Variety Show Buzz
A woman in a room equipped with three monitors glances at her watch while tuning into the KBC broadcast on the right screen. "It's about time the show starts..."
She's Choi Aram, a former idol from the group Schukrim who retired and now draws massive crowds as a gaming streamer. The chat explodes in response to her comment.
Today, Aram had planned to watch KBC's Na PD variety show Overnight Feast with her viewers on a whim—after casually asking what fun shows were out there, they insisted this one was a must-see.
"But who's the guest this time? Han Jimin? Is he that handsome?"
The chat blows up at Choi Aram's question. Frustrated by the disbelief, she snaps.
"No...! I know the name! He's the guy who sang Dive in Love! But I've only heard the song, never seen him in person."
Luckily, fans jump in to defend her, and the chat quiets down. Choi Aram sighs in relief. She nearly ruined the vibe before the show even started.
Still, curiosity bubbles up. I've heard the name, but... She never bothered looking him up.
"...So how handsome is he? How's he stack up to Lee Junho?"
She's dipped her toes in showbiz, even if she didn't make it big. Her standards are sky-high—most hot guys barely register. Fans' hype doesn't faze her. He's probably just decent-looking.
But the fans' reactions are off the charts.
Choi Aram snorts at the flood of messages. Everyone's tastes differ—why the absolute certainty?
As she banters with the fans who tuned in for the show, Overnight Feast kicks off.
"Alright, let's watch. See how handsome he really is."
It opens with Han Jiyeong and Jeong Ria meeting up. The guest is two people? Han Jimin shows up fashionably late, it seems.
They introduce themselves, and filming starts—but it's a mess from the jump. Preparing a meal for the new guest, neither can light the traditional wood-fired stove. Their fumbling is pure comedy gold.
"What's an agungi? How do you even light that thing?"
Han Jiyeong gets one side filthy, Jeong Ria the other—zero progress. Aram cackles at the sight, but the camera cuts away.
A man's silhouette strolls into frame, heading for the set.
"Ooh..."
Even just the outline screams tall and poised. No face yet, but anticipation surges.
Leaning back in her chair, Choi Aram watches—until
"...Eek?!"
Han Jimin's face fills the screen. She jolts up reflexively, crashes off her chair with a loud thud.
No one checks on her, though.
Everyone's just awestruck by Han Jimin's looks.
"What the hell..."
Rubbing her sore butt as she stands, Choi Aram can't peel her eyes from the monitor.
What is that?
She's seen countless "handsome" guys as an idol. But this? Unprecedented.
She should sit and chat with fans, but now she's on her knees, glued to the screen.
"...Y'know, in games, commoners kneel to nobles. A scrub like me beholding him—knees are the least I can do, right?"
The "take your meds" jabs weren't wrong. Even on video, her heart races.
But the scenes gripping their hearts are just beginning.
"Our Jimin's got skills, huh?"
He syncs with Jeong Ria to prep the stove, then realizes they're out of firewood. They head to the yard, he grips the axe tight and...
"!!!"
Slices through logs like a lumberjack. Chat detonates.
- He swings the axe with raw power, forearm muscles bulging with each strike, ragged breaths carrying through the screen. Aram can't look away.
The camera pans to his serious face. A sweat drop trails from forehead to cheek—Aram gulps instinctively. Chat falls silent.
Then one word floods in unison.
"These crazy bitches...?"
Chat turns NSFW in seconds. But Aram feels the hype too.
Men's abs? Rare proof of grit and passion—a sexy fantasy incarnate.
"Ah. Na PD lost his touch."
No abs reveal. But he effortlessly hoists Jeong Ria with arm strength alone, wowing viewers.
His charm doesn't stop there.
- Let me help.
- Chili powder, got it, thanks.
Using Jeong Ria as sous-chef, he whips up ingredients and dishes in no time. No rehearsal for show vibes—this is legit skill. Even Han Jiyeong yelps in delight at the taste.
"Holy shit... how perfect are you gonna get?! My man!"
Someone said not knowing Han Jimin means you've wasted your life? Spot on. Discovering him now is a loss.
The show now revolves around guest Han Jimin, not host Han Jiyeong—no boredom in sight. Especially his chemistry with Jeong Ria pops.
"Oh, same agency?"
"Damn, gotta dig more later."
Meal wraps up; Na PD slyly drops they need to make kimchi. Cut to Han Jiyeong and Han Jimin heading to the fields.
"Han siblings," she clings playfully; he plays along like a sly fox despite the fluster.
"Our Jiyeong noona's eyes glaze over whenever a guy's around."
Awkward yet fitting dynamic cracks everyone up. Cabbage-pulling begins.
"...To kimchi properly, how many heads? Thirty? No way, our baby's struggling—how?!"
Production's sadistic setup glares obvious. Aram watches anxiously, like fretting over a kid in water.
"...???"
Men are built different? Exclamations pop over producers' heads as cabbages yank free in seconds.
[Han Jimin is stronger than he looks.]
Camera director's interview. Rewind to chopping wood—muscles flex in close-up again.
"Touch those arm muscles once and I'd die happy."
She's dazed, watching him work. Heat rising, he sheds his windbreaker, pulls up muddied shirt to wipe sweat from brow.
"Uh...?"
Chiseled abs flash crystal-clear. Chat freezes for ten seconds—then erupts.
Na Hyejeong PD planned three episodes for Han Jimin's Overnight Feast stint.
Not everyone agreed. Male or not, Han Jimin's fame was low—just two months in showbiz, rising singer-songwriter or not.
She pushed ahead. Episode one airs.
Aftermath? Tsunami.
SNS and communities wallpapered with Han Jimin abs. Ratings hit 18%—over double the prior 7%.
"Didn't expect abs mania like this..."
"Not just handsome—insanely so. Abs are women's dreams, right? You aired it knowing."
"True that?"
Na PD chuckles, rewinds footage. Abs moment spiked to 27%. One scene flipped the nation.
"Oh yeah, Drama Dept's Choi PD sent tons of iced Americano giftcons—'eat up.'"
Drama side's thrilled too. Next ep features Han Jimin's drama The Perfect Man—bound for massive boost amid the hype.
"Hmm. Wanna grab some long-term project stuff?"
Thinking it over, Na PD refuses to let this fever die.