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**Choi Hong-seo Cast as Lead in Director Kang Woo-hyun’s *Cream Mansion*… Fans Anticipate His First Film**

Choi Hong-seo, leader of the idol group “Layered” and an actor, has been officially cast in the film *Cream Mansion*.

Today, his agency UB Entertainment announced, “Choi Hong-seo will greet audiences once again as an actor. As this is his first film role, he’s both nervous and excited, and he’s working very hard. We ask for your support and interest.”

*Cream Mansion*, the latest film by Kang Woo-hyun, a director renowned internationally after winning awards at festivals such as Berlin, Venice, and Toronto, will feature Choi Hong-seo as Ji-woo Hwang, a mysterious resident of the enigmatic “Cream Mansion.” Known for his stable acting in various dramas, Choi Hong-seo has drawn positive reviews, and fans are curious to see what he’ll bring to the big screen.

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**Comments on the Article**

*ugarn*** / Uh… which fans are we talking about here? Because, frankly, many film fans around me are just outraged at this casting choice.

*skpop*** / I’ve been a fan of Hong-seo for 6 years, but let’s be real—he’s good *for an idol-turned-actor*, but he’s really not a fit for a Kang Woo-hyun film.

*suwing g*** / @kpop*** Hong-seo didn’t even debut six years ago. If you’re going to pretend to be a fan, at least fact-check yourself.

ㄴㄴ123k*k*** / @wing*** Regardless of debut year, casting Choi Hong-seo in a Kang Woo-hyun film is a mistake. Has he ever taken on a role requiring serious acting skills? Calling his acting “stable” is honestly laughable.

*s shotp*** / @123k*** Totally agree. He picked roles that made him look better, and his acting skills got overhyped. This is where the hype bubble will burst, and his real ability will show.

*txgu** / Wasn’t the role’s audition pool like, 900:1? Seems they had Hong-seo chosen from the start and just put on a show with the audition process. I feel bad for the other actors who prepared so hard for it.

*suskyb* / @txgu*** Those who spread baseless rumors like this deserve to be sued.

*sufree* / @skyb*** Rumors spread for a reason, you know? Do you honestly believe they picked Choi Hong-seo as the top choice after a fair 900-person audition? That’s laughable.

*493se*** / Let’s be honest, Kang Woo-hyun’s movies don’t really succeed domestically. He’s known for international acclaim, not box office hits. An idol should stick to fame and money; why chase prestige?

*sjong*** / I had to reread the article because I thought I misread it. I heard the production budget is over 10 billion won—did the director make a compromise to secure funding? I’ve been a long-time fan of Kang Woo-hyun, so this is truly disappointing.

*u swkdd*** / @jong*** What makes you think Choi Hong-seo’s bringing in the budget? A lot of people still don’t even know who he is. Might as well claim he’s in because he cozied up to Kang Woo-hyun or something.

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**On the way to the salon before his next schedule.**

In the back seat, Choi Hong-seo scrolled through the article comments and pulled the brim of his hat down further. His chest felt tight.

He knew intellectually that these criticisms were part of what every idol-turned-actor faces, especially for a debut film. And with Kang Woo-hyun, a director known for art-house films, he expected even more pushback. He’d also braced himself, knowing the general public—not just his fans—would react strongly.

But understanding it in his mind didn’t stop the emotional blow. He felt like he couldn’t breathe and took several deep breaths.

The senior manager in the passenger seat sensed the tension and looked back at him quickly.

“You’re reading the comments again, aren’t you? Hand over the phone.”

“I’m not reading the comments.”

“I’ve known you for years now. I can tell just by looking at you. I was wondering why you’d been so quiet lately. Is it really that hard to avoid the comments?”

“Well, if someone was talking about you, wouldn’t you want to know? Wouldn’t it be easier to ignore if you didn’t know what people were saying?”

“You think that’s the same?”

“What’s different?”

“Whatever. Just give me the phone. It’s confiscated for a while.”

The manager reached an arm into the back seat, trying to grab it. Whenever negative comments started stressing Choi Hong-seo out, the agency would go to extreme measures like confiscating his phone. But right now, there was a reason he couldn’t let his phone go.

“Fine, I won’t look. I won’t even read the articles anymore.”

The manager gave him a dubious look, but Choi Hong-seo clutched the phone, slipping it into his pocket to make sure it stayed with him. He couldn’t give up his contact with Lee Sung-hyuk.

“Hey, but… can we add another acting class to my schedule?”

“What? Where’s the time for that?”

“Just one extra session a week. Isn’t there a way to fit that in?”

“The only free time you’ve got left is after midnight. Are you planning to ask the instructor to hold classes at that hour?”

“……”

“Four hours a week is already intense with your current schedule. It’s not just acting practice; you’re doing dance rehearsals too. You’ll have plenty of prep time before shooting. You can step it up then.”

“They’re saying you got cast without even auditioning. But you went through the same grueling competition from the first round as everyone else.”

“Don’t you get it yet? They’re not criticizing your skills for real. There are people who won’t acknowledge you no matter how much you practice, even if you reach a top-level acting ability. You just have to ignore it.”

“I want to ignore it, but… I just can’t.”

“You’re really something. You’ve got so many fans, and you still worry about those few who criticize you? You’re adding practice sessions just to win over the people who don’t like you. Why bother? You’ve got fans everywhere who adore you.”

“Some people can’t control their feelings like that.”

“Try to control them. You’re tough-minded in every other situation, so why are you only weak here? You can do it. Choi Hong-seo, fighting!”

The manager ended the conversation abruptly and took a call that had come in, diverting his attention from Choi Hong-seo.

Choi Hong-seo sank back into the seat and pulled his bucket hat down to completely cover his face.

Whenever criticisms about his skills started circulating, Choi Hong-seo coped by adding more practice hours. While he couldn’t change baseless dislike, he believed he could counter critiques of his skill through effort. Whether it was dancing, singing, or acting, practice helped him feel less suffocated. Improvement gave him hope that those critics might eventually see him in a new light.

Though he signed with UB Entertainment initially because he was tempted by the idea of paying off his debts quickly, he had developed a passion for the work as he prepared for his debut. The idea of being treated as something less than human, enduring humiliation, and being used as a tool for others’ inappropriate desires—none of that was acceptable to him as a career. While there may be people somewhere who pursue that line of work with professionalism and pride, Choi Hong-seo knew he couldn’t.

“Choi Hong-seo of Layered” was the first productive role ever given to him.

When he was made the leader simply because he was the oldest, he didn’t mind. Instead, it gave him the drive and responsibility to make the team a success, pay off his debts, and free himself from Director Myung.

Maybe that’s why.

In real life, he could brush off anyone saying negative things about him, but each and every line of the public’s evaluation weighed on him. Since starting acting, the broader public interest had come with even greater stress.

Throughout his life, he had been used as a mere tool by family, school, and later society, but here, at least as Choi Hong-seo the singer and actor, he wanted to be recognized for real.

Completely hiding his face with his hat, Choi Hong-seo fidgeted with his phone in his pocket.

He wanted to reach out. He wanted to meet him. Even though he knew he was busy and had an important schedule the next day, he couldn’t shake the urge. It was a side of Choi Hong-seo he didn’t recognize.

He lifted his hat, took out his phone, and opened his messaging app.

**Carrot Seller:** “The official announcement has finally been released.”

**Carrot Seller:** “How does it feel, Mr. Lead Actor?”

**Me:** “I’m nervous.”

**Carrot Seller:** “Don’t tell me you haven’t eaten anything since this morning?”

**Me:** “I’m okay. I don’t even feel hungry…”

**Carrot Seller:** “Should I send some of your favorite foods over to the salon?”

**Me:** “I don’t think I could eat anything right now. I’m really sorry. ”

**Carrot Seller:** “Not even cookies or pie?”

**Me:** “I’ll feel better after about five hours from now, once the news has settled. I’ll make sure to eat then.”

**Me:** “I feel bad for making you worry when you’re so busy. ”

**Carrot Seller:** “I’d rather you be honest than lie just to keep me from worrying.”

**Carrot Seller:** “Besides, worrying about you is kind of a boyfriend privilege, you know. ”

**Carrot Seller:** “Thinking about you not having eaten all this time is hard to bear…”

**Carrot Seller:** “But eating just to eat isn’t good either, I guess.”

**Me:** “I’ll eat as soon as I feel better. Really.”

**Carrot Seller:** “Promise?”

**Me:** “Promise.”

**Carrot Seller:** “Such a good kid.”

**Carrot Seller:** “Starting work now, but I’ll text you later.”