Episode 475: Monster (3)



Before Kang Woo-jin's name became known around the world, Perriot: Birth of a Villain was first mentioned at the Academy Awards for the Best Costume Design category.

["And the Academy Award for Best Costume Design goes to... Perriot: Birth of a Villain! Congratulations!"]

It was one of the opening awards of the Academy Awards, and as soon as the name of the film was announced in the grand Dolby Theater hall, Kang Woo-jin's colleagues erupted with excitement.

Laura Colley, the costume designer for Perriot, had just won an Oscar. As soon as her name was called, the entire Perriot team jumped up from their seats, clapping enthusiastically. Applause spread throughout the hall, filling the space with thunderous energy.

Even the ever-cynical Kang Woo-jin stood up, clapping along as he congratulated her.

At that moment, he could finally feel his frantically beating heart beginning to settle.

'Phew... I was about to lose it, but now that we've won an award, I feel a little more at ease. My vision is starting to clear up.'

To be honest, his nerves had been stretched so tight that he had felt physically ill. For a brief moment, he even considered rushing to the bathroom to throw up.

But he endured it.

His strong sense of purpose wouldn't allow him to falter.

On stage, Laura Colley, dressed elegantly for the occasion, stepped forward to receive her award. She looked stunning in her specially chosen outfit, befitting the honor of the night.

Meanwhile, murmurs spread among the audience.

"Haha, Perriot won right from the start."

"Looks like tonight's going to be interesting."

Some nodded in acknowledgment, while others exchanged knowing glances.

It was only the beginning.

"If this is the case, then what Columbia was aiming for should be considered a huge success, right?"

"Of course. We had already raised awareness with Kang Woo-jin and other factors, but this will multiply that effect several times over."

"I wasn't sure about the other awards, but I had a strong feeling they'd win for Best Costume Design. The Joker costume was absolutely incredible."

Still, the audience's gaze drifted toward Kang Woo-jin, who sat there, clapping. More precisely, they were recalling his mesmerizing performance—both at the Emmy Awards and as the Joker in Perriot: Birth of a Villain. The costume was undoubtedly unique, but it was Kang Woo-jin who had truly brought it to life.

"Kang Woo-jin's acting kept the essence of Joker alive. He solidified the character completely, from the costume to the mood."

Some audience members had already seen Perriot in its pre-release, while others still vividly remembered Woo-jin's portrayal of Joker at the Emmys.

"The impact was undeniable."

On stage, the lead costume designer, who had just won the Oscar, stepped up to the microphone. Tears welled up in her eyes from the moment she began speaking.

["H-hah...! Just being nominated was an incredible honor, but actually winning? It feels like a dream. Hm! I love you all. And especially, I'd like to thank our entire Perriot team."]

She took a moment to compose herself before continuing. After expressing gratitude to her family and colleagues, she suddenly mentioned Kang Woo-jin's name.

["And actor Kang Woo-jin... I truly believe that the reason I was able to receive this award is because of how brilliantly he played Joker. Thank you."]

Applause erupted.

*— clap clap clap clap —*

The camera, which had been focused on the stage, now zoomed in on Kang Woo-jin sitting in the audience. As expected, he was clapping, his expression unreadable.

"... ... ... ... ... ... ."

But inside, he was completely thrown off.

'What now? What did I do? Ah, damn... the attention is on me again!'

If possible, he wished people would just ignore him. From the very start of the Academy Awards, the host had already mentioned him, making his attempts at mind control waver.

Meanwhile, Laura Colley returned to her seat with the trophy in hand. After receiving congratulations from her colleagues, she briefly hugged Woo-jin.

Sitting diagonally behind him, Cara, a blonde Hollywood actress, had been clapping with a faint smile. But the moment she saw that hug, her expression twitched slightly.

Of course, Kang Woo-jin had no way of noticing this.

As the ceremony progressed, the Academy Awards picked up speed. In the early stages, technical awards—such as Best Costume Design, Best Production Design, and Best Cinematography—were primarily given to the key staff members who had worked tirelessly on their respective films.

By this point, Kang Woo-jin had finally regained his composure.

And somewhere in the middle of it all, he started to enjoy the event.

'Wow... Look at how huge that guy is. Kim Dae-young looks like a baby next to him.'

Even though he was nominated for Best Actor, he wasn't overly invested in it. He simply maintained his poker face, treating it as if he were just another spectator.

The reason was simple.

He didn't have high expectations.

To say that he didn't want to win would be a lie, but the Hollywood veterans nominated alongside him were absolute powerhouses. He hadn't even had the time to properly watch their performances.

'In Hollywood, being a big actor means you're the real deal.'

Compared to them, wasn't he just a small ripple in a vast ocean?

Once the technical awards wrapped up, the grand stage announced the shift to the acting categories.

["And now... Best Supporting Actress!"]

It was time for the supporting actor categories.

At this point, the Perriot team—including director Ga-bok Ahn, Chris Hartnett, and key staff members—were beaming with satisfaction. They had already achieved their goal by winning an award. Even if they weren't nominated for the remaining categories, they had gained more than enough attention.

As the supporting actor and actress winners were announced, the atmosphere in the theater grew electric. The hall, filled with some of the greatest names in the industry, was heating up.

Soon, more presenters walked onto the dazzling stage.

That's when Kang Woo-jin had an intuition.

'Ah... it's already time for Best Actor?? So soon? Ah, whatever... just keep a straight face and sit still.'

This was the moment that countless people had been waiting for—the Best Actor award.

As if to confirm his thoughts, Chris Hartnett, sitting beside him, leaned in and whispered.

"Woo-jin... it's your turn."

'Dude, I just finished erasing that expectation from my mind. Why are you bringing it back?!'

Internally, Woo-jin was screaming, but outwardly, he remained calm.

"I guess so," he said nonchalantly.

"Are you nervous?"

"Very."

"Confidence? Or giving up?"

Woo-jin chose to stay silent. He could feel his pulse pounding in his ears, and he was sure that if he spoke again, his voice would shake.

Chris, however, interpreted it differently.

'...Unwavering eyes. Hah, what a fool I was for asking. This guy is full of confidence.'

On stage, the presenters skillfully built up anticipation.

— ["I think I should stop talking and just announce it now."]

It was time.

The massive screen behind the presenters displayed the faces of the Best Actor nominees. Five names. Five spaces.

And at the very end...

Kang Woo-jin.

His serious expression stared back at him from the screen.

The other four nominees were all seasoned Hollywood veterans, their faces carrying years of experience and accolades.

Even Kang Woo-jin could feel the weight of it.

'Crazy... What kind of force is this? It's almost god-like.'

Each strand of gray hair on the monitor seemed to radiate the weight of experience, and every wrinkle carried the skill of a true master. That's probably the kind of face he'd see in the mirror if he were lucky enough to reach their level one day.

At that moment, Kang Woo-jin felt a tiny glimmer of hope.

'I should just be satisfied with standing among them this year. Oscars really is cruel bastards.'

After all, among the Best Actor nominees, Woo-jin was the only one in his twenties. Here, career and presence were king. That was Woo-jin's personal perspective, but, in truth, the thousands of people gathered in the Dolby Theatre—and the millions watching around the world—were thinking the same thing.

And yet, despite all logical reasoning, Miley Cara, watching from the audience, felt something entirely different.

'Beat those old guys! That's it. It wouldn't even be a surprise or a twist—Woo-jin's acting was just on another level.'

Regardless of others' opinions, Kang Woo-jin himself was beginning to feel at peace.

All he had to do now was stand up at the right moment and applaud solemnly.

And then—

["And now, the winner of the Best Actor Award at the 95th Academy Awards is..."]

In a shocking twist that shattered expectations, the name called was—

["Kang Woo-jin from Perriot: Birth of a Villain! Congratulations!!"]

It was him.

For a fleeting moment, time froze in the grand theater.

Classical music swelled, filling the magnificent hall, yet the thousands in attendance sat in stunned silence.

"...What? Kang Woo-jin?"

"Oh my god. Kang Woo-jin won?"

"Haha, this is unbelievable. History is being written tonight."

"Wow... He actually stepped over those senior legends and took the award."

"Let's congratulate him. Maybe—no, definitely—Hollywood will change from this moment on."

"I think we've just witnessed the birth of a legend."

One by one, the attendees began to rise, their hands coming together in thunderous applause.

* clap clap clap clap —*

Before long, Hollywood's biggest stars were giving Kang Woo-jin a standing ovation.

Miley Cara, beaming, clapped harder than anyone else. Even the veteran nominees who had been competing against him joined in. Every camera, every pair of eyes in the theater, was now locked onto a single person.

*— clap clap clap clap —*

Kang Woo-jin.

The Perriot team around him—director Ga-bok Ahn, Chris Hartnett, and the rest—were already cheering, hugging him, or gripping his shoulders in celebration.

People were shouting his name in excitement. But the man at the center of it all...

Kang Woo-jin remained motionless.

His face was blank.

'... ... Eh?'

His mind had short-circuited.

'Ehhhhhhhhhh?????!!!'

A siren-like scream nearly escaped his throat.

No, wait. What just happened?

Me? Me? Kang Woo-jin?

His brain completely shut down for a solid few seconds. The world around him blurred into silence.

And then—

A tidal wave of deafening cheers, exclamations, and screams crashed over him all at once.

"$)@&@%*(@@@!!!!"**

"@$@@@&*$$@$)_$!!!"

Something was pounding in his ears, but he couldn't understand a single thing. It was only at this moment that Woo-jin's broken brain slowly started rebooting.

Because there it was—his own face—displayed on the massive monitor in front of him, as large as a theater screen.

'Oh... Oh, that's right. It really is me.'

Though he was still in a daze, Kang Woo-jin slowly stood up. His emotions bled into his movements—not a conscious effort, but something instinctual, a reaction shaped by the past four years of relentless effort.

This moment.

This exact moment.

*— clap clap clap clap —*

*— clap clap clap clap —*

The majestic Dolby Theatre. The thunderous standing ovation from some of the most influential figures in the world. The intensity of it all seeped into Kang Woo-jin's ears as he stood there, still processing.

He slowly looked around.

On his left. On his right. Everywhere—people were cheering for him.

A shiver ran down his spine.

'All these nameless giants... these Hollywood titans... are clapping for me.'

How was he supposed to put into words the kind of thrill that made his whole body tremble?

It felt like an electric current had shot through his veins.

'Wow, this is... No. No, this is insane.'

Meanwhile, across the globe, the Academy Awards live broadcast was in chaos.

The chatrooms, comment sections, and social media feeds were exploding with messages every second. The public reaction was overwhelming, and though Woo-jin couldn't hear it, back home in Korea, his family was screaming at the top of their lungs.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!"

"YES!! My son won!! He actually won!!"

"Waaaaaaah, my son! I'm so proud of you! Well done! WELL DONE!!"

His friends. His colleagues in the entertainment industry. Fans across Korea, Japan, and the world—everyone was shouting his name in sheer exhilaration.

And at the center of it all, Kang Woo-jin, after briefly expressing his gratitude to those around him, finally moved.

*— Tap.*

As expected, his face remained indifferent, but his steps toward the stage were strong, steady.

— Tap. Tap. Tap.*

The standing ovation continued, and with every step Woo-jin took in his tailored tuxedo, his expression shifted ever so slightly.

But inside?

Inside, he was screaming.

'Wait! Wait! Wait!! What the hell am I supposed to say?!' What did I prepare for the acceptance speech? Oh, my god, I didn't even think of a single word??? Just say "thank you" and leave? No—what kind of idiot does that?! This is the freaking Academy Awards!!!'

His mind was in absolute chaos, but the face captured on the broadcast showed nothing but composure.

And then—Tap!*

Woo-jin stepped onto the dream stage.

This was it.

This was the stage that filmmakers around the world—Hollywood included—had dreamed of standing on.

And the moment he arrived, everything looked completely different from what he had seen as an audience member.

The stage lights weren't just bright—they were blazing.

The atmosphere was electric.

'Wow... What is this?'

In an instant, all the worries that had been crushing his mind about his acceptance speech disappeared.

And then—

"Congratulations, Kang Woo-jin."

"Congratulations. Perriot was truly spectacular."

The presenters, two of Hollywood's most celebrated actors, smiled at him warmly. They extended their hands for a firm handshake before placing the golden Academy Award statuette—one of the most coveted trophies in cinematic history—into his grasp.

The legendary Best Actor trophy.

A human figure, standing tall, shining brilliantly in gold.

Kang Woo-jin's first impression of holding the trophy was simple.

'It's heavy.'

This was the weight of the Best Actor Award—the weight of recognition at the most prestigious awards ceremony in the world. A moment watched by the greatest figures in the industry.

'They don't just hand this out to anyone.'

The solid, cool metal of the statuette pressed against his palm, grounding him in the reality of the moment. This wasn't a fluke. This wasn't luck.

Kang Woo-jin tightened his grip and lowered his gaze, staring at the golden figure in his hands.

And then—silence.

The applause that had shaken the grand hall moments ago gradually faded, replaced by anticipation. Thousands of eyes, including the most influential names in cinema, were locked on him. The cameras broadcasting live across the world focused on his every movement.

Everyone was waiting.

Waiting to hear Kang Woo-jin's voice.

But he didn't speak right away.

Was he lost in thought, unsure of what to say?

No--Kang Woo-jin just wanted to preserve this moment for a little longer.

From the second he received the trophy, he had already decided how he would express his gratitude. There was no need for hesitation. The answer had been within him all along.

He let out a slow, steady breath.

And then, with purposeful steps, Kang Woo-jin—the Best Actor of the 95th Academy Awards—stepped forward, standing tall before the microphone.

A thousand lights blazed down on him.

A sea of people watched, waiting.

Kang Woo-jin took it all in. The grandeur, the magnitude, the sheer surrealism of this moment. He glanced over the audience with a stoic expression. Then, with a subtle shift, he exhaled—and the corners of his lips curved into a slight smile.

An expression that changed everything in an instant.

Then, he spoke.

["Ah... I got it. I really didn't think about this at all."]

His voice was smooth, his English fluent, but the tone—his tone—was strikingly different from the persona he had always maintained.

No calculated presence. No scripted grandeur.

Just him.

["Honestly..."] he continued, his voice filled with genuine disbelief,

[ "I still wonder... is this real? Is this trophy really mine?"]

A short pause. A deep breath.

["Or is this the part where someone tells me it was all a joke?"]

A light chuckle rippled through the audience.

Kang Woo-jin had shed his skin.

For the first time, in front of the entire world—he stood not as the enigmatic actor, not as the conceptually crafted figure, but as his pure, unfiltered self.