The Catfish Swallows TV
Photo time for Hydream wrapped up, and it was time for the real Q&A. The cast and crew lined up at the table, ready for the reporters' questions.
They kept stealing glances.
Instead of asking questions, the reporters just stared at Kim Donghu.
No matter how many times they looked, the only word that came to mind was perfect. From the size of his face to the line dropping from his neck to his shoulders, the sharp right angles of those shoulders, and the perfectly balanced muscles. Not a single flaw.
The more they searched for defects, the more the reporters arrived at one truth: a perfect hexagonal appearance. No such thing as a bad angle existed for him, leaving everyone intimidated by his presence. And he was only turning fifteen. The perfect age where you'd get flak for picking on him too hard.
Like, the kid doesn't know any better.
Still.
I'm curious.
Fortune favors the bold. One reporter shot his hand up.
"Yes, go ahead with your question."
"Daily Happy, Gil Gil-dong here. The Hydream synopsis is pretty skimpy on details about Ije's role. Could you tell us exactly what kind of character he is?"
A question aimed not at the leads, the director, or even a solid supporting role, but at a semi-support? It might've raised eyebrows, but no one batted an eye. In this room, who shone the brightest?
"Donghu should answer that himself, right? Donghu."
Obviously Kim Donghu. Kim Youngmo PD, looking thrilled at a question about Donghu, quickly passed the mic.
"Ah, Kim Donghu—or Ije—is a character at odds with the Hydream members. He's got a classic vibe."
"Classic?"
"Yeah, he plays the piano."
"Are you actually playing it yourself?"
"Yep. I'll be performing it live."
"Any chance we could hear which piece?"
"That's exactly why you gotta tune in live!"
Hahaha. The reporters chuckled at Donghu's witty dodge. Handsome, funny, and that occasional flash of humanity? No issues, and he'll go far.
But does he really play piano? Plenty of kids have gotten backlash for faking it.
Guess I gotta watch live after all.
They wanted to lob a few more Donghu questions, but now it was time for real scoops. The reporters unleashed a barrage on the main cast and crew.
Starting light with roles, attitudes toward filming, routines, ideal types—the standard press conference fare.
Smooth sailing all around.
But killer questions strike from the quiet underbrush.
"Since you're all rookies, during filming, was there anyone who made you think, damn, they can really act?"
A question that could stir drama. Maybe fishing for conflict to spin clickbait. But the actors' faces showed no panic.
"Yes, there was."
"Who?"
Jin Su-hyuk grabbed the mic calmly, unflinching.
"...You'll find out if you tune in live."
A beat of pause, then his breezy reply. Laughter erupted at the cheeky answer.
But the cast and crew knew the real answer.
Kim Donghu.
The day you burst onto the scene. How big a wave will you make? Can we even survive it?
Jin Su-hyuk suddenly felt a twinge of worry.
The Hydream press conference ended triumphantly.
Time flew, and soon in a cafe near Daehak-ro, a hunched man with trembling hands waited for someone.
Ugh, never thought I'd get a call. From a manager, no less...
Not a big agency, but not one to dismiss either. Choi Seokho. Funny that a debut director knew the name of some manager.
But Choi Seokho's rep was legendary.
Only Choi Seokho contacts every single scriptwriter from Cybers QA onward.
Obsessed with the best projects. A workaholic logging 16-hour days. A deep-sea diver scouring the bottom scripts. He was well-known in the industry.
And now I'm meeting him?
Hero's director, Lee Seong-deok, popped another calming pill in a panic. Had to steady his nerves somehow.
Ding-a-ling.
Right then.
"Ah, there you are. Hello. BeRitas Manager CEO, Choi Seokho. I gave you my card last time, right?"
"Y-yes, yes! H-hello, Lee Seong-deok."
Choi Seokho arrived. Bright smile, friendly face. Broad shoulders suiting his casual suit. To Type A Lee Seong-deok, the obvious Type O Choi Seokho was total opposite.
"Just wanted to say your script is amazing, and I really want to work together."
"Ah, th-that's an h-honor! Budget-wise, I can s-scrape together 700 to 1,000... if I max it out!"
"Haha, straight to budget? You're straightforward."
"Thank you."
No, it was a one-sided counterpunch.
"What inspired a script like this?"
"Well, I was moved by 'not guilty by blood, guilty by poverty,' and vigilantes exist, you know... But most start from adulthood."
But values and personality form young, right? So I wanted to capture a hero's boyhood, judging evil from birth. And also...
Creators get hyped when someone dives deep into their world. Choi Seokho listened intently to Lee Seong-deok's passionate pitch while subtly working his phone.
"Ah, was I rambling? Sorry."
"No, not at all. But how about our actor-landlord reading the script? Want to see the video?"
"Pardon? Sure!"
Actor-landlord? Must've misheard. Lee Seong-deok peered at the phone as the video played.
A ridiculously handsome boy holding his script, reading slowly.
The moment he saw it.
"...Ah."
Lee Seong-deok's eyes burned with the urge to capture this kid on camera.
One more convert to the Church of Kim Donghu.
Mid-January. Snow fell, bitter cold gripped Korea.
People preferred cozy homes and TV over outings. Ski trips were fun, but peeling tangerines while watching dramas? Peak bliss.
Especially today.
"Hydream is seriously so good!"
Episode 2 air day. Episode 1 hit 12% ratings—a solid start. Could crush rivals if it kept momentum.
Seventeen-year-old Ji Eun-bi, now a diehard fan, buzzed with excitement.
"Watching Hydream lets you stan idols and actors."
Hot guys and girls in sweet love triangles? "Irresistible."
Jin Su-hyuk as Song Cheol-su, stealing the opening with his looks, soared in popularity.
"Su-hyuk oppa is too handsome."
Episode 2 kicked off. Deeper story, fleshing out characters from episode 1.
Principal Wang Ho and Chairman Maria's chat. Overt disdain for Hydream.
"Ha, hilarious. Isn't effort praiseworthy?"
Ji Eun-bi, once baffled by parents talking during dramas, now muttered along, fully immersed.
Hydream episode 2 raced toward the end, ignoring them. Before the group united, the principal and chairman— who hated them—mentioned one student.
Ije?
Sounded familiar. She'd skimmed press conference articles—something about a super handsome kid? But no deep dive. She wasn't that obsessed.
With that.
Click.
The principal's office door opened on TV. A boy entered—hair slicked back neatly, aura of elegance. Same uniform as others, but he looked suited up.
Chairman Maria's line ended, screen faded to black-and-white.
End credits BGM
Frozen frame: massive close-up of Ije's face.
"...Who the hell is this guy?"
Ji Eun-bi couldn't look away.
Same time, KBC station. Kim Youngmo PD stared anxiously at his phone.
"PD-nim, staring won't make ratings drop faster."
"Dude, no emotions? How are you so chill?"
"I'm... just the assistant director."
"What does that matter?"
If there was a Kim Donghu cult, Kim Youngmo PD would be high priest. Episode 1's 12% jackpot had him praying for episode 2 to top it.
Please, 13%—hell, 12.5% is fine!
Succeed, succeed.
Ding!
A text arrived.
"M-moment peak rat, t-ten, fourteen percent?!"
14% on episode 2. A 2% jump overnight, even if momentary.
Why spike in the intro phase? As he pondered.
The usually stoic assistant director's eyes widened. "P-PD-nim! PD-nim!"
"What? What?!"
"R-real-time search, check it!"
"Search? Why?"
"Portal #1: Ije."
Ije? Top real-time search?
So the 14% spike was Ije?
Ije appeared for under six minutes.
Yet Kim Donghu had already devoured the portal sites.
A true catfish.
The catfish was swallowing TV whole.