‘I never expected to win the preview screening tickets.’
Han Sun-ah, a female student enrolled in the Broadcasting Department at S University in Seoul, received her ticket at the entrance of Vega Box where the preview screening was being held, her heart pounding.
It was her first time applying for such a preview screening, and her first time winning as well.
Only after holding the ticket in her hand did reality slowly begin to sink in.
‘Are preview screenings usually this crowded?’
Having never participated in a drama preview screening before, she had no way of knowing.
There were people who looked like journalists, but the majority were general audience members.
‘The teaser video was really good…….’
With her heart pounding, Han Sun-ah entered Theater 1 where the preview screening would take place.
She had heard that the competition rate for this drama preview screening was quite high.
That meant it was a highly anticipated work, and that the teaser's impact had been tremendous.
"But didn't they say only child actors appear in episodes 1 and 2?"
"Really? Kang Sung-chan isn't in it?"
In the front seats, there were people chatting, having likely been lucky enough to win tickets together with a friend.
They seemed to be fans of actor Kang Sung-chan.
‘What do you guys know!’
She wanted to shout that out, but the timid Han Sun-ah just shrank back.
Just from the teaser alone, our Seo-yeon acted the best.
She only grumbled such words inwardly.
"Hello, everyone!"
While waiting for the preview screening to begin with such thoughts, a lively male voice came through the speakers.
Before she knew it, a man in a suit could be seen holding a microphone in front of the screen, looking around at the audience seats.
"Wow, so many people came to today's preview screening! I'm very happy that so many people are looking forward to this preview screening of The Moon Embracing the Sun."
The host then briefly explained how the preview screening would proceed.
First, the actors including the director would come up on stage to greet the audience.
There would be a simple gift giveaway event and a chance to take photos with the actors.
And after all of that was finished, the drama screening would begin, he concluded.
"Now, shall we call out the main characters of this drama together?"
Along with the host's words, the audience's enthusiastic shouts could be heard.
Then the doors opened, and director Kong Jung-tae and the actors made their appearance.
The total number was seven.
It was a scene with two more actors added to those who had participated in the previous teaser event.
"Ooh, they're so handsome."
"They really cast all the actors well. Ha Ye-seo is perfect for the female lead, just perfect."
"The kids are cute too?"
Voices evaluating the actors could be heard amidst the commotion.
Some were taking pictures with flashes going off.
The majority were busy taking photos of the leads, Kang Sung-chan and Ha Ye-seo.
Almost no one was taking photos of the supporting cast or the child actors, Park Jung-woo and Ju Seo-yeon.
"They said this is their first drama……."
"They looked good in the teaser though?"
"Why would they show the bad parts in a teaser? They'll show the best parts."
The journalists' voices could also be heard.
During that time, director Kong Jung-tae expressed his aspirations for The Moon Embracing the Sun.
Then the lead actor, Kang Sung-chan, took the microphone.
"As I said before, this drama was a time where I could learn many things. Especially those young friends' acting was really amazing, so I worked really hard so as not to be ashamed."
When Kang Sung-chan said that with a smile, the audience burst into laughter.
They apparently thought it was a joke.
After Kang Sung-chan, Ha Ye-seo spoke. Then the microphone was passed to the supporting cast.
As his turn gradually approached, Park Jung-woo looked at Seo-yeon with a fascinated expression.
Speaking while many people are watching is quite a burdensome thing.
But Seo-yeon, as always, was calm and composed.
"You're not nervous at all. Is this really your first time doing something like this?"
"Yes."
Seo-yeon answered casually and looked at the audience.
If she hadn't experienced a kindergarten recital, she would have been nervous inside.
But whether in terms of numbers or scale, the kindergarten recital had far more people.
How could Park Jung-woo know about the piercing gazes of parents every time she stole the spotlight from their children?
"Have you ever been to kindergarten?"
At Seo-yeon's sudden question, Park Jung-woo was flustered.
Having been busy with child acting since he was young, he had never been to a kindergarten.
"? ……No?"
But why was that important?
When he looked at her with such a question, Seo-yeon turned her head away with a triumphant expression for some reason.
No, if you're going to say something, at least give a proper answer.
With that thought, he was about to say something, but the microphone being placed in his hand was faster.
The children's interview that followed was extremely ordinary.
It was just greeting with 'I'm Park Jung-woo as young Yun Seo-il, and Ju Seo-yeon as young Princess Yeon-hwa,' and that was all.
Since few people had interest in the child actors, this was natural.
The event that followed was the same.
Most people tried to take photos with Kang Sung-chan and Ha Ye-seo, and the supporting cast and children were relatively left out in the cold.
In Seo-yeon's case, there was only one person.
"Um, I'd like to take a photo with Seo-yeon!"
It was only the woman who introduced herself as Han Sun-ah.
"I'm, I'm a fan. Miss Seo-yeon, could you perhaps sign this for me?"
A fan.
At those words, Seo-yeon froze with a name pen in her hand.
'My first fan.'
She had seen the word often on the internet.
Middle-aged women on the street would sometimes talk like this, but a fan who approached her at a preview screening felt completely different.
The audience even looked at Han Sun-ah, who was trying to get Seo-yeon's autograph and take a photo, like she was some kind of oddity.
Park Jung-woo at least had some fans from having done various things before, but for Seo-yeon, The Moon Embracing the Sun was literally her only work.
"Um, unnie."
"Y-yes?"
Seo-yeon signed the white clothing of Han Sun-ah with a name pen.
Actually, Seo-yeon hadn't created or practiced an autograph yet.
She hadn't even thought there would be a reason to do so.
If she had known this would happen, she should have practiced a bit.
With such thoughts, she carefully wrote the letters 'Ju Seo-yeon.'
"Can you wait a long time until my next work?"
Seo-yeon impulsively asked that.
Then, Han Sun-ah's eyes went round before she nodded her head vigorously up and down.
"O-of course!"
"Really?"
At her words, Seo-yeon smiled without realizing.
She thought this wasn't so bad either.
***
After all the prepared events ended like that, the screening began in earnest.
This was also Seo-yeon's first time seeing the fully edited video.
'Will it be okay?'
Such worry arose inwardly.
Her acting had been broadcast on video several times, but those were commercials.
This was her first drama.
Did she really do it properly?
Amidst such doubts, episode 1 of The Moon Embracing the Sun began.
'Since it's only the parts with kids, won't it be boring?'
'Honestly, having kids appear for 3 episodes is a bit…….'
Usually, childhood periods are often ended briefly in one episode.
Cases like The Moon Embracing the Sun taking up 3 episodes for childhood were extremely rare.
So everyone was half in doubt.
There weren't many people who thought positively.
Until young Lee Hye-wol's appearance was shown on screen.
「Abama-sama~!」
Lee Hye-wol in the video was a lively and cute child.
At the same time, she gave the impression of being a princess to anyone who saw her.
A precious daughter who grew up receiving love since she was young.
'Is Lee Hye-wol really that kid from earlier?'
'She's like a completely different person.'
The actors were sitting in the front row watching the video.
The audience glanced back and forth, peeking at Seo-yeon sitting in the front row.
The acting skills shown in the teaser were certainly good.
But isn't a teaser and drama episode 1 completely different?
Even the general audience could feel that, so the journalists' surprise was even greater.
'Now I understand why actor Kang Sung-chan told us to take a lot of photos at the last teaser event.'
'The kids' acting is that natural? Even the vocalization is different?'
Usually, the awkwardness in children's acting is often due to their characteristic lisping voices.
Even if they put emotion into it, if the words aren't delivered properly, it can't help but feel awkward.
Yet despite being only seven years old, nothing like that was felt from Seo-yeon at all.
'So cute!'
From Han Sun-ah's perspective, it was literally a crucible of emotion.
Looking at the cute Princess Yeon-hwa, Seo-yeon, she quietly wiped her tears with a handkerchief alone.
Episode 1, which depicted the meeting between young Lee Hye-wol and young Yun Seo-il.
Since episode 1 ended within the lively acting of the children, many people expected episode 2 to be similar.
However, from episode 2, the atmosphere began to change little by little.
As Prince Jo-young appeared in earnest, a tension could be felt as if something was about to burst.
Then, Prince Jo-young who staged a coup.
Princess Yeon-hwa running to the Queen Dowager's quarters to ask for help.
「You have betrayed me. Both human ethics and the royal family's grace.」
Everyone held their breath at the line of Prince Jo-young, steeped in madness.
Young Princess Yeon-hwa merely kept her head bowed.
「What will you do. Will you go out yourself? Or……, shall I escort you personally.」
Tense background music played.
Prince Jo-young's face was close-up, and his gleaming eyes revealed his emotions toward Princess Yeon-hwa.
Then, the screen shifted to Princess Yeon-hwa.
The area around Princess Yeon-hwa, which had been lit by lanterns, was very dark.
As if it represented her state of mind.
The head of Princess Yeon-hwa, who had been maintaining silence quietly, was raised.
"……!!"
In that moment, the audience gasped.
The enlarged face of Princess Yeon-hwa. Those eyes.
Was it reflected by the lantern light? Red eyes, too natural to be called CG, were clearly visible in the darkness.
Red eyes shining clearly in the darkness.
As if it represented Princess Yeon-hwa's anger.
Like that, Princess Yeon-hwa who stood up alone exited amidst Prince Jo-young's laughter.
With a thud, the door closed.
Episode 2, which marked the end of the preview screening, came to a close.
"Wow……."
Someone looked at their watch.
Each drama episode has a running time of 1 hour.
Two episodes meant 2 hours. It was the same length as a typical movie.
Yet it felt like it had passed by in an instant.
'Prince Jo-young's acting was amazing too.'
It was regrettable that actor Yoon Jong-hyuk, who played Prince Jo-young, didn't appear at today's preview screening.
Probably because they excluded him due to spoilers.
"Are all child actors these days like that?"
"Look at my arms. I got goosebumps."
"I should have taken a photo earlier!"
The audience chattered like that.
As for the journalists, they were at a somber level.
"Ah, I don't even have photos to put in the article."
"Should we try to catch them after this ends?"
"It won't work because they're child actors. That would be a big problem."
It was a moment where joy and sorrow intersected.
Some looked at Han Sun-ah, who had taken a photo with Seo-yeon earlier.
Gazes that seemed to say, how did you know it would turn out like this?
'……Daebak.'
Of course, Han Sun-ah was simply trembling, immersed in the lingering emotions of the drama she just watched.
Like that.
After the preview screening concluded amid favorable reviews.
- I went to The Moon Embracing the Sun preview screening and it was insane.
- If you're going to do viral marketing, use your brain a bit.
- No seriously, I'm saying it was fun;;
- I also know people around me who saw it, seems rly good?
- Only kids appear, how can that be fun?
On the internet, reviews of the preview screening began to spread little by little.
Among them, what was mentioned the most was precisely Princess Yeon-hwa's acting.
Everyone who had seen the preview screening praised the child actors' acting.
Especially in the final scene of episode 2, they gave it extreme praise.
'What exactly is it like to do that?'
'Isn't it just them making a fuss?'
Amidst such doubts, time passed.
One month from then.
The Moon Embracing the Sun episode 1, which aired amid everyone's attention.
The result was surprising even to Seo-yeon, who knew the original viewership rating of The Moon Embracing the Sun.
The viewership rating of episode 1 was 25%.
This was a figure that was a whopping 8 percent higher than the record that The Moon Embracing the Sun had originally achieved.