I'm an Unknown Actress, But Everyone Knows Me

The opening shot was a beautiful panoramic view of a campus.

Soft, powdery white snow fell over the scenery, and the drone shot captured the wide, open grounds in a way that made the viewer feel like they could finally breathe.

[Finally airing!!! Let’s watch together ♨️ Youth Disqualified! ♨️ Live thread]

-wow my alma mater TT__TT so nostalgic

-they only filmed pretty campuses lol ours didn’t make it... sad T_T

-this is seriously triggering campus fantasy LOLL TT_TT I wanna be a college student again~~~!!!

As the camera swept across the vast campus, a voice layered over the scene.

“Got it, everyone? From now on, this next year is the most important.”

An elegant campus building made of red brick appeared. Neatly aligned trees stood on both sides of the aged-looking structure.

The screen cut. In contrast to the open campus, it showed a cramped academy classroom with only a small ventilation window.

A teacher in a shirt stood in front of a whiteboard, sternly establishing discipline. Now that this year’s college entrance exam was over, it was time to start counting down the next D-day 365.

“You have no idea how powerful academic background is once you enter society. Just look at yourselves. Don’t you judge a teacher by their education? If it were you, who would you choose? A teacher from a university you’ve never even heard of, or one from Hanguk University?”

The screen returned to a campus with a blue lake stretching out. The cold winter air made everything feel even clearer.

“Exactly. That’s what academic background is. My name tag. Something that makes me shine the moment I present myself in society.”

The teacher picked up a marker and began writing on the whiteboard.

Then, briefly, two words:

‘Goal’

Another campus appeared, this one almost mythological in its classical grandeur. It looked like a place where every romanticized dream had been realized.

Around the building, banners hung everywhere.

[Tokyo Olympics Gold Medalist, alumnus Choi Myeonggil — we support you]

[Achieved Top 20 in Asian University Rankings]

-the academic pressure is hitting HARD...

-this is literally my senior year homeroom teacher’s tone... PTSD TT__TT I need counseling;;

-why do all teachers sound copy-pasted,,

-this seriously feels like a cram school, bet someone has their wallpaper set to the Yonsei–Korea rivalry T_T

↳ but after the June mock exam they lower their expectations and change it to another university logo ㅜ_ㅜ LOLOLOL speaking from experience

“And that’s not all. Think about all the seniors from the same university who will pull you up and push you forward in society.”

The teacher spread his arms wide, pressing both hands onto the podium.

“Everyone saw the acceptance list from this year’s seniors, right? You can do it too. Now, let’s look at the handout.”

Shuffle—. The sound of papers turning filled the room.

At the same time, the outside grew slightly noisy.

Just like the banners on campus, banners were now being hung outside the academy window.

[Early Admission Acceptance List]

Hanguk University, Business Administration: Han Jiyoung

Hanguk University, Law: Park Jihoon

Yeonhui University, English Literature: Kim Jiwon

Gorim University, Political Science: Woo Jimin

With the already small window now completely blocked by banners, the classroom became a sealed box.

Instead of the blue sky, the students stared at the dull backside of banners, accepting the teacher’s instructions without a word.

Believing that if they endured sitting at these narrow desks long enough, one day they would step into a wide, open campus.

* * *

A bar filled with year-end atmosphere. Christmas carols played, interrupted by bursts of loud noise.

“Excuse me—!”

“Yes! One moment—!”

Na Yuna, wearing a black apron, had her hair tightly tied back as she rushed between tables with beer glasses in both hands.

“Your younger sibling got in through early admission? Wow, nice.”

“At least they didn’t have to retake the exam.”

“Hey. Retaking is honestly only for people aiming for med or dental school. Otherwise it’s just a waste of time and money.”

Yuna paused briefly as she overheard the conversation.

“Do you remember Minju?”

“Yeah, the vice class president? Why?”

“She tried for a third year, but her grades never improved, so she ended up at some trash-tier university... stopped replying, even deleted her Yousta. Tsk.”

“She should’ve just settled during her first try. Poor thing.”

People around Yuna’s age were wearing university jackets. The logos stamped on their backs seemed to define their status.

All from Seoul universities.

“Excuse me!”

But Yuna had no time to dwell on it. A drunken customer called out irritably.

“Ah, why are you so late?”

“I’m sorry. What can I get for you?”

“We’ll have this, and this.”

The people gathered in the bar were nothing like Yuna. Their voices were loud, their outfits glamorous for the year-end season.

They were people fully enjoying their youth.

“...Ha.”

Carrying a large trash bag outside, Yuna leaned against the wall and let out a breath. White vapor escaped her lips like cigarette smoke.

After a moment, she put a cigarette between her lips.

-wait what Han Yeoreum smoking scene???

-oh...? I like this...

-what is this dry acting why is she so good LOLOLOL T_T the way she exhales smoke is insane

Out of habit, she took out her phone from her apron pocket and tapped on someone’s profile.

[Merry Christmas (≡^∇^≡)]

A photo of someone partying with friends.

She swiped once more.

Photos studying at a café during exam season, photos in a university jacket...

Looking at someone who was truly living a campus life—unlike herself—Yuna lowered her hand and took another drag.

The camera captured the phone screen lowered downward.

An eagle logo as the wallpaper.

And on a small memo:

[There is no fourth attempt in my life!]

Additional Acceptance Announcement D-day

“Yuna—!”

“Yes!”

Hearing her name from inside, she quickly moved # Nоvеlight # back in.

She was living a life completely opposite to the “twenties” that teacher had described.

* * *

“Hmm—.”

Inside a lovely officetel filled with warmth, Heejeong held clothes in both hands.

Music played from a Bluetooth speaker as she hummed along, picking her outfit.

The fridge was covered with photos of her and her boyfriend.

Polaroids of them wearing university jackets cheek to cheek, four-cut photos with matching rings, even a large poster from their one-year anniversary shoot.

Every season of campus life had been spent together.

“I love only you—! So it won’t change!”

Her face was full of love.

Holding a pink knit in one hand and a white blouse in the other, she hesitated before choosing the blouse.

Click!

Message sent: Honey I’m wearing this today (๓´˘`๓)♡ isn’t it pretty?

She sent it to her boyfriend—but even the message she had sent in the morning still showed unread.

Tilting her head slightly, she didn’t think much of it. Picking up a brush, she smiled brightly.

Pink blush spread across her cheeks.

-the unread “1” not disappearing is so sad T_T her boyfriend already lost feelings and she doesn’t even realize, getting excited for the date... it’s heartbreaking

-this is why you don’t date within campus... everyone remembers those photos on Yousta LOOOLLLL

↳ not just classmates, seniors know too;; seriously rumors spread everywhere..

↳ even assistants know LOLOLOL

Just like the comments said.

When she met her boyfriend at the terminal, his responses were lukewarm.

“Now that I’m a corporal, there’s really not much time left. Right, honey?”

“...Heejeong. Are you really not going back to school?”

“Of course not! I should finish the rest of my semesters with you—.”

She posed cutely, looking at him.

But in his eyes, there was only annoyance.

“...Heejeong.”

“Mm?”

“This isn’t working.”

The camera focused on his hand.

There was no ring on his left ring finger—unlike hers.

As if he had never worn one to begin with.

“Let’s break up.”

“...What?”

Her smiling face froze instantly.

“Honestly, you focusing only on me like this—it’s suffocating. And all that talk about marriage... I can’t listen to it anymore. It’s a burden, you betting your entire life on me.”

“But you said you liked that...?”

“Sorry. Let’s end it here.”

He ended their relationship in a few short words, then stood up.

Without even a trace of hesitation, he left her behind and pushed open the door of a cheap coffee shop.

Her love ran away.

-wow at least buy her decent coffee for the last time, he’s still being cheap LMAO what an asshole

-this is why you shouldn’t wait for someone in the military... most don’t last even after discharge

-Heejeong is so pitiful...TT_TT So Dami looks cute so it hurts more

Without even properly putting on her coat, Heejeong tried to chase after him—

and broke down crying in the middle of the street.

“Huaaaah—!”

Always honest with her emotions, even now she shouted as if making a vow to herself:

“I’m never doing campus dating again—! Huaaaah—! You said you’d love me forever—!”

* * *

“Wow. This is hitting me with serious PTSD.”

This was Daily Media, located in Jongno District.

At some point, the reporters had all started watching every drama Han Yeoreum appeared in together, and now they were reminiscing about their own freshman days.

“Why? Were you a gomusin, Reporter Kim?”

“Yes... and also a campus couple....”

“Hey, at least that’s kind of a memory.”

A senior reporter, chewing on dried squid, let out a sigh.

“I dated a returning student. And that bastard had already been in two campus relationships before me. I was his third girlfriend.”

“...Ah.”

Even without hearing the full story, everyone could roughly imagine how rough her freshman year must have been. They all looked at her with sympathy.

“I had a girlfriend who used to send me packages too. Back when I was in the military.”

“A girlfriend...? You had... one?”

“You little punk.”

Maybe it was because the episode started with campus scenery, but everyone couldn’t help recalling their freshman days.

Clumsy, fresh, stepping into a new world without knowing anything.

“It’s nice how they’re establishing character early on.”

“Most viewers of episode one have already been looping the vlog for weeks.”

The 〈Youth Disqualified!〉 vlog had created an even bigger impact than expected. Three weeks had passed since the outdoor stage. In that time, a lot had changed.

[Memories of the University Song Festival... “It’s okay to be second place” — the message of 〈Youth Disqualified!〉, will public broadcasters carry it forward?]

[“This is youth” — the charm of middle age challenging again, the stage presented by ]

[The identity of the band that appeared on SBC’s 〈National Singing Contest〉? The University Song Festival runner-up ]

Other broadcasting stations, unwilling to miss the effect created by the 〈Youth Disqualified!〉 team, began reaching out to the second-place band from the festival.

Among them, the response to their appearance on the live program 〈National Singing Contest〉 was especially explosive.

On an outdoor stage filled with spring breeze, they held the microphone once again—and moved even the middle-aged audience.

-watched the singing contest. youth may be fading. but not giving up. raising juniors. applause and more applause...^^

-is there ever an age for singing. as long as your eyes are clear and your hands haven’t rusted. you are already a great singer

-those high notes are so refreshing~~ among all the fake singers with lip-syncingㅋ it’s been a while since hearing something this clean~ good good

Through the 〈Youth Disqualified!〉 vlog, Han Yeoreum, Choo Gaeul, and So Dami naturally established their character images alongside .

Even without lengthy introductions, most viewers watching episode one today already felt familiar with them.

“Oh, here comes the stage storm.”

Choo Gaeul appeared on screen.

In the backseat of a luxury imported car, Go Yungyo sat dressed elegantly, but her face was full of irritation.

“Don’t go there and say anything unnecessary today. Got it?”

“Ha....”

“Dear, that’s enough. She’ll do fine on her own. Right?”

“A girl who does well would wear a skirt that short in this weather? Her uterus is going to freeze.”

Yungyo pressed her lips inward, holding back her irritation.

Next to her, her younger brother was holding his phone horizontally, playing a game.

As if none of this concerned him.

“A girl needs to keep her lower body warm!”

“I said I’m wearing fleece stockings!!!”

Yungyo finally snapped, raising her voice at her father’s nagging.

“How dare you raise your voice!”

“You’re the one who said girls shouldn’t wear pants! This is so annoying, seriously!”

To outsiders, it might have looked like an enviable ride in a luxury car—but the atmosphere inside was sharp.

After parking in the underground lot of a hotel wedding hall, her father turned around roughly, clearly about to scold her properly.

Bang!

But it didn’t work on Yungyo.

She opened the backseat door first and walked out.

As she rode the luxurious elevator up to the wedding hall, she closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, trying to suppress her irritation.

Ding.

When the doors opened, another world greeted her.

Expensive, glamorous, sparkling—and excessively familial.

Her aunt, dressed in a hanbok, welcomed her while greeting guests.

“Oh my, Yungyo is here!”

“Oh! Yungyo!”

Her uncle, in a suit, called her name warmly.

Yungyo’s stiff expression melted instantly into a bright smile.

“Aunt! Uncle!”

The surrounding relatives also greeted her.

“What will you do once your sister gets married? You’re going to cry, Yungyo.”

“That’s right, they’ve always been so close since childhood.”

“She used to say every holiday that she’d run off to America and live with her sister whenever she got scolded. But now your sister is leaving with her husband!”

Amid the adults’ teasing, Yungyo forced herself to maintain her expression.

Carefully stepping backward, she slipped into the bride’s waiting room.

Inside, her cousin stood in a beautiful wedding dress.

“Yungyo!”

“Please sit next to her.”

Following the photographer’s direction, Yungyo sat beside her.

Because of the dress, they couldn’t sit close.

Feeling the distance between them more than ever, Yungyo stared straight ahead.

“Smile a little! Ah, you look too distant—!”

The photographer snapped several shots.

After a few photos, they were given a brief moment to talk.

Yungyo asked,

“You said you were going abroad.”

“...It turned out that way.”

“You said you hated this house.”

“Yungyo.”

“You said you wouldn’t have kids. You said you hated making holiday food. You said you didn’t understand why you had to suffer like this just because you were born into this family.”

Her voice had no clear rise or fall.

She controlled the volume so others wouldn’t hear—but she was still in her twenties. She couldn’t completely hide her emotions.

“You’ll understand when you’re older.”

But her cousin maintained a flawless smile.

Bright, perfect, without a single crack.

As if to say Yungyo simply didn’t understand yet.

“That’s ridiculous.”

Yungyo grabbed her bag and stood up from the sofa.

Looking down at her cousin, she said,

“I won’t live like you.”

Leaving the waiting room, Yungyo looked at her family in the distance.

Her parents and younger brother had arrived and were greeting the hosts.

Na Yuna, who wanted to get accepted.

Jeong Heejeong, who wanted to be loved.

Go Yungyo, who wanted to escape.

The winter when they were twenty-two.

“Then they’re about to meet soon.”

The episode wasn’t even over yet, but someone dropped a spoiler that wasn’t quite a spoiler.

Because of their job, they had seen too many works—everyone already knew the general flow.

Na Yuna got accepted through additional admissions.

Jeong Heejeong, pulling her cap low, went to submit her reinstatement application.

And Go Yungyo returned to her Seoul apartment to resume school as well.

The three of them met at a new semester drinking gathering.