Grab the Regressor by the Collar and Debut - Chapter 418
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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418. If You Can’t Avoid It, Enjoy It (4)
How do you strike back satisfyingly against someone running a reverse viral campaign?
‘Where does such a thing exist?’
Unfortunately, I didn’t have many options to counter people who deliberately spent money and time tearing me down.
In web novels, they’d use the system and deploy every scheme imaginable to ensure someone never set foot in the entertainment industry again, giving readers that satisfying payoff. But sadly, the system attached to my life is a fantasy construct with absolutely no flexibility whatsoever.
‘Just looking at how the Executive Director’s life was ruined in exchange for my character scandal exposure, well….’
So basically, I’m transmigrated (or not) into a #modern fantasy #idol #system novel, yet I can’t use any of those otherworldly protagonist advantages. That’s the cruel hand I’ve been dealt.
So what do I do?
‘What am I going to do? Just do it.’
If you can’t avoid it, enjoy it.
If you can’t enjoy it, check your bank balance.
Courage and wisdom you never knew you had will spring forth from your heart and mind.
‘If fantasy won’t work, I’ll just have to hustle and feed them a diverse menu of comeuppance.’
Coveting the recognition that comes with the name Kang Ha-jin?
Go ahead and try to take it.
An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. Viral for viral.
“You should’ve picked your target more carefully.”
Even I had to admit the smile spreading across my face was wickedly sinister.
Whether it was frustration over losing Ji Su-ho to this pathetic scandal (or not), the victor in this reverse viral war had to be me—absolutely, definitely, no matter what, unconditionally, and without question.
【Farmer Kang Ha-jin】
【Kang Ha-jin Nabilera】
【Nabilera Cafe Owner Kang Ha-jin】
【Kang Ha-jin 1 Billion Won】
【Teacher Kang Ha-jin】
【Lawyer Kang Ha-jin】
The related search terms that had been attached to breakup rumors and BJ nonsense instantly transformed into completely different keywords.
Before, when searching for “Ha-jin” or “Kairos Ha-jin,” I’d appear at the top. But after that reverse viral campaign, searching “Kang Ha-jin” would bring up that unknown actor’s profile first for a while.
Now my name appeared at the very top again, and below it were countless other Kang Ha-jins asserting their existence. That problematic actor still ranked around second or third thanks to his recognition, but he was nothing more than one among many Kang Ha-jins.
I hummed cheerfully as I checked the performance metrics of the consecutively uploaded “Kang Ha-jin Nabilera” videos.
【An idol in Seoul, but a farmer with 1 billion won annual revenue in Pyeongchang? ‖ Kang Ha-jin’s Come Here Nabilera! Episode 01】
830,000 views · 5 days ago
【Ever seen an idol get a massive discount on lawyer consultation fees using a homonym? ‖ Kang Ha-jin’s Come Here Nabilera! Episode 02】
670,000 views · 3 days ago
【The mermaid prince Kang Ha-jin actually exists and cuts through the water fiercer than anyone! Even snagged a wedding song request? ‖ Kang Ha-jin’s Come Here Nabilera! Episode 03】
540,000 views · 1 day ago
Normally, the standard practice was to upload with roughly a week’s interval, methodically and steadily. But this series needed rapid-fire momentum and an endless stream of talking points to keep the buzz alive.
It would’ve been ideal if Kwon PD’s Studio A, which handles Today’s Kairos, had taken this on, but that would’ve cost more and required more resources—a problem. Studio A was already stretched thin just maintaining Today’s Kairos with their current workload.
-Then let’s just handle it internally.
-Internally?
-Shooting and editing can both be minimized if that’s acceptable. Now that Endway’s heading overseas, their schedule freed up a bit. With this volume, I think we could manage about five episodes…. It might actually work out.
After a lengthy meeting, 【Come Here, Nabilera!】 was decided to be handled by the Miro Internal Content Team. I’d even considered asking them to just handle the filming and doing the editing myself, but since I was in the middle of my own activities, I didn’t have the capacity for it, so I abandoned that idea long ago.
In any case, compared to Kairos’s content, which had consistently showcased the essence of trendy editing, this 【Come Here, Nabilera!】 took on a somewhat static and composed editing style, which apparently became a new point of appeal.
– Love that the editing isn’t chaotic, feels like a calm healing meal with a friend
– The issue of people coming in to see their favorites but becoming more immersed in people with the same name haha. It’s calm in a world filled with provocative content, so it’s like listening to people talk about their lives, so it’s healing for no reason ㅠㅠ
– Wow, but Ha-jin is really good at hosting. I didn’t notice it watching fast-paced variety shows, but seeing him just do pure talk content like this really stands out
【Come Here, Nabilera!】 had no special format. It was simply me traveling across the country to meet different people named Kang Ha-jin and having conversations with them.
Kang Ha-di
@kang_HD
Please no
Asked a farmer named Ha-jin in Pyeongchang how much wild ginseng lying around his house was worth
When he heard it was worth 3 million won, watch Kang Ha-jin trembling
(Screenshot of Kang Ha-jin holding both hands, on the verge of fainting.JPG)
Shares 3,299 Likes 3,509
Rossy Day
@rossy_1017
Hey guys
Ha-jin is literally using this self-produced content as an excuse to bring a lawyer along
And he’s warning that he’s going to take down all the malicious commenters
(Video of Ha-jin receiving serious legal consultation from lawyer Ha-jin about suing malicious commenters.MP4)
Shares 4,321 Quotes 342 Likes 6,100
Finding Kang Ha-jin is so much fun lolololol
It’s kind of interesting how we have the same name but are living completely different lives lol
The fact that Kang Ha-jin and I have different years and the same birthday, but one of us is an idol and the other is a graduate student researcher seems like a parallel universe haha.
Kang Ha-jin is really good at hosting, honestly. He has this ability to get along smoothly with people he’s meeting for the first time and get them to spill all kinds of TMI lol.
Our strong Kang Ha-tae is popular with people, and it’s pretty funny how every person he meets ends up getting treated to jjangchim by a Doberman.
– His boldness is legendary, in the lawyer episode he negotiated 50% of the same-name person’s DC and I felt the energy of a negotiation master
– The fact that even after discovering so many Kang Ha-jins, searching “Kang Ha-jin” still brings up Kairos’s Kang Ha-jin at the top is so cool
– My friend’s name is also Kang Ha-jin. It would be nice if he could contact me ㅠㅠㅜㅜ Let’s follow my friend and get on the plane ㅠㅜㅜ
Each episode featured one main Kang Ha-jin, and after about 10 to 15 minutes of conversation, the end credits would roll with short introductions and stories about 4 or 5 other Kang Ha-jins.
The main conversations with people like the lawyer and the wealthy farmer—those with “notable” professions—were certainly entertaining, but what really captured my heart were the ordinary Kang Ha-jins who appeared later: housewives, students, people living everyday lives.
【Kang Ha-jin Grandmother living in Gangneung (76 years old, runs a rice bowl restaurant) ‖ I’ve lived half my life not even remembering what my name was… but somehow it feels nice, like I’ve gained one more cute grandchild.】
【Student Kang Ha-jin (15 years old, middle school student) living in Daegu ‖ I always hated my name because I got teased a lot because it was androgynous and puppy-like, but when people said it was because of my name, I became a popular star in class! Thank you Hajin oppa!!! When you become an adult and earn money, you will pay your own money for concerts, so until then, be an idol for a long time ㅠㅠㅠ】
Kang Ha-jin, a hardware store owner in Naju (45 years old) ‖ These days, since delivery services are so convenient, people don’t really visit hardware stores anymore. But then suddenly I got a call asking, “You’re Kang Ha-jin, right?” and at first I thought it might be a voice phishing scam.
This simple-format content where a successful South Korean idol Kang Ha-jin travels across the country to find other people named Kang Ha-jin and learn about their lives received a reverse-viral buff from the and instantly became a trending video.
My ability to connect with people—to talk with a stranger like I’ve known them for ten years—truly shined in this content. I’d started it with confidence in my abilities, but once we actually began filming, I felt even more certain we’d made the right choice.
【”Applause for all Kang Ha-jins in the world”… Paralympic Swimming Gold Medalist Kang Ha-jin Athlete Interview ①】
【’Another Me I Discovered’, Kairos’s Kang Ha-jin Meets Paralympic Swimmer Kang Ha-jin】
【Come Here, Nabilera!】 even had emotional moments!
I clicked on the swimmer episode, which had been uploaded most recently but was showing the highest view trajectory. The video automatically resumed from where I’d last watched it.
【Swimmer Ha-jin: Actually… I’m getting married next month.】
【Kairos’s Ha-jin: Oh, really? Wow, that’s wonderful↗! Congratulations!】
【Next month, swimmer Ha-jin, who is the same age and about to marry his girlfriend!】
Swimmer Kang Ha-jin, who lost one arm and one leg in an accident but overcame his disability to compete as a domestic Paralympic swimmer, shyly pulled out his wedding invitation.
They say the face of someone in love shines brighter than light itself.
As I recalled that heartwarming scene once more, the video showed me making an excited fuss with the exact same overwhelmed expression I wore now.
【Swimmer Ha-jin: Of course you must be busy, but if you could possibly make it….】
【Kairos’s Ha-jin: Wow! Of course I’m going! I absolutely have to go! Seriously, I love stuff like this so much.】
【↑A romance novel fanatic experiencing a dopamine explosion over this genuinely thrilling real-life romance↑】
【Kairos’s Ha-jin: Wait, this is huge. Have you chosen someone to sing the congratulatory song? I’ll sing it for you!】
【Swimmer Ha-jin: Huh? Re, really? Truly?】
(Oh!)
What am I supposed to do if you shout like that….>
【The bride-to-be, who instinctively burst with joy at Ha-jin’s offer to sing….】
Even through the mosaic, the bride-to-be’s joy was clearly visible. Seeing them again, they really did look like a wonderful couple, so it felt worthwhile to carve out time from this hectic schedule and squeeze in my first-ever congratulatory song performance into my calendar.
“Seriously. If all the couples in the world were just this pure and kind-hearted, I’d be the type to hand over a rice cake with sweet rice drink on top, but here I am.”
This cruel world just won’t let me live a good and gentle life, will it?
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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