Superstar From Age 0

“They say the competition rate for Korean National University of Arts is 147 to 1!!”

“Only 38 students are accepted?”

Park Yeon-ji and Kim Young-chan, who had looked up the information for the next entrance exam in advance, uttered an astonishing number.

The seniors who remembered the competition rate they found out after submitting their applications made a sour face.

“Do you remember how many applicants there were?”

“I think it was around 5,500. I don't remember the last two digits exactly.”

“It was 5,586.”

Instead of shaking his head, Kang Jae-han, seo-jun answered.

He remembered it because he was quite surprised by the fierce competition rate. He was curious and looked it up, and found that the competition rate for the acting department of Korean National University of Arts had been over 100 for the past few years. It meant that there were thousands of applicants every year.

“It's amazing to think about it again.”

“What was the competition rate when we took the exam at our school?”

“I think it was 13 to 1.”

Han Jinho quickly took out his phone and looked up the competition rate of Mirinae High School three years ago.

Seo-jun and the kids all looked at Han Jinho with interest.

“13.55 to 1. They accepted 40 students out of 542 applicants.”

“It suddenly increased by 10 times.”

“I thought it was amazing back then… College is no joke.”

Seo-jun and the seniors exclaimed without realizing it.

“When they take the practical exam, do the judges watch all the applicants’ performances?”

“5,500 people? Wow… It must take a lot of time.”

“I wonder why it increased so much.”

Kim Young-chan's question was answered by Kim Joo-kyung.

“College entrance exams don't have an age limit, so maybe it's because people take a year or two off and try again.”

“There might also be cases where people do other things and then want to become actors. Or maybe they didn't think about becoming actors until they entered high school, but then they found their dream.”

Kang Jae-han nodded at Seo-jun's words.

“That's true. It must be rare for kids to dream of becoming actors from a young age like us.”

“But that's 540 people.”

Everyone shook their heads at Han Jinho's words.

It was amazing that there were so many aspiring actors, but not many people who actually became actors and continued to act.

“But why are you going to college, senior?”

Park Yeon-ji's question made Kim Young-chan and the seniors look at Seo-jun with curiosity.

“I was curious too. I thought you would start acting right away if you were Seo-jun.”

“Preparing for the practical exam is natural for your personality.”

Kang Jae-han's words made Han Jinho and Kim Joo-kyung nod and say.

“You always do your best in any situation, in any work.”

“You don't choose a script easily and think hard about it.”

That was what kind of actor their friend, Lee Seo-jun, was.

He was strict with his acting at any moment, and loved acting.

So they thought he would start his acting career as soon as he graduated from high school.

Seo-jun smiled slightly at the words of his friends who knew him very well.

“Hmm. To create empathy, I guess?”

“Empathy?”

“Most people in Korea go to college. Of course, there are some who don't. I thought it would be good to experience a lot of ‘normal’ life like that.”

Of course, he could act without experiencing it himself, but he thought he could act better if he experienced it. His friends nodded at his expression.

“And I thought it was important to live a normal life without being buried in acting too much.”

This was the opinion of his parents and Da Ho hyung.

They were worried that Seo-jun would devote himself to acting as soon as he graduated from high school.

Usually, child actors or people who became celebrities early on had their managers or other people take care of everything for them, so they struggled more with everyday tasks than ordinary people.

Of course, seo-jun was a self-reliant person from the start, and his parents and Da Ho made sure he could do things on his own that he could do. But that was when he had little things he could do with his own hands as a minor.

Minor and adult.

The freedom and responsibility of deciding, acting, and taking responsibility for oneself were different.

So Seo Eun-hye and Lee Min-jun hoped that Seo-jun would live as a college student who was half adult and half student rather than taking on the responsibility of an adult in the entertainment industry as soon as he graduated from high school.

He would meet various people and have various experiences at college, and slowly recognize himself who had gained infinite freedom and heavy responsibility as an adult.

Even if it was the same school life, high school life as a minor and college life as an adult were different.

Seo-jun agreed with his parents and Da Ho's opinions.

He took a sip of orange juice and continued.

“I think I can go to college well if I have a schedule like when I was in school.”

“Well, you can take a leave of absence from college.”

“Yeah. And I think there will be a lot of fresh works in college.”

The kids’ eyes widened at Seo-jun's reason for going to college.

“You're going to do it again?”

“Yeah. I looked it up on YouTube and there were a lot of videos uploaded by acting academies for promotion. Since the practical videos of the high school or college are not public, they are videos that reenact the acting they did during the practical exam.”

“Oh, I've seen that. Our academy also filmed other school kids’ videos. I didn't film it because our school made the practical videos public.”

Seo-jun was hooked by Kang Jae-han's words.

“Similar?”

Seo-jun tilted his head.

If you act the same role, you act, what does it mean to be similar?

“It's hard to compare with the same role and the same acting when there is a perfect answer like your video. So we act different roles with a similar atmosphere.”

Ah.

Seo-jun nodded at Park Yeon-ji's words.

“I thought about it too, but what if I film it again and upload it?”

The kids laughed out loud at the last words Seo-jun added. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

“That's your goal!”

“…No.”

Seo-jun flinched at Han Jinho's shout and answered belatedly.

“I knew it.”

“Not really…”

“It must be fun to act in movies made by students than commercial movies. They have more diverse topics.”

“Yeah. I think so too…!”

He was caught.

Seo-jun closed his mouth reflexively as he answered Kang Jae-han's words.

He rolled his eyes at the sharp gaze of his friends.

They laughed at his appearance.

After laughing for a while, Kim Joo-kyung said.

“By the way, I heard a lot of people were disappointed that Korean National University of Arts didn't release the practical videos.”

“I was a bit disappointed too. I have a lot to learn from Seo-jun's practical video. How to immerse yourself and capture the attention in a short time of 1 or 2 minutes.”

“A lot of people in our academy practice similar to your video and take the exam.”

Kim Young-chan nodded at Park Yeon-ji's words.

“Similar?”

Seo-jun tilted his head again.

He had already asked this question before, but he didn't get a clear answer.

He wondered why they didn't try to act exactly like him, or choose a different role altogether.

He wanted to know their reasoning and motivation for acting similarly.

He opened his mouth to ask again.

“I wonder what it would be like if I uploaded a video like that.”

He had a good practice room and plenty of cameras to film the scene.

He also had a YouTube channel [JUN] with countless subscribers, so he didn't need to prepare anything else.

The kids’ eyes sparkled at Seo-jun's words.

“That would be awesome!”

“I know, right? I thought we would never see it!”

“Please upload it! Senior!”

The friends and juniors cheered, and Seo-jun smiled and nodded.

***

In October, when the chilly autumn wind began to blow.

At Korea National University of Arts, the most prestigious art school in Korea, the practical exams for the entrance test that started on October 6th were underway.

The departments of KNUA were preparing for the practical exams for the numerous applicants.

Among them, the acting department, which became the center of attention due to the application of the world-famous star Lee Seo-jun, was scheduled to conduct the exam for 14 days to examine 5,586 applicants.

[Actor Lee Seo-jun applies to Korea National University of Arts!]

[Which stars graduated from KNUA?]

[Will actor Lee Seo-jun become a junior of actors Lee Da-jin and Park Do-hoon?]

[KNUA acting department has 5,586 applicants!]

[No special talent admission! Only acting skills will decide!]

The early admission of KNUA, which started like that, had already reached its 11th day.

“The applicants increased a bit… but the buzz is several times bigger.”

It seemed like every entertainment article had KNUA’s name attached to it.

As he came to KNUA for the practical exam in the afternoon, one student said with a bored face.

The other students from the same acting academy who were assigned at a similar time also had the same expression.

“Teacher. It seems like there are more articles than usual, right?”

At his words, the acting teacher who came along to give some last advice to the students who were taking the exam today nodded.

“That's right. It wasn't this much last year…”

It was understandable that there were many articles since it was not uncommon for actors or singers to enter KNUA, but it seemed like the amount was enormous for a star like Lee Seo-jun.

“But judging by the lack of articles, they won't release the practical exam videos as usual.”

“They won't change the rules for one person.”

They all nodded while looking disappointed.

“I was going to watch Lee Seo-jun's video and practice if I didn't pass this time.”

“Me too. There are 5,500 people. I don't know if I can make it.”

“No way. Not all 5,500 people are competitors. There must be some people who just applied for fun.”

They had applied to KNUA with their dream of becoming actors, but no one knew how hard they had practiced for today except themselves.

“Considering the invalids, the actual competition rate might be lower.”

At the teacher's words, they all looked a little more relaxed.

“Let's go to the waiting room now. I can't go in with you, so don't forget what I told you earlier. Don't be nervous. Just do as you practiced.”

“Yes!”

As the teacher gave some final advice to the students who were not very reliable, one male student took out his phone that was ringing incessantly. His eyes slowly widened as he read the pouring messages.

“…Wow. Teacher.”

“Huh?”

“…Lee Seo-jun is in the waiting room.”

“…What?”

“Lee Seo-jun! Lee Seo-jun!”

The time for the practical exam was randomly decided.

At the appearance of the final boss, all the applicants who were taking the exam at the same time were shocked.

***

Seo-jun scratched his cheek in the strangely quiet waiting room.

‘I'm not sorry, but I feel sorry.’

It was entirely up to the university to decide the order, so Seo-jun didn't do anything wrong, but he felt a little sorry when he thought of Kim Haun's reaction.

Kim Haun, who took the exam right after Seo-jun at Yeoul Arts High School and right before Seo-jun at Mirinae Arts High School, shook his legs nervously until he found out his and Seo-jun's exam date at KNUA.

And on the day when their exam dates were announced.

Kim Haun, who was assigned on the first day and Seo-jun on the 11th day, raised both hands and even cheered.

‘He's not usually that expressive.’

That's how nervous Kim Haun was.

He felt a little worried about whoever was going to act after him, but he didn't intend to go easy on his acting.

Seo-jun smiled bitterly and focused on the script he brought.

Time passed, and students disappeared one by one.

It was almost the end when it was Seo-jun's turn.

Seo-jun got up from his seat when he heard his name being called and headed to the interview room.

He opened the door and entered the interview room, where he saw one camera and three interviewers.

There was a chair in front of the interviewers.

“Hello. I'm Lee Seo-jun.”

The interviewers’ eyes lit up at Seo-jun's greeting.

They were a bit bored from watching the students’ acting since morning, but they felt alert now.

“Please sit down. We will ask you some questions and then see your designated acting and free acting.”

“Yes.”

At the interviewer's gesture, seo-jun sat down on the chair and smiled softly.

The interviewers couldn't help but marvel at Seo-jun's self-introduction.

It was an amazing career, even though they knew it.

And then a few questions and answers followed, and the designated acting prepared by KNUA continued.

There was no need to say anything about the interview or the designated acting.

The short designated acting made them want to see more.

‘But there's still one left.’

Lee Seo-jun's free acting, which always became a topic with his perfect choice of works and acting skills.

The interviewers looked at Seo-jun with expectant eyes.

“Finally, please show us your free acting that you prepared.”

They felt like they were more nervous than him.

“Yes. I understand.”

At the professors’ words, seo-jun got up from his seat and moved the chair out of his way.

And then he stood in front of the interviewers again.

His eyes became serious.

He had to concentrate and immerse himself more because there was no one to give him lines or a background.

Seo-jun slowly closed and opened his eyes.

One of the interviewers, who was still an active actor, felt like he heard someone say ‘Ready, action!’ from somewhere.

He felt like he was completely sucked into the world that Seo-jun created.

He had that kind of presence that captivated people's attention.

Seo-jun smiled brightly and looked around the interview room.

His black eyes sparkled as if he saw something invisible to the interviewers.

There was a pleasant energy in his chest.

He looked like he was humming lightly, even though there was no sound.

The interviewers who were watching Seo-jun's acting blinked their eyes.

He looked happy… but somehow they felt bad and uneasy.

The air that was fresh until a moment ago felt heavy and sticky.

Seo-jun, who looked around, pressed his lips as if trying to suppress the joy rising in his heart.

And then he moved quietly.

He moved so quietly that there was no sound of his footsteps.

The interviewers’ eyes followed Seo-jun. Seo-jun didn't come closer to them or move sideways.

He turned around and walked toward the door he came in.

And then,

Click-

He locked the door.

At that sound, which they wouldn't have cared about normally, a suffocating silence fell.