Variety Shows Are Surprisingly Honest
The call ended, and exactly three minutes later—bang! The meeting room door flew open.
“Aigoo! Looks like everyone's gathered here!”
He wasn't even out of breath, not a drop of sweat on him, looking perfectly fresh. A middle-aged man strolled in with a sly grin.
...Was he really in this building?
Factoring in the time from hanging up to taking the elevator up, that meant he'd been right below or above us somewhere. That shamelessness. And that terrifying execution. Was this impressive or scary? But the fact that everyone knew him as a PD proved his ways worked.
Kim Manho stood from his seat, extending a friendly hand.
“Haha, long time no see, PD.”
“No kidding! It's been like five years, right? Director... no, President now! You're killing it!”
“Oh, come on. You're the one who hasn't changed a bit.”
The two shook hands warmly, like old pals. Ha Bong-seok PD then turned his gaze to Choi Sora, the team leader sitting beside me, and me.
“Areum's only been here a day, haha. And this is...?”
“Ah, this is Choi Sora, team leader from Rakgurakgu's marketing department.”
“Nice to meet you! Ha Bong-seok here.”
“Oh my gosh, the honor's mine, PD! Huge fan!”
Ha Bong-seok PD plopped down into an empty seat as if he'd been scheduled for this meeting from the start.
Kim Manho cleared the air and got to the point. “Since it's just us, let's skip the pleasantries. You said you're going to the uninhabited island with Areum here?”
“Whoa~! As expected, you and I click, President! I hate beating around the bush.”
He slapped his knee with a laugh. Wait, isn't that what variety shows do best—going around in circles a million times?
“Originally, I was gonna take actor O Seokgyun and his buddy.”
“His buddy?”
“Yeah. Seokgyun goes whack! on his knee and says he's got this camping expert friend, so he calls up Areum. And Areum, being the loyal type, accepts super cool~ly. Boom, it's on!”
“......”
My mouth twitched. Coolly accepted? I thought it was a hidden camera prank back then...!
It was just a throwaway line for TV laughs, but he bit hook, line, and sinker. No way I could say now, “Actually, I was acting like I thought it was a prank.”
“Haha... yeah, that's how it went down!”
His innocent grin was somehow infuriating.
Kim Manho nodded and moved on. “That matches what we heard. The reason we asked to see you today is about the brand activities Areum signed on for...”
Kim Manho explained the ambassador contract with Rakgurakgu. Basically, since I was the face of Rakgurakgu, they wanted me to use their products in this uninhabited island shoot—a sponsorship proposal.
Choi Sora, listening beside me, had stars of expectation in her eyes.
Ha Bong-seok PD waved it off before the explanation even finished. “Pfft, sponsorship? Absolutely! We love it. You know free gear is too good to pass up, President.”
“Haha, glad to hear it.”
“We're thankful! Saves on production costs, and top-notch stuff! Team Leader Choi? You know every broadcast station nap room has at least one Rakgurakgu, right?”
The mood warmed up nicely. A smile spread across Choi Sora's face.
But one thing bugged me. I raised my hand cautiously. “Um...”
“Yes, Areum? Speak up!”
Ha Bong-seok PD replied kindly.
“Well, O Seok... I mean, Oppa told me this was for a camping ad promo, so we're going to the island...”
O Seokgyun had said it clearly: outdoor brand promotion.
“So, do we have to use their sponsored gear? It might overlap with Rakgurakgu.”
A hush fell over the meeting room at my question. Choi Sora's face stiffened. If it was a competitor's products, it'd put Rakgurakgu in a tough spot. Kim Manho's eyebrows twitched—he clearly hadn't considered that.
Tension hung in the air. Then Ha Bong-seok PD tilted his head. “Oh... that?”
He answered with the world's most innocent smile. “That was a lie.”
“......”
“......”
Silence from everyone but him. We all stared, dumbfounded.
“Pardon?”
“Hahaha! O Seokgyun made it up to lure Areum out.”
“......”
This f... No, hold it in.
Something hot bubbled up inside me. So the ad, the promo—all BS?
Ha Bong-seok PD continued casually. “I just wanted to grab a celeb and dump 'em on an island. Sounds fun, right?”
...Honestly, it did sound pretty damn fun.
He chuckled, recounting the story. “Anyway, my buddy O Seokgyun... ugh, doesn't roll off the tongue. Since you're doing the show together now, Areum, I'll drop the formalities a bit.”
“Ah, sure. Whatever's comfy...”
“I'm sniffing around, and boom—word he just wrapped a schedule and landed. Perfect timing! I bolt to the airport, kidnap him straight off the plane, no pit stop home.”
Kidnap. Perfect word.
I recalled O Seokgyun's haggard look at the bar that day. Fresh off an overseas shoot, kidnapped, and even lied to drag me in.
...Poor guy.
Wait. What'd he just say?
Seokgyun-ie?
I doubted my ears. Ha PD looked early 40s tops—your average neighborhood uncle vibe. O Seokgyun, on the other hand? Total mid-50s boss energy, like a mafia don or retired gang heavyweight.
Yet Ha PD calls him “Seokgyun-ie”?
“Um... PD?”
“Yeah?”
“Is actor O Seokgyun... your little bro?”
He nodded like it was obvious. “Yep. Seokgyun's two years younger than me.”
“......”
“Gasp.”
Choi Sora clapped a hand over her mouth. Kim Manho coughed awkwardly, looking away.
Mind-blowing truth. That intimidating O Seokgyun was younger than this natural-born uncle Ha PD.
Felt like I'd uncovered the world's best-kept secret. Never judge a book by its cover.
Anyway, no ad meant no issue with Rakgurakgu gear. Color returned to Choi Sora's face.
“Phew, perfect! We'll send all our products!”
“Thanks. I'll put 'em to good use.”
Now, gear. Uninhabited island meant a ton to pack.
“So, what exactly should I bring? Too many convenience items might kill the show's vibe.”
Ha Bong-seok PD gave a thumbs-up in awe. “Whoa—only Areum thinks about the broadcast like this! Most folks sneak in cheats for comfort.”
He pulled out a notepad. “Better tell you now. Here's the bring list.”
I leaned in, tense.
“First... tent!”
Nod. Essential. No Rakgurakgu tents, so my trusty Snow Peak dome tent it is.
“Bed, sleeping bag, chair!”
Hmm. Rakgurakgu makes those—perfect for ambassador duties, and reliable.
Next: burner, cookware, lantern, cooler... mountain of stuff.
But.
“......”
He shut his mouth. Closed the notepad, looked at me.
“...?”
Why stop mid-list?
“Um... anything else?”
He grinned. “That's it.”
“......”
Dead silence, like ice water dumped in the room.
Did I hear wrong?
“...Pardon?”
“Tent, bed, sleeping bag, chair. Just those four. Personal clothes and toiletries don't count.”
“......”
My mind went blank.
Tent, bed, sleeping bag, chair. That's it?
This m...
I nearly cursed, slapping a hand over my mouth. But my eyes screamed it.
This guy's a total psycho!!!
It's winter. Uninhabited island with winter sea winds, no heater, no fire tools, no lights?
Food? Water? Is camping a joke to you!?
My face twisted in fury. He waved frantically. “W-wait...!! Don't get mad! Hear me out!”
“Hoo...” I sighed deeply, suppressing my rage. “Anything else? Make it convincing.”
My icy tone made him shrink. “Think back. What'd Seokgyun say yesterday?”
Yesterday? Rewind: bar talk with O Seokgyun.
Uninhabited island... 2 nights, 3 days surviving on camping.
Totally insane, right? Survival camping with minimal gear...
No way.
“...‘Survival’ camping...?”
He slapped his knee. “Bam! Sharp memory too! Exactly!”
“......”
So the ad was fake, but survival camping was real!?
“Still, winter—no heating?”
“No worries. We'll provide a fire steel for fires, one flashlight, and a box of hot packs.”
“......”
“Oh! Fishing rod and trap for food. Bottled water too.”
His generous tone nearly popped my veins. Fire steel? Bushcraft time? Fishing rod? Easy winter sea fishing, huh?
...But.
They didn't lie.
O Seokgyun and Ha PD both warned it was tough, specified survival camping. My fault for thinking, Nah, TV won't go that far.
Lesson learned today: Variety shows are surprisingly honest. I just didn't believe it.
Areum in a Santa outfit for Christmas commemoration
