Child Actress Kim Sujin (2)
Child actors really are a great springboard into the entertainment industry. Building a career from a young age means a solid foundation, which is undeniably a huge help when challenging for bigger acting roles later on.
But.
It's 2001 right now.
The so-called romantic era. Just ten years after the war on crime was declared. A time when thugs had tight ties with the entertainment world.
Jumping into showbiz now would be insane.
Unless you had some solid backing, that is.
And besides, I have no intention of acting right away.
I wanted to test just how far the power of my privileges extended. That was the reason for appearing on the show.
And this is a kind of investment.
People say childhood connections don't amount to much when you grow up. But that's only because they only built connections that shallow.
I glanced over. Behind PD Kim Youngmo, whose jaw had dropped at my refusal, Kim Yuryeon was slyly pulling out her business card. She was probably planning to give it to my mom.
Perfect. That'll do it.
I'd confirmed my entertainment talent and even scored a business card from a top star. For my age, I'd accomplished everything possible.
If I ever decided to enter the industry, that one card would be a massive opportunity. And my connection with Kim Sujin would undoubtedly be a huge boost too.
In my previous life, we didn't even cross paths.
Being this handsome really paid off.
"Thanks."
"Huh?"
Of course, that didn't make me arrogant. Sujin was the one who'd given me this chance, so I didn't forget to express my gratitude.
"What for?"
"Thanks to you, I got to be on Kyarruk Doctor! Not just anyone can do that."
"Th-then... hold my hand."
Feeling like she was above me now, Sujin switched straight to princess mode. Seeing that, I couldn't help but think she was born for showbiz.
I took her hand tight, and Sujin burst into delighted kyarruk laughter, like it was the best thing ever. Watching her, I fell into a brief reverie.
Unlike my ugly previous life, how differently can I live now?
The only difference between my past and present lives was my looks. They'd changed drastically, but still, I wondered: how high could I soar?
+++++
After flatly refusing Kim Yuryeon's offer to drive me home, Mom and I hopped in a taxi and sped back like a bullet.
"Our son was on TV! And getting all that praise!"
How long had it been since I'd seen Mom smile like this? I hadn't seen it much in my previous life.
They say even a hedgehog thinks its baby is cute. But without the hedgehog there, how could the baby get that affection?
"But are you sure you don't want to do more? You're not holding back because of Mom and Dad, right?"
"No, really, it's fine."
Entering showbiz later wouldn't be too late. Once YouTube really took off, personal media power would explode.
For now, it wasn't about grinding one field to the bone. It was about building up multiple paths like an octopus's tentacles.
This feels oddly like playing a game.
Maybe because I'd sunk so many hours into The Sims - Real Life. Even after regressing, I saw my current situation like a game route.
Who knows—maybe this analytical mindset was part of my heavenly talents too. Controlling emotions and assessing situations was a talent in itself.
"Mom's just so proud of her son... And you even got paid."
With that, Mom pressed a thick envelope into my hand.
"I don't want you to feel like you have to pay it back later. This is the first cool money our son earned on his own."
Mom's eyes suddenly welled up, emotions overflowing. Come to think of it, she was always the sentimental type.
I squeezed her hand reassuringly and peeked into the envelope with my other hand.
Holy shit.
I'd guessed from the thickness, but the amount was absurd. Child actors didn't make bank like this back then.
Thirty million for a one-off appearance by a nobody five-year-old?
I rubbed the outside of the envelope. Something inside felt different from bills.
I opened it a bit more. It was a business card.
PD Kim Youngmo's card.
This wasn't just pay—it was an investment. A sign they were watching me closely, inviting contact anytime if I was interested.
But do I even care?
I knew the vibe had been good. But judging if the whole broadcast would succeed was another matter.
Guess I'll find out when it airs.
Time flew by, and two weeks later, the Kyarruk Doctor! episode I was in finally aired.
+++++
Kyarruk Doctor! usually aired at 7:30 a.m. Peak rush hour for dropping kids off. The perfect program for parents to distract their kids while getting ready.
And kids got exercise and basic knowledge out of it. Not turning it on would be foolish.
It sure is convenient.
I wasn't thrilled about kids watching TV from a young age, but Kim Seonghwa grabbed the remote anyway to smooth her morning routine.
Son, give your mom a breather.
Click.
She flipped on the TV, naturally tuning to Toonitrain.
"Waaah! It's Kyarruk Doctor!"
The kid, who'd been lounging on the bed, bolted to plop right in front of the screen like he'd been waiting.
How did he hear the TV from that far? Even as his mom, it was a mystery.
"Son, is it that fun?"
"Yeah! Huh? New kid!"
Curious about the new face, Kim Seonghwa paused her prep to glance at the TV.
On screen, a boy started his intro naturally.
"I'm Kim Donghu. From Rainbow Kindergarten, Sujin's partner. I like Suk-suk Exercise."
A standard intro. Mention your kindergarten, who you are, what you like.
But Kim Seonghwa couldn't look away.
He was handsome, sure. But it went beyond that. Like he had a magnet pulling eyes in. Mesmerizing.
He didn't do much: intro, casual chat, exercises with Kyarruk Doctor. Just those three things, yet his impression stuck firmly.
"Wow... Donghu's so cool."
Her own son felt it too, drooling at the TV.
+++++
"...Is this what I'm seeing right now?"
"I can't believe it either."
CP Heo Sangseok gaped at the ratings report, incredulous. PD Kim Youngmo stood dumbfounded, sharing the sentiment.
"A kids' show—airing at 7:30 a.m.—hits 12%?"
Unheard of. Not an average, either.
"It spiked when Donghu did his intro and exercises."
"...Doubling our ratings."
Right when Donghu appeared briefly, ratings shot up, then dropped back in part two.
"Unbelievable."
Heo Sangseok turned away, deflated. On a nearby screen, only Donghu's parts looped on edit.
"We went nuts trying to boost ratings once, and nothing. Now this?"
Realizing kids' shows thrived on kids after all, Kim Youngmo smacked his forehead. He'd found his focus.
"Rethink the program?"
"How?"
"Put Donghu front and center—"
"Forget it. He said no."
"No contact?!"
Kim Youngmo looked shocked. After that pay and his card?
"Yeah, nothing. What're you gonna do, force a kid who doesn't want it? Track down his house? You'd go straight to jail."
He really meant to drop it? He could've been a kindergarten star by now. Unprecedented in Kim Youngmo's career.
Top ratings on a show every kid craves, and zero follow-up?
What the hell is he doing?
The boy monopolizing the buzz, Kim Donghu, wondered PD Kim Youngmo? Right now...
Splash splash splash.
"Man, it's tougher after a break."
...He was swimming hard in the ball pit.
+++++
Right after Kyarruk Doctor! aired, my kindergarten life turned chaotic. I knew I had to endure the self-inflicted disaster.
"Is there really a person in the Kyarruk Doctor costume?"
"How was it? Big broadcasting station vibes?"
"Did you see Yeonji there? I love Yeonji!"
"Does Kyarruk Doctor's laugh sound real kyarruk up close?"
"They say the station turns into a robot, true?"
The kids' nonstop curiosity bombs were brutal, no holds barred.
I answered each one, thinking it'd last a day or two.
Never dreamed it'd drag a whole month.
Did kids forget "fatigue" existed? Every gap, Kyarruk Doctor! question storms.
Sujin should've cut it off eventually, but.
Time to move soon.
She was swamped. Around now, she'd be scouting agencies and lining up projects, from what I remembered.
Speaking of, kindergarten graduation's coming up.
Next year, off to kindergarten proper.
...Which means seeing her again.
The girl who'd cried she didn't want me as her partner. Guess we'd cross paths again.
Lost in such thoughts, dismissal time neared. Parents trickled in one by one.
Then, an unexpected face.
"Kim Sujin?"
She hadn't even come in the morning—why was she here? As I stared, baffled...
"Donghu!"
Our eyes met.
"Got a sec? Wanna go play somewhere?"
Suddenly?