Peninsula: I'm the Top Streamer

Chapter 637 Preview - Highly Anticipated! Now Open for Sale!
After finishing filming "Night Owl," Kwon Heon-hyuk returned to the set of "Dark Glory" to continue his busy filming schedule.

Time is like water.

Perhaps knowing that Quan Xuanhe was very busy at this time, the girls around him seemed to have tacitly agreed not to come and see him again.

Liu Zhimin and the others are busy returning.

Chou Tzu-yu and the others are also busy with their comebacks.

Zhao Meiyan and her colleagues are busy with the school anniversary celebration season.

Kim Jisoo is still busy with her comeback.

Everyone's busy.

Everyone is focused on their own things, and at the same time, the preview screening of Kwon Heon-hyuk's new movie "Decision to Break Up" is coming!
This film, directed by Park Chan-wook, was nominated for the main competition at the 75th Cannes Film Festival and has already garnered much attention.

The significance of this first-ever preview screening in Seoul for domestic media and industry professionals is self-evident.

He was well aware of the buzz and the level of anticipation – with the popularity of "Our Blues" still going strong and "The Decision to Break Up" following closely behind, he was at the peak of his exposure.

Not to mention the lingering effects of Porsche's recent announcement of its first Asian racing ambassador.

The controversy surrounding the 250 million won per episode fee for DP Season 2 is still reverberating within the industry.

His high salary is something that the industry finds both acceptable and unacceptable.

The reason it's acceptable is that Kwon Heonhyuk is currently very popular, and the return on investment is also very high, making it a sure-fire way to make money.

The reason why it is unacceptable is that Kwon Heonhyuk has only been in the industry for three years at most, his experience is too shallow, and his rise to fame is too fast.

After the industry clarified the situation, it accepted Kwon Hyun-hyuk's net worth, but the public still had mixed opinions.

There's no way around it; perhaps in some people's eyes, Kwon Heonhyuk is still a newcomer.

As the second or third male lead in the film, he knew that the focus today would ultimately be on director Park Chan-wook and actress Tang Wei, but his own top-tier high-end aura and status as an international rising star meant that he would also be an unmissable presence in this glittering event.

"Xuanhe-xi, we're almost at the venue."

The preview screening was held at the CGV Cinema in Yongsan-gu, Seoul.

The commotion and flashing lights at the entrance to the red carpet were already clearly visible, indicating that the event was far larger than previous ones.

Kwon Hyun-hyuk sat up straight and began to tidy up his already meticulously tailored suit.

The moment the van came to a complete stop in the designated area, and the security guard opened the door from the outside—

The sound waves created by countless camera shutter clicks surged into the carriage.

Kwon Hyun-hyuk smiled and stood still, walking towards the front of the red carpet.

The flashbulbs on both sides of the red carpet went off wildly, and the cameras captured his every subtle movement and expression.

This was a preview screening, not a particularly grand or elaborate event, so the whole thing was fairly normal.

The interview session was held later with the main cast and crew. Both sides of the media behaved normally, without any sudden questions. The fans who came to the scene were also very restrained, and their cheers were not too loud.

Kwon Heonhyuk maintained a polite smile and steadily walked down the red carpet amidst the somewhat restrained but still enthusiastic cheers of fans and the clicking of media cameras.

The security guard quickly guided him through the entrance and into the relatively quiet and bright space in front of the screening room.

A number of people had already gathered there, but Quan Xuanhe's gaze quickly locked onto the key figure.

Director Park Chan-wook was holding a glass of water, talking with several veteran film critics and producers.

Not far from him, Tang Wei, dressed in a simple and elegant dress, was talking to the film's screenwriter, with her usual serene smile on her face.

Kwon Hyun-hyuk straightened the front of his perfectly wrinkle-free suit and strode towards them.

"Xuanhe, it's been a long time."

When Tang Wei saw Kwon Hyun-hyuk, her eyes lit up, and she greeted him with a smile in Chinese.

Even now, Tang Wei still can't speak Korean, but she is still pampered by Koreans.

"Sister Wei, it's been a long time." He walked closer, a more genuine smile on his face, and spoke fluent Chinese.

"It's been so long since we last met. I think it's been more than half a year, right?"

Tang Wei looked him up and down, her tone revealing no awkwardness.

"It's been more than half a year, it's been almost a year."

Quan Xuanhe sighed.

When was "The Decision to Break Up" filmed?
That was back in August of last year, around the time Kwon Heonhyuk finished filming "DP" and it was released online.

Park Chan-wook turned around at the sound and saw Kwon Heon-hyuk, a slight smile appearing on his serious face.

"Oh! Hyunhyuk is here!" He extended his hand, and Hyunhyuk quickly shook the director's hand.

Even if he works for another ten years, he still has to take this international director seriously; there's no way around it.

"Director Park, it's been a long time. It's great to see you again."

"You look more energetic." Park Chan-wook looked him up and down, his tone quite friendly.

"Filming 'Dark Glory' must have been tough, right? You're in pretty good shape." Although it was just a casual remark, it was surprising that Park Chan-wook was following his updates.

It's no wonder Kwon Hyun-hyuk thinks that way. Most big directors are high and mighty, and making an actor famous is just a piece of cake for them.

Kim Tae-ri rose to fame overnight after starring in Park Chan-wook's works.

This is similar to the case of "Zhang Yimou's Girls" in China; they already have star quality and have strong resources to support them.

Of course, the key lies with the great director behind it all.

"I've always taken it seriously and haven't dared to slack off," Kwon Hyun-hyuk replied humbly.

At this moment, several senior critics and producers standing next to Park Chan-wook also turned to Kwon Seon-hyuk. One of the senior film critics spoke first.

"Xuanhe, congratulations on the second season of DP. The per-episode salary of 2.5 million is truly mind-blowing."

His smiling tone conveyed neither praise nor criticism, but rather a statement of a fact that had caused a stir in the industry.

Quan Xuanhe smiled politely and said in a calm tone, "It is my honor to receive recognition from the industry and support from the audience."

Another producer, who appeared to be slightly overweight, chimed in.

"Market recognition is a measure of strength. We have extremely high expectations for 'The Decision to Break Up' at Cannes." He spoke with a business-like shrewdness, his eyes revealing a keen intelligence.

At this moment, Tang Wei also finished her conversation with the screenwriter, walked over gracefully, and rejoined the small circle.

The focus of the conversation quickly shifted to Tang Wei.

Tang Wei's starting point was "Lust, Caution," which immediately caught the attention of a group of international directors and veteran filmmakers.

Putting aside those controversies for now, if we're talking about spiritual roots in the entertainment industry, then debuting in a major director's film means you've already gained a heavenly spiritual root.

Director Park Chan-wook glanced at his watch and calmly said, "Yes, it's about time. The media must be getting impatient."

"Let's go together."

He patted Kwon Hyun-hyuk's arm, signaling to the core creative team that they were ready to move on to the next stage.

Kwon Hyun-hyuk naturally stepped aside, letting Park Chan-wook and Tang Wei walk a little ahead, while he himself lagged slightly behind, following the core cast and crew towards the media interview area.

Other producers and critics surrounded them as they moved.

In the lobby of the screening room, people moved naturally, while an invisible spotlight remained firmly fixed on the creative team of "The Decision to Break Up".

As the pleasantries subsided, the formal stage of the film was about to begin.

There's a reason why "The Decision to Break Up" was released at this time; it just so happened to be around the time of the Cannes Film Festival.

The film was nominated for the Palme d'Or in the main competition, and Park Chan-wook also won the Best Director Award at the Cannes Film Festival.

This is an honor that rivals Bong Joon-ho's Oscar for Best Director; it's quite remarkable, and he's truly unparalleled in the limelight.

When they returned to China, the airport was packed with media waiting for them.

With its award-winning success, "The Decision to Break Up" has naturally become the most anticipated film in South Korea, attracting widespread attention.

Many celebrities attended the preview screening.

Jung Woo-sung, Lee Jung-hyun, Song Kang-ho, Yoo Yeon-seok, Kim Woo-bin, Kim Hee-ae, Ha Jung-woo, Lee Joon-gi, Kim Min-hee, Kim Soo-hyun.

These are considered relatively high-profile celebrities; there are others who are second or third-tier, not to mention.

The event was a star-studded affair, with some invited by CJ and others coming on their own initiative after seeing Park Chan-wook. This kind of event is never short of comedians.

This also shows that Kwon Heon-hyuk's ability to play the third lead role is an opportunity. After all, projects by big directors like this don't come every year, so it's perfect for him to gain experience.

If you want to be a leading man, you have to be in your thirties or forties. There are no top-tier projects in the film industry where young, popular actors play the leading roles.

First, there are no such projects; second, they cannot be sustained.

In terms of real box office appeal and acting skills, it still has to be the middle-aged generation.

The moment you step inside, an atmosphere of mixed anticipation and scrutiny hits you.

His gaze quickly swept across the audience: the seats were packed with stars.

The well-known film figures were all sitting quietly in their respective seats.

Their attention was focused on the main creators who were entering the venue one after another.

The lights were not completely off, and the venue maintained a quiet yet noisy atmosphere.

When director Park Chan-wook, Tang Wei, Kwon Heon-hyuk, and other key members of the production team officially arrived, the hushed conversations in the room gradually subsided.

The screening room fell completely silent, all eyes focused on the internationally renowned director who had just returned with honors.

He didn't need much buildup; he simply opened his mouth in a calm and concise manner, his voice clearly carrying throughout the entire space through the speakers:

".(Hello everyone.)"

"Thank you to all the media friends, film industry colleagues, and guests who attended the first screening of 'The Decision to Break Up' in South Korea."

"This film is the result of the team's meticulous work, and we are fortunate to have received recognition from the Cannes Film Festival. But its ultimate judge will always be the audience who goes to the theater. We hope that everyone here today can give us their most valuable attention."

His words were brief, yet carried immense weight. He finished speaking and gave a slight bow in acknowledgment.

".(Thanks.)"

Without lengthy remarks, Director Park quickly took his seat.

After Park Chan-wook finished speaking briefly, everyone took their seats and the movie began to play.

The last glimmer of light in the screening room was also completely extinguished.

This movie had already set the tone for the entire film before its official release.

The Cannes Film Festival's official publication, Screen, gave it a high score of 3.2 out of 4, ranking it first in the main competition. Authoritative media outlets such as The Guardian and The New York Times named it one of the "best films of 2022".

The selection committee believes that Park Chan-wook continues his signature suspense aesthetics in the film, while exploring the subtleties of human nature with a restrained narrative, showcasing an auteur style that is both bold and delicate.

Before its release, the film had already sold its distribution rights to more than 200 countries and regions, breaking the previous record for South Korean films sold overseas, previously held by "Parasite".

This data is seen by the industry as "a double recognition of Park Chan-wook's brand and Tang Wei's international influence by the global market".

As the distributor, CJ Entertainment's strong overseas distribution network and marketing strategies have further boosted market expectations.

Screen Daily predicts that the film has the potential to become "the Korean film with the greatest global box office potential since Parasite".

This film festival-level recognition directly raises industry expectations regarding the film's artistic merit and market potential.

From this perspective, the tone within and outside the industry has already reached an extremely high level, and it is clear how valuable it is to use San Francisco to build experience and gain recognition.

The movie slowly began to play, marking Kwon Heon-hyuk's second appearance on the big screen since "Innocence".

The theater lights went completely dark, and the screen lit up.

As a viewer, even though I had already seen the news photos and trailers, the feeling of actually seeing Kwon Heonhyuk appear in a police uniform on the big screen for the first time was completely different.

The camera first focuses on Hae-joon, a veteran detective played by Park Hae-il, who is intently engaged in shooting training.

The background is the cold, metallic feel of an indoor shooting range and the faint echo of gunfire.

Then, the camera gracefully pans to the right, bringing another figure into the center of the frame—Kwon Hyun-hyuk.

He plays Oh Soo-wan, Hae-joon's assistant, but his presence at this moment makes it hard to take your eyes off him.

He wore a blue police undershirt with a tactical bulletproof vest over it, which accentuated his broad, upright shoulders and lean physique.

His hair was parted in the middle, neat and tidy, and his goggles were perched on his forehead, not yet pulled down.

Simply standing there, the static image is full of power and sharp, capable energy.

With his naturally gifted physique, Kwon Hyun-hyuk, accentuated by his police uniform, certainly looked more like the protagonist on the poster than his senior standing next to him.

A few soft gasps could even be heard from the audience, clearly indicating that some people were hit by the "uniform shock".

Park Hae-il recited his lines fluently, his tone carrying the habitual calculations of an investigator.

Oh Soo-wan (played by Kwon Hyun-hyuk) is aiming and shooting intently. His profile is stern, his brows are habitually furrowed, and his eyes are focused on the target in front of him through the scope.

He did not respond to his senior's words immediately, and this silence reinforced his image as a "reckless newcomer".

The scene naturally shifts to the shooting registration area as they move. Kwon Hyun-hyuk, playing Oh Soo-wan, leans over, his strong arm resting on the counter as he signs.

At this moment, Haijun picked up his coat and, almost without asking, draped it over him.

The camera gave a clear close-up: Wu Xiuwan turned to look at Hai Jun with a somewhat bewildered and puzzled look in her eyes. She was obviously surprised by this sudden "consideration" and more confused about being involved in an unrelated case.

The angle at which he turned his head was just right, allowing the big screen to perfectly display his sculpted face.

"Us?" Wu Xiuwan asked, his voice low and clear, carrying the straightforwardness and doubt unique to young people.

Hai Jun's expression remained completely calm as he nodded slightly, affirming calmly, "That's right, you and me." His demeanor was that of someone with experience who took things for granted.

The instant Haijun finished speaking, Quan Xuanhe almost seamlessly followed up with a question, tinged with even more obvious disdain:
"What does this have to do with the case? Why do we need to go?"

This follow-up question is clear and powerful, perfectly capturing the feeling of a "reckless newcomer" and an "unruly subordinate."

Kwon Heon-hyuk's first scene, under Park Chan-wook's masterful direction and cinematography, perfectly showcased the character's physical charm, youthful vigor, and charisma when standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Park Hae-il.

Through subtle facial expressions and expressive dialogue, he precisely portrayed Wu Xiuwan, an impulsive, confused, and somewhat challenging-authoritative young police officer with solid professional skills.

This debut performance was entirely befitting of the Cannes Film Festival star and the high expectations from both inside and outside the industry.

The first act was brilliant, but the total runtime was only a few minutes. Kwon Heon-hyuk's scenes continue in the second half of the film.

This film is not commercial at all; it could even be considered an art film, so it certainly won't achieve great commercial success.

Metaphors, story pacing, narrative style, and even the need to carefully consider the development of the plot—these all require some thought, which is why everyone was very focused when watching them.

Of course, Kwon Heon-hyuk certainly couldn't steal the spotlight, since the absolute protagonist of this film is Tang Wei. It's enough for him to have some screen time under the director's guidance and leave an impression on the audience.

Indeed, even after the movie ended, Kwon Heon-hyuk's character remained memorable.

The reasons are sometimes surprisingly simple.

First, he looks very handsome on screen, leaving a deep impression on the audience; second, he has several highlight shots.

In the movie, during a barbecue dinner, a drunken Kwon Seon-hyuk interrogates Park Hae-il. Under the director's lighting and atmosphere, and amidst the changing light and shadow, his close-up shots are even somewhat stunning to the audience.

And his hasty departure after being stabbed in the back makes him a rather excellent tool character.

As the lights gradually brightened, the silent screening room seemed to be released from its confinement in the instant it returned from darkness to light.

The last lingering notes of "The Decision to Break Up" still hung in the air, but the next second, accompanied by the lights coming on, applause erupted like a tidal wave.

The applause was enthusiastic and sustained, converging from every corner and resounding throughout the entire cinema.

This is not merely a polite expression of gratitude, but also the most direct affirmation of this masterpiece that just won Best Director at Cannes and carries countless accolades and expectations.

The credits began to roll on the screen, but the audience's attention was completely drawn to the core creative team members standing in front of the screen.

Kwon Hyun-hyuk stood up and faced the audience with the other main cast members.

With a polite, slightly humble smile on his face, he stood next to director Park Chan-wook and Tang Wei, and he could clearly feel the gazes directed at him.

It included scrutiny, admiration, and even friendly nods from familiar faces.

The applause lasted for a while before gradually subsiding, and the hall returned to silence, filled with a quiet anticipation.

All eyes were on the creative team, especially Park Chan-wook and Tang Wei at the center.

Director Park Chan-wook once again stood at the very front, with Tang Wei standing beside him.

The director, who had just won a world-class honor, seemed to be used to this kind of scene, and smiled casually.

"Thank you everyone." Director Park Chan-wook began, his voice steady and powerful, penetrating the entire space. "With each screening, the film is like a new individual facing different groups of people."

He looked around the room and said, "As creators, we have incorporated everything we wanted to express into the film. Thank you again for your participation today." He then bowed slightly.

The applause in the arena rang out again, filled with respect.

Nonsense, who would dare to disrespect them?

Then, director Park Chan-wook handed the microphone to Tang Wei, who was standing next to him.

"Hello everyone, I'm Tang Wei," she said in a clear voice, though her Korean was still not fluent.

“It is an honor for me to participate in this film and to work with director Park Chan-wook and every outstanding filmmaker here. ‘The Decision to Break Up’ is not just a simple decision; it is about the most subtle emotions and struggles in people’s hearts.”

She paused, her eyes reflecting a deep understanding of the film's core message, "I hope Song Ruilai's state of mind can touch everyone watching through this film." Her speech was brief, followed by a slight nod, and her final thank you was spoken in Korean.

".(Thanks.)"

After the applause, Tang Wei handed the microphone to Kwon Hyun-hyuk.

As the youngest member of the main cast, Kwon Heonhyuk's speech was brief and interesting.

"Hello everyone, I am actor Kwon Heon-hyuk. It is a great honor to meet you all as Oh Soo-wan in 'Decision to Break Up'."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the packed, star-studded audience seats.

"First of all, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Director Park Chan-wook for giving me this valuable opportunity." His tone was filled with genuine gratitude, and he nodded slightly to Director Park Chan-wook beside him in respect.

Then, he shifted the conversation back to his character and his viewing experience, his tone becoming more relaxed and revealing a youthful frankness:
"I'm glad the director gave me a few moments so that I could leave one or two images in the audience's mind, even if it's just 'handsome'."

He shrugged, not over-analyzing the character's depth, but instead acknowledging the character's functional role in the story in simple language.

Such a simple statement was enough to make everyone present chuckle.

He bowed slightly again and said clearly, "(Thank you everyone!)"

After speaking, he didn't hesitate or try to linger for even a second longer, and promptly handed the microphone back to the staff member closest to him.

Then he took a half step back and stood behind the main creators Park Chan-wook and Tang Wei again, as if his concise, interesting, and to-the-point remarks had not come from him.

The thunderous applause at the preview screening still seems to echo in my ears, but that was already the prelude to the official release of the film.

After receiving overwhelming praise from the industry and the media, "The Decision to Break Up" immediately entered a period of intensive promotion.

CJ Entertainment understands the intangible value of winning the Best Director award at Cannes, and all promotional materials revolve around the themes of "a acclaimed Cannes production" and "Park Chan-wook's new work."

On trailers, posters, and even subway billboards, the eye-catching words "Best Director Park Chan-wook" have become the most attractive label, continuously stimulating the public's curiosity and national pride.

The promotional activities focused heavily on director Park Chan-wook and the two lead actors.

Despite his immense popularity and international star status, Kwon Hyun-hyuk, as the third male lead, still focuses primarily on "Dark Glory." His role isn't particularly large, so there's no need to make him the main focus of promotion.

Despite the clear positioning, the production team and the media did not overlook Kwon Hyun-hyuk's unique value.

His message was precisely targeted on social media, quickly igniting discussion and encouraging his fans to promote it.

Topics such as "Kwon Heon-hyuk's uniform shock" and "the divine face favored by Park Chan-wook's lens" trended on social media, satisfying fans' expectations and cleverly adding visual highlights to this serious art film to attract young audiences, achieving a double fermentation of "artistic reputation + idol effect".

This tactic was indeed very effective; at least all of Kwon Hyun-hyuk's fans were watching closely, and they were all eager to see the film as soon as it was released.

As for those around Quan Xuanhe, it goes without saying that he originally planned to invite some of his friends to the preview screening, but in the end, they were all either politely declined by their companies or had busy schedules.

Finally, after a huge pre-release hype, "Decision to Break Up" was officially released in South Korea amidst great anticipation!

(End of this chapter)