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The title of the script was Pygmalion Reverse Effect.

Although it was based on a webtoon, it was finally made into a drama after contents such as 'Pygmalion Reverse Effect Virtual Casting' and 'Pygmalion Reverse Effect Synchronization Actor,' spread trend-like memes on the internet.

Various dramas based on webtoons were recently aired on TVM, JTBQ, and OCM, creating a new box-office sensation.

Webtoon-based dramas had gained popularity recently for two reasons: first, they had been somewhat verified through webtoons, and second, it is simple to take the characters and tweak them in a slightly different direction.

Typically, it was common for an adaptation writer or scriptwriter to reconstruct it into a drama script based on the original work, when a webtoon is made into a drama.

However, the original writer, Park Jeong-ah, signed a contract with a production company, Peak Ocean, to write the drama's script.

In the first place, Park Jeong-ah majored in Creative Writing and had a solid desire to dramatize the original feeling of her masterpiece Pygmalion Reverse Effect as much as possible.

Even when signing a contract with Peak Ocean, she would follow the PD's opinion as much as possible when it comes to directing, but she carried through the contract that she should have the right to decide on character casting first.

Peak Ocean also decided to respect Park Jeong-ah's opinion on that part, and the contract went smoothly afterward.

Thus, Park Jeong-ah began casting the main characters.

Although she was a well-known webtoon artist, she was a novice drama writer who had little to spend on production. Because the broadcasting station was on the TVM side, the so-called high-priced actors were unreasonable.

As a result, it was best to cast actors from well-known idol groups whose performances have been verified, but not internationally recognized.

It was no exaggeration to say that this work was actually a drama led by two male and female protagonists.

Naturally, the supporting actors also played funny roles and gave the drama a lot of energy, but in the end, the success or failure of it was the male lead, Si-chang, and the female lead, Na-yeon.

For Na-yeon's role, Park Jeong-ah had someone in mind beforehand.

It was Jung Seol-ah, the leader of the girl idol group Jesper.

The first meeting between the two was definitely a coincidence.

She was invited to the Pohang Webtoon Festival to give a speech and participate in a fan signing event, and Jesper were there as the special performers.

There, when she saw Jung Seol-ah for the first time, she was surprised to think that Na-yeon, the female lead of the Pygmalion Reverse Effect, jumped right out of her imagination into reality, right in front of her. After that, she jokingly told her friends, "If this piece becomes a drama, the female lead must be Jung Seol-ah!"

"I have found the female lead, but what about the male lead… ahhh! I can't think of anyone. What kind of actor has ever done a sculpture?"

In fact, it was hard to find an actor with the qualifications she wanted, and one of the most crucial points of the drama was a scene where the male lead sculpted himself.

She didn't like it if this important scene only showed the double's hands. How exciting it was to stage the scene where the male lead actually misses the female lead and immerses himself in sculpture without even knowing his white shirt was soaked with sweat in a long take.

In reality, this scene is also a point that could capture women's hearts in this drama.

However, there are countless male actors all over the country, but how many of them can sculpt at a high level?

"Should I just pick an actor who fits my image and train him for a month or two? Aaagh! I don't know. How much can he improve in a month or two!? I'm just going to watch variety shows."

Tired of thinking about casting the male lead all day, Park Jung-ah turned on Star Café Star which she often watched to cool off her head.

"An episode of Unknown Actors? Who is it?"

While watching the three actors who came out to promote the movie In the Name of the Devil, Park Jeong-ah spat out the apple she was eating when she saw Kyu-ha sculpting as his talent.

"Eu…Eureka!! Found it!"

***

That's how Kyu-ha and Team Leader Han Jeong-hee met Jung Yeon-hee, the producer from Peak Ocean, and writer Park Jeong-ah for a casting meeting.

"Hi, my name is Han Jeong-hee, the team leader of Stella Entertainment."

“Hello, I’m actor Song Kyu-ha.”

"Yes, hi! I'm Jung Yeon-hee, a producer at Peak Ocean."

"Nice to meet you all. I am the writer, Park Jeong-ah."

After briefly introducing each other, Park Jeong-ah went straight to the point.

"As I briefly mentioned on the call, I would love to cast actor Song Kyu-ha to play the role of Si-chang in the drama Pygmalion Reverse Effect. I personally think that it will suit him very well."

“First, I would like to thank you for your interest in our actor, Song Kyu-ha. I also read the script you sent me in advance together with Mr Song Kyu-ha, and we're reviewing it positively as the content was exciting and the character was good."

In fact, the meeting went smoothly, and when the casting was nearly settled, Park Jeong-ah dug something out of her bag and put it on the desk.

"What is this, Park?"

"The biggest reason I decided to cast Mr. Kyu-ha was when he was sculpting on Star Café Star. The most important scene in our project is where a man misses the female lead and sculpts with his body and soul. Therefore, the actor's sculpting skills are important."

Park Jeong-ah turned her head toward Kyu-ha and picked up where she had left off.

"The skills you showed on Star Café Star are sure enough, but I wanted to see Mr. Kyu-ha's sculpting skills with my own eyes, so I took the liberty of preparing this."

"Park, you're asking for something that wasn't even mentioned before…"

Team leader Han Jeong-hee expressed her displeasure, but Kyu-ha smiled gently and held up the carving knife and eraser without agitation.

"Should I show you right away?"

***

Donatello.

He is regarded as one of the Renaissance's most important sculptors and a figure with whom Kyu-ha shared his dreams.

Donatello was a virtuoso sculptor who inspired many later sculptors, including Michelangelo, and was born in Florence, Italy -- the home of the Renaissance.

Since childhood, he had worked in workshops and sculpted decorations for the cathedral, but since he lived in poverty, he used his carving skills on the streets to earn pocket money by selling sculptures.

Living in Donatello's life, this level of sculpting was not a problem for Kyu-ha.

"Let's do it for real this time."

The sculpture he showed in Star Café Star was set at the same level as when he grabbed a carving knife in the beginning stage of Donatello. This time, he decided to take the sculpture a little more seriously because it was a momentous occasion that would determine his next acting role.

"Let's begin, then."

Kyu-ha thought about what to carve for a moment and then held up the knife, his eyes sparkling as if he had made a decision.

"What! That speed is..."

Slit, slit.

Each time his hand moved, the pieces of the rubber fell, and quickly began to evolve into a specific shape.

His knife skills were swift, concise, and exquisite.

Within less than ten minutes, the rubber in his hand had become a piece of art.

"Wow…"

Han Jeong-hee, the team's leader, also looked at Kyu-ha in awe, as if she hadn't expected him to be this skilled.

The sculpture Kyu-ha completed was the first smiling face of the male lead, Si-chang, when he saw the female lead, Na-yeon, in one of the highlights in the Pygmalion Reverse Effect webtoon.

Park Jeong-ah was taken aback and was moved more than she expected by his sculpting abilities.

“Wow… this is really… It's beyond my expectations. Please take good care of the role of Si-chang from now on, Mr. Kyu-ha."

"Yes, I'll do my best to play the role of Si-chang."

Thus, Kyu-ha's casting was decided on the spot, and a few days later, an online article confirming the casting of Pygmalion Reverse Effect was published.

***

Jesper debuted as a four-member idol girl group.

At that time, a younger and cute image was the trend, but Jesper made a winning move with their maturity and singing ability.

With the release of their first full-length album, they tried to raise their recognition by appearing on various music shows, but their first album activities ended with lower grades than expected.

The agency poured all of the company's resources into Jesper, feeling that this was the last time. Fortunately, the second album got a great response, raising its awareness by appearing on various music and entertainment programs.

However, as the ambitious third album failed, the company suffered again, and all the members felt that their lives as idols were coming to an end, as younger and prettier girl groups were pouring out.

Jesper's members, Seol-ah, Ji-yoo, Yun-hyang, and Ryosa, had a serious talk about their careers. They would move forward with things they wanted to pursue.

Leader Seol-ah had been acting in music videos and web dramas, appealing to the company for her desire to act since her debut. Ji-yoo set her direction towards a ballad vocalist, Yun-hyang towards dance, and Ryosa toward rapping.

Jung Seol-ah was then overjoyed when she heard the news that she had been cast for the Pygmalion Reverse Effect drama from her agency.

She was cast in the role of Na-yeon after meeting with writer Park.

The whole thing felt like a dream, and to avoid missing this opportunity, she read the script several times a day and devoted herself to practice.

At that time, the youngest member, Ji-yoo, rushed to Seol-ah while holding her phone.

"Unni, did you read the article? They said your partner has been decided!"

"What? Who is it?"

"I have never seen him before either. His name is Song Kyu-ha. He's an actor."

Seol-ah immediately surfed the internet looking for his information. He had starred in two movies, The Palace of Blood Sea and In the Name of the Devil. She even looked up videos of him appearing on Star Café Star.

"Oh! It's him! He’s only played terrifying roles. It's a completely different role from Si-chang. Will it go well? Ah! I don't know. I'll see! First, I need to be good at mine."

Jung Seol-ah turned her eyes back to the script and began practicing again, as the script reading was in two weeks.

***

Song of Longing

Han Gyeo-ul spent the entire day deciding what lyrics to include on the music sheet for Kyu-ha's Song of Longing.

The melody was so sorrowful and full of yearning for someone, so she had to write them according to the mood. If she put in the standard and stereotyped lyrics, it could be too old-fashioned.

If she wrote trendy lyrics, the song's feelings would be unbalanced. 

"Ha… It's tough. The song is excellent, but the lyrics just don't come out… Should I do it as a gesture of longing for my ex? A longing for family? Desperate for unrequited love? Ahhhh, I don't know!"

Sitting down at the table in her agency's practice room, messing up her hair, Han Gyeo-ul frowned again and glanced at the white paper with a pen, but nothing came out.

The youngest Choi Sun-ah, watching her, tilted her head and asked:

"Does it have to be longing for a specific person? Could it be a family member, a lover, or someone you have a crush on whenever you listen to it?"

At Sun-ah's words, Gyeo-ul stared blankly into space. She then cheered and hugged the youngest member.

"Oh yes! You're right! It doesn't have to be a specific person! The person didn't matter! Sun-ah, you're such a genius! Kiss, kiss, kiss."

"What's wrong with you?! I'm going out."

Shortly after, Sun-ah left, and only the sound of Gyeo-ul's scribbling pen lingered in the quiet practice room.