novelburst
Chapter 442
Chapter 442
Chapter 442: Emmy (4)
Translator: NovelBin
As Kang Woo-jin watched Matthew’s retreating figure, his expression remained stoic, but he sighed with relief internally.
‘That guy… his presence is intense.’
Turning to Miley Cara beside him, he nodded. “Let’s go.”
With a slight smile, Miley followed and spoke up. “That was bold. Matthew holds considerable sway here; even I try to avoid him when possible.”
‘Oh, really? Well, I didn’t know that.’ Woo-jin figured Matthew’s influence in Hollywood was probably similar to that of senior actor Shim Han-ho back in Korea. Although he was tempted to keep up his “Joker” persona in response, he instead opted to be genuine, given he had already shown Miley glimpses of his true self. Leaning in, Woo-jin whispered to her.
“Honestly, I was a bit nervous.”
“…Really?”
“Yes.”
“You didn’t look it at all.”
Miley’s blue eyes gazed at him, a smile growing on her lips. “Are you trying to reassure me? You don’t need to; I’m not that close with Matthew anyway.”
“…”
Woo-jin realized that these sorts of misunderstandings would take time to clear up.
Just then, a high-energy, curly-haired man waved at Woo-jin enthusiastically.
“Haha! I wanted to meet you!”
“…Hello.”
“Your red carpet performance was fantastic! Let’s be friends on Instagram!”
Who is this guy? Woo-jin felt he looked vaguely familiar. Miley leaned over to whisper again, “Billy Brown, another nominee in your category.”
So, like Matthew, Billy was a fellow nominee for Best Actor in a Drama Series. However, unlike Matthew’s cold demeanor, Billy was all fiery enthusiasm. Woo-jin met many other actors, especially the nominees in his category, all but one of whom greeted him warmly.
“Woo-jin! Miley! Over here!”
“Woo-jin, great to see you as ‘Jang Yeon-woo’ now!”
“Saw your red carpet performance. Incredible!”
The *Beneficial Evil* team welcomed Woo-jin and Miley with open arms. Director Song Man-woo, writer Choi Na-na, actors Hwa-rin, Ha Kang-soo, and the rest of the Netflix Korea staff, including general director Kim So-hyang, all gathered in their tuxedos and gowns.
The team exchanged greetings, and Hwa-rin, in a beige dress, glanced at Woo-jin and Miley together, her brows furrowing slightly.
‘Why are they standing so close?’
Hwa-rin cleared her throat and leaned toward Woo-jin, her inner fangirl mode kicking in.
“It’s been ages, Woo-jin. What was with that red carpet act?”
“Just wait for the movie, and you’ll understand.”
Miley maintained a polite smile but couldn’t help sneaking a glance at Hwa-rin, noting her cute yet subtly alluring charm.
The *Beneficial Evil* team’s seats were near the center of the main hall, a prime location. One of the foreign producers pointed them out to his camera crew.
“Start with them.”
Numerous cameras zoomed in on the *Beneficial Evil* team, as it was the hottest show of the year, holding the Netflix global top spot for over two months.
Naturally, the primary focus was on Woo-jin.
Soon, the vast hall filled with thousands of guests, and an excited buzz permeated the room. Then—
-??
The hall lights brightened, and an upbeat tune filled the air. The Emmy trophy statues and the monitors on each side of the stage lit up, the word “EMMYS” spinning on the screens.
A towering Black man in a tuxedo stepped onto the stage. It wasn’t Joseph Felton, but Bradley Morgan, the actor-comedian hosting this year’s Emmys. Standing confidently, he began with a joke.
“Good evening, everyone—man, I’m already tired.”
Laughter erupted across the audience, as Bradley continued his lighthearted opening.
“It’s a great honor to host the prestigious Emmys, but to be honest, I kind of just wanted to watch it from home with a beer! You know how long these things can get.”
As the crowd chuckled, Bradley shifted the topic.
“Of course, I’m here now, so I’ll make it work. This year’s Emmys brought some incredible moments, and *Beneficial Evil* was one of the highlights. I watched it myself—great show. And Kang Woo-jin! Your red carpet performance was unforgettable!”
At that, the cameras focused on the *Beneficial Evil* team, capturing Woo-jin’s calm expression. Bradley continued to acknowledge other shows and actors, heating up the atmosphere.
Finally—
“And now, let’s kick off the 2024 Primetime Emmys!”
The hall brightened and dimmed in sync with the music, and applause erupted. As Bradley announced the first award—
“Our first award tonight is for Outstanding Art Direction in a Drama Series!”
On the large screens, the five nominees appeared, including *Beneficial Evil* Season 1, the only Korean show in the category. Two Hollywood actors stepped onto the stage, with a female actress holding the envelope.
“Hello, it’s an honor to present the first Emmy of the night,” she said, opening the card. The entire hall fell silent.
“The Emmy for Outstanding Art Direction in a Drama Series goes to… *Beneficial Evil*!”
The *Beneficial Evil* team erupted into cheers as the cameras panned to them, capturing the joyous reactions. Director Song Man-woo, writer Choi Na-na, and the cast members all stood for a round of applause. Woo-jin joined in, clapping proudly as two art team members made their way up to the stage, overwhelmed with emotion.
“Wow, thank you so much!” the female art team member stammered into the microphone, visibly flustered. “I love you, Mom and Dad! And to everyone on our team—oh, I can’t remember what else to say!”
The male art team member, near tears, thanked the Emmys with a trembling voice. It was a historic moment—the first time a Korean production had won an Emmy, setting the crowd’s energy ablaze as the show quickly moved to the next awards.
The following categories included Costume Design, Casting, and others, with *Beneficial Evil* noticeably absent. Then—
“Outstanding Music Composition for a Drama Series!”
Though *Beneficial Evil* was nominated, the award went to *White Man*. However, not long after—
“The Emmy for Outstanding Stunt Coordination goes to… *Beneficial Evil*!”
Cheers erupted again from the *Beneficial Evil* team. Their action sequences had captivated audiences globally, earning them this recognition.
With this, *Beneficial Evil* had already won two Emmys, breaking the norm that winning just one Emmy was a huge achievement. The show missed the Special Effects category, but now the attention shifted to the actors.
“And now, for the actors,” Bradley announced, as the room buzzed with excitement. “Starting with the Supporting Actor category!”
While the Supporting Actor nominees didn’t include anyone from *Beneficial Evil*, the hall erupted in applause as other Hollywood actors took the stage.
Then, Bradley returned to the stage, smiling widely.
“This is where things heat up. It’s time for the award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series.”
Cameras and livestream teams began to focus intently, and the murmur of the crowd grew louder.
“This is one of the big events of tonight’s Emmys.”
“Yeah, Kang Woo-jin has a strong presence, but he’s facing fierce competition. It’s tough to win Lead Actor right off the bat without more experience.”
“I agree. Cannes was one thing, but the Emmys? That’s a whole new level of difficulty.”
Various industry professionals murmured about Woo-jin’s chances, with some comparing his raw energy to that of seasoned actor Matthew Majors.
On the live broadcast, Woo-jin appeared, sitting with a calm expression, though his heart was racing.
‘Oh man… why does this feel so different from Cannes?!’
His heartbeat quickened as two actresses stepped onto the stage—one in a yellow dress, the other in pink, holding the envelope.
“I’m thrilled to present the award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series,” the actress in the pink dress announced.
They began announcing the nominees, each actor’s performance displayed on the massive screens. Matthew Majors, Billy Brown, and finally—
“From *Beneficial Evil*, Kang Woo-jin as Jang Yeon-woo.”
The camera lingered on Woo-jin, the first Korean actor and the first from Asia to be nominated for this award. Miley Cara, seated behind him, watched his back intently.
‘*Beneficial Evil* has momentum. It’s already won two awards, and the buzz is strong. But… the Emmys have a long-standing tradition. How will this play out?’
Meanwhile, in Korea and beyond, audiences watching the broadcast held their breath.
“Please… let it be Woo-jin…”
The actress in the pink dress opened the envelope, flashing a smile.
“The Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series goes to… *Beneficial Evil*’s Kang Woo-jin!”
Cheers erupted as the actresses on stage clapped enthusiastically.
-Wow!!
-Congratulations!!
-??
Applause thundered across the packed hall as thousands stood, clapping. The *Beneficial Evil* team, including Miley Cara and Hwa-rin, couldn’t contain their joy.
“Woo-jin! Congratulations!” Miley called out, beaming.
Hugging Woo-jin, Director Song Man-woo laughed heartily. “Yes! This is it! Congratulations, Woo-jin!”
Tears glistened in writer Choi Na-na’s eyes as the entire *Beneficial Evil* team celebrated. Cameras
captured Woo-jin standing up, a calm expression on his face as he headed toward the stage.
Taking the Emmy trophy from the actress in the yellow dress, Woo-jin approached the microphone as the applause subsided. He glanced down at the gold statue—a winged woman holding a globe.
Lifting his head, Woo-jin raised the trophy and spoke in English, making Emmy history as the first Korean to win Lead Actor.
“Now… only the Oscars remain.”