The Exam Coordinator Role
Kim Deok-su’s life now and back then had nothing to do with college.
Especially now, when survival meant chasing every extra won rather than building a future through study.
Of course, jobs like exam coordinators or any kind of study had been completely alien to him.
“I know you trust and believe in Shin Yu-mi’s writing, Mr. Kim. But I’m not sure whether this role will suit Deok-su oppa. If it’s an exam-coordinator job, you’ll have to deal with a lot of parents…”
While interest sparkled in Deok-su’s eyes, Lee Hui-yeong remained skeptical.
Director Gang Pil-sung’s tone rose.
“Even when you played the chaebol second son last time, there was a lot of talk, but you handled it well. It’s not that different when you look closer at this one too. If Ruby can think carefully about it, she can handle it without any problem…”
“I heard Shin Yu-mi is very meticulous about matching a character’s image with the actor playing it. The character Han Seo-won was originally created thinking of Moon Si-won…”
“That’s right…”
Director Gang Pil-sung was gradually cornering Lee Hui-yeong.
Ruby’s manager looked like a total amateur from the outside, yet she was supposedly this picky. Just as the rumors said.
Annoyance stirred inside her.
If that stupid Moon Si-won drink-driving incident hadn’t exploded out of nowhere, they wouldn’t have had to chase him at all.
As the two faced each other in tense silence, Deok-su reading the script spoke up.
“…It really is a demanding character. Only four hours… I can’t even guess what thoughts he has or what he might do.”
“This character Han Seo-won was the one Shin Yu-mi poured the most of her soul into. Naturally…”
Director Gang Pil-sung tried hard to appeal, but Deok-su stayed completely unmoved.
“…The way he uses a child’s rebellion against his parents without hesitation, and even forces a textbook on a student who’s already feeling suicidal… it’s extremely extreme. The students and parents who appear in it all seem to be lacking something…”
No one could predict whether the drama would be a hit.
But leaving success aside, the character itself was intriguing.
Already in Deok-su’s mind the character’s actions and thoughts had taken shape.
Noticing this, Lee Hui-yeong fell silent and took one step back.
Deok-su’s words continued.
“…It’s difficult. I can’t even get a feel for how to act this character.”
“…I see.”
Director Gang Pil-sung assumed Deok-su had given up.
This was one of the excuses actors usually gave when saying a role was too hard.
But Deok-su’s intention was different.
“…Alright. Let’s do the test. When is the date?”
“Ah, uh, tomorrow.”
“So soon. Sorry, but could you give us a couple of days?”
Director Gang Pil-sung’s face brightened.
“O-of course. No, wait—how about three days at most?”
“Thank you for your consideration.”
With a cheerful smile, Director Gang Pil-sung left.
After he had gone, Lee Hui-yeong asked worriedly,
“President Gang, you did go to the other candidates too, right?”
“Is that important? As long as I do well, it’s fine. First, prepare what I’m about to say.”
“Understood.”
After that, Deok-su looked up materials on exam coordinators.
Lee Hui-yeong, along with Park Hyeon-woo, also searched for related materials and handed them to him.
But internet searches alone had clear limits.
Deok-su thought for a moment and then asked for help from the fan club Ruby.
Ruby’s fan club answered enthusiastically.
Especially since Deok-su had mentioned this was for his next project, the members became even more proactive.
Thanks to them, he could find rich materials—from exam systems to universities.
But even in Ruby there was no one who had ever received exam consulting.
“…Oppa. I’ll look into it, so let’s start practicing.”
Following Lee Hui-yeong’s advice, Deok-su began practicing. Yet sinking into the character Han Seo-won proved far from easy.
Not knowing anything about exam coordinators or the job itself was a major gap.
But help could be found everywhere.
“…Unnie! You should have told me sooner! If it was Deok-su oppa’s request, I would have come right away.”
While searching for information about exam consulting, unexpectedly Ruby’s leader Gang Min-ji appeared.
Coincidentally, her family was a well-known business family, and thanks to that she had actually received exam consulting.
“…When I became a singer, I did it after college. Even so, I went to Y University. Deep down it still stings.”
Almost everyone interested in fans or idols knew this story.
Deok-su’s eyes widened in surprise.
Thanks to Gang Min-ji, once he understood what an exam coordinator actually was, Deok-su threw himself into practice with renewed energy.
On the eve of the test, Lee Jin-ho visited the company neighborhood.
“…This vacation was really good. I missed you a lot without you, hyung.”
Lee Jin-ho happily recounted the stories from their reward vacation.
When Deok-su looked envious, Lee Jin-ho only smiled more deeply.
“Even doing a CF and a fashion show… Did you receive the payment?”
“This time I did.”
“Wow, save the leftover money well. Even if you retire tomorrow, you need at least one coin saved.”
A bitter smile lingered at the corner of Lee Jin-ho’s mouth.
The constant pressure of having to be chosen was palpable.
While the two men were talking, two women approached and spoke to Deok-su.
“Um… Ruby oppa, could you take just one photo for me?”
“Ah, yes. Come this way.”
Standing next to the two women and striking a pose, the woman on the right said carefully,
“That one! With that expression of Jeong-ho…”
“These are for digital…”
“Kyaaah—!”
Click.
With Deok-su’s changed voice, fans pressed their buttons.
The fans who had seen the photo bowed their heads in satisfaction.
“Thank you!”
Even after the fans left, the two men continued talking for quite a long time.
Occasionally fans came over for selfies and signatures.
A situation they had almost never experienced before, Deok-su felt both happy and awkward.
Several days passed.
Deok-su headed to the production company’s studio Redlan in Hongdae for the camera test.
“Hello…”
Shin Yu-mi, PD Joo Woosuk, and CP Kim Mun-seong were waiting for him.
In the center stood a camera prepared for the test.
After a brief greeting, Shin Yu-mi spoke first.
“Han Seo-won… no, do you know anything about exam coordinators?”
“Honestly… I don’t know much, but I understand it’s a person who provides consulting to help students get into good universities.”
“Anything else?”
“…In reality they exist, but it’s a profession that ordinary people don’t know well. Han Seo-won is someone who possesses a mysterious darkness, just like someone who has that job.”
Shin Yu-mi’s eyes curved slightly.
“…A mysterious darkness. Interesting. What made you think that?”
Shin Yu-mi rested her chin on her arm while Deok-su answered calmly.
“Han Seo-won has a clear goal of getting accepted, but I can’t predict the method he will use. He doesn’t care about means or ways, yet he’s also not easy to hate… that was the impression I got.”
“…Keep going.”
“I don’t think he’s a sociopath who can’t feel emotions. I think he’s a character who has killed his emotions and only sees the goal. Especially…”
Deok-su gave examples from each scene and provided reasons.
When a smile appeared on Shin Yu-mi’s face, PD Joo Woosuk interjected.
“…The character interpretation is good. So, in your opinion, how well does Han Seo-won sync with you?”
“I think around fifty percent right now.”
“Why?”
“I still don’t fully know the motivation for Han Seo-won not caring about means. Still, the external image is there. Not a single hair is out of place, clothes are ironed perfectly… he doesn’t seem to allow any flaw on the outside? For now this is it. With more time, it could improve further.”
Even PD Joo Woosuk, who had been casual, showed interest and asked various questions.
Most concerned character interpretation and how to proceed with filming.
‘It feels better than I thought? There’s no idol vibe at all.’
‘Even I think so. As long as you endure the female lead’s glare…’
While Shin Yu-mi and PD Joo Woosuk exchanged positive comments, CP Kim Mun-seong, who had been silent in the center, spoke up.
“Well, if you can prepare like this, that’s enough. Now let’s look at your appearance.”
Deok-su took a deep breath and stood in front of the camera.
The camera was now familiar, yet the test always left him tense.
With a small click, Deok-su’s image appeared on the monitor.
“Hm, the eyes… clear. Posture is quite straight. Ruby, do you work out every day?”
“Yes. I like exercising.”
“Slightly thick in places… but okay for now. Move to the side.”
Under CP Kim Mun-seong’s guidance, the camera test moved quickly.
Deok-su turned left, right, front, and back, showing simple expression acting.
No swelling in the face or skin trouble, the face on camera was perfect.
When all tests were finished, CP Kim Mun-seong said,
“Speak freely. Ruby, how old are you this year?”
“Thirty-one.”
“Thirty-one… a good age. But, as for the Han Seo-won role…”
“Is it because of the lead roles?”
The co-stars they would have to sync with were all formidable.
Veteran actresses Lim Na-ra, Kang Jeong-ran, and Yu Tae-seon—all talented and sharp-witted.
Deok-su had expected as much.
Shin Yu-mi brushed her hair back and straightened her posture.
“You can relax. I’m also considering changing Han Seo-won into a woman.”
This was clearly a message to show a real one-shot.
Deok-su sensed it was time to strike.
After gathering his emotions, he began to immerse himself in the role he had prepared.
“…Mother. Can you handle what I say?”
Deok-su’s usual tone grew heavy and dropped lower.
Shin Yu-mi and PD Joo Woosuk’s eyes widened at the changed voice.
‘I heard about it from rumors…’
‘Not dubbing, right?’
But CP Kim Mun-seong folded his arms with obvious dissatisfaction.
“Can you do it in a different tone?”
“…Huh? Ah, yes.”
Deok-su took a deep breath and tried again.
But calming his mind was never easy.
The changed voice had always been met with universal praise.
But by the time you reached CP level, that praise had become old news.
“…Mother. Can you handle what I say?”
CP Kim Mun-seong’s armpit stiffened.
The original Deok-su voice had come out.
“Sorry. Let me try again.”
After that, Deok-su tried several times, but the original voice or the first voice came out—nothing else.
In the end CP Kim Mun-seong raised his hand to stop him.
“That’s enough.”
Deok-su unconsciously clenched his fist.
He had been too complacent with the changed voice.
Whether or not he noticed Deok-su’s mood, CP Kim Mun-seong turned to Shin Yu-mi.
“It’s not bad. It seems enough for Han Seo-won. What do you think?”
“I like it.”
“Me too.”
Deok-su froze at the words of CP Kim Mun-seong and everyone else.
He had thought he would be rejected, but he had passed.
“Don’t be disappointed. The voice was good. Just looking at your pronunciation and the speed of the lines shows how much you practiced.”
“CP-nim, that’s…”
“Only a little disappointing. You have an actor scent rather than an idol one, oddly enough. Anyway, please take care of this one. Let’s do well.”
CP Kim Mun-seong patted Deok-su’s shoulder and left.
Although he had passed the camera test, Deok-su’s face on the way back was not particularly bright.
‘…I need to be able to deliver the voice that matches the role freely.’
In the rear-view mirror, Deok-su’s eyes burned with intensity.