The Nameless Student Soldier Steals the Show
For Hide Dream, Kim Donghu—no, the actor playing "Ije"—was their hidden ace up the sleeve. They hadn't exposed him in the making-of footage or press articles. But no matter how hard they tried to hide his looks, they were on another level entirely. Just a fleeting glimpse was enough to set the comment sections ablaze.
Who is he? Is he an actor? What's his name? What role does he play? Despite the comments going wild with curiosity, there was no clear answer to satisfy them. Hide Dream's team was just thrilled to have any buzz at all. The scariest thing was vanishing without a trace, after all. In that sense, this kind of hype was more than welcome with open arms.
Editing's wrapping up soon, and the main broadcast isn't far off.
It was almost December, and January would be here in the blink of an eye. Hide Dream aired in early to mid-January, so there was just over a month left. Kim Youngmo PD glanced at the calendar mid-edit.
Time flew by like an arrow, but one needless worry lingered.
Only about two days left shooting with actor Kim Donghu.
Hide Dream had 16 episodes total, and Kim Donghu appeared in roughly 5 as Ije. No one could predict the ripple effect those episodes would have. If his popularity exploded from them—if it ignited the viewer boards like the article comments—
Then the story of Hide Dream might change.
Reshoots, re-edits... what a headache.
"Ugh, just imagining it is nightmare fuel."
Kim Youngmo PD muttered, but a grin never left his lips.
Script reading day for Endless Frontline.
People eyed the new seat added to the square table, curiosity piqued.
"Whose spot is that?"
"Yeah, it just says 'Student Soldier Role' with no name..."
"Heard Park Rep cast him in a huge rush."
"Joining mid-schedule like this? That's fresh."
Every other seat had the role and actor's name neatly labeled. But this one stood alone like a deserted island: Student Soldier Role. Everyone wondered who would claim it—especially Han Taekon, the lead as the protagonist, who straight-up asked the director.
"Director, a new actor joins and you tell us nothing?"
Kang Director rolled his eyes at the good-natured question, flashing a sheepish smile. Truth was, he didn't know much himself.
Park Rep insisted it had to be this kid, so I said okay. But I haven't even seen proper acting from him.
The one thing he could say for sure? The kid was unbelievably handsome. But that wasn't the answer to this question.
"You'll meet him soon enough."
"He's a rookie, right? Running late."
Kang Director chuckled at Han Taekon's teasing.
"Look at you, sounding like the old fogey now."
"C'mon, you know I'm kidding."
"Told him to come late on purpose. First time, might as well make an entrance."
Or he'd show up two hours early. Han Taekon nodded along and stood.
A rookie joining mid-film, and you're making him sweat on purpose.
The mystery figure sparking questions—why add a Student Soldier now? This was the proving ground to face it head-on.
As reading time neared...
"Hello! I'm Kim Donghu, taking on the Student Soldier role. Please take care of me!"
The booming voice unveiled the shrouded figure. His face screamed youthful innocence—even generously, he looked like a high school freshman. But that paled next to the real standout.
"Whoa... what is that face?"
It was an otherworldly appearance. Like beholding God's masterpiece in motion. The pinnacle of beauty made flesh. Purely from looks, a hush fell over the script reading room.
Thud. Thud.
Just walking, yet each step felt like a photoshoot. The silence lingered as Kim Donghu greeted the senior actors and director, then sat. Everyone was briefly stunned by the unreal visage.
"F-Finally, every piece of my vision is here."
Wait, and it wasn't even filters? Kang Director stole glances at Kim Donghu amid his words. In an era where Photoshop fixed faces like nothing, SNS overflowed with photo-vs-reality mismatches. Could someone with that face look even better in person?
What did this kid eat to grow up like that?
Don't overthink it. Looks aren't everything.
Okay, they mattered—a lot. But if the acting flopped, it was all for naught. Just the basics. Please, the bare minimum. Capturing that face on camera would be gold.
"Alright, let's kick off the script reading. No cameras today, so don't hold back."
Hahaha.
The room eased at Kang Director's tension-breaker.
"Straight to it—Student Soldier part first."
"Scene 165: Student Soldier kills ally to survive."
The moment Kang Director's narration ended—
Whoosh!
Kim Donghu's beaming smile vanished.
Why does the Student Soldier have no name?
Because even a name was a luxury in his life.
In war, amid shellfire. In a world where death could strike anytime, what could be dumber than clinging to a name?
Warriors gathered under the red flag for revolution. Destined for greatness, yet treated like filth. Baking dirt to eat, gnawing tree roots—daily routine now.
"What the hell is this revolution worth, making us live like this?"
Emotionless words spilled from Kim Donghu—no, the Student Soldier. A boy who'd lost his family young, now gripping a gun. His voice was ice-cold.
Glancing down: a dying comrade. The same guy who'd yelled about stolen food moments ago.
Worthless punk. Like that matters now?
"Yeah, I ate yours. So what if that's a problem?"
Why can't you steal a comrade's rations? No one taught morals here. Flyaway lives no one would miss anyway. So who cared who killed them?
"Gonna die either way? Then the survivors eat more."
Gotta live for my sister too—stomach's starving.
Crunch.
The grinding underfoot echoed like a neck snapping in the room's ears. An emotionless killing machine, driven solely by survival, slaying others. The Student Soldier's entrance overwhelmed them all.
What did you bring here, Director?
Han Taekon's gentle smile fixed on Kim Donghu. He'd never felt outdone in acting. But this? What realm was it?
Those dead eyes scanning the room raised goosebumps. The monster born of war, violence, gunpowder—its mouth opened again.
"Others."
Huuuuh—
A deep sigh whipped like a storm. Compressed, arid emotion to the limit. Eyes unblinking after multiple kills, machine-like, stared beyond the battlefield.
"Does 'others' really exist, sis?"
Too damn hard to snag even a scrap of millet or rice. Middle-school age, unleashing undisplayable depths of emotion. Kang Director couldn't look away from start to finish.
How can someone like that exist?
The emotional range was insane. Tender longing for a sister, yet zero feeling when killing. He'd thought only a machine could pull that off.
Humans can't just toggle emotions.
But he does it? A rookie? At his first script reading? With all these actors and staff watching?
Kang Director's lips curled to his ears. Finally—completion. Not 100%, but 120%.
The key was.
Kim Donghu!
And someone as shocked as Kang Director—maybe more—was there too.
Did I just sign a freak of nature?
Choi Seokho: Kim Donghu's agency rep, tenant in his building, manager.
He knew the kid was handsome. Figured the acting was decent.
But this? What the hell?
Revise the plan.
A smooth path for Kim Donghu? Pointless. His talent could seize it all.
So what could he do? Choi Seokho decided in a flash.
Build an agency tailored for Kim Donghu.
A space perfectly for him.
After the shocking script reading, Choi Seokho and Park Rep signed the contract on the spot. The negotiation master Choi secured the best deal, and Park Rep—unfazed by favoring a rookie—moved decisively.
Endless Frontline contract sealed.
Time raced to December.
"Today's the last day Ije appears, huh."
Kim Donghu's final Hide Dream shoot had arrived.