`"Thank you to the SBS reporter for the question, and to Mr. Luke for his answer," the host said smoothly. "Next, we'll hear from KBS."
The KBS reporter stood up with a practiced smile.
"Mr. Luke, over the past year, you've delivered two incredible films—Hero and Pirates of the Caribbean. As a movie fan, I'm thrilled, and I think Korean audiences feel the same way. Could you tell us anything about your upcoming projects?"
It was a safe, standard question. Nothing controversial—but it gave Luke plenty of room to steer the narrative.
Luke smiled back.
"First, I want to sincerely thank Korean audiences for their support," he said. "Thanks to you, both films surpassed ten million admissions here in Korea, which is something I deeply appreciate."
"To return that support, I do have several projects in development. As for specifics, though—those are still confidential, so I'll have to ask for your understanding."
A flicker of disappointment crossed the reporter's face. No exclusives today.
But Luke didn't stop there.
"What I can share," he continued, "is the general direction I'll be taking."
The room grew more attentive.
"Right now, I'm primarily working in Hollywood. So the first direction is continuing to produce films with a strong mainstream cinematic appeal—projects like The Fast and the Furious, Jurassic Park III, and Pirates of the Caribbean. That kind of global blockbuster storytelling is something I'll keep pursuing."
He paused briefly.
Thanks to his Life's a Stage talent, his calm tone carried weight. Even seasoned reporters found themselves listening more closely.
"The second direction comes from my cultural background," Luke said. "I also want to make films that highlight traditional cultural elements. Audiences have already seen this in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Hero."
"In the future, I plan to bring more of these elements to international audiences—things like calligraphy, traditional painting, the Lunar New Year, classical scientific achievements, traditional medicine, and architectural techniques such as mortise-and-tenon construction."
As he listed them, the room fell briefly silent.
No one interrupted. No one challenged him.
"Mr. Luke really has a deep appreciation for traditional culture," the KBS reporter said after a moment, nodding. "It's admirable that you want to share it globally."
Luke inwardly noted the reaction.
Exactly. No objections. No disputes. Everyone accepted those elements without hesitation.
That was the point.
"Absolutely," Luke replied. "Culture is the backbone of any civilization. It's something worth respecting and preserving."
"Thank you, Mr. Luke," the host said. "Next, MBC."
The MBC reporter stood up.
"I agree with Mr. Luke—culture is essential to national identity," she said carefully. "While each country has its own historical journey, Korea also has many traditions we take pride in. Mr. Luke, during your visit to Japan, you toured historic sites like Kiyomizu-dera and Kinkaku-ji. Now that you're in Korea, do you plan to visit our historical landmarks as well?"
Luke's expression remained calm, but he immediately understood the subtext.
The earlier discussion had clearly unsettled the room.
No one had challenged him outright, but the tension was there. The reporters were gently steering the conversation toward Korean cultural pride, hoping he'd offer a validating comparison—something quotable, flattering, and officially recorded.
A single enthusiastic remark from Luke could become tomorrow's headline.
Luke was fully aware of what they wanted.
But he also knew that anything said here would live forever—archived, clipped, reposted, and weaponized in future debates.
So he chose his words carefully.
"I haven't had the chance to visit Korea's historic palaces yet," Luke said evenly. "But I am interested, and I've done some reading."
"I know that many of the palace gates and halls use classical characters—names like Gwanghwamun, Geunjeongjeon, and Sajeongjeon. As someone who grew up studying those characters, seeing them in a different historical context gives me a strong sense of familiarity."
It was a precise answer.
Respectful. Factual. Impossible to twist.
No exaggerated praise. No dismissiveness. No emotional endorsement he'd later regret.
The room grew quiet again.
Luke leaned back slightly, maintaining his composed posture.
Everything here was being recorded.
And in cultural conversations like this, clarity mattered more than applause.