NIS Agent Reincarnated as a Genius Actor

“Yeon-woo!”

“Oh, you’re here!”

As they headed towards the lounge, Director Park Chan-hong, Seo Ji-eun, and the assistant director were waiting. Including Yeon-woo and Manager Kim Min-soo, there were five of them in total. Yeon-woo tilted his head in curiosity.

“But did you come alone without your manager?”

“Yeah. The company is too busy debuting a girl group right now. Since there are many people here, I decided to come alone. Besides, Min-soo oppa is here too.”

Min-soo smiled at Seo Ji-eun’s words.

“Of course. I’ll take care of everything.”

It seemed that Seo Ji-eun’s agency was struggling to provide adequate support, as seen during the previous stalker incident and dating rumors.

‘Maybe I should suggest she move to a better agency after we return from Berlin. LN Entertainment would be a good option.’

Having worked with her, Yeon-woo knew well about Seo Ji-eun’s potential. CEO Kim Joo-seong would likely appreciate her talent.

“Shall we start boarding?”

“Yes, Director.”

As Director Park Chan-hong stood up, everyone else followed suit to board the plane.

“By the way, do you get scared of flying or get motion sickness?”

“Huh? Not at all!”

Remembering their trip to Hawaii, Yeon-woo asked Seo Ji-eun, who reminded him of a younger Han So-hyeon, but it seemed she was different in this regard.

Boarding for flight LH0719 to Munich will begin shortly…

Hearing the announcement, the group headed towards the boarding gate.

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Since there were no direct flights from Incheon to Berlin, they first flew to Munich and then transferred to a domestic flight to Berlin’s Brandenburg Airport.

“Yawn! I’m tired from being on the plane all day.”

Assistant Director Lee Woo-kyung stretched, and Yeon-woo, seeing this, laughed and asked him.

“You should get some rest at the hotel. Woo-kyung hyung, are we moving around on our own in Berlin?”

“Huh? No, no. The organizers said they’d send someone. They should be waiting once we pass through customs.”

As the assistant director said, after collecting their luggage and passing through customs, a local staff member approached them. Unexpectedly, there were also local reporters and Korean expatriates gathered to welcome them.

“Wow, it’s Seo-hee!”

“Please sign!”

Foreigners passing through the customs area looked at Yeon-woo and his group with puzzled expressions.

“Go ahead and sign for them. They’re kind people.”

“Alright, I’ll be right back.”

Yeon-woo and Seo Ji-eun approached the Korean expatriates, with Kim Min-soo following to provide security.

“Wow! I’m a fan. I really enjoyed 「The Stars Beyond the River」!”

“Thank you. I didn’t expect to be recognized in Germany.”

“There’s a Korean wave here too. Many locals will recognize you on the streets.”

“Is that so?”

Yeon-woo smiled and nodded quietly as he signed autographs for the fans. Although he doubted he’d be recognized just walking around, the growing popularity of South Korea seemed to uplift the spirits of the expatriates. After signing autographs for each fan who had come to the airport to support them, they followed the guide.

Once they arrived at the hotel and unpacked, the fatigue from the long journey set in.

“Ugh, I’m so tired.”

“What time is the event tomorrow?”

Yeon-woo asked the assistant director, who pulled out his smartphone to check.

“Hmm, we enter at 2 PM local time. The staff member said they’d pick us up around 1 PM.”

Hearing this, Seo Ji-eun held her head.

“Ugh, that means I need at least two hours to get ready, so I better sleep early.”

“Well, if you sleep now, you’ll get at least six hours of good rest.”

“Alright, everyone, let’s get some rest. See you tomorrow.”

Yeon-woo also went to his room, quickly unpacked, and took a nap. Despite only sleeping for a few hours, he woke up feeling refreshed.

“Being young is great.”

Stretching and making a comment that sounded like an old man, he headed out for breakfast. None of the others were up yet. After finishing his meal, he returned to his room, took a shower, and heard the doorbell ring. A hotel staff member had brought back the clothes he had left for pressing the previous day.

“Nicht schlecht. Dankeschön. (Not bad. Thank you.)”

“Oh, you speak German well. Have a pleasant stay.”

Receiving the clothes, Yeon-woo returned to his room and dressed according to the stylist Lee Ye-eun’s meticulous instructions. He wore a dark green shirt, a black suit, and shoes that matched the color of the shirt, completing his look.

He styled his hair as Lee Ye-eun had instructed, drying it and giving it a simple touch-up.

“Hmm, should I head out and wait?”

Although there were still about 30 minutes left before departure, he decided to go down to the lobby early. When Yeon-woo reached the first floor, he found that everyone except Seo Ji-eun was already there.

“Hmm? Everyone’s early.”

“Wow, Yeon-woo, you look amazing. It looks like only you went to the salon.”

Yeon-woo chuckled at the assistant director’s comment.

“By the way, I wonder if Seo Ji-eun can manage all her preparations without a professional. She must have a lot to do.”

Everyone nodded, thinking about Seo Ji-eun, who hadn’t come down yet. Just then, Seo Ji-eun stepped out of the elevator, looking flawless.

“Tada! Here I am!”

“Wow, you really look like you went to the salon. You look just like you do during filming.”

“I usually do my own styling during shoots.”

Yeon-woo tilted his head at Seo Ji-eun’s words.

‘Hmm? Then what exactly does her management do? They didn’t send a manager, and she does her own styling.’

And yet, they share her income…?

He decided that he must suggest a better agency to her when they returned. As they waited in the lobby, the staff member who had met them yesterday entered through the main door.

“Is everyone here? Shall we depart?”

“Yes, let’s go.”

Led by the director, they all followed and divided into two cars.

“It’s definitely Germany. All the cars on the streets are German.”

Min-soo’s comment, as he admired the view outside, made Yeon-woo and Seo Ji-eun laugh.

“Of course, it’s Germany.”

As he watched the scenery pass by, Yeon-woo reminisced. He had spent quite some time working in Berlin in his previous life.

‘Though most of the memories aren’t pleasant, seeing it again after so long makes me nostalgic. Memories do tend to get romanticized.’

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“Wow, there are so many people.”

“It wasn’t this crowded even two years ago.”

Film student Neil Benson from California State University marveled at the surroundings with his friend Chris.

“The status of Korean culture has definitely risen.”

“That’s why we’re here too.”

The theater at Potsdamer Platz was packed with film enthusiasts who had come to see the premiere of the competition entry 「Sketch」.

Growing up in Hollywood, Benson had little exposure to films outside American cinema until he chose to major in film studies. As he delved into a wider variety of films, he became captivated by their unique charm.

‘Among them, Korean films are the best.’

It was hard to describe precisely, but they had a charm similar to the currently popular K-POP. They couldn’t be confined to a single genre. A crime entertainment film might be filled with emotional and humorous elements. A seemingly ordinary healing movie could suddenly turn into a thriller. Watching without prior information often led to surprising moments.

“By the way, it’s surprising that Director Park Chan-hong is attending the festival. Isn’t Berlin known for its heavy and political films?”

“Well, we don’t know what the movie is about. I heard it was shot as an independent film.”

“Wow, I didn’t know Korea made independent films. The ones that get translated and released here are all commercial films.”

At that moment, the screen at the front of the theater showed the entrance, captured by a camera.

“Oh, it looks like the director and actors have arrived.”

“That’s what I like about Berlin. Cannes and Venice don’t do this. They feel more like true festivals.”

“Really? I like those too. Roaming around freely with champagne in the summer.”

As they chatted, the screen showed two black cars arriving outside the theater. Director Park Chan-hong, Ryu Yeon-woo, and Seo Ji-eun stepped out one by one. The audience cheered as the main characters appeared, unaware that the director and actors on the screen couldn’t hear them. They shook hands with officials and chatted before entering the theater.

“Wow, that guy is handsome. Honestly, I don’t know who he is.”

Benson nodded at Chris’s comment.

“The Asians behind me went crazy when that guy appeared on the screen. Must be Korean?”

“Probably.”

Meanwhile, Yeon-woo and his group entered the theater.

“Ji-eun noona, wave at that camera. The audience inside the theater is probably watching us live.”

“Really? That’s fascinating.”

“By the way, Yeon-woo, do you speak German as well as Italian?”

The group looked at Yeon-woo in amazement as he naturally conversed with the officials upon arrival.

“Ah, I learned various languages at school and academies, just in case I might need them.”

“Wow, you’re quite versatile. Educational institutions these days are much more competent than in my time.”

The teachers at the high school in Daejeon and Jung Cheol-min might have been puzzled if they heard, but Director Park Chan-hong seemed to accept it as fact. The group, following the instructions of the festival organizers, entered the theater, signed the posters hanging on the staircase, and proceeded to the screening room.

Seo Ji-eun, dressed in a white dress with a yellow jacket, and Yeon-woo, looking sharp in a clean black suit, linked arms and walked towards the center of the audience. The crowd turned their attention to them and applauded in unison.

“Ah, this feels overwhelming.”

Seo Ji-eun felt a slight tremble in her body as the audience in the Theater am Potsdamer Platz, four times larger than a typical theater in Korea, turned to look at them all at once. Yeon-woo, on the other hand, waved to the audience with a smile, seemingly unfazed.

“Aren’t you nervous?”

“We have confidence in our film, so there’s no need to be nervous.”

Hearing Yeon-woo’s words, Seo Ji-eun’s nervousness subsided as if it were a lie. Director Park Chan-hong, following behind, patted Yeon-woo’s shoulder.

“That’s right. We have confidence in our movie.”

They walked down the red carpet in the middle of the audience and took their seats. A staff member approached with an interpreter and handed a microphone to Director Park Chan-hong.

“Before the film starts, if you have any words for the audience, please go ahead.”

Director Park Chan-hong took the microphone with a smile and began to speak.

“This film has been a cherished project since my debut, and I am finally able to present it to you after finding the right persona for it. There are no complicated interpretations or profound philosophies. I hope you simply enjoy it as it is.”

After the interpreter conveyed the director’s words, applause erupted from the audience.

“We would also like to hear a few words from the actors.”

The staff member offered the microphone to Yeon-woo and Seo Ji-eun, but Seo Ji-eun gestured for Yeon-woo to speak, feeling shy.

“Yeon-woo, you do it. I’m too embarrassed.”

Yeon-woo nodded, took the microphone, and began to speak.

“It’s an honor to be invited to Berlin today. I’d like to throw in a joke since I have the microphone, but my ‘joke license’ hasn’t arrived yet, so I’ll just express my gratitude instead.”

The audience was surprised to hear the East Asian actor speaking fluent German, and the Germans laughed and applauded. It was a well-known German joke that any German who had been stationed in Germany would recognize.

“What? What did you say that made everyone laugh?”

When Yeon-woo explained the joke to Seo Ji-eun, her expression turned strange.

“Ew, what’s that? An old man’s joke…?”

“Well, that’s kind of how Germany is. It’s tailored service.”

‘Well, it’s true that I’m somewhat of an old man…’

And soon, the lights in the hall dimmed, and the screening of 「Sketch」 began.