Ch.153The whole world was in absolute chaos.

After I had fully released all my emotions in the waiting room for a while, I washed up neatly for the interview that was scheduled to follow.

Normally, I should have proceeded directly to the interview, but I couldn’t feel at ease until I checked Sims – Real Life’s message. I wanted to do the interview after knowing my parents were safe.

Anyway.

“It’s Kim Donghu!”

After composing my emotions, I immediately moved to the mixed zone. Numerous reporters looked only at me and flashed their cameras.

Click, click, click.

But no one dared to ask questions prematurely. That’s because I hadn’t taken my seat yet.

The fist that seized gold.

Everyone showed respect and quietly waited for their turn before it.

I sat down.

As soon as I was seated, according to the order, the reporter who arrived first quickly asked a question.

“Hello, this is ESPN. I have many questions I’d like to ask, but first, I’d really like to hear your thoughts.”

Just as the interpreter was about to translate the question, I signaled that it was okay.

“I’m really happy. An Olympic gold medal is truly a valuable experience and proof of effort. I feel rewarded, so I’m really happy.”

As soon as I finished answering, the next question followed immediately.

“Hello! This is Sports Hanyang. First, congratulations on your gold medal.”

“Thank you.”

“I’d like to hear your opinion on the Russian athlete’s drug use in this final match.”

“I was stronger. That’s all.”

What did Kim just say?

I was stronger? Wow!

As soon as my answer came out, the reporters couldn’t hide their excitement.

I just said something obvious, but was it that impressive?

“This is Olympic Channel. Did you have confidence in gold from the beginning?”

“My confidence is embodied in the October issue of GOT magazine.”

“I know. It’s very famous, ‘Forfeiting is the safest way to lose.’ Is it still valid?”

“I think I’ve shown it with the gold medal.”

Click, click.

Even while I’m speaking, flashes continue to go off and photos are being taken.

And the questions keep coming.

“This is Ring Magazine. Looking at this match, excluding drugs, the Uzbek athlete in the semifinals lasted 1 minute and 14 seconds. Could we hear your thoughts?”

“I definitely struggled. The Uzbek athlete’s unique footwork, distance control, and accuracy were tricky.”

“This is NBC Sports. You’ve achieved both the shortest match and KO record in Olympic history at once. Please share your thoughts.”

“I just did what I had to do. I’m really happy that it became a record.”

It seems like the interview is focusing too much on foreign press.

Just as I was thinking that…

“This is KBC Sports! Could you tell us about the development of what’s now called the Hitman Signature—the temple hook, short uppercut, liver shot combo?”

“It doesn’t always start that way, but when mixing these three evenly and using them consecutively, the KO probability was highest.”

“This is SKS Sports. Some say this is a new history of heavyweight boxing! Along with high praise that it’s a completely new style! Please share your thoughts on this!”

“I don’t think anything is completely new. I just followed and developed the path my seniors paved. I express my gratitude to the seniors who developed boxing.”

Questions from excited domestic reporters flew in.

They seemed extremely happy and excited about the gold medal.

I couldn’t help but smile while answering, seeing how much they were enjoying this.

“This is Daehan Daily Sports. We’d like to know who comes to mind first right now.”

“Of course, my family. Mom, Dad, and my younger sister Seohyun… I miss them so much, really too…”

I suppress the emotions that suddenly surge up.

I thought I had cried everything out earlier.

It seemed like tears of relief and joy were still remaining.

‘Good thing I can act at times like this.’

I quickly swallowed my tears and continued my answer.

“…thank you. For believing in me, yes. And of course, my coach, Director Paek Sangha comes to mind next. He is my master.”

Master.

At that word, the reporters’ eyes sparkle.

“World Boxing, no, WBN here. Professional boxers have been praising your match. Do you have any plans to turn professional?”

Professional.

With my current performance, I could certainly make the transition, but I wanted to live as an actor, not a boxer.

“I have no plans to turn professional.”

“This is Second Out. Then are you considering exhibition matches?”

“If they pay enough money to make it enjoyable.”

Do they like my straightforward answers?

Even the foreign reporters smiled and busily moved their hands.

It seems like they’re writing articles while asking questions.

Where do they learn such skills?

“This is The Athletic. Do you have anything to say to the fans who waited for this victory?”

“Even though it was a short wait, I want to thank you for waiting.”

Laughter again.

As the atmosphere gradually suggested it was time to end the interview, I answered a few more questions and then signaled to wrap things up.

“Was doping test your next schedule?”

“Yeah, they’ll probably be strict about it. After all, you beat a doped athlete.”

At Sangha hyung’s words, I shrugged my shoulders.

‘After the mixed zone, doping test, and then the final press conference.’

Since the official press conference usually had about 30 minutes of extended Q&A, there would probably be a simple celebration party after the press conference was over.

‘After all that’s done, I’ll really fall into sleep.’

It seemed like it would be a stress-free sleep after a very long time.

++++++

While Kim Donghu was getting a good night’s sleep after completing all his schedules, the whole world was in an uproar.

“Doping suspicions? None. Donghu Kim, 2nd round KO of doped athlete without doping”

“‘I’ll play with the world if they pay enough to enjoy it’ Overwhelming confidence and destructive skill!”

“On drugs: ‘I was just stronger’ Kept his word that forfeiting is the safest way to lose”

“Shower of praise from boxing legends! ‘He will be the new face of heavyweight'”

“Elegant boxing, love calls from global luxury brand designers?! ‘Want him as a model'”

“Kim Donghu’s empty wrist, which watch brand will claim it?”

The reason boxing doesn’t collaborate with luxury brands is because it’s far from being an elegant sport.

It’s commonly seen as far from aristocratic sports like tennis.

But.

Kim Donghu’s appearance ignored all that and captivated designers.

Destructive ferocity and god-given perfect looks.

The harmony of these two inspired luxury brands like lightning.

With the world in such an uproar:

“Adihes, planning product development with solid partnership with Kim Donghu”

“RedHorn, historic partnership with Korean athlete! The protagonist is Kim Donghu”

“Ilyang Foods’ brilliant move?! Spicy Chicken Hot Fist Kim Donghu! Declares ‘We’ll go with him for life’!”

“How far is FJ planning to go? Announces ‘Kim Donghu is our face'”

“Riding the wave is also a skill, Brilliant School Uniforms: ‘Having Kim Donghu as our model was heaven-sent'”

The domestic reaction was even more intense:

[Kim Donghu crazy bastard… Punch compilation that ended military service in about 7 minutes….gif]

ㄴAre 7 seconds, 11 seconds, 1 minute 14 seconds, 5 minutes 13 seconds correct?

ㄴReally fucking crazy… so grateful he’s Korean, makes people crazy with national pride

ㄴLook at those refreshingly straightforward answers lol “Drugs? I was just stronger” wow;;;

ㄴKim Donghu can truly be called a man among men. Agreed.

ㄴThe reactions of Mayweather and those guys when he KO’d are really insane;

ㄴI saw that too, really like Tom’s eyes popping out in that show lol

[Kim Donghu’s striking scenes against the drug user in finals]

ㄴThe way he uses the rope’s rebound to hook the opponent every time they bounce out is really sick

ㄴLooks like the Dempsey Roll lol

ㄴHis style is so unpredictable, especially when he switches to southpaw there;;; His boxing IQ is insane

ㄴIsn’t he truly a legendary athlete? Destructive yet stable, aggressive yet solid

ㄴHope they stop with those celebrity fighting rankings now lol Kim Donghu is overwhelmingly #1

ㄴSeriously… it’s all meaningless now, an Olympic gold in heavyweight with a competition weight of 91kg?

ㄴThe referee was disgusting too, deliberately dragging out the time

ㄴAgreed; that’s why Kim Donghu deliberately didn’t knock him down at the end with hooks and uppercuts, really…

[Foreign media reactions to Kim Donghu’s KO scene]

ㄴThey’re losing their minds over the Spicy Chicken Hot Punch lol

ㄴAmazing, hot, and spicy

ㄴWow, even after watching several times, sometimes you can’t see his fist

ㄴLook at them being surprised by the Hitman Signature combo lol

[Breaking news, all YouTube videos related to Kim Donghu’s Olympics surpass 2 million views lol]

ㄴYeah, I watched each one 100 times lol

ㄴNever gets old no matter how many times you watch, crazy handsome bastard

ㄴSo Kim Donghu’s specs now are: actor in two 10-million-viewer movies, drama ratings minimum 30%, variety show highest ratings 30%, rang the Golden Bell, amazing pianist, perfect English and Japanese, and heavyweight boxing gold medal at 20?

ㄴAlso good at cooking lol

ㄴSoon to be a muse for a luxury brand, designers are literally begging him to come lol

ㄴRumor has it he’ll get a car deal…

ㄴLegendary that he’s not turning pro and continuing as an actor, wonder what his next project will be?

ㄴThat agency, what was it? Veritas? They’re really smart, posting official videos and copyright striking all videos posted elsewhere

ㄴPreventing reaction channels from making money by immediately striking them; the CEO knows what he’s doing lol

[Kim Donghu’s fan meeting announcement is out, crazy bastard doing this at this timing? lol]

ㄴA guy who loves his fans more than anyone, just has the qualities of a star

ㄴFirst activity after returning to Korea is a fan meeting lol he’s just different

ㄴPrioritizing fan communication before cashing in after a proper rest? This guy… no wonder he’s so successful

ㄴThey say they’ll prioritize fan cafe members for selection…

There have been many Korean athletes who brought home Olympic gold medals, but boxing was completely unexpected, and Kim Donghu’s actions were so groundbreaking that people were enthusiastic about the boxing records he rewrote for South Korea.

And Kim Donghu, who was receiving all this attention, was currently…

“Donghu, so which brand are you going to contract with?”

“Well… there are too many options.”

“You need to choose one each for car, watch, and clothes. They all want only you.”

He was contemplating his choices while looking at the list of numerous love calls.

>I’ll be direct

>Let’s date

>I’ll come to Korea

‘What’s this now.’

Evelyn Queen Ember’s love call was a bonus.