Peninsula: I'm the Top Streamer

Chapter 631 Plotting to win the Best Actor award, the beauty is envious!
This year's Baeksang Arts Awards for film were basically dominated by the following popular films, all of which received more than four nominations.

Mogadishu, King's Creation, Romance Without Love.

Mogadishu received nine nominations, King Maker received eight, and Romance Without Love received five.

As one of the most expensive films in recent years, "Mogadishu" deserves its nine nominations.

The television division includes the following projects.

First and foremost is "The Squid Game," which received seven nominations.

Secondly, "Red-edged Sleeves" also received seven nominations.

This historical romance drama can be considered a dark horse, carving out a niche for itself in the increasingly declining genre of historical dramas.

Just look at the cast; the main characters are Lee Jun-ho and Lee Se-young.

For most people, Lee Junho is still remembered as a member of 2PM.

In fact, without this drama, he would most likely have stopped there. After transitioning to acting, JYP has provided him with relatively stable resources, and he has had some works that have received a decent response, but he has remained lukewarm and has not had a truly popular masterpiece.

Neither the director nor the screenwriter had any notable works. Under these circumstances, a group of people created this work. It is estimated that no one expected it to be a huge hit, but it did.

If this were a Korean entertainment novel, it would definitely be a dark horse that could steal the spotlight and propel the male lead to instant stardom.

Let's also briefly analyze the behind-the-scenes story of this work.

The production company for this drama series is NPIO Entertainment, which was founded in 2019 by Pyo Jong-rok, who previously served as CEO of Keyeast and Vice President of JYP Entertainment.

The company jointly manages some of its actors with JYP Entertainment.

Now you know why Lee Junho was chosen as the male lead in this work.

Besides "Red-edged Sleeves," another well-known work produced by NPIO Entertainment is "Welcome to the Kingdom."

This work is more famous, after all, it stars Im Yoon-a, and it received a good response overseas, with the on-screen couple being quite popular.

Given this, it's not surprising that Lee Junho was able to act alongside Im Yoon-ah. The production company has close ties with JYP Entertainment, and Lee Junho is one of their own, backed by capital and connections.

Lee Jun-ho winning the Best Actor award for "Red-Embellished Sleeves" exceeded the expectations of most people.

Among the competitors at the same time were Kim Nam-gil, Lee Jung-jae, Im Si-wan, and Jung Hae-in. Logically speaking, these people are all better actors than Lee Jun-ho. Anyone who sees these candidates would think so.

However, "Red-Embellished Sleeves" is the first MBC drama in nearly three years to break the 10% viewership rating, and the Baeksang Arts Awards has also shown a trend of supporting young actors in recent years.

Although JYP disbanded its actor department, it's not entirely clueless when it comes to public relations and marketing. After all, as one of the Big Three, it still has some tricks up its sleeve.

Coupled with his outstanding performance despite the stereotypical image of an idol actor, all these factors led to Lee Jun-ho being crowned Best Actor.

Will things be the same this year, with Kwon Heonhyuk acting as a butterfly flapping its wings?

"DP" received five nominations: Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Best New Actor, Best Director, and Best Film.

There must be public relations operations and a focus of attention behind the scenes for award ceremonies.

If the chances of winning are slim, don't bother with public relations and operations. If you're confident, then give it a shot.

On the night the Baeksang Arts Awards nominations were announced, the office of Son Seok-woo, president of BH Entertainment, was brightly lit.

He looked at the online comments, his fingers unconsciously tapping on the smooth tabletop, making a dull, rhythmic sound.

The neon lights of Seoul outside the window reflected on his glasses, flickering erratically.

“This is the best opportunity,” he said to Park Jung-jung, who was sitting across from him.

"Xuanhe's contract only has three months left, so we must use this Best Actor award to keep him on the team."

“A Baeksang Arts Awards Best Actor trophy carries more weight than any generous contract renewal offer.”

Things are different now. Kwon Hyun-hyuk was just a nobody back then, but now he's a top star with the highest commercial value. He could go out on his own without any problem, so why should he stay and split the profits with you?

Park Jung-jung stood in front of the desk with a serious expression; he understood all too well what Sun Seok-woo meant.

Conventional methods are proving ineffective in retaining this cash cow and new brand.

BH has absolutely nothing left to offer Kwon Seon-hyuk in terms of business support; in fact, they're relying on Kwon Seon-hyuk's business resources to support the company.

"Xuanhe's value has already been proven without a nomination. But this 'Best Actor' title is the ticket to truly propel him to the top, and it should be the best reason for him to stay in BH."

Sun Xiyu leaned forward, his eyes sharp.

“We must show him that only here can he receive the highest honors he deserves without reservation or hindrance.”

“Understood, President.” Park Jung-jung replied in a deep voice.

He knows what this means.

BH's extensive network of contacts, strong public relations team, good relationships with major media outlets, and potential lobbying capabilities within the judging system.

This is no longer just a competition on a level playing field, but a comprehensive contest of strength to protect the company's core assets.

In the days that followed, a silent yet fierce battle unfolded behind the scenes surrounding Kwon Heon-hyuk's nomination.

BH's PR team collaborated with YG to select angles from previous trending news and delve into them in depth.

They packaged the story behind Kwon Seon-hyuk's portrayal of "Ahn Joon-ho," such as his rigorous training for the role and his precise handling of eye acting, into "an awakening journey of a new generation of acting benchmarks."

Secondly, we should amplify the social significance of "DP".

Popular posts such as "Ahn Joon-ho is a mirror of society" were widely quoted, and even prompted several mainstream media outlets to conduct in-depth reports.

The argument that "Kwon Hyun-hyuk's performance has sparked social reflection on the conscription system" continues to gain traction, deeply linking the value of the character with the value of the actor.

Park Jung-jung personally visited several veteran filmmakers and critics who had worked with or expressed their appreciation to Kwon Seon-hyuk, especially those who had the qualifications or connections to reach the Baeksang Arts Awards jury.

Sun Xiyu even used his network of connections in high society to subtly convey information to potential judges.

BH has a long-term and firm plan to cultivate Kwon Seon-hyuk. The Best Actor award is not only a recognition of the actor, but also the best endorsement of BH's investment in "talent identification" and support for high-quality content.

BH also strengthened communication with Netflix, the producer of "DP," and coordinated with the production company to cooperate in promotion, emphasizing the "overall appeal" of the series and its lead actor, Kwon Hyun-hyuk, for awards, thus forming a joint effort.

BH's analysis team carefully evaluated the strengths and weaknesses of the other nominees.

"The Squid Game" had the biggest hype, but it was still an ensemble piece.

Although Lee Jung-jae delivered a brilliant performance as the lead actor, his career focus has long since shifted to the big screen, and the explosive success of "The Squid" is itself a huge honor.

Lee Junho's performance in "Red-Embellished Sleeves" was equally impressive, but his identity as an idol-turned-actor still remains.

BH's strategy is to reinforce the thoroughness of Kwon Seon-hyuk's "de-idolization" and his increasingly solid position in the Chungmuro ​​mainstream film industry, emphasizing the "purity" of his acting growth and his future "potential to become a Best Actor".

Gyeonggi Province, during a break on the set of "Night Owl".

Kwon Hyun-hyuk sat on a slightly worn-out lounge chair, still wearing a "Cheon Kyung-soo" cloth robe.

Park Jung-jung sat down next to him with a printed copy of the latest online public opinion analysis and some media previews.

"Look, the company has really gone all out for this Baeksang Arts Awards." Park Jung-jung handed over the tablet.

Kwon Hyun-hyuk quickly browsed the screen, which was filled with praise for his acting skills and expectations for him to become the Best Actor.

He rubbed his bloodshot eyes—in "Night Owl," he needed to portray blindness extensively, and the physiological fatigue from controlling the direction of his eyes for extended periods was real.

"These words... are a bit too much."

"It's just market forces," Park Jung-jung smiled, steer the conversation to the core issue.

"The president is personally in charge, and resources are being fully allocated. He has very high expectations for you, and he hopes to use this opportunity to show you BH's sincerity and determination regarding the contract renewal."

Park Jung-jung adjusted his glasses and began to analyze the situation with him in a very serious manner.

"The odds of winning Best Actor this time can't be said to be high, but they can't be said to be low either."

"Your biggest disadvantage is that you are too young."

"The days of young talents soaring to fame and winning Best Actor awards like they did ten or twenty years ago are long gone. The industry is moving forward, but it is also gradually becoming stagnant."

What Park Jung-jung said is not wrong; these are objective realities.

"It's a small problem. I'm still young, and I'll be able to get it sooner or later."

If Kwon Heonhyuk were to utter such confident words outside, he would be torn to shreds by Koreans.

How could you not show humility?!

"The earlier you take it, the better."

Park Jung-jung said so.

"Everything you need will be there."

"By the way, the Blue Dragon Awards organizers will be holding a televised awards ceremony this year, and you'll most likely be nominated for Best Actor again, so get ready."

“DP will be your first project to truly win awards.”

The Blue Dragon Awards were originally the highest award in the film industry, but with the rapid development of television dramas, a television awards ceremony has also been launched.

In recent years, South Korean dramas, especially those broadcast through streaming platforms such as Netflix and Disney+, have seen a significant increase in their global influence. The boundaries between production costs, artistic quality, and films have become increasingly blurred, making them one of the core carriers of South Korean cultural export.

The television industry's market size, audience base, and social attention are now comparable to those of the film industry.

Moreover, the current trend of the film industry gradually "descending" to the television industry is no longer just obvious, it's practically a convergence.

In South Korea's film and television industry, it has become common for actors, directors, screenwriters, and other talents to develop across the film and television fields.

Furthermore, with streaming platforms like Netflix becoming major producers of Korean dramas, award ceremonies dominated by traditional television stations have limited reach.

Currently, the only authoritative award ceremony in the television industry is the Baeksang Arts Awards. If Blue Dragon were to create a television award, it would not lack attention, and the field would not be crowded.

"The difference is that the awards ceremony organized by the Blue Dragon Film Awards only features streaming dramas, not dramas broadcast on the three major networks."

Park Jung-jung said the same thing.

This is actually a huge benefit for some actors, as it reduces competition, increases their chances of winning awards, and gives actors more opportunities.

"Whether it's Baeksang or Seiryu, could you help me get one of them?"

Compared to BH's high-speed operation in public relations, Kwon Hyun-hyuk himself was relaxed and could even make a few jokes with a smile.

He doesn't feel any pressure to win. After all, he's still young and has another 20 or 30 years to go in the industry. What's the rush? He can take it one step at a time and it won't make a difference if he takes a little more time.

"Don't worry, BH will be anxious."

Park Jung-jung nodded, not putting too much pressure on him.

Although Park Jung-jung is working for BH, she still sides with her nephew, so she can't really put undue pressure on Kwon Hyun-hyuk.

"That's true."

Quan Xuanhe nodded.

The film set was shrouded in the muggy heat of early summer in the afternoon.

A makeshift rest area has been set up outside the set area of ​​"Night Owl" in Gyeonggi Province.

Kwon Hyun-hyuk was still wearing his costume, but he was loosely covered with a dark-colored ancient-style outer robe.

He closed his eyes, his face showing obvious signs of fatigue from continuous filming.

"Xuanhe oppa, iced Americano." A familiar yet slightly teasing female voice rang out from not far away.

Kwon Hyun-hyuk opened his eyes and looked in the direction of the sound. He saw Kim Yoo-jung standing to the side, holding a paper bag from a well-known coffee chain in one hand, smiling at him.

She was dressed in a refreshing casual outfit, as if she had just come straight from a vacation.

Sunlight streamed through the gaps in the roof and fell on her, so bright it was dazzling.

"Yu-jung?" Kwon Hyun-hyuk's voice was clearly surprised.

"How did you find this place?"

"I'm tired of my vacation, so I'm going out for a stroll."

Kim Yoo-jung approached and naturally placed the coffee on the folding table.

"Let's see how busy the newly crowned TV King nominee is." She spoke casually, her eyes falling on his period costume, and the corners of her mouth couldn't help but curve upwards.

This seems to be the first time he's seen Kwon Hyun-hyuk in period costume, especially such an unconventional one.

Quan Xuanhe let the makeup artist do his thing, and gave a helpless twitch of his lips: "Are you here to laugh at me? Is my look funny enough?"

"This is the first time I've seen oppa in period costume, and with this kind of hairstyle. He doesn't look as handsome as before."

Kim Yoo-jung dragged a plastic stool over and sat down opposite him, then took out an iced Americano and pushed it towards him.

Kwon Hyun-hyuk took the coffee, took a big sip, and the icy liquid invigorated him: "Thanks, you're really well-informed, you even found out where I'm filming?"

"It's not a difficult thing."

Kim Yoo-jung smiled broadly.

"How was your vacation after filming?"

Kwon Hyun-hyuk glanced at Kim Yoo-jung, who looked to be in good spirits, and asked with a smile.

"It's alright, it's very comfortable to relax and rest."

Indeed, Kim Yoo-jung has been working at a high intensity recently. She chose to take a break after finishing filming "20th Century Girl" to recharge.

What are the work arrangements for the future?

Quan Xuanhe then asked.

"Not yet, it's just that the TV station invited me to be on a variety show."

Kim Yoo-jung was very honest with him at this moment, saying whatever came to mind.

"What program?"

"It's a program organized by tvN. TVN invited several drama crews to go to MT together. They are all crews of director Kim Sung-yoon."

"Love in the Moonlight", "Itaewon Class", "Magic Sound".

"MT? That's great, you can treat it as a way to relax and unwind."

Kwon Hyun-hyuk nodded slightly and turned to look at Kim Yoo-jung.

The brightness carried a hint of deliberately concealed anticipation.

A thought flickered in his mind as he recalled information about Kim Yoo-jung's business dealings.

Kim Yoo-jung has a good image and high public recognition, but she lacks fashion resources and is almost completely immune to high-end luxury brands.

She didn't become Bobbi Brown's Asia-Pacific brand ambassador until 2025.

Bobbi Brown is a high-end cosmetics brand under the Estée Lauder Companies.

In addition, in 2024 she became the global spokesperson for Dazy, a brand under the online fashion retailer SHEIN.

However, SHEIN is primarily positioned as a fast fashion brand, not a high-end luxury brand.

"You should film that variety show for a while and take a break."

"When the movie is released and the TV series is being promoted, I'll take you to shoot a magazine cover."

Do you have any favorite luxury items?

Like I said before, Kim Yoo-jung would practically throw herself at him for free, wouldn't she?
He's practically walking hormones!
Now that I've figured it out, there must be something about him that Kim Yoo-jung is after. Otherwise, why would she want to stick with him from beginning to end? If it were really love, it wouldn't have developed so quickly.

They just want something in return.

Upon hearing this, Kim Yoo-jung's eyes lit up instantly, the corners of her mouth curved into a perfect smile, and even her voice became sweeter.
"qinjia?"

"Oppa speaks so magnanimously?"

Kim Yoo-jung has been hearing a lot of big news about Kwon Hyun-hyuk during this period.

She's a Porsche brand ambassador, a Dior store opening ceremony host, a national tourism ambassador, and even starred in a blockbuster movie with a movie star.

阿西
Isn't this just too enviable?

She subtly moved half a step closer, her fingertips almost brushing the edge of the folding table, coming within inches of Quan Xuanhe's hand holding the iced Americano.

Her gaze was fixed intently on his face, filled with undisguised admiration. Occasionally, she would glance at his slightly weathered appearance due to makeup, then cup her own face in her hands and look at him with a beaming smile.

"Looks like the stylist's knife didn't cut off oppa's charm... even a burlap sack can't hide it."

She suddenly seemed to have developed a keen interest in everything on set.

"How do you portray a blind person? Their eyes have to be fixed and unchanging?"

Kim Yoo-jung imitated a cross-eyed expression, but couldn't help laughing herself.

"Wow, this is so hard, like this?"

She tried to fix her gaze, but after a few seconds her eyes "inadvertently" drifted back to Kwon Heon-hyuk's face, which was sparkling.

Kwon Hyun-hyuk was amused by her and rubbed his eyes, which were sore from holding his eyes closed for a long time: "Stop, you're making it hard for me to get out of character."

The sky outside the shed turned from blue to indigo as dusk settled in.

When Park Jung-jung came over to remind Kwon Seon-hyuk to prepare to return, she noticed that Kim Yoo-jung was almost standing in front of the monitor.

"Yu-jung-ssi hasn't left yet?"

"Ah, I lost track of time while looking at it!" Kim Yoo-jung said innocently.

"It seems like the last bus back to the city in Gyeonggi Province has stopped running..."

She shook her phone screen, which had already gone dark, and looked at Quan Xuanhe with eyes that shone brighter than the neon lights of Gangnam District.

"How's the hotel oppa is staying at? Is it nice?"

Park Jung-jung pushed up his glasses, and a subtle light flashed across the lenses.

Kwon Hyun-hyuk glanced at his uncle, then at Kim Yoo-jung, who was smiling broadly and whose eyes seemed to say "you decide what to do." His lips twitched, but he ultimately didn't expose her little scheme that was practically a "chance encounter."

"Then... let's arrange accommodation for Yu-jung-ssi, something not too far away."

He put down his nearly empty coffee cup, stood up, stretched, and his ancient-style outer robe slid down loosely, revealing the tattered collar of his theatrical costume.

"Oh~ thank you for your trouble, oppa!" Kim Yoo-jung's voice instantly became sweet and crisp, as if she wasn't the one who was just worrying about catching the last train.

The night outside the shed was already deep.

Park Jung-jung arranged for a car to take the two to the hotel where Kwon Seon-hyuk was staying in Gyeonggi Province. It was a business hotel that was not luxurious but quiet and secluded.

Park Jung-jung booked a private room for Kim Yoo-jung, right next to Kwon Heon-hyuk's.

When checking in, he gave his nephew a meaningful look, then left without saying anything more.

There were only two people in the elevator.

Kim Yoo-jung seemed to still be immersed in the relaxed atmosphere on set, humming a song softly, occasionally glancing at Kwon Heon-hyuk with bright eyes.

Kwon Hyun-hyuk leaned against the wall of the sedan chair, his face showing the fatigue of filming, but a faint smile played at the corners of his mouth.

With a "beep", Quan Xuanhe's room door was swiped open.

He had just turned to go inside when Kim Yoo-jung, who had been quietly following behind, suddenly made a move.

As soon as the door closed behind her, cutting off the light from the corridor, she pounced on Quan Xuanhe like a nimble and enthusiastic kitten.

Caught off guard, Quan Xuanhe stumbled as she lunged at him, his back slamming against the cold door.

Kim Yoo-jung wrapped her arms tightly around his waist, her body pressed against his without any gap, and raised her head, her face showing undisguised excitement and a hint of mischievous slyness.

"Oppa!" Her voice was higher and more excited than usual, and her fingers were poking and prodding at his lower back, with a hint of coquetry.

"What luxury brands were you talking about on set just now? Dior? Louis Vuitton? Or something else?"

She asked almost impatiently, her body twisting slightly, as if she had a great desire for the answer.

Her eyes shone brightly even in the dim light of the entryway, reflecting the blurred features of Kwon Hyun-hyuk's face.

The moment she had been waiting for was in the promise of the man standing before her.

Quan Xuanhe looked down at the person clinging tightly to him in his arms, whose bright eyes were filled with genuine longing.

He raised his hand and gently tapped her forehead with his index finger, his smile deepening, tinged with amusement and understanding.

"So eager? Thinking of getting physical..."

His voice was deep, with a hint of indulgence, yet it seemed as if he understood all her little thoughts.

"Stop waving around...it depends on your performance. As for specific brands...well, Dior and I have been getting along pretty well lately, LV is good, Chaumet is alright, Porsche is acceptable, and I know some fashion magazine editors too."

He paused deliberately, admiring Kim Yoo-jung's gaze, which instantly intensified and her breath-holding.

This answer, which carries a lot of positive information, is more powerful than any empty promise.

Kim Yoo-jung tightened her arms around his waist, her cheeks flushing slightly.

“Oppa knows…” She stood on tiptoe, her warm breath brushing against his chin.

“I have always been obedient.”

Kim Yoo-jung's fingers deftly probed inside, precisely tracing the contours of her abdominal muscles through her thin undergarment.

Quan Xuanhe's throat bobbed, and he tightened his grip around her waist, eliciting a short, delicate cry from her, but the smile in his eyes only intensified.

“Last time oppa left so hastily, I was very lonely filming alone on set, even though we had just started dating.”

As soon as she finished speaking, Kim Yoo-jung disappeared from Kwon Hyun-hyuk's sight.

The cool wooden floor made a slight sound, but it did not affect her fingertips' movement of untying her belt in the slightest.

Kwon Hyun-hyuk's downcast gaze met Kim Yoo-jung's upturned face.

That carefully crafted innocent expression held a chilling allure.

Her bright and colorful face slowly moved down to the lower edge of his gaze, her soft lips biting the edge of the fabric and pulling it down inch by inch.

"Yu-jung"

The soft whispers were eventually drowned out by the sudden warmth and humidity.

(End of this chapter)