Due to the Japanese variety show Ja Dokiri and the tweet from the UFC heavyweight champ,
Kim Donghu’s hidden cara segnt spread far wider than expected.
It wasn’t just global recognition.
So major YouTubers had begun seriously analyzing the entire situation.
—“Honestly, this might be even more impressive than when he pulled that plane as Tarzan.”
—“Really?”
—“Absolutely! That had wheels! This ti, he ripped off a soundproof door with four hinges using his bare hands!”
They even emphasized there was no prior tampering to weaken the hinges.
YouTubers zood in hard on that detail.
—“Let’s be real—this guy’s basically a gorilla.”
—“A gorilla?”
—“Yes. Not just any gorilla. Think King Kong.”
—“So we’re talking serious strength here?”
—“Exactly. In my opinion... this is Earth’s number one right here.”
No drug scandals.
He only weighed about 100kg, which is average in the West.
But his raw power? Unmatched.
One after another, the YouTubers declared Kim Donghu the strongest on the planet.
Maybe it started in Japan, but the wave spread quickly.
—“You know, the tone of recent Japanese manga has shifted a bit.”
—“Totally. It used to be all like: ‘I’m just an ordinary nobody and a top-tier beautiful girl falls for ?!’”
—“But now, it’s full of these ultra-handso iken types.”
—“And let’s be honest—it’s not just ‘iken.’ Most of them are clearly modeled after Kim Donghu.”
—“Yeah, that Kim Donghu vibe is everywhere now. Main characters openly scream ‘alpha male.’”
Kim Donghu’s influence spread through subculture too.
As the YouTubers noted, character archetypes began shifting toward “Kim Donghu-like” leads.
“You an... making my figure?”
“Yeah. The Musashi version. They want to release that.”
“W-Wait, seriously?”
“And you know the scene where you rip off the radio booth door? They proposed a figure of that too.”
An official figure collaboration proposal arrived at Veritas.
“Alter? Isn’t that a huge company?”
“Yup. They’re the most enthusiastic about turning you into a figure.”
“But why...”
“Because you look like a damn ani character. You’re a manhwa prince co to life.”
It had been a while since Choi Seokho laid on the flattery.
Kim Donghu couldn’t even register it properly—his face twisted awkwardly.
‘I’m going to be... a figure?’
From Alter, no less?
“I’ll do it.”
He made the decision instantly.
With Alter, there was no risk of it coming out weird.
And if this helped him expand into subculture?
‘Maybe I can finally break past the boundaries of being just an actor.’
Granted, he was already doing a lot.
He’d gone to the Olympics, done voice work, appeared on variety shows...
But—
‘I want to go further.’
He didn’t know exactly what “further” ant,
but building recognition like this? He ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) welcod it.
On top of that—
‘If one of the conditions to changing fate is leaving a mark on history, then I have to do this.’
He rembered:
When he changed his fate before, it was through an achievent worthy of being recorded.
Winning an Olympic gold dal had saved his parents.
So maybe building up his na—even through a figure—
could save his own life next ti.
That thought hit him out of nowhere.
So, just like that, Kim Donghu’s figure went into production.
And as soon as it was announced—
【 So when’s it coming out? 】
【 Musashi’s releasing in May, right? It’ll probably launch with that. 】
【 I didn’t even get to preorder. The site crashed T_T 】
【 I WANT A KIM DONGHU FIGURE TOO!!! 】
【 Pretty soon, cellphone stores will be covered in Donghu figures next to Marvel ones 】
【 Kim Donghu figurewwwwww please I need itttttt wwwww 】
【 ALTER < why they’re bastards: they’re only making 10,000 Donghu figures as limited edition 】
【 NOOOO my internet is too slow!!! 】
Naturally, the global reaction was red hot.
Tarzan, is there any way I can get that figure...? I’m sorry, I never do this, but I have to have it. I’ll pay whatever it costs.
Do you have an extra figure I could give to my boxing manager? Any idea how many there are? Please let have one?
Senpai! Hello! It’s , Chisako! >o
And not long after that, sothing else went into production—not just the figure.
“Wait, this is really a human body? Not a sculpture?”
It was a torso for Physical 300.
***
Early February, 2022.
After the year-end events, the start-of-year schedule,
ti spent with family, and vacations with friends—
I’d wrapped up all my work and was once again moving to kick off the new schedule.
The first item on that list: torso production.
“You said the shoot was moved up?”
“Yes, we’re expecting it around mid-March.”
“Must’ve been tough adjusting the schedule?”
“Oh, not at all. It’s our job, really. But thank you—that ans a lot to hear.”
The real reason filming was moved up so drastically—
Officially, Netflix said it was due to internal scheduling adjustnts.
But Seokho hyung and I knew the truth.
‘They want to air it within this year.’
Physical 300 was originally slated to premiere about six months after filming wrapped.
Under the original tiline, it would’ve aired next year on Netflix.
But at the current pace—
Musashi was scheduled for Cannes in May.
The Pianist was set to hit Disney in June.
This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.
To match that montum, they wanted to release Physical 300 around October or November—
finishing the year with a variety show on Netflix after showcasing films at Cannes and Disney .
That was the real reason the shoot had been pulled forward.
‘Then next year... boxing and MMA, huh.’
MMA wasn’t locked in yet, since they still hadn’t secured the purse.
But the boxing match was already taking shape.
A showdown between the WBC and WBA heavyweight champions.
I personally had no problem doing it imdiately,
but the WBA heavyweight champ requested two years to prepare.
So the fight was tentatively scheduled for March 2023.
Of course, there might be further changes,
but it was already locked in as happening in 2023.
“Ah, that’s cold.”
“Sorry! Is it too much?”
“No, it’s bearable.”
“Still... your physique really is perfect. Truly...”
“Thank you.”
With a few light complints,
the torso production wrapped up faster than expected.
After that, I went straight into a brief pre-eting and interview for Physical 300.
Ti flew by, and before I knew it—it was mid-March.
The long-awaited first day of shooting Physical 300 had arrived.
***
Physical 300 filming site.
Based on pre-voting results, participants were slowly being admitted.
“Whoa, look at all those torsos.”
The pre-made torsos were lined up in perfect formation.
All each contestant had to do was find their own and step forward.
But everyone walking in seed to have made an unspoken agreent.
“...This is it.”
“Holy shit.”
They all gathered in front of one particular torso.
Forgetting they had their own, they just stood there—staring blankly.
“Seriously, this body... looks like a Classic Physique champion.”
“So this is what you get without drugs, huh? Is his DNA just different from ours?”
At a glance, it was obviously huge.
But it wasn’t just big.
“It’s like it was sculpted by a god.”
Everything was balanced, tight, and immaculate.
Like the result of lines being compressed, then refined and forged into a masterpiece.
They were all human.
And yet, this one torso stood out as sothing other.
And every participant knew exactly whose it was.
There was no need for a naplate.
“This is... actor Kim Donghu’s body.”
“Isn’t this cheating? Feels like we already know the winner.”
His torso alone sat at the dead center—
and it was the only one catching the light from above.
Almost as if to declare: this is the pinnacle of physicality.
But despite that, no one lost their spirit.
They had their own hard-earned strength, pride, and experience.
If anything, seeing Kim Donghu’s body only lit a fire under them.
‘Whatever it takes, I’ll win. I have to win.’
That thought lasted only a mont.
As more participants filed in—
“Hello.”
And finally, when Kim Donghu himself walked through the entrance—
Everyone had the sa thought flash through their minds.
The king has arrived.
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