Rush Man Mania and a 5-Second KO
"If we'd promoted it even more, it could've gone higher!"
One viewer's live reaction had everyone nodding in agreement. It was an angle that no one could possibly look good in. His hair was flipped upside down from handstand walking, and his body was wobbling all over the place just to keep balance—total humiliation angle that anyone would fall victim to. But Kim Donghu still looked handsome. Even after a full 180-degree spin, no matter how his face was positioned, the fact remained unchanged.
Rush Man! had just shown the scene where Kim Donghu barely missed Kang Su and Sujin at the elevator. But the word "missed" felt wrong—because he'd pulled off something utterly ridiculous.
Overwhelming climb, scaling the stairs like folding them up with each arm extension. Impressive enough already, but the real shock was yet to come.
"Aigoo, how am I supposed to keep up if you go that fast? I'm feeling neglected!"
"What the—?! What is this?! How did you get here!? Actual Tarzan?!"
He caught the elevator on the 5th floor in that very state.
Right as Ji Seoksam was being sold off live on Rush Man!, another all-time legendary moment was born—one totally different from Kim Donghu's.
"You have no idea how cute and pretty you are! Aegyo launch!"
"Kyuu... Kyuu?!"
After that, Kim Donghu's exploits kept rolling. After outing Ji Seoksam, he headed straight to another floor to pressure Yoo Jiseok.
"Look at her eyes! Those eyes! Why are they so clear?!"
Viewers were gradually realizing just how entertaining human Kim Donghu was. Child actor who'd rocketed to success with insane acting skills—naturally, he could've been a bit arrogant.
As the fiery Rush Man! reactions surged, ratings shot straight up too. And right away, the next dopamine hit arrived.
"Kim Donghu leg use ban!"
At Sujin's shout of "Kim Donghu leg use ban!",
"Ha! Donghu can just handstand anyway?!"
"Uh... legs banned."
The scene of Kim Donghu freezing in pharaoh pose.
Thud thud thud thud! The VJ barely captured Kim Donghu's raging bull footsteps on camera. The final chase began.
In the end, the mission team won, as expected.
Wrapping up with bungee jump penalty, the Rush Man! child actor special ended triumphantly. Not just because of viewer reactions.
"R, Rush Man! peak ratings... 3, 30.6%!!!!!"
"What?! Peak 30% insane! Insane! Insane!!!"
Feeling the payoff from the insane promo blitz—or rather,
"If we'd promoted more, it could've been higher! Only 30% cuz of you, station head!"
"S-sorry... I should've done better... Sorry."
Instead blaming why promo was so lacking, Rush Man! PD Ji Yujin couldn't hide her grin.
"I told you! Kim Donghu's no joke! Totally insane!"
"Got it, got it, I'm really sorry... Ji PD, cool off with this."
"Mm... Hmm, then as promised, our Rush Man team uses the company card for a week?"
"Yeah, sure, this is variety revolution, of course, spend freely."
Who knew Kim Donghu would deliver like this. The variety department head chuckled incredulously at the ratings graph.
'Of course, can't ignore actress Kim Sujin's role.'
But Kim Donghu's share was overwhelmingly dominant—no denying it. Easy to analyze why ratings soared.
'A ridiculously handsome kid who makes you laugh just standing there, with real human charm.'
Relatability from someone "perfect" being like us. Plus superhuman feats, and
'How long since a guy boldly called female guests cute and pretty without hesitation?'
No pandering like past guests, straight-shooting charm—zero hateable traits.
As everyone praised Kim Donghu's variety sense.
The man himself was currently hearing,
"...Donghu-ya, opponent's forfeiting, straight to finals?"
"Pardon?"
After breezing through National Games High School quarterfinals, prepping for semis.
"Th-they said they saw Rush Man, heavyweight with that movement? Impossible..."
"...."
Opponent's forfeit news.
Heavyweights were already sparse. In a high school-only tourney? Even fewer.
So it started at quarters theoretically—win 3 matches for champ.
Kim Hanseo had thought, 'Mine for the taking?'
Assumed he'd win heavyweight easy.
"...You want me to fight that guy?"
Until Kim Donghu reached finals.
He'd heard the rumors—ear blisters worth. But sports being sports, gotta face off to know.
History full of such upsets.
But.
'He's just a beast.'
Changed the moment he faced Kim Donghu in the ring.
Huff huff.
Furious flesh, fists primed to kill.
Gulp.
Figuring moves post-bell.
"Box!"
Just a moment—a few seconds—he froze at start signal.
Bam!
Bomb blast and man's world flipped. Ceiling to floor, ground to sky—world inverted.
Tweeeet!
Ref whistle signaled instant end.
5-second super-fast TKO.
Victory came anticlimactically quick.
Baek Sangha watched and thought,
'Donghu's stage isn't here.'
The world only.
That was Kim Donghu's true battlefield.
Or maybe even there,
'Just his playground.'
When would Donghu show true 100%?
Suddenly curious.