I'm an Unknown Actress, But Everyone Knows Me

After Episode 3 ended, posts began flooding the minor gallery for 〈Unfair Trade〉 at a terrifying speed.

[〈Unfair Trade〉 Gallery]

[I organized Lee Seohae’s interrogation scene (long post warning)]

(Compilation of Lee Seohae’s lines)

My fingers hurt like hell from transcribing this, but my ears didn’t get tired at all LOOLLLL it seriously felt like I was just sitting there and the lines were drilling themselves straight into my eardrums. Even just organizing the interrogation scene turned into this monster-length post, holy shit. If I tried to organize all the dialogue, I’d probably have to memorize over half the script book by myself. I was gonna keep going, but it got way too long, so I gave up... someone else can do the rest for me ㅇㅅㅇr

Anonymous (58.233): A quality post gets my upvote

Anonymous (121.166): Looking at it like this gives me chills all over again LOLOLOL are they insane

Anonymous (223.5): The craziest thing is I had the exact same thought as you; I was just sitting there, and the lines came to me on their own. What even is this

[When are they dropping today’s making-of? The second it goes up I’m sprinting]

You owe us

Hand it over

Anonymous (1.115): MA KING (thud) MA KING (thud)

Anonymous (124.53): Why am I more excited for this episode’s making-of than tomorrow’s Episode 4 LMAO is this normal

Shin Seojin Buzzcut Preservation Squad (2.33): It’s not just you, I’m the same, fuck LOLOLOL

[This episode’s cinematography, sound direction, and directing were all amazing, and Gam Seonghwan’s actor killed it too, but Lee Seohae definitely carried]

It’s hard enough to even see a female character like that in a Korean drama, and it’s even rarer for them to dump that much dialogue on her fr; probably because Seohae’s actress has the 〈Strange Tales〉 experience, so the director and writer trusted her and let her run with it

Anonymous (5.12): This is the right take LOLOLOL if I’d seen the exorcism ritual scene in 〈Strange Tales〉, I wouldn’t dare touch the script either

Anonymous (180.70): Ah shit, true LOLOLL she already has a record of getting handed scripts packed wall-to-wall with Chinese characters LMAO

Anonymous (61.7): Honestly that just makes it even better, insane LMAO

Anonymous (122.34): I’d trusted Han Yeoreum since 〈Strange Tales〉, but this is officially my favorite character in her whole filmography. I’m so screwed, I love this so much, my heart’s pounding T_T

[As an original-work purist, this is the one time I fully agree. I’m high on hype]

I seriously always hated when web novels or webtoons got remade into live-action. I’ve literally never once thought a drama or movie adaptation came out perfectly LOLOLOL no matter how good it was, there was always at least one disappointing thing. But 〈Unfair Trade〉 has finally set my soul free... Every single time I thought, this is where that music cue should hit, this is where that shot composition should land, it was like the cinematography and sound gods were possessed LOLOLOL

Ha, this one drama alone is making me forget countless trash adaptations

Anonymous (8.152): When the mimicry is obvious, normies just go wow, but hardcore fans can only go “what is this?” and get all serious because it always gets compared to the original LMAO but I totally get what you mean by being set free. That’s exactly how I feel right now

Anonymous (101.22): I used to hate the phrase “it jumped straight out of the original,” but now I’m about to start chanting it too LOLOL TT_TT Seonghwan and Seohae are both so damn good

Analysis posts, screencaps, wallpaper edits, Episode 4 prediction threads, and more.

The gallery was exploding with people savoring the afterglow of Episode 3 while burning with anticipation for Episode 4.

“This is insane.”

And that heat was delivered directly to SBC’s New Media Web Content Department, the people who were more sincere than anyone about making 〈Unfair Trade〉 a hit. The employees staring at their monitors had their mouths hanging open.

“The comments on Yousta just keep coming in.”

“What are they saying?”

“They’re saying they’ll kill us if we don’t release the making-of.”

-MA KING (thud) MA KING (thud)

-The drama’s over, so hurry up and spit out the making-of already, what are you even doing LOLOLOL isn’t the station supposed to work

-Read the room and give it to us already TT_TT

-Please give us a close-up of Shin Seojin’s digging scene, I’m dead serious ヾ(`Д´)ﾉ

The team leader of SBC’s New Media Web Content Department checked the Yousta comments, then switched over to Intube. The exact same uproar was crashing over there too.

There were more people than they could count going crazy with curiosity over the behind-the-scenes story of Lee Seohae’s interrogation scene.

“This kind of thing almost never happens in a genre drama.”

That unique thrill, the cathartic pleasure of watching the deductions click perfectly into place—when you feel it the first time, the afterglow lingers powerfully, but once you go back and chew on it again, half the fun usually disappears.

That was exactly why spoilers were especially deadly for mystery novels and investigative dramas.

And yet, even though they already knew the culprit, knew the trick, and even remembered the rush they’d felt at the time—

“A rewatch....”

The viewers of 〈Unfair Trade〉 were eagerly asking for one anyway. No, they’d gone beyond curiosity about how Han Yeoreum’s Lee Seohae had been created—they were losing their minds over it.

“This is fun.”

“Team leader. This is not the time to imitate the director’s posturing. Are we uploading now?”

“Y-yeah. Upload it.”

INTUBE

[Making-of ⎢ I’ll give you chills in 3 seconds Lee Seohae interrogation scene full reveal! Witness the majesty of IQ 160 ٩(｡•ω<｡)] 7:42

The moment the video went up on SBC Drama’s account, drama addicts who had already set notifications clicked instantly. The view count blew past 100 in a heartbeat.

-Ready....

In the silent filming set, even breathing could be heard.

-Action.

The instant the cue dropped, Han Yeoreum sat upright and opened her mouth.

“Even watching this again, it still doesn’t need cuts.”

“Fuck, I seriously thought they had the prompt floating behind the camera.”

The SBC New Media Web Content employees, no longer putting on their stiff bureaucratic act, were in awe of the monologue scene that made them curse no matter how many times they replayed it.

-I’ve been waiting for this TT_TT

-Thank you thank you, I’ll watch it well... but by any chance, are you thinking of uploading a version with only Lee Seohae’s dialogue scenes? (shameless)

↳ 22222 omg this is genius please make it happen TT__TT

↳ Give it to us

The early comments were ordinary enough. But after a little while—

-There were no NGs???

-How is it possible to cut this in one take..LOLOL.. I’m actually speechless

-She never once stumbled over the lines and just kept going? She memorized all of that?

The reactions came pouring in from viewers who had watched the making-of video, which wasn’t even ten minutes long, all the way to the end.

-Ah, I paused the video just to come read the comments first.. Haha i’m nervous

-No way LMAO the station probably just added some MSG, people are overreacting hard;

↳ Looking at Shin Seojin’s expression, this seems real, but you really shouldn’t be here with your fandom nickname T_T

↳ Tch, go back to your oppa’s account, why are you causing a scene hereㅡㅡ

It was all because Han Yeoreum carried the entire scene through without a single NG despite the monstrous amount of dialogue. The moment she finished the lines, screams close to shrieks erupted across the filming set.

-WAAAAAAAH!

-This is insane!!!

At the staff’s cheers, Han Yeoreum raised both hands in a V sign. Her playful smile no longer resembled the IQ 160 genius criminal profiler who had just cornered the culprit moments ago.

-Yeoreum, for the line, “And finally. For people like Mr. Kim Yonggeun, theft, habitual assault, violent offenders, grouped all together like this,” can you drag it just a little slower? Put a slight emphasis on the back half.

Director Park gave direction on Han Yeoreum’s line. Nodding, Han Yeoreum immediately delivered the long line again without a single NG.

-And finally... for people like Mr. Kim Yonggeun, theft, habitual assault, violent offenders. Grouped all together like this.

Her voice, taking Director Park’s direction exactly as instructed, almost sounded like a threat.

-Humans instantly recognize creatures weaker than themselves. The more of a predator they are, the more so.

Lee Seohae’s voice was frighteningly even in volume. The only thing that changed was where she chose to break her breath, which shifted the exact point she wanted to emphasize.

As if hitting Enter inside a sentence.

Actor Han Yeoreum used her breathing exactly like that to make people read the line.

“Team leader.”

“What?”

“Our subscribers.”

@SBC Dramanet

8,400 videos

Subscribers 974,321

Click.

@SBC Dramanet

8,400 videos

Subscribers 974,384

Click.

@SBC Dramanet

8,400 videos

Subscribers 974,417

“They’re increasing in real time....”

Dozens of people per second were willingly hitting subscribe on SBC’s slowly growing Intube channel.

“...Uh....”

The team leader of SBC’s New Media Web Content Department did not panic in the slightest. Times like this demanded calm, creative thinking.

“What do we do...?”

Unfortunately, his brain did not cooperate.

SBC. They had long been falling behind not only the three terrestrial broadcasters, but even cable channels like JTBS and TVM. Some people had even mocked them, asking how individual creators were already getting Gold Buttons while they still had nothing.

“What do you mean, what do we do?! Make a separate Lee Seohae dialogue compilation video and farm the hell out of the views, and gather every single Shin Seojin physique clip! Ten minutes, twenty minutes, spoilers or not, I don’t care—just make it! Make it and throw it out there! Holy shit, this is our moment!”

“This feels so damn good! Let’s just dump every bit of making-of footage we have! Eating, snacking, sleeping, whatever! Just everything! All of it!”

“The 〈Audio On Air〉 videos are climbing again too!”

The New Media Web Content Department, drunk on madness, was overflowing with energy.

And there was one person quietly witnessing all of it.

“....”

It was SBC’s bureau director, once again pressing himself tightly against the door to listen.

Without going home, the director had stayed in his office to watch Episode 3 of 〈Unfair Trade〉 live, and after seeing the Intube subscribers rise in real time, he could no longer sit still and rushed back out to the Web Content Department.

“....”

Slowly lifting his ear from the door, the director chose not to step inside.

Everyone was already rowing furiously, exhilarated by the flood rushing in.

So he walked alone down the empty hallway, raised his right hand high, and clenched it into a fist.

* * *

Meanwhile, while every community was burning up because of 〈Unfair Trade〉, there was one place that was especially noisy.

@DoYouLikeTheGlowOfSpringDay Hiiiii9i

(〈Unfair Trade〉 Episode 3 funeral scene.jpg)

I’m losing it, my chest feels like land being torn apart for a whole new city development project right now. Moots, all of you need to ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ check in three times a day with handmade treats. I cannot watch my women die alone in isolation

31K reposts 38K likes

↳ Low-key pressuring everyone with the handmade treats, taking advantage of the timing

↳ Shhh

@Dujji duuduuuduu

(〈Unfair Trade〉 Episode 3 funeral scene.mp4)

Unless it’s Black Friday, I’ve never had my heart race this hard, but thinking my moots could disappear like that too is honestly too much to bear...

27K reposts 31K likes

The place was Tr*tter.

Compared to the boards on other communities full of people interested in dramas, movies, and actors, the barrier to entry for ordinary users was much lower.

Put simply, it meant it was easier for things to “sell.”

Once something got reposted one or two times on Tr*tter, ordinary viewers who had only been consuming the drama through clips would naturally start flowing into the live broadcast.

“Why is the buzz this crazy?”

“Exactly....”

The filming crew of KBC’s 〈See You That Day〉 sighed while checking their phones during standby. It wasn’t just the big-name drama fan accounts anymore—even posts from actual ordinary viewers were getting swept up in repost waves.

“This is dangerous....”

Even though the broadcast timing was three whole weeks apart, 〈Unfair Trade〉 had almost caught up to 〈See You That Day〉.

“You heard they went insane with reruns last week, right? Do you know the rerun ratings?”

“How much?”

“4.3!”

“For a rerun?”

Rerun ratings were usually around 10–20% of the original live broadcast. Even the strongest weekend afternoon reruns at their absolute peak only reached about 35% of the original.

But even that only applied to top-ranked hit dramas sitting at #1 in ratings.

The fact that 〈Unfair Trade〉, only one week into airing, had pulled more than 40% of the original rating in reruns meant two things.

“It means they’re still watching ours live!”

A lot of viewers were watching 〈See You That Day〉 for the live broadcast, then watching 〈Unfair Trade〉 in reruns.

And the second implication—

“But... doesn’t that make it dangerous if we get even a little loose?”

The viewers catching up through reruns were ready to switch over the second 〈See You That Day〉 slipped up even slightly.

“Loose?”

That was when a voice dripping with aegyo came from behind the staff.

“Ah, actress!” 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

“We’re still cleaning up the set....”

It was Hong Suryeon, the lead actress of 〈See You That Day〉 and one of the so-called “three great beauties,” alongside Eun Baekhap.

With her glamorous looks, Hong Suryeon had seized the title of CF queen the moment she debuted, and unlike Eun Baekhap, she had always been blessed with projects. Her matchup luck was exceptional too.

In other words, she was the kind of actress whose every project landed at least a moderate hit.

“Kyaang. Why would we ever get loose? Take that back! Take it back!”

“Take it back, take it back. Sorry.”

“I never said that!”

There was unmistakable pride in Hong Suryeon’s smile as she joked around casually with the staff.

“We’re still number one in ratings, aren’t weiiing-.”

Hong Suryeon’s pride came from ratings. Ratings that had never once dropped below double digits. She was the queen of romantic comedies who made every male lead she worked with seem special.

“And what’s next week, everyone? Kyaang! It’s the most delicious section in romance!”

“Ahhh! Right.”

“There’s no room for it to get boring.”

Everyone smiled warmly at Hong Suryeon’s words.

Because next week was—

“The male lead regret arc!”

After the love triangle wavered following the reunion with his first love, the story was finally entering the male lead’s regret arc.

The juiciest, most stimulating part of any romance.

“Suryeon, you’re really not worried at all?”

As Hong Suryeon brightened the mood on set and walked toward the director, the manager beside her asked quietly.

“Should I be?”

“No, it’s just... the ratings gap isn’t exactly huge....”

At present, Episode 3 of 〈Unfair Trade〉 had pulled 13.7%, while Episode 9 of 〈See You That Day〉 had recorded 16.2%.

“Unnie. Don’t you know me? I’m Hong Suryeon....”

Hong Suryeon blinked her large eyes and smiled.

She was what people called someone who played for fun.

“With someone this beautiful on screen, there’s no way people would skip the live broadcast for a gloomy drama like that....”

Hong Suryeon was a woman of instant ratings.

Even if she lost to male actors in appearance fees and core fandoms, every single scene where her face appeared on television recorded the highest minute-by-minute ratings.

“That girl Yeoreum is cute and all, but she’s still no match for me. Kyaang!”

What that really meant was that Hong Suryeon could drag people’s eyes toward her by sheer force.

She was the kind of actress who made viewers stop even when they had been about to switch channels.

If there was an easy, fun, solid romance drama, Hong Suryeon was always there.

It wasn’t only Han Yeoreum who had built viewer trust through a rock-solid filmography.

Hong Suryeon, who could spike the instant ratings to 37% with a single kiss scene, was confident she could win this game.