“I wanted to become a decent person.
But that didn’t happen, and I’m sorry.”
A story that branches out from one character to many
Compassion for those lives that flicker like faint little stars
38-years after enjoying short-lived fame as a child actor playing the character Jingu in the hit drama “Hyeon-gu’s Junk Yard”, Hyeong-min is casted in the program “That Time, Those People”. Being asked by the host about his time working as a child actor, Hyeong-min recalls his memories from that time, but back then, when everyone called him Jingu, not every memory was happy. Even when the show ended, Hyeong-min’s life only got worse. Hyeong-min tried to continue his acting career, but with each failed audition his situation became worse. Hyeong-min felt as if every criticism he received was a jab at his childhood fame. As an adult, Hyeong-min got married and had a daughter, but he and his wife eventually divorced, and later his wife died. As the filming of the program continues, Hyeong-min’s head fills with unhappy events, bad decisions, and excuses from his past until he finally spurs from his chair and walks out in the middle of filming.
On the other hand, the host of “That Time, Those People” is, with this program, returning to public TV for the first time in six years. Because of a scandal, the host had to step down from all of his programs, and was only able to work on cable TV and network TV after that. When his grandmother asked why he didn’t appear on television anymore, he lied, saying it was because he had been promoted to director. Feeling the deeply buried memories from the past resurface as he talks with Hyeong-min, whom the host watched on “Hyeong-gu’s Junk Yard” as a kid, the host suddenly asks an impulsive question to Hyeong-min, and feeling a surge of tears and emotions, pauses filming.
Although this story starts by telling Hyeong-min’s story, as the host and Hyeong-min perform their interview, the host’s own story naturally melds with Hyeong-min’s story, as if there were two main characters. Subsequently, the story branches out into the lives of many people, including Hyeong-min’s wife, his daughter, the department chief where Hyeong-min works, and Daeri Park.
Changbi Books
