How a Loan Shark Survives as an Actor Chapter 24

Chapter 24

 

The article read:

 

[Column] The Proper Attitude Toward Nepo Baby Celebrities

The term ‘Nepo Baby’ is a portmanteau of ‘nepotism’ and ‘baby’, referring to children who achieve success more easily through their parents’ power, fame, or wealth. They are commonly found in the entertainment and fashion industries and, in Korea, are often used interchangeably with the term ‘gold spoon’. And on the 2nd, at the production presentation for the drama ‘Your Space and Mine’, actor Yoo Seulho spoke publicly about the nepotism controversy for the first time.

 

The reason Nepo Babies receive criticism is not limited to unfair opportunities and undeserved advantages. They often act as though they reached their positions through their own abilities alone. Worse still, many are perceived as lacking the talent and skill necessary to justify their place. The greatest tragedy is that people without influential parents… in other words, those who are not born with a golden spoon, can work several times harder and still never stand on equal footing with them. One of Korea’s most representative Nepo Baby celebrities is Yoo Seulho.

 

Since his debut, Yoo Seulho has constantly been embroiled in controversies regarding his acting ability. Mocking comments and parody videos flooded the internet, and there were even campaigns calling for boycotts of productions featuring him. Even so, PDs and directors continued casting him. Though never particularly useful, he consistently appeared on screen, and despite being branded with the nickname “Deadweight Yoo,” he stubbornly continued his career as an entertainer. One netizen even remarked, “That shameless confidence is his only talent.”

 

At times it seemed excessively cruel, the amount of malicious criticism directed toward a single person. Yet the performances Yoo Seulho displayed were truly that disastrous. There may be no definitive answer in acting, but his performances consistently made viewers tilt their heads in confusion and were severe enough to break immersion in a production. And then, of all people, he became the one to address the controversy most honestly and directly instead of avoiding it. And somehow, it worked.

 

The image he showed at the production presentation felt sincere and was enough to soften the hearts of people hardened by malice and hatred. Some say that if people showed even a fraction of the concern for social issues that they are now showing Yoo Seulho, society would be a happier place. After all, what he presented was nothing more than a few heartfelt words. Yet we are so easily swayed by a single statement from someone in power, apologizing for the prejudice we supposedly held all this time.

 

Whether Yoo Seulho’s newfound resolve is genuine remains impossible to know before the drama airs. Whether he truly changed or whether this is just more empty boasting is still uncertain. But do we really need to find out?

 

In truth, we do not. It would be much easier to continue criticizing him without watching, just as we always have.

 

There is no obligation for us to embrace Nepo Baby celebrities. However, perhaps we should reflect on our own contradictions. We tell them to prove themselves through skill, yet at the same time we refuse to allow them to prove anything. If we want to criticize the unfairness of the world, we must also examine the unfairness in our own attitudes.

 

It is not easy, but those choices are what create a mature society.

 

Will he live up to our expectations? I believe we can at least grant him the chance of being judged after watching Episode 1.

 

After all, Yoo Seulho is the first person to openly call himself a “Nepo Baby celebrity.”

 

Whether the Yoo Seulho who has finally revealed himself honestly can cast aside that label and be reborn as a true actor…

 

that historic moment begins at 9 PM on the Oth.

 

Column/Contribution: Reporter OOO

 

(TL Note: Author-nim, was it really necessary to write an entire proper article for this?)

 

Everywhere he looked, people were talking about him.

And surprisingly, most of the reactions were favorable.

“Hey, this is insane! Our company’s stock actually went up because of this!”

Manager Hyun Jingae, who had looked ready to drag me off the stage while he was speaking into the microphone yesterday, was now grinning ear to ear after seeing public opinion flip overnight.

“When I went to the company yesterday, even the CEO called you a lucky charm! The boss said public opinion might change again once the drama airs and that we should prepare countermeasures, but I told him not to worry. I said your acting is seriously good, hahaha!”

After letting out a meaningless laugh, Hyun Jingae immediately started badmouthing Director Shin.

“That bastard Director Shin is unbelievable. You’d think he’d be happy if one of the agency’s actors was doing well, but he keeps trying to keep you down. Honestly, I think he’s the craziest one of all. He actually said that casting Yoo Seulho was his own lucky break. I nearly died from how ridiculous it sounded.”

“Hyung.”

“Huh? What? You think it’s ridiculous too, right?”

“You’re being noisy. Please shut up.”

“Mm….”

Hyun Jingae hurriedly closed his mouth and left the room looking dejected.

Ignoring him, I turned my attention back to the laptop I had extorted from him… or rather, temporarily borrowed.

‘Public opinion changing in Yoo Seulho’s favor is a good thing.’

‘But that’s not what matters right now.’

People’s opinions of Yoo Seulho could change at any moment.

If they liked him, then fine. If they hated him, then fine.

Living as an entertainer meant accepting that what people thought of you was largely outside your control.

If you reacted to every little opinion, you wouldn’t survive long in this industry.

‘What matters is why the reporters suddenly changed.’

The first reporter who had questioned me was named Kim Dongwoo.

I had memorized the names and media outlets of every reporter who questioned me yesterday.

One by one, I searched their names online and read every article they had written within the past two years.

The result was obvious.

Every single one of them had published favorable articles about Yoo Taeho and Lee Seulmyeong… Yoo Seulho’s parents.

‘As expected.’

Just as a conclusion began forming in my mind, my phone vibrated.

Not many people contacted this phone.

Already guessing who it was, I checked the screen.

Sure enough, it was exactly the person I expected.

[You’ve finally had a chance to experience your limitations firsthand. I’m sure you now understand that we were the ones protecting you from reporters all this time.]

[We’ve tolerated this for a year. That’s long enough. Change agencies and come back. We’ll protect you again.]

The moment I saw the message from “Mother,” a laugh escaped me.

This was proof that Yoo Seulho’s parents had been behind the reporters’ sudden change in attitude.

‘They really are unbelievable.’

At the same time, it also made it clear how desperate they had become.

If Yoo Seulho was being criticized for succeeding through his parents’ influence, then those same parents could not completely escape criticism themselves.

Yet they had willingly taken actions that could damage their own reputation.

‘They really need a puppet son that badly.’

What stood out most was how little regard they had for the value of their son as a product in the process.

‘If they can’t have him, they’ll just break him?’

Even if that product happened to be their own son.

I had already decided not to respond until I received the report from the detective agency, so I ignored the message.

‘I can’t keep ignoring them forever.’

Even now, it was obvious that Yoo Seulho’s career remained under his parents’ influence.

Changing agencies hadn’t solved anything.

‘There’s a lot to do.’

To escape their manipulation, there was a mountain of work ahead.

I needed to raise Yoo Seulho’s reputation as quickly as possible.

I also needed to build my own network within the entertainment industry.

And eventually…

‘I need to stand higher than Yoo Seulho’s parents.’

Okay.

Now that the goal was clear, deciding what to do next became easy.

‘Tomorrow I’m scheduled to film a YouTube variety show.’

Only one week remained until Episode 1 aired.

Within that time, we had to film promotional variety content and continue shooting future episodes.

If someone asked why a production running on last-minute scripts was wasting time filming variety shows, I wouldn’t have a good answer.

But promotional activities couldn’t simply be skipped.

Once Episode 1 aired and interest peaked, promotional content needed to continue releasing afterward to maintain momentum.

‘According to Hyun Jingae, the variety team hates Yoo Seulho.’

Hyun Jingae had bluntly relayed the words of one variety-show PD directly to my face.

“Yoo Seulho just smiles awkwardly. He isn’t funny, he has no chemistry with the other cast members, and honestly it would be better if he wasn’t there.”

‘Good thing I’m not Yoo Seulho.’

Hyun Jingae wasn’t necessarily a bad person.

But he also wasn’t a particularly talented manager.

Thinking about how much Yoo Seulho must have withered while listening to a manager casually say things that hurt him made it difficult to view the man favorably.

‘Anyway.’

Around the same time Yoo Seulho gained the nickname “Deadweight Yoo,” variety-show PDs began disliking him as well.

As a result, his appearances on variety programs became increasingly rare.

Under normal circumstances, someone like me, a supporting actor, not even a lead, would never have been invited to a promotional variety show.

Yet there was a reason my schedule now included one.

 

***

 

“Actor Seulho. Please. I’m begging you…”

“PD-nim, please don’t kneel on the pavement.”

“You’re the only person I can trust, Actor Seulho.”

Because PD Jang had pleaded with desperate eyes.

“If I send only Junseo and Ran, our drama is doomed….”

For two people starring in a romance drama, Woo Junseo and Choi Ran’s real-life chemistry was catastrophic.

If those two appeared alone, it would inevitably affect how viewers perceived their chemistry in the drama itself.

That was why PD Jang had desperately forced me into the variety-show schedule.

I had no reason to refuse.

They were paying a separate appearance fee for the variety show, after all.

Just as I was about to begin researching tomorrow’s program, my phone vibrated again.

This time it was PD Jang.

“Hello?”

[Actor Seulho, are you sure you’re okay with tomorrow’s variety show?]

“Huh?”

[If you don’t want to go, tell me. I’ll somehow handle the fallout.]

The man who had practically begged me to appear only a month ago was suddenly acting like an overprotective guardian.

When I asked why, he said he was worried I might get hit with provocative questions like the ones from the production presentation.

‘Does he think I’m five years old?’

His attitude was so absurd that I nearly laughed.

Still, I reassured him and ended the call.

And then the next day arrived.

The day of the variety-show shoot.

The filming location was a jjimjilbang.

“Hello. I look forward to working with everyone today.”

I was busy greeting the staff as soon as I stepped out of the car when… someone suddenly lunged at me.

“SEULHO-SSI!!!!!”

“…!”