Superstar From Age 0

Translator: MarcTempest

Editor: AgRoseCrystal

Chapter 575

8 a.m. Seoul Military Manpower Administration.

The civil servants and doctors in charge of the military service physical examination started to move as usual. 

Unlike the staff who felt bored with the same routine every day, the men sitting in the waiting seats in front of them had a slightly nervous expression. 

There were some with young faces and some with rather old faces.

“We will now begin the military service physical examination. After checking your ID card, we will take your photo. Please line up in the order of your number.”

At that voice, the men lined up. They all seemed awkward as it was their first time. Those who came with their friends looked fairly comfortable.

“After the photo shoot, please change into the examination clothes over there and put all your belongings except your ID card in the locker. Your phone too. And then please move to the psychological test room right away.”

The line began to shorten at a fairly fast speed as the ID card check and photo shoot seemed familiar.

“Please take off your hat when checking your ID card.”

Seo-jun took off his hat at the voice from the front. Everyone was paying attention to other places, so they didn’t seem to care much about who the person around them was.

Seo-jun looked around the inside of the Military Manpower Administration with an interesting face. Of course, it was a military service physical examination room with an atmosphere somewhere between a hospital and a public institution, but he wondered when he would come to the Military Manpower Administration again.

“Next person.”

“Yes.”

Seo-jun handed his ID card to the civil servant sitting in front of the computer. Maybe it was because it was Monday, but the civil servant with a half-focused face checked the ID card familiarly.

Name, Lee Seo-jun.

“…Wow.”

The civil servant unknowingly let out an exclamation. He had seen one or two people with the same name as celebrities while working here, but he thought this person must have had a hard life.

He must have been a fresh college student, but every time he called his name, he would have been surprised and looked back, saying, ‘Lee Seo-jun?’ and then disappointed and turned his head again, saying, ‘Ah…’. He also wondered how he would cope with the heavy silence every time he introduced his name. Besides, he was the same age as actor Lee Seo-jun.

‘I have to name my child something ordinary.’

But come to think of it, ‘Lee Seo-jun’ was not such a special name either.

And even if he named him first, it was useless if a child born later became famous.

There were often people named Lee Seo-jun among those who were older than actor Lee Seo-jun.

‘His parents didn’t know when they named him either.’

But he thought it was a memorable name and checked the resident registration number. And he immediately raised his head to check the photo and face.

A neat face came into view. He couldn’t help but admire it. 

He had seen many people’s faces, but he had never seen such a handsome face. And it felt familiar somehow.

With a blank expression, the civil servant lowered his head again and checked the photo on the ID card.

It was a photo of the ID card that most people wanted to hide because it was taken to confirm their identity as it was in reality, but this photo could be used as it was on the cover of a famous magazine.

It was not that he used Photoshop or something to fix it here and there. It was so great as it was that it was great even if he just captured it.

The civil servant, who had forgotten to breathe for a moment, knew the owner of this great photo very well. He also knew the man who handed him this ID card, who was standing right in front of him.

Suddenly, his breath came back.

“…Huh?”

So,

“…Huh?!”

It wasn’t a namesake,

“…Lee Seo-jun?!”

It was him.

The civil servant’s eyes widened as he saw the actor Lee Seo-jun smiling brightly. At the same time, the military service physical examination room and the Military Manpower Administration exploded.

***

<Shit, I’m going crazy!

<Lee Seo-jun is here!!!

-Lee Seo-jun? The actor?

-? Are you sure you’re not mistaken?

-Not Lee Shi Jun? Lol

-But didn’t that kid say he was going to take the exam today?

-What, did he go to the Military Manpower Administration to shoot something?

-Yeah, maybe. Like he did a public service ad for the fire department before.

< No no no, Lee Seo-jun came to take the exam lol

<Shit, I can’t believe it even as I say it.

-Wow. Let’s see if it’s true. Witness stories are coming up lol

[Title: I came to take the exam and Lee Seo-jun is here.]

As it is

I came to take the exam and actor Lee Seo-jun is here??? Why are you here, bro???

[Title: Lee Seo-jun’s one cut seems amazing as I heard from rumors;;;]

Honestly, I thought he was a good-looking guy when he was wearing a hat, but I didn’t think he was Lee Seo-jun at all. I just thought he was an idol trainee or a model or something, anyway, a handsome person, you know lol I didn’t think he was Lee Seo-jun lol I can’t believe it even as I say it lol

It’s amazing to see Lee Seo-jun’s [One Step] that I only saw on the internet in real life lol I can’t recognize him even if he passes by me lol

[Title: As a fan of the survivors, I’m so hurt by my pride.]

Shit, I’ve watched the survivors (theatrical version + director’s cut) so many times, but I can’t recognize Lee Hyun-woo after some time lol My eyes are crooked lol

But I can feel the difference in the atmosphere. Lee Hyun-woo is Lee Hyun-woo and Lee Seo-jun is Lee Seo-jun, so it’s fucking amazing. Actors are actors, I guess.

[Title: My brother went to take the exam… and there’s Seo-jun there??]

No… What… Why… (speechless)

My brother got a chance to meet the star that I can’t even see?!?!? (biting lips)

Seo-jun… Seo-jun…ㅠㅠㅠ

I’ve never seen him in real life beforeㅠㅠㅠ

Why do I have to find out that he exists through my brotherㅠㅠ Please do a fan meetingㅠㅠ I know I’ll faint anyway…ㅎ

(Banana Talk/ Dad’s Son.JPG)

-Sis!

-I’m getting a new sword with Seo-jun!!

<? What are you talking about?

-No, really!!

-(A photo with Seo-jun. The brother’s face is hidden.)

-He even took a picture with me while waiting for the sword! He’s so nice!

-I… hid my face.

-Being right next to Seo-jun… it was kind of… overwhelming…(faraway look)

-? Sis?

-Are you working?

<@!#^%$!#&^$!!!!!!!

(Banana Talk/ Denial-Anger-Acceptance.JPG)

<…Our Seo-jun… is handsome, right?

-Yeah, he looks like he’s from a different race than me.

-Who was that… the actor you liked before… Kim Tae-in? He’s way more handsome than him.

-But the camera doesn’t capture all of his beauty.

-Even I was amazedㅋ

-Oh, I have to put away my phone now.

ㅠㅠㅠㅠ

No, he was watching Kim Tae-in alone when I liked him (I don’t like him anymore. Seriously.) and now he’s watching Seo-jun alone?!?!

Brother, take me with you next time…ㅠ

***

[Actor Seo-jun, undergoing military physical examination today!]

[Actor Seo-jun, at the Military Manpower Administration for physical examination!]

[20 years old this year, actor Seo-jun’s physical examination!]

-…I didn’t expect to see Seo-jun’s sightings at the Military Manpower Administration…

=222 It’s so funny that he got caught at the ID checkㅋㅋ

=33ㅋㅋNo one knew until thenㅋㅋ

=Isn’t he going to be unrecognizable in the armyㅋㅋㅋ

-But why is Seo-jun taking the physical examination? I thought he debuted in Shadowman and had American citizenship.

=22 Wasn’t he American?

=? If you watch 48 Hours, you’ll know that Seo-jun is Korean.

=48 Hours? What’s that?

=Well, if you’re not a real fan, you wouldn’t watch a web variety show from 19 years ago? 18 years ago?

=But they did a lot of reruns, right?

=Only those who wanted to watch it watched it.

=48 Hours: The first parenting web variety show filmed by Bubl (pre-debut) and Seo-jun (8 months old) for 48 hours!

=ㅋㅋㅋ8 monthsㅋㅋㅋ

=8 months is too funnyㅋㅋ

=Anyway, Seo-jun was born in Korea and went to America when he was about 11 months old. He’s a pure Korean with only Korean citizenship.

-But why don’t people know that Seo-jun is Korean? He always says he’s the first Korean!! when he receives an award on TV.

=That’s because… they call Korean-Americans Koreans on TV, right?

=ㅋㅋThat’s trueㅋㅋ

=It would be the same even if Seo-jun was a Korean-Americanㅋㅋ

-It seems like a waste of time to write an article about taking a physical examination, not enlisting…

=It’s Seo-jun.

=22 If you look at the comments pouring in, the reporters who don’t write are stupid.

-I saw an article below that some idol took a physical examination.

=Comments… pitiful…ㅠ

=I came from the anti-hate comment committee.

=This is not the place. Go to the next article. (kind)

-Someone posted on SNS that they met some amazing guests at the rest area. What is physical examination?

=…Tell them. They need to know the reality that they won’t be able to see Seo-jun for a year and four monthsㅎ

-But when is he going to the army?

=He’s a college student, so he can postpone it until he’s 24. And if he has activities after that, he’ll postpone it as long as he can, right?

=Some people postpone it and don’t go, or get re-examined and go to public service.

=But Seo-jun is too healthy for that.

=22 He just had a health checkup because of the flow.

=Besides, celebrities don’t go to the army when they’re popular. They say they lose their popularity because of the hiatus. Seo-jun will do the same.

=…? Could Seo-jun’s popularity disappear? (puzzled)

=22 And Seo-jun never missed the flow. (firm)

=33 Rather, he creates the flow. He makes a tsunami whenever he appears. (confident)

=You’re obviously a newbieㅋㅋ

=ㅋㅋㅋBut well, that’s not wrong. And it’s okay to have a year and four months hiatus as an actor, right?

=He can film movies and dramas in advance and go. Seo-jun must have a lot of scripts piled up. He can go anytime.

-Will he do something like a promotion soldier in the army?

=22 Who else would they use as a promotion soldier if not Seo-jun.

=Isn’t he going to film more videos than when he’s outside?

=Probably. Even top stars become ordinary soldiers when they enlist.

=Wow. I’m a newbie, and I really hate it.

=22 I wish Seo-jun would just film what he wantsㅠㅠ

-It would be nice to go in with Seo-jun. He’s supposed to have a good personality. Become senior and junior.

=But Seo-jun will suffer too. There was someone who leaked the personal information of a celebrity he lived with.

=Wow;;;

=If he meets the wrong person, he might get bullied for being a top star.

=That’s 100%.

=22 I’ll break the hand of anyone who brags that Seo-jun couldn’t do anything to him after he gets discharged.

=ㅅㅂ It reminds me of when I was in the army. You’d think there wouldn’t be such a crazy person, but there is.

=They’ll watch him from above, right;;

=The higher-ups are worse…ㅠ Didn’t you see the article about abuse of power?

-Seo-jun’s physical examination seems to be over. He took a picture at the Military Manpower Administration. (article link)

=Is he starting to promote alreadyㅋㅋ

-Wow. He got grade 1.

=I knew it. But isn’t this personal information too?

=They would have found out somehow, even if he hid it.

[The spreading Korean Wave, discussion on military exemption law for entertainment industry?]

[The criteria is vague. Can the bill pass?]

-But can’t Seo-jun get exempted? He’s good at violin.

=Exemption for music is winning a concours. But even if Seo-jun is good, his fame (good or bad) will definitely affect the evaluation. Then there will be controversy.

=What about sports? He’s good at sports, right?

=That’s also secondary to skill, but if a popular actor joins for a while to get exempted and wins a medal and returns to his main job, there will be backlash. There are athletes who stake their lives on sports.

=22 Unless he was an athlete who became an entertainer, or he kept doing sports as much as acting since he was young and built up records.

=33 Maybe if it’s an unpopular sport that doesn’t have a national team.

=The best thing is exemption by winning a film festival… but there’s no lawㅋㅋㅋㅋ

=Seo-jun is really… unlucky.

=But honestly, who would have thought that he would win an Oscar and a Golden Lion at 13, 19 years old. I don’t believe it even as I write it…ㅎ

=But it would benefit the actors who come after him if the law is made. Of course, I doubt there will be any actors who win the three major film festivals and the Academy Awards before they enlist.

=There won’t be.

=22 There won’t be.

[Actor Seo-jun, selected as a new Academy member this year!]

[Actor Seo-jun, the youngest Korean Academy member!]

[Seo-jun, will he vote for Kim Jong-ho and Lee Ji-seok of Seo-jun’s Brigade?]

-It would be strange if he wasn’t a member.

=22 He became one because he’s an adult now.

-I understand that only adults can vote. Fairness, they say. It’s funny when OscarSoWhite says it. The most unfair award ceremonyㅋㅋㅋ

=This comment has too many likes, doesn’t it?

=Everyone thinks the sameㅋㅋ

=But it got better… a little bit… (faraway look)

-It would be funny if Seo-jun voted for Seo-jun’s Brigadeㅋㅋ

=I want to see Kim Jong-ho and Lee Ji-seok go to the Academy.

=Lee Ji-seok can’t go. He’s an extraㅋㅋ

=ㅋㅋㅋㅋ

[SBC Working Man!, next week’s broadcast ‘Rest Area Working Man! Restaurant is open!’]

[No, wait, really? Working Man!, the amazing guests they met at the rest area!]

[Working Man! Working Man members panic at the empty rest area!]

-It’s boring when ordinary people appear.

=But the restaurant business would be fun.

-That’s what they were promoting on SNS. I was going to go.

=Me too. But it was too far away.

-If they met amazing guests… did they meet celebrities or something?

=Wow. Is that possible?

-I keep thinking of Seo-jun because of the fuss in the morning. Even here. Will Working Man meet Seo-jun again as they pass byㅋㅋ That’s the funniest thingㅋㅋ

=22 It would be funny if they said ‘Have you seen actor Seo-jun’ againㅋㅋ

=That’s funny, but they met him earlier this year, so they won’t meet him againㅋㅋ

=The ski resortㅋㅋIt was funnyㅋㅋ