turned the gesture, their eyes flitting back and forth between the two of them, primarily focusing on Ji Jingyuan's face.'Up close, it's really a feast for the eyes...'The two younger members of the A...Here comes!
Early this morning on the 19th, as Ji Chang-wook and his manager just arrived at Seoul Plaza, they were surrounded by fans who had been waiting for them. Seeing Ji Chang-wook, who was about to go to work, the group of fans suddenly burst into cheers, adding a lot of noise and excitement to the entrance of the bustling shopping mall.
After finishing the family concert in Shanghai yesterday, Ji Kyoung-won hurried back to the set with his assistant and manager. He returned to the set this morning.
While the other EXO members will only board their flight back today at noon.
"Oppa, you're so handsome as Zhang Klai."
"
You acted so well, my mom has been praising you the whole time...
"
Those who were surrounding the table began to speak, each person chiming in and making quite a lively commotion.
Chi Jingyuan nodded with a smile, casually glancing around. Besides the younger fans, he noticed a few unfamiliar faces - women who didn't look like high school students. Their clothing and style seemed more appropriate for someone in their late twenties.
At this age, an office worker would be at work by now. Showing up here so early... Ji Jingyuan felt a little strange.
It couldn't be because of that aired two days ago, right It just aired for two episodes...
"Have you all seen it" Ji Jingyuan waved his hand to greet them, smiling and asking.
"Inside!" a large crowd responded in unison, their voices though numerous, were remarkably harmonious.
"How do you feel about it" he asked.
"That's so pretty!"
"Oh my God, he's so handsome!"
"The acting was amazing!"
"Now the answers were all over the place, everyone had a different opinion on the show and what they liked about it, but without exception, they all expressed praise."
Ji Jingyuan smiled and didn't take it too seriously. Anyone who could come so early to "camp out" for him must be his fan. No matter how bad the pictures were, they would still say they looked good. So, the rainbow farts from fans couldn't really be taken as a reference.
However, being able to get so much support and love from fans is also quite gratifying for him. It also shows that the first week of "The Untamed" broadcast was indeed pretty good.
After signing autographs and bidding farewell to fans, Chi Jingyuan walked into Seoul Plaza. He took the elevator all the way up to the 15th floor.
Back at the set, Park Bo-gum was warmly welcomed. Although he doesn't usually take the initiative to socialize, as the male lead, he is still the center of attention on set. Plus, Park Bo-gum is generally kind and polite, so many people have a good impression of him.
After greeting and chatting with a few of the main actors and directors, Kim Yeonsook smiled and told Ji-gyeongwon the viewership ratings for the second episode he had just received.
"2.7"
Chi Jingyuan repeated the number, feeling a hint of surprise in his heart.
When I talked to the members before, I was still quite humble and said that I would have to wait and see if the second episode would rise or fall. But in fact, when Ji Jingyuan saw the unanimous praise for "The Untamed" on the internet, he already had a bottom line in his heart. Judging by this situation, it should not fall, just how much it can rise.
I didn't expect the increase to be so significant.
The premiere had a 1.9% viewership, but the second episode jumped to 2.7%. This increase is really significant, especially considering that the plot hasn't fully developed in the first two episodes and the overall pace is quite slow. It's definitely something to be happy about.
At least, it explains that the influence of this inherently limited genre, workplace dramas, on "Unseen" wasn't very significant. Even before them, there weren't any successful precedents for workplace dramas.
And this kind of story doesn't sound as appealing as the traditional Korean drama tropes of chaebols and Cinderella falling in love, but as long as it is well-made, with a realistic plot and compelling performances, it can definitely shine despite its inherent disadvantages.
Because the pace is slow and the plot hasn't developed deeply, over the past two days, Chi Jingyuan has seen that most of the positive reviews online are concentrated in two points. Firstly, the plot is relatively close to reality, and secondly, the actors' performances are highly praised. As for the male lead, Chi Jingyuan, he is the one who receives the most praise.
Apart from his very mature and natural performance in the first two episodes, what really impressed me was his contribution of several close-up shots of his face, including the opening scene that conveyed his confidence and maturity. There was also his sadness and helplessness when his self-esteem was challenged, his disappointment and regret for making mistakes, the frustration and melancholy of being abandoned by others, and even the bittersweet smile with tears in his eyes at the end of the second episode.
Every scene depicts different emotions, but they all leave a profound impression. Whether it's in the eyes or the subtle expressions, Zhang Ke's rich inner world is expressed vividly. Even through the screen, the audience can feel the turbulent emotions within him, allowing countless viewers to empathize and identify with the male protagonist.
"Chi Jingyuan's progress is too great, isn't this the state of not acting for a year I feel like he has surpassed his performance as Jin Tan last year."
"To be honest, the beginning of this drama was actually a little boring. The only reason I kept watching was because besides being incredibly handsome, the male lead, played by Park Ji-won, was really amazing. Even now, when I'm not watching TV, his close-ups in the drama frequently pop into my mind; the impression is too deep."
"I also think that last year I looked down on him a little because he was an idol, but his performance in "The Heirs" was actually very good. Now in this "Misaeng", even though it has only aired for two episodes, I don't think anyone will question Park Seo Joon's acting skills anymore. He is really a natural actor."
Front row recommendation, in "The King's Affection" the male lead Zhang Klai is played by Korean idol and young actor Ji Chang-wook. Born in 1994, he is a member of the popular group EXO, serving as the main vocalist, rapper, and youngest member. He has written numerous songs for the group and created hit tracks like "Growl". He has also starred in popular dramas such as "Reply 1997" and "The Heirs"... with outstanding charisma, unbeatable visuals, a sunny smile, and a contrasting personality. Investing in him now is definitely worthwhile!
"
" Let me know if you have any other text you'd like me to translate!
After only two episodes, the praise for Park Seo-joon's acting seems to be surpassing that of last year's "The Heirs".
Of course, it's just praise for acting skills. In terms of popularity, there's still a big gap.
Besides the boost from the screenplay and television drama genre, Park Seo-joon has truly made significant progress since before.
"Jǐngyuán ah…"
As they were chatting, Kim Gwon-sik suddenly remembered something and quickly beckoned his assistant over. He took a small notebook and flipped through it while asking, "Before the premiere, all the main actors of the crew had made an audience rating pledge. You weren't at the set earlier today, so hurry up and make one for us to post from the official account of the crew.
"What kind of viewership agreement are we talking about" Chi Kyeong-won chuckled lightly, nodding to indicate he had no problem. While thinking about it, he also curiously asked a question.
Viewership agreements are a common promotional method for Peninsula drama crews. Several lead actors from the drama crew, along with viewers and fans, agree on a viewership rating target and pledge to do something if that number is reached.
They won't do anything too outrageous. They mostly learn and perform the dances of the hottest male or female groups at the moment, or sing in public, buy snacks for fans, etc. It's a way to boost viewership while also allowing audiences and fans to feel closer to them and get some feedback.
"Three percent." When he said that number, not just Jin Yuanshi, but the several actors listening beside him burst into laughter.
Chi Jingyuan was also the same, he immediately smiled with half-closed eyes upon hearing it: "This is too small... That wouldn't be achieved until the third and fourth episodes of next week."
Based on the increase of "Weisheng," the next level breaking 3 should be a foregone conclusion.
"Oh, you can't say that. Who knows what the future holds" Kim Yu-sik quickly waved his hand, stopping him from talking further, but a smile couldn't be hidden from his face.
A 3% viewership rating is already considered high among today's Saturday-Sunday dramas. At the time, setting this number was a bit worrying, fearing it wouldn't be good enough to be ashamed of. But who could have imagined that an urban workplace drama that wasn't expected to be popular would be so well-received right from its premiere
What are some other seniors planning to do
Jane So Ra will choose a company to buy some food for everyone, Kang Ho will be singing in the lobby, Byon Yeo Han will offer free coffee to employees on their way to work, Kim Da Ming is...
The assistant standing beside her looked at the notepad in her hand and quickly read it out.
"…" Chi Jingyuan pondered for a moment, then said without much hesitation, "Then I'll give one hundred fans a high five on my way to work and also send some fried chicken or other snacks."
"100 servings of fried chicken Then you'll have to spend a bit more." Gim Yeonsuk glanced at him with a smirk and scolded him lightly, but he didn't take it too seriously. He directly asked his assistant to record it, and at the same time instructed: "Just post it on the Twitter accounts of 'The Untamed' and Zhang Klai later."
"Got it."
After a short while of chatting, the crew soon gathered and resumed filming.
"A regular episode of a Chinese drama is 60 minutes long, but our *The Long Day* had a 90-minute premiere special as the first episode. The second episode returned to its normal length of 60 minutes."
"However, since its premiere, our "The Untamed" has received a lot of enthusiastic responses and positive reviews from both online platforms and viewers. In order to show our gratitude for the audience's support and love, after a meeting with the TV station, we have decided that starting from episode four until episode 19 (before the finale), each episode's length will be extended to 70 minutes."
Before filming started, Kim Gye-won stood in the center and began to explain the decision that the production team had just made under everyone's watchful eyes. "Our workload has increased significantly, everyone, please keep your spirits up and maintain your previous state."
"Here!"
…………
Over the next few days, the crew of "Unsung" seized the moment and began filming with great intensity. Due to the positive reception and significant increase in viewership, the atmosphere on set was fantastic. Everyone, from the actors and directors to the writers and even the ordinary staff, was full of energy and enthusiasm.
As time passed, the influence of "The Untamed" on the internet gradually spread. Many ordinary viewers who had no interest in workplace dramas saw such a good response and couldn't help but be curious to watch the first two episodes rebroadcast. Many of them joined the ranks of viewers after watching, and the popularity continued to increase.
EXO-K was invited by the organizers of this year's C-Festival to be promotional ambassadors. The festival, which will be held in Seoul next May, combines culture, art and technology into a performing arts festival. This is the first time the festival will be held, and the organizers chose EXO because of their high popularity in Asia.
However, Park Ji-won was unable to attend even the promotional ambassador appointment ceremony due to filming commitments. Only four people from Team K attended the appointment ceremony and subsequent press conference, as both Park Ji-won and Do Kyung-soo were absent due to their schedules. It is unknown if the organizers were dissatisfied with this.
A week passed quickly, and "The Untamed" aired its third and fourth episodes on the 24th and 25th.
These two episodes depict Zhang Kelai's final decision to choose the intern Han Xili as his partner. During the preparation process for the intern presentation, there were many awkward moments and contradictions. Zhang Kelai also grew continuously through these frictions and collisions. Every day brought new changes as he put all his effort into adapting and integrating into the complex yet exciting workplace life of Quan International.
Because members of Business Group Three might face severe punishment for causing trouble at work, Chief Wu Shangzhi humbled himself and went to the executive to plead for leniency. This moved all the staff who witnessed it.
In the final stage of the internship assessment, Zhang Ke had a stroke of brilliance, demonstrating his impressive intelligence through his Go skills. He was successfully recruited and joined Sales Group 3 afterwards.
And while Team Leader Wu Shangzhi outwardly seemed annoyed that this inexperienced intern had once again ended up on his team, he enthusiastically encouraged Zhang Ke to continue working hard and face his life.
Overall, the pace of these two episodes is similar to the previous ones, not speeding up much. However, the plot has developed further, and each character's mission and personality have been portrayed more deeply.
As expected of Chi Jingyuan, the third episode had no diving at all and continued perfectly from the previous one.
After the previous surge, the viewership dropped to 3.5%, which has completely met and exceeded the viewing agreement previously made between the production team and the audience.
And the fourth episode directly jumped to 4.1%, breaking through the 4% threshold, bringing great joy to the production team.
This is only the fourth episode, and it has already achieved a 4% viewership rate in its second week of airing. For a cable TV station, this is already a very impressive feat.
Even if the subsequent growth weakens and is not as significant as it is now, as long as viewership doesn't plummet drastically, the final average viewership will definitely be at least 4 to 5 percentage points. N sometimes doesn't produce a TV drama with an average viewership of 5% in a whole year.
And as the second week of broadcasts ended, "Undead Girl Murder Farce" was no longer a small-scale affair on the internet.
From the start to now, through various promotions, it has attracted a large audience of attention, and the largest number is the white-collar workforce in the peninsula.
Through meticulous production, a realistic plot, and commendable acting, many Korean office workers have become devoted fans of "Misaeng." They can recall their past or present selves in this drama, and they can feel the fusion of reality and dreams. Every conflict and clash within Team 3, every time the employees work together to solve problems, and every profound confession by Jang Geu-rae keeps them hooked.
Relying on the overwhelming positive reviews online and word-of-mouth recommendations, "The Long Night" has gradually gained momentum this week. Besides being firmly established as a hit by many, its viewership and popularity have been steadily rising, and its influence is beginning to break out of the film and television industry and slowly spreading to other areas.
And what's more, even though he didn't participate in any group activities and filmed for a week in the drama set with his eyes half-closed, on October 26th, the day after the fourth episode aired, Ji Chang Wook took a short break from the drama crew. He went to the set of "Roate" with his manager.
《Roote》 is a segment of the SBS TV's Sunday Good Show variety program, which is a reality show that records the lives of celebrity dormitory residents.
Ji Jingyuan is so familiar with this variety show, his teammate Park Chan-wook was a regular guest in the first season. At the beginning of filming, he was very enthusiastic and often mentioned the show when chatting with his teammates or in everyday life. He shared many interesting anecdotes from the shoot and even showed off Nana's contact information a few times.
However, as the viewership of season one gradually declined, both the guests and the production team were no longer as dedicated and invested in filming as they were at the beginning. Park Chan-wook later became too lazy to even mention this increasingly failing variety show.
The first season has come to an end, the production team started anew, relocating and selecting guests to film 《rooate》season two. It officially premiered on September 21st.
You're right, the show has actually gotten better since the Edo Tensei arc. While viewership hasn't increased drastically, the online buzz and fan response are clearly climbing steadily, a huge improvement from the downward spiral of the first season.
The production team stayed the same, but just changing the guests had a really good effect. I wonder how the guests from season one are feeling about it.
That's why not everyone can do variety shows well.
Ji Jingyuan came this time because sunny, as one of the fixed guests in the second season, called him specifically and proactively invited him to participate in this episode as a friend.
To be honest, Ji Jingyuan has been really busy these days. The continuously rising viewership ratings have filled the entire "The Untamed" crew with a fiery working atmosphere. Besides, with each episode's length increasing, they have even more work to do. They shoot from morning till evening every day.
Ji Jingyuan hasn't attended several EXO or K-pop team promotional activities.
It's just that when he hesitated on the phone about whether to refuse, his keen senses picked up that the other party's tone didn't sound good. It seemed like something had made sunny's mood a bit down.
After inquiring about the shooting schedule and the specific time needed, Ji Jingyuan considered it briefly and agreed.
The entire filming time was less than twenty minutes, not even half an hour.
If you count all the shots, it probably only takes a few hours. It doesn't take much effort and won't delay the filming schedule of the crew, just that maybe Park Ji-won would be a little more tired.
Today is the scheduled shooting time, Chi Jingyuan rushed over without stopping after asking for leave from the crew.
It is said that when Park Chan-wook filmed the first season, he invited Kim Kyung-won to be a guest, but he was too busy at the time and had no time. Moreover, after watching their variety show, Kim Kyung-won also felt that it was indeed a bit boring and uninteresting.
I wonder if Park Chan-wook knows how he might feel after directly accepting Sunny's invitation.
"Rooate" was filmed on location in a large apartment rented by the production. When Ji Kyeong-won arrived, filming had already wrapped for the day and the guests were resting.
As one of the most popular and talked-about idols on the peninsula currently, and also as the male lead in the recently airing TV drama "The Uncanny Counter," which has generated widespread discussion, Ji Chang Wook has been receiving immense attention and welcome.
Praising and belittling others is common everywhere, and it's even more prevalent in the entertainment industry. Given Chi Jingyuan's current popularity, participating in this episode would significantly boost viewership and generate a lot of buzz. It's understandable why the production team was so enthusiastic and happy seeing him smile like that.
Sunny saw that Chi Jingyuan had arrived and immediately stood up to greet him, smiling brightly and taking the initiative to introduce him to the guests.
As Sunny, who was invited by a big-name artist like Ji Chengyuan, smiled brightly, she still looked the same. However, everyone knew that she was actually quite proud inside. Her squinting eyes and slightly plump lips that were slightly puckered proved this point.
In the entertainment industry, besides a few top-tier stars, others' social status in the Korean entertainment circle is relatively low. They earn the least and rarely have opportunities to interact with those truly high-profile celebrities. Even knowing a second or third-tier idol and having their contact information can be used as evidence on a show to demonstrate one's extensive network and create an illusion of being well-connected.
... while someone like Chi Jingyuan, a true king of the folk song idol scene with top popularity and widely recognized success in film and television, isn't someone you can just easily meet, let alone get in touch with.
He's met most of these ten or so regular guests. While he isn't very familiar with them, at least he can remember their names.
Among them, Jae is still a member of the GOT7 group. Before their debut, JYP saw their performances and even gave feedback on them. After they debuted, they also met many times backstage, so they have quite a history together.
After seeing Ji Jingyuan, he seemed very happy and enthusiastic. He went up to him and chatted for a long time. Finally, seeing that Sunny and Ji Jingyuan were in trouble, he reluctantly left with a sulky expression.
After greeting the guests and the production crew, Sunny and Park Ji-sung walked to a slightly secluded spot while waiting for the other guests to arrive.
As soon as Sunny spoke, Ji Jingyuan instantly understood why she had asked him to participate in this season of as a friend: "Goodness gracious, isn't this uli Taeyeon's dearest brother, XO's Yuanxi"
"Well, are you two done with your little TY sister and brother thing"
"TY" refers to Taeyeon and Ji-seong. It's a nickname used by fans of Taeyeon, mainly online. The abbreviation is derived from the fact that both their stage names start with either T or Y, and Taeyeon's name also begins with TY.
However, it's mainly Taeyeon fans who like to call her that. Ae-ri herself would never call herself that, especially after the initial fervor died down. Now she's starting to find it a bit annoying that Tae-yeon is getting too close to Ji-kyeong again.
Hearing Sunny’s odd tone of voice and expression, Ji-yeong knew the reason. It was probably because after the news about Taeyeon and Ji-yeong's relationship got out recently, it caused a lot of discussion, making Sunny possibly a bit upset.
But after knowing this, he was speechless. Wasn't his sister always so calm She seemed to know what was going on but didn't care about anything. How come she would suddenly become so sour
He blinked, preparing to say something, but the other person didn't give him a chance. Sunny waved her hand carelessly and said, "That's it, you can come
I'm so happy.
He didn't seem to care much, but his words revealed his true thoughts. He couldn't help but join in the slander and said, "Do you think I'm as petty as Taeyeon"
"...."
Let me know if you have any other text you'd like me to translate!
Chi Jingyuan opened his mouth, not knowing how to reply.
Should he say "yes" or "no"
"Haha..." Sunny couldn't help but laugh when she saw Ji Jingyuan's expression. She playfully punched him on the back, and Ji Jingyuan just sighed helplessly, shaking his head with a smile.
After that, the two friends chatted casually by the side.
Just as these two were chatting about the very popular "The Untamed" drama, another guest arrived at the scene.
When Qi Jingyuan saw the figure walking in and waving at them with a smile, his eyes widened in surprise. After two seconds, he hurriedly squeezed out a genuine smile and greeted them in a somewhat strange tone:
"Annyeonghaseyo... Unnie."
Free Reading...
First release on the website for Traditional Chinese Novelse near future probably won't change much. As for America, it'll probably be a while."Li Xiuman didn't ask any further questions. After exchanging a few pleasantries, she prepared to take the elevator...