Huayu: Starting from joining the mainstream entertainment industry in 96

Chapter 425, Section 423: The Attention of Hundreds of Millions of People

In June 2002, the flames of the Korea-Japan World Cup ignited passion throughout Northeast Asia.

This summer is destined to be extraordinary for the Chinese men's national football team, which has made its first appearance in the World Cup finals, and for Shengying Media, which has sparked a "kung fu + football" cultural craze in Asia and even the world with "Kung Fu Soccer".

In early June, Wang Sheng finished his dealings with Disney in the United States and returned to China without stopping.

After spending only one night at home and dealing with the backlog of necessary documents, he boarded another flight to South Korea.

Destination – Gwangju.

Purpose – Invited to witness the first-ever group stage match in the history of the Chinese men's national football team in the World Cup, against Costa Rica.

Accompanying him, besides necessary assistants and security personnel, were the male and female leads of "Shaolin Soccer," Stephen Chow and Li Xiaoran.

The release of "Shaolin Soccer" in South Korea was handled by Taewon Entertainment, owned by Jung Taewon.

Thanks to the film's quality and its clever use of the World Cup theme, coupled with Jung Tae-won's tireless promotion, the film achieved unexpected success in South Korea. To this day, it still maintains good screenings and attendance rates in some theaters, becoming the first choice for many young South Korean viewers seeking relaxation and excitement while watching real football matches.

As the plane landed at Gwangju Airport, a mix of fervent football atmosphere and the humid heat of early summer hit us.

The World Cup flags everywhere, the colorful outfits of the fans from each team, and the aroma of barbecue and beer in the air all proclaim the arrival of this global event.

Jung Tae-won personally greeted him at the airport VIP lounge, dressed in a well-fitting dark suit, with a warm yet respectful smile on his face.

"Mr. Wang! Mr. Zhou! Ms. Li! You must be tired from your journey!" Zheng Taiyuan stepped forward and shook hands with Wang Sheng, then exchanged pleasantries with Zhou Xingxing and Li Xiaoran.

"President Zheng, I'm sorry to trouble you again this time." Wang Sheng nodded slightly.

"Mr. Wang, you're too kind! It's an honor for Taewon Entertainment and the Korean film industry that you can come!" Jung Taewon said sincerely, adopting a very humble attitude.

Age is never a problem in the face of the power of capital and the market.

People respect the strong, and Wang Sheng is undoubtedly that strong person.

"Mr. Wang..."

Jung Tae-won continued, "Minister Kim Sung-in of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of South Korea and Chairman Lee Jun-won of the Korean Film Council, upon learning of your visit to Gwangju, wished to have lunch with you to express their gratitude for your efforts in promoting film exchanges between China and South Korea."

Wang Sheng was not surprised by this.

He now holds the "key" to South Korean films entering the Chinese market. The fact that he was received by senior officials from relevant South Korean departments is not only a courtesy, but also implies an exploration and expectation for deeper cooperation in the future.

“Okay, let’s arrange it.” Wang Sheng readily agreed.

At noon, in a secluded private room at a top-class traditional Korean set meal restaurant in Gwangju, Wang Sheng met with Commander Kim Sung-in and Chairman Lee Jun-won.

Chief Kim is a refined and cultured middle-aged man, while Chairman Lee appears more capable and has a deep understanding of the film industry.

The talks were conducted in a friendly and pragmatic atmosphere.

Minister Kim first welcomed Wang Sheng on behalf of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of South Korea and highly praised the success of "Kung Fu Soccer" in South Korea, considering it "a vivid example of cultural exchange between China and South Korea".

Chairman Lee Jun-won then spoke more specifically about film cooperation. He expressed that the Korean film industry has great interest and expectations for the Chinese market, and thanked Wang Sheng and Shengying Media for their efforts in promoting the pilot program for "quota films". He hoped that there would be more cooperation in co-productions and talent exchanges in the future.

Wang Sheng responded appropriately, emphasizing the two-way nature of cultural exchange and the importance of market rules.

He stated that Shengying Media would select Korean films suitable for Chinese audiences with a professional and market-oriented perspective, and also hoped that the Korean side could provide more convenience for the distribution of excellent Chinese films in Korea. He seemingly casually mentioned several big-budget productions currently in preparation, led by Shengying, implying that there might be room for Korean actors or technical teams to participate.

This conversation demonstrated both a cooperative attitude and a firm grasp of the initiative.

Commander Kim and Chairman Lee exchanged a glance, both seeing in each other's eyes the importance they placed on this young Chinese businessman.

He not only has distribution channels, but also strong content production capabilities and an international perspective; he is by no means a simple "film distributor."

The lunch ended with mutual respect and hopes for the future.

In the afternoon, at Gwangju World Cup Stadium.

The intense sunlight bathed the massive bowl-shaped stadium in a blinding glow.

The stands, which can accommodate 43,000 spectators, have long been painted in various colors, and the sound waves roll and collide in the stadium as if they were real.

Chinese fans made up a significant proportion of the crowd; they waved national flags, their faces painted with face paint, and the sounds of horns, shouts, and songs blended into a sea of ​​red.

In that sea of ​​red, three hundred people stood out conspicuously, standing out in perfect order.

These 300 people were selected by Shengying Media from across China based on previous film promotion activities.

Their tickets, accommodation, meals, and round-trip airfare were all covered by Shengying Media.

They wore matching red T-shirts with the words "Kung Fu Football" and the Shengying Media logo printed on the front, and waved small national flags and specially made cheering scarves.

Their excitement and pride were palpable. Being able to attend the World Cup in person and witness the national football team's historic debut was an unforgettable experience in itself, all thanks to a movie ticket and the generosity of Shengying Media.

Accompanied by Zheng Taiyuan, Wang Sheng, Zhou Xingxing, and Li Xiaoran appeared in the VIP stands near the main stage.

Wang Sheng was dressed casually, but exuded a calm and composed aura; Zhou Xingxing wore a baseball cap and sunglasses, appearing somewhat low-key, but occasionally curiously observing the enthusiastic atmosphere around him; Li Xiaoran, dressed in a refreshing summer outfit, was strikingly beautiful, and excitedly recorded the scene with a small DV camera.

Their appearance was quickly captured by CCTV cameras broadcasting live from the scene.

When the camera focused on Wang Sheng, Zhou Xingxing, and Li Xiaoran, Han Qiaosheng, the renowned commentator sitting in the BJ studio, introduced them to the national audience in his passionate yet composed voice:
"Dear viewers, we see some familiar faces on camera! This is Mr. Wang Sheng, General Manager of Shengying Media, a renowned director and producer! Next to him is Mr. Zhou Xingxing, the director and lead actor of 'Kung Fu Soccer,' and Ms. Li Xiaoran, the female lead!"

"The movie 'Shaolin Soccer' has achieved unprecedented success in China, with box office revenue exceeding 200 million yuan! Shengying Media has also fulfilled its previous promise, organizing 300 lucky audience members to come to South Korea to cheer for the Chinese national football team! This is undoubtedly a very heartwarming gesture from a company to support Chinese football and give back to the audience!"

"At this moment, across the country, countless viewers, just like us, are glued to their television sets, watching this historic match. It is understood that many organizations and primary and secondary schools across the country have given students half a day off this afternoon so they can watch the game..."

(Note: This story is based on true history. On June 4, 2002, during China's first World Cup match, many schools and organizations in China did adjust their schedules to make it easier for people to watch the live broadcast, resulting in a phenomenon where "the streets were deserted as everyone was watching the game.")
The narrator's voice was broadcast across the country to every household.

In the classroom, students were already distracted, rushing out of the school gate as soon as the bell rang; in the office, colleagues gathered to discuss the various possibilities of the competition; at home, men, women, and children sat around the television, holding their breath in anticipation…

At this moment, football transcends the sport itself, becoming an emotional anchor for the entire population and a symbol of national honor.

At 2:30 p.m., with the referee's whistle, the first group stage match in the history of the Chinese men's football team in the World Cup officially kicked off!

In the stands, three hundred "Shengying Formation" audience members erupted in the most enthusiastic shouts; in the VIP seats, Zhou Xingxing and Li Xiaoran also suppressed their smiles, their expressions becoming tense and expectant.

The whole of China seemed to hold its breath at that moment.

Wang Sheng sighed silently: It's a pity that Xiba has learned the essence of Kung Fu Soccer...

(End of this chapter)