I'm an Unknown Actress, But Everyone Knows Me

“What are you looking at?”

“Ah. This month’s cover.”

Le-el’s photographer let out a sigh while working on the March issue. Ever since finishing a shoot with Han Yeoreum, he’d developed a habit of breathing out deeply like this.

“Why? It came out well.”

“It did. It really did.”

And yet, it wasn’t satisfying. There was no particular spark.

‘I keep comparing it to Han Yeoreum’s pictorial....’

The issue of Le-el that had featured Han Yeoreum the previous month had been fiercely competitive even at the pre-order stage. After selling out quickly, on-site sales had also seen a surge in purchases.

[Korea’s rising star Han Yeoreum takes over Taiwan with Le-el... sold out in a single day, explosive buzz]

[“I love Taiwan” — an interview conveying the sincerity of next-generation first-love Hallyu actress Han Yeoreum, is Taipei the most popular travel destination in Korea?]

[Han Yeoreum’s praise barrage, “Taiwanese films are the best in the world,” expressing respect for masters as she graces the Le-el cover]

There hadn’t been a single Hallyu actor so genuinely invested in Taiwan like this. Behind-the-scenes cuts of Han Yeoreum uploaded to the Taiwanese Le-el account were shared at lightning speed.

‘The shares passed ten thousand.’

Compared to previous buzz, it was burning up to a frankly absurd degree. A cool side-profile photo of Han Yeoreum, taken almost unconsciously when the shutter was pressed, gained considerable popularity even in Korea.

[HOT/ Actress pictorial that’s supposedly causing chaos in Taiwan over warm vs. cold.jpg]

It’s Han Yeoreum lol

She’s never been photographed with this kind of face? expression? before, but seeing it now she kinda looks like a cold beauty

In the official pictorial she was warm, but in the behind-the-scenes she’s cold, so we’re getting rolled warm-cold-warm-cold alternately

Anonymous1: Holy shit I didn’t even recognize her LOLOLOL the face that only came out in the Seoryeong cross-dressing version is in a pictorial TT_TT fuck I should offer prayers

Anonymous2: I thought she was definitely warm, but seeing this she kinda looks cold too... confusing

Anonymous3: How does even a behind-the-scenes cut look this damn good, an actor really is an actor

ㄴAnonymous13: Thought the same thing, actors really are different

For popular celebrities, there’s usually at least one pictorial photo that instantly comes to mind when you hear their name. Strangely enough, Han Yeoreum had many such representative photos.

Her first profile shot taken against a blue background using natural light; a photo in a white T-shirt taken in a lush rural area; a shot against a black background with a flower held in her mouth; a ferry-boat image against lantern light that was technically a drama still but felt like a pictorial. And finally, this Taiwanese pictorial B-cut.

‘She has a pull that draws the lens in.’

The photographer couldn’t help but judge Han Yeoreum that way. It wasn’t just that she photographed well. She drew out a level of concentration from viewers that hadn’t existed before.

‘At this rate, even luxury brands will start eyeing her.’

High-nosed brands that only chose top actors. There was a strong chance that even high-end planning teams whose names everyone knew were already watching Han Yeoreum closely.

‘She might become an ambassador before long.’

Turning on his phone again to check the reaction, the photographer doubted his eyes for a moment.

“...Huh?”

In the meantime, Han Yeoreum’s followers had passed one million.

* * *

“Hey, does this make any sense?”

At JC ENM’s new headquarters, Manager Hong was clutching his forehead in the PR team office.

“What is it?”

“...Look at this.”

The new hire Shin stared at the monitor Manager Hong showed him, then let out a scream-like gasp.

“Ah!”

Han Yeoreum’s follower count was at one million.

Breaking one million followers on Yousta at present was practically impossible unless you were a top star whose name and face were widely known.

“Her overseas fanbase really is something....”

“Right? There aren’t even ten actresses like that, are there?”

“Of course not.”

Han Yeoreum had sprinted forward, bypassing the standard route.

From early in her debut, she targeted the 10–20 demographic and gathered followers quickly; through personal work with Dok Gomin, she even created a new trend in popular ID-photo styling; and through MusicN, she made her face known to overseas K-POP fans.

She organized her feed with tasteful photos, imprinting herself on ordinary SNS users as well.

After firmly establishing her name with , she hit the peak by turning her representative work into a hit not only domestically but even in Taiwan.

“The Director won’t just sit back and watch this....”

Manager Hong smiled quietly and began organizing the keywords for the Han Yeoreum articles that would soon be released.

* * *

“Who am I...?”

There was no need for a long explanation. Actress Han Yeoreum, with one million Yousta followers.

“Ah! This is fucking awesome!”

I rolled around on my bed. This was insane. Unless it was after several OTT platforms like Netholics had already appeared, this level put me solidly within the top ten actresses by followers right now.

“At this rate, once Netholics comes in...!”

Just thinking about it made my chest swell. What if I °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° end up number one later? I stared at my phone screen again.

“For now, idol-turned actresses are really overwhelming in follower count.”

Annoying as it was, Gi Juye’s follower count ranked within the top five. She had an enormous overseas fanbase.

Among actresses who weren’t idol-born, the top was Eun Baekhap, with Do Gyeoul right on her heels.

“About three times mine.”

Being called ‘Netholics’ girlfriend’ in Japan, her follower count was exceptional. And that was despite the fact that, given Japan’s tendencies, Tr*tter was used far more heavily.

“...I’ll catch up anyway.”

How far could it grow? How many people liked me? Just thinking about that made my heart race to the point of dizziness.

It wasn’t just a follower count. It was my notarized recognition, my influence, and proof that my fanbase had grown this much.

“Not just dramas and films—advertising will pay more attention too....”

Maybe someday I’d be cast straight into a lead role without auditions.

Maybe I could even snatch a role I wanted right out of Do Gyeoul’s hands.

Just having my name or face appear once might make my work get labeled a ‘highly anticipated project.’

I was drawing that not-so-distant future when—

Bzz-. Bzz-. Bzz-.

My phone rang. It was Manager Choi.

“Yes, unni.”

And a moment later, I asked back so loudly the room echoed.

“Our house... what did you say?”

Because it was news I couldn’t believe.

* * *

Jegal Rok stared at the monitor. Han Yeoreum’s SNS followers had surpassed one million. For a rookie actress, it was an exceptional growth curve.

Follower count went beyond a simple number; it was used as a key indicator to measure a celebrity’s international influence and brand value.

“Manager Hong, please distribute the article.”

There was no time to marvel. Jegal Rok immediately contacted the PR team. Minutes later, a well-polished article was uploaded with a headline that pierced straight to the point.

[A new Hallyu boom in Taiwan... JC ENM’s chosen actress Han Yeoreum reaches one million followers]

[The popularity of a Korean actress spreading across the world—Taiwan fan meeting, magazine sell-outs, and now one million followers? Who is this fearsome rising star]

Exactly as Jegal Rok wanted.

‘Emphasize overseas popularity.’

Per Geum Bitgang’s warning, they had to move as quickly as possible.

‘Han Yeoreum is a rookie ready to break into new markets at any time.’

Preparations for were nearing completion. Not only had pre-writing up through episode eight finished, but casting, location scouting, and set construction as well.

‘This time, even the pre-marketing plan moved fast.’

Intube had now become a promotional market of a scale that could no longer be ignored. The era when everyone would rush into Intube was not far off.

‘Perfect timing.’

As soon as Han Yeoreum’s casting was finalized, JC ENM proposed a marketing project to KBC.

KBC readily accepted. At present, JC ENM was the only broadcaster with over one million subscribers on its channel.

‘As the Intube market grows, it’s certain that Intube will also determine a work’s success.’

Everyone knew it now. The industry landscape was changing. The more you lagged behind trends, the weaker broadcast power became.

‘We can’t rely on TV networks forever.’

Jegal Rok planned to secure diverse distribution lines: cable networks, Intube, Yousta, and even Netholics, which would be launching soon.

‘Once Han Yeoreum solidifies trust with , global corporations will reach out to JC ENM.’

Jegal Rok skimmed the shared file. Thick-boned fingers moved freely across the keyboard, racing as he typed, issuing the next steps.

‘If we’re going to leave a mark on the public anyway.’

It had to be done properly, from start to finish. Jegal Rok intended to invest generously in Han Yeoreum alone.

The three known as DaeYeJong’s golden class: Myeong Jeha, Do Gyeoul, and Han Yeoreum.

Until last year, Han Yeoreum had the weakest presence among them—but now she was surging upward with frightening momentum.

‘In recognition, she lags behind Do Gyeoul. In legitimacy, she lags behind Myeong Jeha.’

Do Gyeoul, whose face every citizen knew. Myeong Jeha, who’d achieved double ten-million hits with his debut and follow-up in the difficult film scene. And Han Yeoreum stood between them.

‘But being in the middle means—’

She could go either way. There was possibility.

By becoming a double ten-million hit alongside Myeong Jeha through the series , and stamping her face across multiple age groups with , she could catch up to Do Gyeoul’s recognition.

Then first—

‘Benchmark the most highly praised part of Do Gyeoul’s branding.’

The image Han Yeoreum would show was that of a true rising star: the daily life of a diligent college student who didn’t let go of either her main job or her studies.

‘Absorb the Do Gyeoul image the public loved.’

Input: Han Yeoreum will proceed with moving sometime next month.

Input: Near DaeYeJong.

The image of Do Gyeoul—who hadn’t let go of her studies while flawlessly carrying out the filming schedule for —was now something Han Yeoreum was about to swallow whole.