Peninsula: I'm the Top Streamer

Chapter 583

As the New Year's bells rang, Seoul burst into dazzling neon lights in the winter night, officially marking the end of 2021.

For Kwon Hyun-hyuk, this year was undoubtedly a milestone in his acting career, a year of dazzling success and remarkable achievements.

In film and television, he experienced an unprecedented surge in popularity.

At the beginning of the year, the phenomenal Korean drama "True Beauty" sparked a Korean wave storm around the world. A melo drama that did not raise many people's expectations, it became one of the biggest achievements of Korean wave exports this year.

It also cemented Kwon Seon-hyuk's status as one of the most powerful figures in the Korean Wave, propelling him to become a hot and popular star with immense popularity. His Instagram account gained 20 million followers thanks to this one drama!
He then held a personal fan meeting, although it was unfortunately held online, but his online subscription viewership is still the highest among all actors.

Subsequently, the premiere of "DP: The Pursuit of the Deserter" revealed a completely different side of him—the calm and decisive pursuit team member, Ahn Joon-ho.

This drama not only sparked heated discussions in South Korea, but also solidified his leading position among the new generation of actors in Chungmuro ​​with its profound exploration of social issues, and he completed his transformation perfectly and smoothly.

The show ultimately received extremely high praise, which led him to pre-order a second season of DP.

She smoothly transitioned from a rapidly rising Hallyu actress to a popular actress with both talent and popularity.

What truly propelled Kwon Heon-hyuk to the peak of popularity was the drama "Squid Game" that aired in September and October!
It was filmed in mid-2020, and after more than a year of hype, it was released on Netflix and became the most popular series in the world, without any prefix!

It's truly wildly popular, and since the term "Korean Wave" came about, it's the most famous cultural work from South Korea in the world!
The impact of the Squid Game on the world is unprecedented and will likely remain so for many years to come.

But on second thought, South Korea has made continuous new achievements in cultural export, and whether there will be any successors remains to be seen.

Kwon Heon-hyuk, as the third lead, has achieved the popularity of a second lead, while Park Hae-soo, who was originally the second lead, didn't benefit from the popularity of the drama. He seems to have a perfect ability to avoid fame.

He gained worldwide fame with his squid game and was even selected by People magazine as one of the 25 sexiest men on television in 2021.

Not to mention the surge in his Instagram followers, his current number of followers is almost breaking 50 million, making him the record holder for the most followers among South Korean actors.

Many overseas production companies have sent him invitations, but Kwon Hyun-hyuk, who is always committed to maintaining stability, has temporarily declined the invitations from overseas.

He's so busy right now that he's not ready to expand overseas. He hasn't even solidified his own foundation yet, and rushing out into the world could easily lead to a mishap.

Later, during the October fashion week, she created a series of phenomena such as crowds flocking to the streets, fans chasing after her, being the focus of spotlights, and even the President of Paris. Her popularity was simply explosive.

This has truly made a splash overseas, and not just a splash, but a huge wave!

Some news media outlets issued announcements stating the following:
In order to secure Kwon Hyun-hyuk, who had become the hottest actor, various drama production companies offered him unconventional terms, including "the role setting and even the filming time can be done according to Kwon Hyun-hyuk's wishes, and he can pay whatever salary he asks for."

Even actors' agencies are paying close attention: "Our actors would like to take on any role, even a supporting one, in a drama starring Kwon Heon-hyuk."

The reason why Kwon Heonhyuk's value has soared is that he has a tall and slender figure of over 180 cm and a handsome appearance, which has captured the hearts of overseas fans.

As long as Kwon Hyun-hyuk appears in a film or TV series, the script and the buzz will be guaranteed.

Even more announcements boasted like this:

Kwon Hyun-hyuk's net worth has skyrocketed, with his salary exceeding 100 million won per episode (200 million won per episode), making him a key contributor to the show's immense popularity!
If we were to choose one of the most popular male actors in South Korea right now, there would be no doubt that it's Kwon Heonhyuk.

According to sources and industry insiders, Kwon Heon-hyuk's per-episode fee was 100 million won before "Squid Game," but the situation has now completely changed.

Dozens of production offers poured in from various platforms, each vying fiercely for Kwon Hyun-hyuk, making him the top choice for casting and causing his salary to more than double.

Representatives from the production company and related personnel stated that Kwon Seonhyuk's recent per-episode fee is certainly over 100 million won, even exceeding 200 million won, and some companies couldn't secure him even at 300 million won. Currently, he's inundated with offers, so a fee exceeding 200 million won per episode is entirely possible. Previous media reports also indicated that Kwon Seonhyuk's advertising fees have been doubling, now reaching approximately 700-800 million won per advertisement annually.

[Trending on Korean Netizens] #Korean Actor with Two Huge Hit Dramas# Which actor is your favorite among male actors who have starred in more than two super hit dramas?

Gong Yoo: Coffee Prince, Goblin

Kim Soo-hyun: The Moon Embracing the Sun, My Love from the Star

Hyun Bin: My Name Is Kim Sam-soon, Secret Garden, Crash Landing on You

Kwon Hyun-hyuk: Dr. Romantic 2, Goddess Descends, Squid Game

Now, Kwon Hyun-hyuk's name has also been added.

Kwon Heon-hyuk currently has two dramas that are still unreleased: one is "Our Blues," and the other is the new work by renowned director Park Chan-wook, "Determination to Break Up."

Both were for the second male lead, but the latter was much more valuable and can be seen as a work that truly brought him into the core circle of Chungmuro.

Being cast as the second male lead in a Park Chan-wook production is not just a ticket to Chungmuro; it's like having Kwon Heon-hyuk carried into Chungmuro ​​in a sedan chair.

Including this work, Kwon Heon-hyuk is estimated to have as many as four or five works airing next year, which is a rather terrifying output.

Kwon Hyun-hyuk's amazing achievement this year in his acting career is that he has won the grand slam of film newcomer awards!

This achievement is almost impossible to attain in the current climate, yet Kwon Hyun-hyuk defied the trend and managed to achieve it.

With five awards in total—Blue Dragon, Baeksang Arts Awards, Hong Kong Film Critics Association Awards, Chung Sa Awards, and Buil Awards—he would have been completely satisfied if the Grand Bell Awards hadn't been cancelled last year due to the pandemic.

This record will pave an impeccable foundation for Quan Xuanhe's future development. Unless he gets involved in gambling, prostitution, or drugs, no one can hinder his progress.

In terms of fashion resources, Kwon Heonhyuk's international image and super popularity have secured him endorsements from three high-end luxury brands: LV, Dior, and Chaumet. He also has Porsche and Longines eagerly awaiting his endorsement, making him the most "expensive" artist in the Korean entertainment industry today, unmatched by anyone.

He even graced the cover of the French ELLE magazine. Compared to this impressive and boastful title, all the other magazine covers he's appeared on this year pale in comparison.

He has not only become an important figure in high-end luxury in South Korea and even Asia, but his extraordinary fashion influence and industry voice have also made him a key driving force.

She helped Sana Minatozaki and Somi secure Prada brand ambassador contracts and also helped Tzuyu win her first high-end luxury endorsement within the group, becoming LV's Korean ambassador.

His ability to manage resources across industries is astonishing; this alone has attracted countless female celebrities who are eager to climb onto his coattails.

Anyone with eyes can see that these people have someone pulling the strings behind the scenes.

This year, Kwon Heon-hyuk's love life has been full of ups and downs, becoming increasingly complicated.

There's no need to dwell on his breakup with Chou Tzu-yu, because he started dating Cho Mi-yeon this year, although they eventually separated again due to unforeseen circumstances.

Sweet moments in a relationship are few and far between, while torment often comes.

Again, because of Zhao Meiyan, his ambiguous relationship with Kim Jisoo was completely shattered. Fortunately, it seems that their relationship has eased up quite a bit now, and they have overcome this hurdle.

At the 2021 AAA, Kim Ji-soo's speech was ambiguous, and rumors of a romance between the two were rampant again.

In 2022, he and Kim Jisoo will have a new story.

Of course, one thing I must mention at the end of this year is my 'strategist', Minatozaki Sana.

Rabbits don't eat the grass near their burrows, but when feelings are strong enough and both parties are willing, a relationship full of subtle tension naturally develops.

Sana Minatozaki may become the person who stays by his side the longest, and the one with whom he has the most stable relationship.

Oh, and Liu Zhimin too.

After much agonizing thought, Liu Zhimin finally made up her mind to win over Quan Xuanhe no matter what, even if he had a girlfriend. She was determined to be the 'traitor' and take over Quan Xuanhe, this 'married man'.

However, the current state of their relationship is full of dramatic twists and turns.

His ex-girlfriend, current girlfriend, and potential girlfriends—Chou Tzu-yu, Chao Mi-yeon, and Yoo Ji-min—are all poised and ready to make their move, eager to win him over.

As for the other fleeting romances that occurred...

Actresses like Go Yoon-jung, Somi, and Han Ji-min have only experienced a few hardships.

That vibrant, thriving world is right before our eyes.

"Happy New Year, oppa!!"

Kim Yoo-jung, wrapped in a thick scarf, watched the fireworks explode in the sky with shimmering eyes. She turned to Kwon Heon-hyuk and smiled as she congratulated him.

Happy New Year to you too.

Kwon Hyun-hyuk turned to look at Kim Yoo-jung, smiled and nodded, with a hint of emotion in his eyes.

Another year has passed.

The afterglow of the fireworks had not yet faded, and the lingering echo of Kim Yoo-jung's "Happy New Year" still reverberated in the cold night.

Kwon Hyun-hyuk's phone, which was in his pocket, suddenly started vibrating rapidly, and the screen lit up repeatedly in the dim light.

As the New Year approaches, his phone received timely New Year's greetings from many, or rather, a considerable number of people.

It's even better than last year.

He's incredibly famous now, with resources at his disposal. Plenty of people are trying to curry favor with him, and even if they don't actually fawn over him, just being friendly with him will get him many congratulatory messages.

He was quite patient, replying to each message one by one. For people he knew well, he would reply with their names and send several messages, while for people he didn't know well, he would just send a simple "Happy New Year".

The timing was perfect; scrolling down to the bottom, the first to send a message was Liu Zhimin, who was remarkably punctual.

Yoo Jimin: [fireworks][heart] Oppa! Happy New Year!!

Below is a long message she attached.

[~Kwon, the actor of 2022! We just finished a performance, and right now I can see fireworks in the sky outside the window! Oppa, please spend more time with me in the new year, go on dates with me, and spend lots of time together!]

Liu Zhimin's lively and playful appearance seemed to leap off the screen and vividly appear before his eyes.

His thumb hovered over the keyboard, the flickering light of fireworks passing across his eyes.

The reply to Liu Zhimin was rather lighthearted, avoiding Liu Zhimin's direct and undisguised ambiguity.

"Happy New Year. I hope someone won't call so inconveniently every day, even though we're not a couple. Oh, and we had fireworks here too."

The message was read instantly, presumably Liu Zhimin was typing frantically on the other end, while Quan Xuanhe swiped his finger to open the interface and clicked into Zhou Tzuyu's chat interface.

"Xuanhe, Happy New Year. I hope everything goes well. Take care of yourself while filming and don't overwork yourself~ We set off fireworks here, how about where you are?" Her words were simple, as always, calm yet slightly endearing.

Quan Xuanhe couldn't help but smile as he looked at the messages sent by the two of them at the same time.

He took a picture of the dark sky and then sent it to both of them.

This saves trouble.

"The fireworks were beautiful."

The message was replied to by both of them.

"Oppa, I hope we can watch the fireworks together next time. It's such a pity that oppa missed this opportunity."

Liu Zhimin's witty words still made him chuckle.

Still stubborn about this.

"Definitely next time."

"You should specify the time and place to invite me!!"

Liu Zhimin was itching to get rid of his perfunctory words, but she was actually getting used to it and still enjoyed it.

She might have some masochistic tendencies, and she reacts in a special way to Kwon Heon-hyuk's coldness.

"Okay, we'll talk about it next time."

"Tch, bad man."

After seeing Quan Xuanhe's perfunctory words, Liu Zhimin rolled her eyes, tossed her phone aside, and ignored him.

"I'm with the members, celebrating the New Year together."

But then Chou Tzu-yu's message popped up again, drawing Kwon Hyun-hyuk's attention.

Do you go home during your vacation?

"Maybe. There's not much to do in Seoul, and I've been a bit bored these past few days."

The implication in this sentence is almost out in the open; all that's missing is for Kwon Hyun-hyuk to say it and meet him.

Unfortunately, Kwon Hyun-hyuk is sometimes very good at pretending to be blind and deaf.

"If you're bored, you can watch TV dramas, like the ones I star in (grinning face)."

Avoid the heavy and do the light.

"I've already seen them all, I've seen them a long time ago."

Chou Tzu-yu's response was still heartwarming.

When it comes to watching dramas, Chou Tzu-yu watches all of Kwon Heon-hyuk's dramas as soon as they come out, and even if she doesn't watch them immediately, she will find time to watch them while rushing around.

"Can em go out and have some fun with his friends?"

He continued to evade the question and talk about other things.

But the next second, Chou Tzu-yu's answer was completely direct, leaving him little room to evade and forcing him to confront the sincere Chou Tzu-yu: "Can't I go out with you?"

"I'm very busy filming, I don't have much time."

Sometimes Kwon Hyun-hyuk would even be glad that he was filming, thus avoiding some potential dramatic situations.

(Heartbroken) You're so busy. (Sighing)

This is the reality, and there's really nothing we can do about it.

Just as Quan Xuanhe was about to post something, his attention was stolen by someone else.

Who is this other person?
It's Kim Jisoo, who hasn't appeared on screen for a long time.

In 2022, Kim Jisoo is preparing for a group comeback, followed by a world tour. This year will be a busy one, as she will also be renewing her contract soon.

Ultimately, YG Entertainment bears a huge responsibility for Jisoo's lack of new drama roles in 2021, and this issue has seriously affected her intention to renew her contract.

Happy New Year, and best wishes for a smooth filming process.

Jisoo's message was short, but it was a big sign that things were looking up for him.

The more miserable Snowdrop was, the more Jisoo would remember his kindness. Clearly, after some time had passed, Jisoo became increasingly aware of his goodness.

"You too, I wish you a smooth comeback and that you become the world's number one girl group!"

BLACKPINK was indeed unparalleled in 2022. Even with a surge of new girl groups emerging, BLACKPINK, returning after a year's hiatus, still dominated the scene and became incredibly popular.

Judging from the fact that BLACKPINK was both controversial and popular before the pandemic, they have now completely entered their heyday.

Upon seeing the message from Kwon Heonhyuk, Kim Jisoo blinked and a smile subtly crept onto her lips.

The world's number one girl group, that's really an exaggeration.

"Thank you, President of Paris. (Thumbs up)"

Quan Xuanhe wanted to roll his eyes at these words. He had heard this exaggerated nickname enough. It seemed like anyone could use it to tease him.

"If it weren't for the second half of your sentence, I would have thought you were genuinely saying thank you."

"No, I was just imitating what fans call me. Does that mean anything else?"

Kim Ji-soo's feigned innocence left Kwon Heon-hyuk speechless.

"Alright, alright, human humidifier."

Her upturned lips froze instantly, and she could only laugh helplessly after seeing the equally impressive nickname.

It's all of those things.

They exchanged a few jokes, which eased the tension considerably.

But then his girlfriend, Zhao Meiyan, stole the spotlight and called him directly.

As her girlfriend, she certainly has that right.

After chatting with other girls for a while, Quan Xuanhe composed himself and answered the phone.

"Xuanhe, Happy New Year!!!"

Zhao Meiyan's clear and melodious voice rang out through the speaker, her tone cheerful and lively, revealing her good mood to anyone.

"Happy New Year, Miyeon!"

Regardless of the circumstances, Zhao Meiyan is his girlfriend, and he should shower her with the pampering and love he deserves.

"So, what are you doing now?"

Zhao Meiyan asked curiously.

"We're celebrating the New Year with the crew and we're going out for a meal later."

Kwon Hyun-hyuk's tone softened considerably as he earnestly shared his thoughts with Cho Mi-yeon.

"Oh, I see. It looks like it'll be a lot of fun."

Zhao Meiyan nodded, quite envious. She also wanted to spend such a lively scene and meaningful moment with Quan Xuanhe.

"And you."

"I'm at home with my family."

During this important time of the Lunar New Year, family is naturally the closest part of the group compared to the members. Zhao Meiyan returned home to spend the New Year together.

"Xuanhe, let's go!"

A shout came from behind, and Quan Xuanhe turned his head to look at the producer, nodded and waved.

"Excuse me, the crew is calling me."

"Okay! Go ahead, Happy New Year, we'll be seeing each other soon!"

Although Zhao Meiyan was a little disappointed, she quickly cheered up and spoke in a cheerful and earnest tone.

We'll be meeting soon.

"it is good."

Quan Xuanhe hung up the phone with a smile.

Kim Yoo-jung, who was standing nearby, peeked at his screen and teased him with a smile, "Oppa's really busy~"

Kwon Hyun-hyuk turned off the screen, and a cold wind blew into his coat collar, but he didn't feel cold: "Yeah... a 'job' that's even more mentally taxing than filming all night."

That's what he said, but in reality, Kwon Heonhyuk had a slight smile on his lips, looking like he was enjoying himself.

2022 was a significant year, marked by the changing of the guard, the removal of face masks, and the world's gradual return to vitality after a period of upheaval. Those connected to Kwon Heon-hyuk also experienced considerable changes during this year.

(End of this chapter)