Chapter 133: Promoting National Prestige
Chapter 133: Promoting National Prestige
The youngest member of the British royal family, Princess Shoopy, was the most unconventional figure in Buckingham Palace—and at the same time the icon who received the most passionate love from the public.
Even within the strict and conservative rules of the royal family, she remained fearless. She appeared at official events wearing daring fashion and communicated openly with the public by sharing her daily life on her personal social media.
Because of that, for British citizens—especially the MZ generation—she was not merely a princess but the embodiment of a wannabe figure.
Then an unusual photo appeared on her Instagram story.
It looked like a picture taken directly of a television screen. On that screen was an Asian man wearing a white doctor’s coat, his gaze sharp yet filled with melancholy.
It was Han Jusin.
Beneath the image was a short caption.
[A real prince who doesn’t exist in reality! I can’t stop watching!]
The following evening, the royal family’s charity gala was held. Princess Shoopy appeared at the event, which was attended by countless reporters and celebrities.
“Your outfit today is absolutely beautiful!”
Amid admiration for her elegant dress, one reporter casually asked a light question.
“Princess, do you have any hobbies you’ve been particularly interested in lately?”
It was a routine question. Normally the answer would be something textbook—horseback riding, reading, or charity work.
But Princess Shoopy’s eyes sparkled as she grabbed the microphone.
“Oh! These days I’ve been watching a drama on Weflex! Do you know Doctor Princess?”
The unexpected answer caused the reporters to murmur.
“Doctor… Princess?”
“Ah, do you mean that Korean drama?”
“Yes! It’s really interesting. It’s about a princess who abandons her royal status to become a doctor and save lives. It inspires me so much!”
Her face was filled with sincere enthusiasm. She looked like a teenage girl promoting her favorite singer.
Just as the reporters were about to laugh it off and move on, the real bombshell came next.
“Oh, and by the way, I’m not watching it alone!”
Shoopy said playfully, placing a finger over her lips as she whispered.
“My grandmother is binge-watching it with me all night. She even asks me when the next episode comes out. Although she says reading the subtitles is a bit difficult.”
At that moment, everyone at the venue froze.
The sound of people sharply inhaling echoed throughout the room.
Her grandmother meant none other than the current Queen of the United Kingdom.
The most conservative and authoritative figure in the British royal family—the Queen herself—was staying up all night watching a Korean drama from the opposite side of the planet.
The reporters’ eyes changed.
This was a scoop.
Britain was the land of Shakespeare and Harry Potter. A nation obsessed with stories and characters.
When such massive gossip exploded, tabloids rushed to feature Doctor Princess in large headlines.
[The Queen’s New Hobby? The House of Winchester Falls for Korean Drama Doctor Princess]
[A ‘Fake Princess’ Story Recognized by a ‘Real Princess’—The Drama Captivating the British Royal Family]
[The Power of K-Drama That Lit Up the Nights of Buckingham Palace]
[Princess Shoopy: “He Is a Real Prince” — Praise for Korean Actor Ryu Sunho]
The United Kingdom was a constitutional monarchy. For them, kings and princesses were not just fantasy—they were reality.
And yet a real princess was enthusiastically watching the story of a fictional princess from a drama.
That fact alone was enough to stimulate the curiosity of the British public.
“The Queen and the princess watch this drama?”
“Is the royal portrayal accurate?”
“It’s about a princess becoming a doctor?”
“Let’s try watching it. The royal family picked it.”
Curiosity quickly turned into action.
The Weflex UK charts began to shake.
Just a few days earlier, Doctor Princess had been outside the rankings, enjoyed only by a small group of enthusiasts.
Now its rank shot upward.
7th.
4th.
2nd.
Within half a day, it reached the top.
[Weflex UK Today’s Top 10]
It overtook a massive American series that had held the No.1 position for weeks and claimed the top spot.
As the heated response continued, attention naturally shifted to the drama’s main lead—Ryu Sunho.
[Who Is He? The Korean Actor Princess Shoopy Called a ‘Real Prince’]
To British viewers, the character Han Jusin played by Ryu Sunho was striking.
A handsome face combining Eastern and Western features. A genius surgeon with extraordinary skills, yet with a charmingly arrogant and eccentric personality.
On top of that, his deep voice and charisma struck the hearts of British women directly.
Curious British fans began digging into Ryu Sunho.
And the more they searched, the more perfectly he matched their tastes.
“Good heavens. He’s not just handsome.”
A post on a British community forum became the trigger.
[Do you know what this actor did in the past?]
Attached to the post was CCTV footage and news reports—translated into English—showing Ryu Sunho rescuing civilians from a burning car before his debut.
He ran into the flames without hesitation. He tore open the door of a car moments before it exploded.
British viewers interpreted it not simply as bravery but as the noble ideals they admired most—noblesse oblige and chivalry.
—Is this real?
—Oh my god… this isn’t a movie scene, right? It’s actual news footage?
—His face is aristocratic but his actions are a knight’s
—This is a real gentleman. British men obsessed with appearances should reflect on themselves
—He’s a great actor and a good person too… God is unfair
—He’s really an actor?
—He looks like a boy but acts like a true man
—Bring him to Britain! Give him citizenship!
In reality, Ryu Sunho grew up in an ordinary farming family far removed from noblesse oblige.
But for those who first learned about him through Doctor Princess, a positive bias already colored their perception.
And there was plenty more material to discover.
When old photos from a red carpet at the Acting Awards Ceremony surfaced—showing his nerdy style with glasses—the reaction flipped again.
—Is this the same person? He’s so cute with glasses!
—What is this gap? He’s the perfect nerd type!
—He looks like a younger version of Kingsman. Like Harry Hart’s successor
—I want to break those glasses… I want to make him cry
└Calm down. Get in line first
Then a video of Ryu Sunho singing on Mystery Singer went viral.
The song by Kim Gwanggyun he sang while wearing a mask.
Even though the lyrics were in Korean, the emotional power of his voice transcended the language barrier.
[I found a video of Ryu singing… this is insane…]
—What is that voice? Did someone coat it with honey?
—That’s literally a Disney prince voice
—Do Korean actors have to sing well to debut?
—I’m listening at dawn and I’m crying… I don’t even know the lyrics
└Here’s a link with translated lyrics! Listen while reading it!
But the decisive blow came elsewhere.
[(Shocking) Ryu isn’t just an actor. He’s a genius marketer.]
—What?
—Read the post below carefully.
One fan compiled Ryu Sunho’s past advertising work from Two Table and various promotional ideas he planned for dramas.
When it became known that the heart-transplant episode in Doctor Princess Episode 10 had actually been designed as a public campaign linked to another drama airing on the same network, people were stunned.
—Wait, so the heart-transplant episode was designed by this actor to increase organ-donation rates in Korea?
—Apparently he didn’t just lend his name as an ambassador—he personally persuaded the writers and the broadcasting station to revise the script
—What the hell… does he have a PhD in psychology? This is practically manipulating people’s minds
—Look at the Two Table ads. I saw those when I traveled to France. I didn’t know he planned them
—Is acting just his hobby? His real job must be marketing genius
There were many actors who acted well. Some were handsome and could sing.
But an actor who designed the entire board of a production and created a social phenomenon?
There had never been one before.
Especially for British audiences who valued intellect, the title “marketing genius” became the catalyst that made Ryu Sunho’s charm explode.
—If Sherlock Holmes existed in real life, he’d look like that
—His face is gentle but his brain is a calculator. That gap is amazing
—I thought he was Korea’s Colin Firth, but he’s more like Jeff Musk mixed in (though Ryu wins in looks)
—Can’t we just kidnap him to Britain? I’ll give him my citizenship
—Please film a British drama. Or at least plan one!
Ryu Sunho instantly rose as a rising star in Britain—a true cross-border phenomenon.
At the same time, British broadcasters began thinking the same thing.
Whoever brought Ryu Sunho onto their TV show would win.
JTBN Broadcasting Station — Entertainment News Office.
Reporter Seo Jiyeon let out a dry laugh while looking at her monitor.
Displayed on the screen were real-time trends and major foreign news articles from Britain.
“This… feels familiar.”
It resembled the situation when Possessed Detective, a drama where Ryu Sunho once appeared as a supporting actor, gained cult popularity in the United States.
The mix of Eastern shamanism and detective drama once became a hot topic in K-drama communities.
But back then it was basically a meme. A subculture trend.
This time was different.
Doctor Princess was not subculture.
It was mainstream.
It had reached No.1 streaming in Britain, a country known for its conservative viewership.
“A British princess is promoting it, and the Queen is watching it… what marketing could possibly be stronger than that?”
A thrilling shiver ran down her spine.
As the reporter who first discovered Ryu Sunho, she could not remain still.
Excited, she placed her hands on the keyboard.
Tap—tap—tap tap tap—
With brisk keystrokes, the article began to take shape.
[British Royal Family Mentions Korean Drama Doctor Princess: “A Remarkable Work”]
[“Ryu Sunho Is a Real Prince” — Princess Shoopy’s Praise Makes Korean Netizens Proud]
[Ryu Sunho’s Past Good Deeds Spread to Britain — Rising as an Icon of National Prestige]
Ryu Sunho himself was checking the article.
The comment section was practically a festival.
Koreans were particularly sensitive to overseas reactions—especially recognition from developed countries.
The so-called surge of national pride.
I didn’t intend for this.
But a single shout-out from a British princess had thrown all of South Korea into excitement.
Ding—
The status window rang.
It seemed the influence after Doctor Princess aired was finally being calculated.
How much did it rise?
The response in Britain was encouraging, but strictly speaking, the current KPI system still measured only domestic influence.
So he did not expect too much.
But still—
【Recognition Achievement Unlocked!】
【Goal Achieved: Recognition 70】
【Reward: Stat Point +1】
【Favorability Achievement Unlocked!】
【Goal Achieved: Favorability 60】
【Reward: Stat Point +1】
Recognition and favorability had risen significantly.
Checking the status window more closely—
【Influence】
【Recognition: 70/100】
【Favorability: 67/100】
Recognition increased by 5.
Favorability increased by a full 10.
I analyzed the situation calmly.
It must be that the news of success overseas worked as powerful social proof for domestic audiences.
The moment foreigners acknowledged it, domestic interest and favorability surged.
These numbers did not represent influence over the British public.
They represented the pride and support Koreans felt toward an actor who had elevated the nation’s prestige.
That left three stat points remaining.
And for achieving Favorability 60, a new title appeared.
【Title Granted: LV.6 Trusted Actor】
【Box Office Pull +40%】
【Effect: Ratings and ticket reservations for your projects increase significantly】
【The public is ready to choose a work simply because your name is attached to it.】
A Trusted Actor.
One of the greatest praises an actor could receive.
And it was an extremely practical title.
A 40% increase in box-office pull.
From now on, any project he appeared in would practically guarantee at least moderate success.
From an investor or producer’s perspective, there would be no more attractive card than him.
But that was not all.
【Ripple Effect Achievement Unlocked!】
【Goal Achieved: Ripple Effect 30】
【Reward: Stat Point +1】
The increase in ripple effect was astonishing.
It jumped 15 points at once.
Which meant—
【Ripple Effect: 38/100】
At the same time, a new aura unlocked.
【Aura Formation: LV.3 Emotion-Piercing Aura】
【The emotional density of words changes depending on who speaks them. Your speech and expressions carry deep persuasive power.】
【Effect: The emotional intensity of your intended words and actions is amplified 2×】
【Additional Effect: This aura penetrates the camera and directly affects viewers】
His eyes widened.
Penetrates the camera?
Until now, all auras worked only in face-to-face situations.
But this one was different.
It meant the emotions of people watching through a camera lens could be directly affected.
This… is an incredible effect.
Even the base effect was strong.
The emotional intensity of intended words and actions doubled.
What weapon could be stronger for an actor?
When performing sadness, viewers feel twice as sad. When expressing anger, they feel twice the intensity.
Especially in advertising—where you must capture a viewer’s heart in just fifteen seconds?
This was basically a cheat code.
Just as he was feeling satisfied with the rewards, his phone rang loudly.
It was Team Leader Jo Sehun.
“Sunho!!!”
His voice was an octave higher than usual. He sounded extremely excited.
“Britain just contacted us! The UK’s flagship talk show The Great Norton Show wants to invite you as a guest!”
For a moment, his mind went blank.
“…The Great Norton Show?”
“Yeah! And Princess Shoopy wants to adjust her schedule to appear too—not in the audience, but as a guest with you!”
!