From A Producer To A Global Superstar-Chapter 232: Arriving at the studio

The studio parking lot was already busy when Min-Jae pulled in.

Production vans lined one side, crew members moving in and out with clipboards and headsets. The building itself didn’t look flashy, but anyone in the industry knew what it represented. This was one of the most reliable mid-to-high-tier studios in Seoul—efficient, disciplined, and respected.

Min-Jae parked and stepped out first.

"Welcome back," he said casually.

Dayo glanced around, hands in his pockets. "Feels familiar... yet unfamiliar."

He remembered back when he was learning how to direct, when they had to go from set to set working under experienced directors. Now, he was here to direct his own movie.

They walked inside together.

The moment they entered the main lobby, a man in his early sixties turned toward them. He was tall and lean, wearing a simple jacket over a shirt, glasses resting on his nose. His hair was neatly combed back, salt-and-pepper, giving him a calm but authoritative presence.

Director Jang-Wook.

His eyes lit up when he saw Min-Jae.

"Min-Jae," he said in Korean, smiling as he stepped forward. "You finally came."

They shook hands warmly.

"It’s good to see you again, Director," Min-Jae replied, also in Korean. "You look well."

Jang-Wook waved a hand. "Old, but still working," he said lightly. "How have you been? I heard things have been... busy."

Min-Jae chuckled. "Busy is an understatement."

They exchanged a few words in Korean—about work, recent projects, and how the studio had mostly been in post-production over the past few months. Dayo stood quietly beside them, observing.

Then Jang-Wook’s gaze shifted to him.

"And you must be Dayo," he said, switching smoothly to English. "I’ve heard quite a bit about you."

Dayo smiled politely. Before replying, he answered in Korean instead.

"Yes, Director. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you. I’ve heard much about you as well."

Jang-Wook paused.

Then his eyebrows lifted.

"...You speak Korean?"

Dayo nodded with a smile. "I do."

There was a brief silence.

Then Jang-Wook laughed. "That’s impressive. Truly ah it make sense you’re directing a Korean movie of courses you speak korea but i am suprised."

Min-Jae glanced at Dayo, clearly amused. "I told you he was full of surprises."

Jang-Wook shook his head lightly. "These days, it’s hard to surprise me. But that—" he gestured at Dayo, "—that did."

They walked deeper into the studio, passing set rooms and offices.

Min-Jae checked his phone, then slowed his steps.

"Director," he said, "I actually need to step out. I have another meeting across town."

Jang-Wook nodded. "Go. We’ll handle things here."

Min-Jae turned to Dayo. "You’re not escaping. You’re going straight to work."

Dayo smirked. "I figured."

Min-Jae laughed, shook his head, and left after a brief wave.

Now alone with Dayo, Jang-Wook gestured toward a small meeting room.

"Let’s talk."

They sat across from each other.

"So," Jang-Wook began, folding his hands, "about the project."

Dayo nodded. "How are things on your end?"

"We paused earlier," Jang-Wook said honestly. "Permits, scheduling conflicts, cast availability. But everything is back in place now. Budget approved. Locations secured. Equipment ready."

"That’s good," Dayo replied.

Jang-Wook leaned back slightly. "What we were waiting for was clarity. Especially from you."

Dayo understood what he meant.

"And the script?" Dayo asked.

Jang-Wook let out a small breath. "I’ll be honest. When I first read it, I didn’t believe it was yours."

Dayo smiled faintly. "You’re not the first."

"No offense," Jang-Wook continued. "But the structure, the pacing, the emotional restraint—it didn’t match what people usually expect."

"It took Min-Jae convincing me before I accepted it," he added.

"I appreciate that," Dayo said simply.

"I hope the stalling didn’t make you lose out on other projects," Dayo asked.

Jang-Wook nodded. "It did. But the script was nothing like Train to Busan, so it wasn’t a loss."

Dayo smiled. "That’s good to hear. So, how are we moving forward?"

Jang-Wook nodded. "Now comes the hardest part."

"Casting," Dayo said.

"Exactly."

Jang-Wook opened a folder. "Auditions usually take time. Weeks. Sometimes months."

"I know," Dayo replied. "But I want it done in a maximum of one week—at most, a week and a half."

Jang-Wook looked at him carefully. He knew Dayo hadn’t done any major gig as a director yet.

"That’s... ambitious."

"I understand the concern," Dayo continued calmly. "Casting isn’t something you rush. But we’re not doing this blindly."

Jang-Wook tilted his head, studying Dayo’s eyes. He saw a familiar stubbornness—the same one he’d had when he first started directing.

He had learned the hard way. He knew that telling Dayo to extend the timeline wouldn’t change anything. If Dayo didn’t face failure himself, he might never learn.

"So let me guess," Jang-Wook said. "You have your way?"

"Yes," Dayo replied. He could already sense what was going through Jang-Wook’s mind, but he was confident. He had the system to rely on.

Jang-Wook nodded slowly. "Alright."

He turned to his assistant. "Put the notice out."

She straightened. "Immediately?"

"Yes," Jang-Wook said. "Auditions begin tomorrow."

She left quickly.

Jang-Wook turned back to Dayo. "We’ll see if your confidence is justified."

Dayo smiled. "I believe it will be."

"Oh, I also have an idea to make things easier," Dayo added. "We should focus only on the main cast. For the other roles, they can perform a short part from the script and send it in. We’ll review and get back to them."

He handed Jang-Wook a list.

Jang-Wook sighed, then nodded. "Alright. We’ll do it your way."

"Hm. Good."

Confirmed Main Cast Roles (Initial List)

Here are the five character profiles from Train to Busan, with detailed criteria for casting:

1. Seung-gyu

Age: Late 30s

Personality: Protective, determined, responsible, caring

Goal: Safeguard his daughter, Su-an Conflict: Struggles with past mistakes, prioritizes Su-an’s safety above all

Role: Protagonist; a father’s desperate fight for his child

2. Sang-hwa

Age: Mid-30s

Personality: Tough, protective, resourceful, loyal Goal: Protect his wife and unborn child

Conflict: Confronts fear and rises in crisis Role: Supporting; strong ally

3. Su-an

Age: Young girl (around 8–10)

Personality: Curious, resilient, adaptable, caring Goal: Survive with her father

Conflict: Faces harsh realities, matures quickly Role: Emotional core; key motivator for Seung-gyu

4. Yong-suk

Age: Middle-aged

Personality: Cunning, selfish, manipulative, greedy Goal: Self-preservation at all costs Conflict: Ruthless decisions fuel chaos 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

Role: Main antagonist

5. Jin-hee

Age: Young adult

Personality: Determined, resourceful, caring Goal: Survive the outbreak

Conflict: Moral dilemmas under pressure Role: Supporting; strong survivor

The pieces were finally moving.

And this time, there would be no delay.