Presented by Cinema Service Co., Ltd.
In association with CJ Entertainment Inc., KBS Media
Produced by Achim Pictures
Co-produced by Cineworld
Executive Producer KIM In-soo
Associate Producers KIM Joo-sung, JUNG Tae-jin
PARK Jung-hun
AHN Seong-gi
Producer JUNG Seung-hye
Director LEE Jun-ik
It's time. Don't panic.
Relax, okay? Drink up.
88' MBS Music Awards.
The grand award goes to...
The grand award
CHOI Gon, with 'The Rain and You'! Congratulations!
Congratulations.
And we'll have CHOI Gon on stage for the presentation of the award.
Clear the path for Gon!
Gon.
Make the speech long.
2006
Hey, tell him not to get boozed-up before he goes on stage.
He can't sing without getting drunk.
CHOI Gon was my darling in high school.
Call me darling too.
CHOI Gon is so dreamy... Finished so soon?
Hey, CHOI Gon.
Sing one more song for my baby.
She's a big fan of yours.
Here.
Playing hard-to-get, huh? Okay, okay. Here's another one.
Come on, man.
Give it to your wife, asshole.
What did you call me?
This guy is crazy! Who's in charge here?
Shit, messing things up again.
CHOI Gon, PARK Gon, who does this guy think he is?
- Hey Gon, apologize, - I give you a chance to sing,
- and let's go. - You should show some respect
to the audience.
Talk to me, man!
You've taken an advance pay, you could at least stay out of trouble,
Hey, be cool. It's not the first time, you know.
Let's go.
Take that thing off.
Huh?
Get that thing out of my sight!
Hey, take it easy! Come on!
Let's go, Min-soo.
I'll see you again.
Big star?
He thinks he's Elvis or something...
Stupid bastard still thinks he's a hot shot.
Name.
CHOI Gon.
I'm his manager.
CHOI... Gon...
Social Security number.
660322-1040120
Did you beat this guy up?
Yeah, let's say I beat him up.
I would feel much better that way.
You, stay outside!
You two should sort this out.
Almost done.
Hey, hit me twice and let's settle this.
You shouldn't hang around with this guy. He's a loser.
Okay, okay. So we're settled?
CHOI Gon?
You here?
Hey... CHOI Gon!
You know where the action really is, huh?
He's at it again?
Nah, it ain't drugs.
Let's have him do a urinal test.
I said it's not drugs.
A star well past his prime doesn't make a good article, if it's not about drugs.
Hey, come on.
Hey, he's clean now.
Let's have a chat outside...
Hey!
You're in deep shit, mister! Hey, KIM. KIM!
- How's my little Mi-jung? - Daddy!
Yeah, it's daddy. Wow, great drawing.
Mommy, Mi-jung. Oh, it's so pretty.
Hey,
Gon is in trouble.
I don't have money.
Hey, I wouldn't come to my own wife
if it wasrt this bad.
KIM Soon-young, you were the chairman of CHOI Gors fan club!
If Gon goes to jail, who's going to be responsible?
Who's blaming who here?
Mi-jung, daddy will come back later, okay?
Draw daddy over here too.
Jang-hoon! Phone call.
I'm busy. Hello? Yeah, I'm on my way.
Don't blame me for the fix, it ain't my fault!
I'll get there. I'm hanging up now.
Hey, Baek-chun, Baek-chun!
Long time no see.
- Hi, Min-soo. - Yeah.
What's going on?
I heard you're doing three programs.
I wish Gon was half as good as you.
I heard director KIM was trying to have Gon deejay.
Why would a singer deejay?
Have you ever seen Elvis deejay?
Hey, you're a different case.
You're a complete entertainer.
- Speaking of being successful... - I haven't got money.
Hey Baek-chun, Baek-chun! Director KIM.
Director KIM. Hey!
Let go!
Hey, come on.
Stop begging, you!
Hey, hey.
You should've listened to me.
What's wrong with the regional radio broadcast?
Okay, I'll take him there if you help me clear up the current mess.
Last time, I promise.
I started off there,
and Gors not in a position to choose.
If all the smaller radio stations merge with the bigger places,
there will be no regional characteristics left.
What's that got to do with you?
Hey, director KIM helped you out when he was just a producer,
can't you do the same for him?
Who helped who out?
Does he still think I won
the music award because of him?
He knew I would be turning down other awards
for his stupid award!
Who benefited more from that?
Yeah well, it ain't you so let's call it quits.
Where you going?
Fuck it!
What's all this noise, huh?
Hey.
Where you going?
I'm calling director KIM to say no.
Is he that desperate?
Of all the crazy things I've done...
How can I deejay in a place like that?
So director KIM wants to get credit for sending me to his hometown.
KIM and you... you guys are so shallow.
How would the Youngwol station guys
work with me around?
Can't believe my manager makes me do this shit.
Hey, where you going?
Where you going, man?
Where's your coffee?
Cigarette.
Light.
Can I help you guys?
I don't care if CHOI Gors grandpa is coming over.
Do you think a lousy two-hour program can revive the station?
Three months till the merger, three months!
We've been waiting to return to the big city,
and what on earth is this?
That CHOI Gon, he's got nothing to do?
He comes here because you tell him to?
He says he's a top star from Seoul.
The last time we used this place was 12 years ago, right?
Yeah, just about.
Can you make this old thing work?
It should work.
Check out the apartments over there.
Didrt know Youngwol was so well developed.
It's not a rural town anymore, right?
Remember the last time we came here?
No.
This place hasn't changed a bit.
Hey, look at that. Come on over here.
1989
July 20, CHOI Gon.
Remember?
1989. Let me see...
That's the year after you won the grand award.
We were heading to Samchuk for the concert,
And we dropped by here to grab a bite,
and this little town became a beehive.
All those people out, just to see your face.
Hey, I was practically pushing people out of your way,
and lost my watch, remember?
It was an Omega.
Then the owner of this place was a big fan of yours,
we drank all night,
and didn't go to that concert in Samchuk at all.
Because we were so drunk... Hey, let's get some soju.
Good boy.
The owner of this place must've changed.
My father's been the owner all along.
Man, the guitar shouldn't go in like that.
It was awright.
Hey, 4 bottles of soju, and one soup.
When this guy got the wrong tune,
everyone else went wrong, so it's fine.
We just have to go with the right action.
Sir!
Hey, it's CHOI Gon.
- You sure? - Yeah.
What are you guys doing?
Sir, we're East River.
East what?
East River, named after the river in our town.
We're Young-wol's only rock band.
Sir, in a country where rock music is a curse,
you're the almighty rocker that can only be matched by...
Elvis Presley.
We worship you!
Hey, these guys know a thing or two.
Your struggle against the world,
alcohol addiction, violence, marijuana...
an epitome of the term 'charisma'.
Sir, we're hoping we can follow your footsteps,
Let's go.
But Young-wol is a tiny place,
and we can't really make trouble here...
You should've stopped at the Elvis part.
Move out of the way! My shoes...
Hey, do you guys have a manager?
What are you doing here? Go to your room.
Hey a motel like this has weak security.
I've got to protect you.
Sleep tight.
My back won't take a lousy mattress like this...
Hey, long time...
since we last slept in the same room.
Turn the lights off.
Lazy bastard can't turn off the lights himself.
You here?
Eat up.
Hey, JANG.
Shouldrt you be on your way back?
I'm taking the plates when you're finished.
What are you, a butler?
Don't worry. Take your time.
Idiot.
Excuse me.
Can I have your autograph? On my back?
Hey, hey!
We'll be glad to drop by gain next time.
Take care, love you guys.
Now that's a neat broadcast.
Those guys can drop by and chat only in a big city like Wonjoo.
Love you guys~
Idiots. Can't even call them singers anyway.
Being a producer sucks here in Wonjoo.
- Hey KANG! You're on the air! - What?
- Whoa, a blooper. - Huh? Oh shit...
Sounds like the producer.
KANG Suk-young!
The fan club's threatening to kill you on the internet.
You should know better about teens these days.
And I'm trying to save your ass here.
I understand.
3 months, KANG. The place will merge anyway.
I'll let Young-wol know you're coming.
Okay, okay. I'll go.
A deejay from Seoul...
And a producer from Wonjoo.
I've got high expectations for the new broadcast. Right, PARK?
Yes sir.
Let's do it!
You send along a deejay and a producer,
and expect the broadcast to just happen?
For god's sake, this is a relay station!
We've got one engineer that does the relaying work.
Either you provide us with more people, or at least some equipment.
You have to do something about this!
Yeah, yeah, forget about it, dammit!
Oh shit!
What?
Where is this guy?
Does it work?
Does it work? He says no.
And now?
No. You sure you're the engineer?
How long have you been working here?
Ten years.
You look like twenty to me.
And you, producer KANG?
Three years.
- That's a real rookie. - Rookie it is.
And what about...
I've worked five years as a delivery man.
You know, the hard part about this job...
- Walk left, left! - Yeah.
No manners whatsoever, dammit.
Those were the good old days.
Any bigger selection at the station in Wonjoo, producer KANG?
Couldrt be any bigger than this.
Wow, LEE Sun-hee's first album.
Where's Gors album?
Teach me how to operate.
'Afternoors Request'? How does that sound?
Sounds good.
Doesrt it sound a little backward?
Yeah. How about 'Afternoors Lounge'
or 'Afternoon Platform'? Producer?
That's even more backward.
You need 'CHOI Gor in there as well.
'CHOI Gors Afternoors Request'
How does that sound?
It makes no difference... but it is better with my name on.
Yeah?
Sounds weird with two apostrophes.
'Gors Dad's Friend's Sor That's four apostrophes.
That's not the same case.
Producer KANG decides the title!
Hey, what are you mad about?
Take it easy.
Let's go.
Very productive meeting.
I'll go out to do the marketing, so you two finish up.
Hello, you're CHOI Gors manager, right?
What are you doing here?
It's CHOI Gon...
Wow, 'CHOI Gors Afternoors Request'.
Is he deejaying here at Youngwol?
Man, that's terrific!
What, you're putting up posters?
We'll help you!
Does it look right?
- Is it okay? - Yeah, yeah.
Hey, tie it up, tie it up.
Tie it up!
You idiot!
Put it up over here.
Hurry up!
You guys came here to chat? Come on!
All right.
Bring some more posters.
Looks swell.
Go home and don't come back!
Damn kids.
Don't you people listen to the radio in a coffee shop?
Who listens to the radio these days?
Hey, radio is the thing in a coffee shop.
If you have the TV on, people won't leave.
You won't get many customers that way.
We mostly deliver.
I'm doing this because of director KIM,
but will be leaving in a month or two.
Don't tell the guys about this.
You're recording a song? Sorry. When you're done,
give me a call, will ya?
Do you know that CHOI Gors deejaying at the Youngwol radio station?
Who's CHOI Gon?
'But now~ I'm all fine~' You don't know?
Hey, do you know CHOI Gon?
No. I'm going out on delivery.
Hey, how could you not know,
the 88' MBS music award winner, CHOI Gon?
You're not much interested in music and culture, huh?
What, the producer? She's very unexperienced.
I'm on my own, pal. Hey, I was saying...
What, sleeping already?
He was in the papers for drunk driving.
I don't read the newspapers.
And a couple of bar fights here and there.
Don't know.
He was on TV for doing drugs.
Oh, I remember!
That was CHOI Gon?
Hey, delivery time.
Okay.
Tomorrow's the big day. Sleep tight.
Hey, do I have to do this?
Close your eyes when you're sleeping.
Here's the cue sheet. Check the opening.
Cue sheet!
1 minute! Move over.
Hey, Gon.
Concentrate, okay?
No, no. You could make a mistake if you try too hard.
Relax.
Okay?
Everyone relax.
The opening is the most important.
We'll have to grab the attention of the listeners with that.
Okay? Now let's go!
I said move over.
Cue!
That's the wrong way you're putting in, man!
There isn't a better word that makes your heart flutter than 'first'.
First tears, first snow, first meet, first date,
first kiss.
On a cold day during the winter,
when snow has covered the world in white...
Hello, people of Youngwol, I'm CHOI Gon.
MBS Music Award winner back in 88'.
I somehow ended up here, deejaying and all.
Now that I'm running the show...
send postcards,
and song requests.
I'll try to play whatever I can. The first song...
is 'Radio on Full Volume', by group Shinawi.
Excellent! You're doing great.
Gon, I'll head to town,
to check out the response, okay?
Keep it up!
Sir.
Please turn that thing off.
Let's listen to something else.
Shut up. Bastard!
Producer KANG, can you put my call on the air?
Why?
Some star friends that
I got somehow heard about me deejaying.
They want to say hi. What line is it?
That'll be line two.
Two.
Hiya.
What are you doing, not listening to the radio?
It sounds so nice.
Hey Jang-hoon,
make the compliments short. Don't hang up.
Yeah, we'll talk on the air now.
Some of my fellow stars have called to say hi.
Let's hear them. Hello?
Hey, do you know Min-soo loaned thirty grand from me?
KIM Jang-hoon, what are you talking about?
He promised to pay back in two weeks,
but it's four months now, and I can't reach him.
- Wow, I love KIM Jang-hoon. - Uh, KIM Jang-hoon?
We're on the air now. Live, at Youngwol.
Bullshit, man.
And it wasrt just me.
Do you have to go around loaning like that from your peers?
What are you, a swindler?
What did you say? A swindler?
KIM Jang-hoon, We're on the air right now.
Come on, man, don't be like that.
Be wise when you're getting old.
What did you just say?
What did you just say!
I backed you up so that you could become a decent singer, and you tell me what?
Who backed who up, man? Don't bullshit me.
Hey where the fuck are you right now?
Where the fuck, where the fuck!
I'm at my crib, asshole!
KIM Jang-hoon, you're mocking me because
you know we're on the air, right?
What the fuck are you saying? Fuck you!
Hello, hello? You asshole!
You asshole, you asshole!
I haven't heard anything like this!
I told you it was fun.
But who's Min-soo?
Right. Who's Min-soo? Huh?
Turn off that stupid KIM Jang-hoon music.
Turn it off!
Producer KANG!
What do you think you're doing, huh?
Everybody in my room, dammit!
Gon, sometimes when you're badly off...
What?
What if you're badly off? Why do you have to beg around?
What have you done?
So you got that money to set up Soon-young's sushi joint?
Yeah, I did just that! What are you, mad?
You've gone too far, man!
Why did you have to do that?
Do you realize they're lending you
money because of me?
That's my reputation you're ruining!
Reputation? I ain't got any of that left because of you!
Look at how badly off I am!
Why do you think I borrowed from Jang-hoon?
To bail you out of jail, asshole!
First broadcast, and the deejay swears on the air.
Is this how you work at Wonjoo?
Oh right, you're here because you've messed up!
A crazy producer, and a swearing deejay.
That's just swell.
Why on earth are they making me do this?
Get out, all of you!
What have you been doing?
Midday Lounge, bullshit! It's Midday Hell!
Where's all the responsibility, huh?
I see you once, twice, and still want to see you again~
That beautiful face of yours, I want to see it again~
Let's just drown by the river and die.
I can't live like this any more. Let's die together.
Die alone if you want to.
They'll think we're gay if we do it together.
Do something, man!
Keep playing, keep playing.
Turn the lights off.
Sir, you were great yesterday.
One heck of a broadcast, sir.
Talking trash with KIM Jang-hoon,
that was so awesome, really!
Thirty grand going down the drain,
that brute force!
- I admire you, sir. - Number one, number one!
That... hunger from the deepest part of your soul,
the agony of a rocker, we truly felt that.
Sir, we're hungry too.
Sir, treat us to some lunch, we're hungry!
Sir, CHOI Gon! Buy us a couple of burgers, please!
- CHOI Gon! CHOI Gon! - Who do you guys think you are?
What do you think you're doing?
Are you going to keep messing it up?
What?
You don't want to deejay? Are you being forced to do this?
I'm responsible for this program.
If you can't follow my orders,
Then what? Am I getting cut? Fine.
Hey Gon, what's going on?
I just got kicked out.
Hey, no time left. The signal is out!
Gon, Gon!
Hurry up! We need someone in there.
Hey Gon!
What do we do?
We need some one to talk! Make her do it.
Producer KANG... Huh?
- What now? - You do it. Come on!
Just do it. Headphones on, headphones on.
Turn on the mike, the mike.
Which one?
That one.
- Which one? - I'll do it.
NOW.
Ummm.
Today I feel like...
heading to the east sea...
taking a shower on the sounds of the waves...
Take a shower? It's raining.
My heart carried on to...
the fluttering wings of a sea gull...
Today I feel like...
like my wish can be heard by you.
Today, is that kind of day.
Hello, 'CHOI Gors Midday Lounge',
I'm temporary deejay, PARK Min-soo.
Hey, it's the manager guy!
PARK Min-soo! PARK Min-soo!
Today's first song,
SHIN Joong-hyurs 'Beauty'.
Gon, Gon, let's go back in.
Come on, let's go. Save my face for once.
The producer's just a kid. What do you want me to do?
Drop down on my knees? Here.
What're you doing?
Here, I'm on my knees now.
Get back up, man. What're you doing?
Let's go in, come on.
Okay, okay.
You're done eating already?
When is this coffee girl coming?
Hey girl.
See you later on at your shop.
Can you play this song again for me?
No?
That's not allowed, right?
We give out coffee refills.
I want to see mom when I hear this song.
She used to love singing this song.
Get out!
I'm supposed to sit by the customer until he's finished with the coffee.
Producer KANG, we're almost done.
You've all gone way out of the line.
You want to say something?
On the air?
What should I say?
Anything.
All right!
We have a guest in our studio today.
Hello.
- Do I go on? - Go ahead.
Ummm. I'm KIM,
from the Chungrok coffee shop in front of the bus terminal.
- First of all... - It's KIM!
- I would like to thank - What's she doing there?
All the people who drop by our shop,
Mr. KIM from the Laundromat, Mr. PARK from the hardware store,
It's about time you settle the credits.
47 dollars for Mr. KIM...
104 dollars for Mr. PARK.
I'll take off 4 bucks if you pay back right now.
That'll be 100 dollars then.
It gets deducted from my pay
if you don't settle the credits.
Can't believe you guys buy coffee on credit.
- Can I say something else? - Yeah, go ahead.
Uh, mom.
I'm Sun-ok, mom. How are you?
Can you hear me?
It's raining, ma. Do you remember?
It rained too, when I ran away from home.
Ma, did you know?
I didn't run away because I hated you. Really.
I thought that was the reason when I left,
but I realized that I was mad with everyone,
but not you.
I was mad at myself for that.
I was so mad...
that I wasted my life.
I think I've gone crazy.
You know, when it rains, I try to make that pie that you used to make me.
Stupid girl.
But whatever means I try,
it doesn't taste the same. At all.
Mom, I miss you. I miss you so much.
It's raining, so I thought of giving you a call.
Is it raining in Seoul too?
Don't get mad.
Can't do that, I'm busy.
Don't worry about me, take care of Mi-jung.
While we're at it, make her a pie, okay?
Yeah, Gon says hi. All right.
Cigarette.
I'll get a pack when it stops raining.
Shit, there's spit all over.
Disgusting.
Nice and cozy, huh?
Hey, it's the manager.
- Hiya. - Gors here too.
Let's sit over here. Why are there so many people today?
Oh my god. Gon, CHOI Gon!
I've become a star!
Really?
Can I talk on the radio too? I'm a runaway too.
Oh yeah?
Hey I'm treating you to tea,
since I got the balance settled.
Sounds good to me.
Tea for you too?
I'll have coffee.
Come on, man. Have some tea.
Yeah, tea's fine.
Two cups of tea over here!
Excuse me, CHOI Gon?
Um. I'm the owner of the Laundromat.
Hi, I'm from the hardware store.
I didn't plan to drink coffee on credit,
it's just that I didn't have change whenever I came to drink.
Hey, how much is coffee gonna be?
Don't ever do that again.
I promise. I used to love singing
'The Rain and You' when I was young.
Always sang the song at the karaoke.
I'm a fan of yours too. 'But now, I'm all fine~'
I got my wife to marry me with that.
Can I have your autograph?
Let's have it.
Can't do with a pen, bring a marker.
Okay.
Gon, I know you're tired and all, but...
Your name?
KIM Dae-ho.
- Mr. KIM Dae-ho. - Yeah.
Thank you.
What's your wife's name?
CHOI Jung-sun.
How long have you been married?
Ten years.
- Thank you. - Thank you.
Gon, you'll drop by again, right? You too.
All right.
What?
I see you once~
I see you twice, and still want to see you again~
Whoever my lover is, I want to see her again~
Can't you even catch that? Oh man!
A man with a hideous face,
is seen walking the streets of Youngwol at night,
looking for the 'beauty'.
Watch out for the man.
If you find him,
report immediately to the nearest police station.
He's seen singing like this.
A complete wacko.
There's a call for you after the song's over.
Who is it? Not KIM Jang-hoon, I hope?
A fan of yours.
You'll get countless calls from now on.
Hello?
Hello sir! It's East River.
All right!
Hey guys.
Sir, I saw him.
I saw the crazy guy yesterday.
He was a real wacko.
I told you to report to the nearest police station,
not the nearest radio station.
Sir, can you let us sing a song?
Just one song. Please!
You guys can sing by yourselves.
Sir, hold on.
Sir, we've made a fan club site on the web,
people post comments, and we're also recording your show,
so we've got a rerun section where you can hear the show again.
Please come in and check!
- We're managing the website. - Please come visit.
Sir, it's www.eastriver.com.
They've got Gors face on top of a robot.
Wow, there's that rerun section.
That's a lot of comments.
Yeah. 'I found a great program.'
Hey, one at a time. Let me take a look too.
Hello?
Hello, I'm GO Suk-dong living in Dukpo.
I've been listening your show from the very first time.
Oh, you must be a fan of the show.
No, I'm unemployed. I got nothing to do
in the afternoon.
Can you get me a place to work?
What kind of qualifications do you have?
Uh... Driver's license...
Oh! I've got a taekwondo certificate too.
Look for a driver's position for the taekwondo training center shuttle.
Here's another listener. Hello?
Hi! I listen to you all the time.
Thank you. Are you unemployed by any chance?
Unemployed?
No. I'm a nurse.
Actually, I will become unemployed at the current rate,
since there are no patients these days.
No patients in a hospital?
There was someone who got bit by a snake at the mountains.
But none this week.
Release some snakes in town, then.
Sir.
Sir, sir!
Yeah, what is it?
What's keeping you entertained?
A rerun of CHOI Gors broadcast, from Youngwol.
Hey, we've got our own broadcast to worry about,
Free-falling ratings and endorsement deals annulled.
You can't be listening to that.
Hey you guys should listen to this stuff,
and make a better program! Get out.
I have to finish listening to this thing.
Idiots.
Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, The Doors, Nirvana...
These great bands don't just come out of nowhere.
For contemporary music to develop,
a progressive band culture is most imperative.
But kids don't like playing on bands these days.
Why? Because it's not profitable.
Those that have singing talent come out regularly
on TV to sing pop songs. That's the problem right now.
Profound, huh?
Me? I was doing fine on a band,
but then I met the wrong manager.
To tell you the truth,
you've all heard on the first show...
This manager loans money on my credit,
ruining my reputation,
and while we're at it, when I won the award back in 88',
radio producers were not something
anyone could become.
These days, there seems to be a lot on a free ride,
knowing nothing about music, and starring in bloopers,
if you know what I mean.
Those producers like phone calls too.
Here's the next call. Hello?
Sir, we're a band. It's East River!
You guys called again? What is it today?
Don't hang up on us.
We just want to sing one song on the air.
Just one. Please!
Please! Just one song!
Okay. One song. You call again tomorrow, and I promise I'll go get ya.
All right!
You guys ready?
Yeah!
You ready!
Yeah!
This is East River!