Taeha steadily prepared his next project while continuing his activities centered around FreeWill—fan meetings, music broadcasts, and more.
Honestly, his schedule was packed.
Even though it was called “FreeWill,” almost everything he did was for his fans, which meant he couldn’t afford to be careless. Taeha was already well known for his deep affection toward his fans. No matter how busy he was, he never neglected platforms like Planet, MyStar, or his fan café.
Because of that, he threw himself into his off-season activities with such dedication that it felt almost as intense as filming.
Yet, even in the middle of this hectic schedule, he consistently set aside a few hours each day to work on his script.
Fortunately, the writing progressed smoothly.
Unlike before—when he had been juggling two projects simultaneously and writing four episodes for each—this time he was fully focused on a single work.
In fact, the results are even better than when I handled just one project before… It feels like finally running after taking off the training wheels.
Originally, Do Taeha had always been fast with his writing. Completing two finalized episodes in a month was normal for him; sometimes, he even managed three.
Because of this, people around him were always astonished by how he could produce such high-quality scripts at such incredible speed.
Of course, that didn’t mean he wrote without concern.
If anything, Taeha worried more deeply than anyone else.
The selection process for this project was no different.
Even after writing a total of eight episodes across two separate works, he couldn’t easily choose between them.
But after long deliberation, he finally made a decision—not based on preference, but on timing.
If it had been purely up to his personal taste, he wouldn’t have been able to choose at all. He liked both projects too much.
So instead, he asked himself:
Which project will benefit my career the most right now?
And the answer he arrived at was—
A historical drama.
***
“A historical drama? Really?”
When Taeha revealed his decision, Representative Han couldn’t help but question it.
As his agency head, it was only natural.
The most decisive factor in Taeha’s choice was overseas recognition.
At the moment, Taeha clearly felt its absence.
Even when global brands selected him as a domestic ambassador, they stopped short of appointing him as a global one. That meant his international recognition still wasn’t strong enough to generate the impact those brands wanted.
And so, he decided:
His next project would be used to expand his presence overseas.
However, by conventional thinking, historical dramas were the worst possible choice.
No matter how fictional they were, they were rooted in Korean history—something unfamiliar to foreign audiences.
That was why Representative Han found the decision so puzzling.
Moreover, the other project Taeha had been considering was a legal drama.
“Wouldn’t a legal drama be better?” he asked again.
But Taeha shook his head.
“A legal drama won’t create a strong response overseas. The differences between Korean law and foreign legal systems are too significant. It makes it harder for international audiences to relate.”
He was right.
While legal dramas often succeeded domestically, very few gained strong traction abroad. There were only rare exceptions.
Representative Han thought it over, then nodded.
“I understand why you ruled out the legal drama. But… choosing a historical drama still doesn’t make sense.”
Taeha smiled slightly.
“What if the idea that historical dramas don’t appeal to overseas audiences is just a misconception?”
“A misconception?”
“Yes. And it’s already been proven.”
As an example, Taeha brought up the historical zombie series Kingdom, which sparked a global craze for Korean dramas.
Set in the late Joseon period, it combined political intrigue with a zombie outbreak—something entirely unfamiliar, yet incredibly compelling to international viewers. It even led to global interest in traditional Korean items like the gat.
“Certainly, that was a monumental work,” Representative Han admitted. “But didn’t a legal drama also achieve global success?”
“It did,” Taeha replied calmly. “But that’s not the only example.”
He then mentioned the global phenomenon Squid Game.
A modern survival thriller centered around deadly children’s games, it captivated audiences worldwide. Despite its contemporary setting, it heavily incorporated traditional Korean culture—like dalgona candy—which became globally recognized.
Representative Han’s eyes sharpened in realization.
“…So the unfamiliarity actually became a point of appeal.”
“Exactly,” Taeha said. “And global interest in Korean culture is still growing. A historical drama can showcase that culture even more directly. That makes it ideal for building overseas recognition.”
After hearing the full explanation, Representative Han let out a quiet exclamation.
“Ah…”
It was logical. Clear. Convincing.
At the same time, he was once again reminded why Taeha was regarded as one of the most perceptive writers in the industry.
So that reputation isn’t just for show…
Having fully accepted Taeha’s reasoning, he nodded firmly.
“I understand. We’ll proceed with this as your next project and begin casting preparations.”
***
There was a reason Taeha had chosen the title:
“War and Fire.”
The story reached its peak in the chaos of war.
Set during the mid-Joseon period, in the reign of King Seonjo, the drama revolved around the Imjin War—the Japanese invasions of Korea.
However, it wouldn’t focus on kings or famous generals.
Instead, it told the story of ordinary people—those who suffered the most.
The protagonist was not a renowned historical figure, but an unknown righteous army commander.
Taeha named him:
Kim Seong-wol.
***
Kim Seong-wol was the only son of a prestigious noble family, renowned across all eight provinces.
Handsome, eloquent, and flawless in character—he was admired by everyone.
Naturally, the public’s greatest curiosity was his future marriage.
Rumors ran wild. Some said he was already promised to a noble lady. Others whispered that even the royal family had their eyes on him.
But contrary to expectations, Kim Seong-wol had no intention of entering a political marriage.
He would rather shave his head and become a monk than marry someone he didn’t choose.
This belief brought him into constant conflict with his parents.
Then one day—
He met her at a marketplace.
The woman who would change everything.
“Why would I plant beans with someone like you?”
Han Seung-hye looked at him with outright disdain.
Unlike Seong-wol, she came from a merchant family. Though beautiful and refined in appearance, her personality was anything but delicate.
She walked around with a bow in one hand and hunted rabbits without hesitation.
Like him, she had no interest in an arranged marriage.
But unlike him, she didn’t dream of love either.
She wanted freedom—riding horses, shooting arrows, and living beyond the constraints of society.
To her, Kim Seong-wol was nothing more than a useless noble.
Worse, given his popularity, she assumed he was a frivolous playboy.
Yet, despite her coldness, his sincerity gradually broke through her defenses.
Slowly, her feelings began to change.
Just as affection began to bloom—
War erupted.
The Imjin War.
Within half a month, the capital, Hanyang, was reduced to ashes.
Even the king fled.
The world fell into chaos.
And in that chaos, Kim Seong-wol and Han Seung-hye were separated.
***
Two months later—
A desperate chapter began.
Han Seung-hye disguised herself as a man and joined the righteous army, throwing herself into the battlefield.
Meanwhile, Kim Seong-wol, upon discovering a burned corpse he believed to be hers, was consumed by grief and rage.
And so, he too took up arms.
***
Will they meet again?
And if they do—
What kind of reunion awaits them?
***
This was the story of “War and Fire.”
Naturally, it was assumed Taeha would take the role of Kim Seong-wol.
The real question was—
Who would play the female lead?
I’m a bit worried… Casting the female lead has never gone smoothly.
But this time was different.
“The first-choice actress has expressed positive interest in joining War and Fire.”
That was the news Representative Han brought.