Ch.57The Ten-Million Actor Kim Donghu

In an age of rampant advertising.

When even fourth-tier financial institutions charging 44% interest appear on TV if they have enough money.

Nothing was more important than choosing advertisements wisely.

The image an actor establishes in the entertainment industry becomes fixed depending on which company’s face they become.

That’s why Choi Seokho wanted advertisements that didn’t lean in any particular direction.

He wanted to maintain an image that could still become anything.

He had no interest in having his image firmly set because of one poorly chosen advertisement.

Then.

“Am I seeing this correctly right now.”

He was dumbfounded by the sudden proposal to model for instant rice advertisements.

“Ottubang FJ… really sent an instant rice advertisement model proposal?”

Ottubap and Haetbap.

As if they had coordinated, even the content of their proposals was similar.

Both were quite lengthy, but to summarize:

『When you reach 10 million viewers, please eat our rice!

And then shoot a CF to become our advertising model!』

Given the scale of the offer, Choi Seokho immediately contacted Kim Donghu.

Based solely on the conditions, choosing Haetbap would be the obvious choice.

But in matters like this, the opinion of the person who would appear in the advertisement was most important.

Especially since Choi Seokho tended to unconditionally support Kim Donghu’s choices.

<Donghu, can you come to the office for a moment?

<Something came up for a meeting about an advertisement.

<It’s about instant rice, and we have overlapping offers from Ottubap and Haetbap, so we need to choose one.

<It’s not urgent, but the sooner we decide the better, so please check and let me know haha!

Tap tap tap tap tap.

His thumbs blazed as he sent the message.

SLAM.

“I think Haetbap would be better for me?”

The reply came not in the cyber world but in the real world.

What perfect timing.

“Really? Haetbap looks good to you?”

“Yes, they have higher brand recognition after all.”

“Right, in cases like this, going with the established option is the way to go.”

Even without that reasoning, Kim Donghu had planned to choose Haetbap.

It was like repaying a debt from his military service,

for all the bibimgo and galbi dumplings that had helped him through.

‘I would have really struggled through military life without those.’

Of course, he hadn’t chosen based solely on such emotional reasons.

It was more about seeing a rational future.

After briefly reminiscing about those times, Kim Donghu got to the main point.

The reason he had come to the agency even before Choi Seokho asked to meet.

That was:

“Seokho hyung, is there a script called ‘Story of the Moon and the Stars’ among those sent to me?”

It was because of a message sent by [Sims – Real Life].

+++++

Time rewinds slightly to the day before receiving the Haetbap CF proposal.

Ding! Ding! Ding!

I woke up flustered from sleep due to a sudden message in the early morning.

“What, what is it.”

I knew Sims messages tended to come unexpectedly, but this early in the morning?

Forcing my sleepy eyes open, the content of the message was shocking.

-[Kim Donghu receives sponsorship for 10 million viewer promise?! Let’s eat plenty of rice with Haetbap!]

-[Story of the Moon and the Stars falls through. Unable to find suitable actor… “Shocking”]

The first message about the CF didn’t surprise me much,

but the second message made my eyes widen.

‘I’m doing another project here?’

I was already insanely busy,

was I really going to take this on too? I was shocked.

I had been planning to take a break after <Eclipse> because I was starting to feel physically drained.

And now this news about another project comes along as if it had been waiting.

What kind of project could it be that would make me take on more work in this state?

With such expectations, I rushed straight to the office after school ended.

But,

“Um… there’s no title like that?”

Seokho hyung’s response shocked me once again.

“There isn’t?”

“No, I don’t usually forget project titles I’ve seen, but I’ve truly never heard of this one. No emails, nothing received separately.”

How could that be?

Well, strictly speaking, it could make sense.

Because:

‘Sims messages come from the future.’

So does that mean the project doesn’t exist at this point in time?

“But that’s a really unique title. Where did you hear about this project?”

“Ah, I just thought I saw it somewhere before, and suddenly got curious about what it was about.”

I gave a vague answer to Seokho hyung’s question.

How could I explain that I saw it in the future and was looking for it now?

“It seems like you asked a bit late, but why did you come early? Is there something I can help with?”

“No, I just wanted to eat jeyuk with tonkatsu on the first floor, it’s been a while.”

“Ah, I get that feeling, the owner on the first floor makes killer food.”

And the service is the best too, giving an extra fried egg to people from the same building!

I couldn’t help but burst out laughing at that comment.

Yes, eggs are definitely an important matter.

“Would you like to join me for jeyuk tonkatsu, Seokho hyung?”

“Sure.”

Just as we were about to go eat together.

Ring ring ring ring.

My phone rang fiercely as if asking where I was going.

Who could be calling at this hour?

When I checked, there was exactly one person it could be.

“Director Kang, hello.”

Director Kang with the Guan Yu beard, the director of <Endless Frontline>.

Whatever the reason, Director Kang was silent for a moment before speaking in a trembling voice.

-Oh yes, our Donghu, have you been well?

“Yes, I’ve always been doing well thanks to your care, Director.”

-Look at how nicely you speak, haha. Actually, it looks like our movie will hit 10 million viewers next week…

I’d like us all to do the countdown together, what do you think?

Hearing Director Kang’s voice, I immediately understood the reason for his trembling.

‘How much must he have wanted this.’

I suddenly remembered an interview with Director Kang from my previous life.

He proudly said that a commercial film director should make movies that audiences enjoy.

But,

The look in his eyes that showed regret for never reaching 10 million viewers.

Perhaps it was because that look vaguely came to mind.

“Of course I’ll come. Just call me and I’ll be there right away.”

I had already planned to go, but now I was even more determined.

+++++

“…The statistics are in! 10 million and 73 people! Endless Frontline has become a 10-million-viewer film!”

At Studio Geumgang CEO Park Geumgang’s announcement,

“UWAAAAAAAAAAAH!”

Director Kang let out a powerful roar that seemed to have been boiling up from within.

Sunday of the fourth week since <Endless Frontline>’s release.

Having reached 10 million viewers without any unexpected issues, <Endless Frontline> was holding a grand celebration.

“…Ah… I’ve reached 10 million…”

At the joyful dinner gathering.

Director Kang stood up abruptly and stuck a spoon in a soju bottle to make a microphone.

Then came his speech about reaching 10 million viewers.

“…It took me really, really long to get to this point. To be honest, I sometimes thought, maybe I’ll never achieve this.”

But now that I have, I realize:

“Ah, this isn’t something I could do alone. It’s only possible when everyone moves with one heart.”

Thank you all for supporting this inadequate director.

The production team was surprised by Director Kang’s rare 90-degree bow.

It was surprising enough that he bowed so deeply,

but tears were also dripping from beneath his lowered head.

Of course, they weren’t tears of sadness.

They were tears flowing from joy that had reached the limits of emotion.

Han Taegeon casually put his arm around Kim Donghu’s shoulders.

“No matter how you look at it, the real star of this 10-million achievement is our Donghu.”

“Why wouldn’t he be? Why else would his 10-million promise be eating rice with beef soup?”

“I don’t know where this lucky charm rolled in from.”

Ko Changsik and Seo Myungwoo each added a comment, painting Kim Donghu’s face with gold.

“Ah, no… um… thank you for thinking so highly of me.”

Still not used to being gilded with praise, Kim Donghu lowered his head.

“No, that’s not right!”

Seeing this, CEO Park Geumgang, wanting to liven up the atmosphere:

“First drama High Dream with 30% ratings! First short film winning 4 awards at Mise-en-scène! First commercial film hits 10 million!”

He began officially gilding Kim Donghu with praise.

“Do you think we can move on without hearing from superstar actor Kim Donghu, everyone?!”

“No way! No way!”

“Donghu, you made Director Kang cry, so you absolutely must give a speech!”

“Hahaha!”

The <Endless Frontline> production team continued the joyful atmosphere with laughter and chatter.

No one there knew.

‘Is it about time to play Swordsman Baek Dong-soo?’

That while filming this movie, Kim Donghu had simultaneously been working on a historical drama.

They would probably be surprised when they saw the preview on SKS tomorrow, wouldn’t they?

It was a moment of sudden anticipation.

+++++

『<Endless Frontline> hits 10 million! How was it possible? Time for an in-depth analysis…』

『Kim Donghu becomes a 10-million-viewer actor. Achievement unlocked with his first film!』

The morning after the <Endless Frontline> dinner.

Reporters continuously wrote articles about <Endless Frontline>.

There was plenty to write about,

and reactions poured in quickly to everything they wrote.

ㄴKim Donghu really did it.

ㄴSeriously, looking at everything he’s done so far, his career path makes no sense;

ㄴDid he pay someone or something? Is this even possible?

ㄴDo you think 10 million viewers is something you can buy with money? lolololol

ㄴNova 1592 who’s going to rise? This guy is a master

Real-time search rankings were predictably dominated by <Endless Frontline>.

1. Endless Frontline

2. Endless Frontline Han Taegeon

3. Han Taegeon

4. Kim Donghu

5. Endless Frontline 10 million promise

6. Rice

7. Kim Donghu 10 million

8. Kim Donghu Han Taegeon

9. Student soldiers

They could talk about Kim Donghu all day and not run out of material.

In some ways, they hadn’t even properly covered everything yet.

Just as they were about to write about Mise-en-scène, they realized he had already hit 10 million with a commercial film.

Reporters were having a hard time keeping up with the actor’s information.

An unusual phenomenon was occurring.

‘But now he’ll have some free time, right?’

‘He’s human too, he can’t take on more work at this point.’

Thinking this, reporters were leisurely settling into their evening when:

“…Hey, why are you appearing here?”

They had to see Kim Donghu on TV, playing young Jaun in <Swordsman Baek Dong-soo>.

“This isn’t right, is it?!”

Overtime was confirmed.