborate prank. If he had misheard.

But no.

The cameras were on him. The audience was clapping. The words Best Actor – Kang Woo-jin were written in bold letters on the massive screen above the stage.

Slowly, he exhaled.

Then, finally, he moved.

With deliberate precision, he stood up, smoothing out his black tuxedo. The applause grew louder.

He turned to Chris and the director, nodding. Then, step by step, he walked towards the stage.

The Dolby Theater was filled with the thunderous sound of clapping, cheers, and even a few whistles. Reporters in the audience scrambled to take pictures, their cameras flashing nonstop.

As he ascended the stage, the presenter handed him the golden Oscar trophy.

"Kang Woo-jin," she said warmly, "congratulations."

Woo-jin took the trophy, his fingers tightening around the cold, smooth surface.

He turned to face the crowd.

For a moment, he simply stood there, staring out at the sea of people.

Hollywood legends, filmmakers, actors—every single one of them was watching him.

Waiting.

The weight of the Oscar in his hand felt surreal.

The moment was his.