Chapter 102
Chapter 102
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 102
Chapter Title: Episode 34: Entertainment News Focusing (2)
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Kang Han-do had taken over from Oh Shin-hoon as the new main MC.
His job was to host the program.
And to interview the celebrity guest.
There was a corner where they invited the guest to the studio separately for an interview, and the main MC handled it.
It was Kang Han-do's first recording day.
Today's guest was a man with ties to Kang Han-do.
Jeon Yoo-hyun. It had been a long time since he and Kang Han-do had crossed paths at the broadcasting station.
"Han-do-ya! Long time no see!"
"Sunbae-nim, you're here! It really has been ages."
"Yeah. I figured even if we weren't on the same shows, we'd bump into each other at the station now and then with all our entertainment activities. Turns out we never did?"
"Hahaha, now that you mention it, you're right."
"Well, anyway, take good care of me during today's recording."
"Yes, sunbae-nim!"
The reason Jeon Yoo-hyun was appearing on Entertainment News Focusing this time was quite unexpected.
It was for movie promotion.
For the first time in his life, Jeon Yoo-hyun had landed the lead role in a rom-com film called Please Understand My Heart!
Today, he was appearing on Entertainment News Focusing not as comedian Jeon Yoo-hyun, but as actor Jeon Yoo-hyun.
His acquaintances were shocked that he would take on a movie lead role.
But Kang Han-do knew.
'Sunbae Jeon Yoo-hyun ended up in a movie lead role in the future too.'
It was the same film back then.
Honestly, the box office wasn't great.
But it was a bold new challenge for Jeon Yoo-hyun.
After greeting Kang Han-do, Jeon Yoo-hyun exchanged hellos with the Entertainment News Focusing panelists.
Starting with Ma Hye-min, then Doo-jun, the singer from a boy group, and talent Hwang Min-young.
The recording started swiftly.
"Camera roll! 3, 2, 1!"
"Delivering the week's entertainment news swiftly to all our viewers—Entertainment News Focusing! I'm Kang Han-do, your new host. Nice to see you!"
Kang Han-do delivered his first opening line cleanly, without a hint of nerves.
He continued smoothly, earning praise from the PD and staff.
Even on his first recording, Kang Han-do showed astonishing adaptability.
Choi Tae-young PD swallowed his surprise.
"Even Oh Shin-hoon had a bunch of NG takes when he first started, but Han-do here is like a total pro."
The staff nodded repeatedly.
Exceptional skill.
It was as if he was born to be a host.
* * *
Not all news in the entertainment world is good.
Where there's light, there's shadow—like good news, there's bad news too.
"Next story. A member of a popular boy group, Kim Mo-gun, has been revealed to have smoked marijuana, sparking major controversy. We'll have to wait for the police announcement after the investigation, but this is quite shocking. Doo-jun-ssi, didn't you appear on a show with Kim Mo-gun before?"
"Yes, that's right. I never imagined that guy would... I'm sorry. I never thought Kim Mo-gun would do something like that, so it's an even bigger shock to me personally. It's just... hard to put into words."
They weren't super close, but not awkward either.
It had to feel strange knowing a fellow colleague he thought well of was now under investigation for marijuana.
Kang Han-do actually knew how this marijuana scandal would play out.
'Next week, the list of other celebrities involved with Kim Mo-gun will be revealed.'
Two young male singers who hung out with Kim Mo-gun often would face police questioning too.
They never performed on stage again before Kang Han-do's regression.
That made it all the more regrettable.
One wrong choice in a moment had ruined their entire careers as singers.
Kang Han-do turned the script page.
Now it was time for the guest talk corner.
"We've invited to the studio Jeon Yoo-hyun-ssi, who stars as the lead in the upcoming film Please Understand My Heart! Come on in!"
"Hello. I'm Jeon Yoo-hyun, the late-bloomer actor."
Kang Han-do and the panelists clapped to welcome Jeon Yoo-hyun.
The heavy studio atmosphere lightened with his entrance.
Kang Han-do asked Jeon Yoo-hyun first.
"How did you end up in a movie?"
"I'm actually high school alumni with director Seo Won-young. We hung out privately a lot, and suddenly Director Seo said to me, 'Hey, Yoo-hyun-ah. I've got this solid script, and you're the only one I can think of for the lead. Wanna try it?' He offered me the role first."
"Oh, I had no idea you had that connection."
Jeon Yoo-hyun wasn't just a comedian; he'd shown talent in musicals too—singing, acting, you name it.
Director Seo Won-young had taken notice.
And there was another comedian-turned-actor in Kang Han-do's circle.
His best friend, Oh Min-tae.
'Min-tae will be doing interviews like this as an actor someday too.'
Of course, much later.
Right now, Oh Min-tae needed to shine as a comedian first.
Build fame upfront, then pursue what he really wants without pressure.
Comedians' second acts. New challenges.
Kang Han-do was no different.
To become the ultimate MC.
Kang Han-do resolved to charge toward his own goal.
* * *
After the first recording wrapped.
Choi Tae-young PD kept praising Kang Han-do.
"As expected of Kang Han-do-ssi! Just like Shin-hoon said!"
"What did sunbae-nim say?"
"He just said you'd do great. No badmouthing, so don't worry. Hahaha!"
Choi Tae-young PD was in high spirits.
He'd been secretly anxious about Kang Han-do's debut, but it went better than expected.
"On a good day like today, shouldn't we have a shot of joy juice?"
Here it came again.
Choi Tae-young PD's drinking talk!
But Kang Han-do wanted to decline this time.
"Sorry, I've got a prior engagement."
"What kind? Wait... a date?"
"No girlfriend. It's a Driving License Academy ideas meeting."
"Haha, got it! Can't argue with that. But next time, we drink for sure?"
"Yes. I'll remember."
But Kang Han-do promptly erased the promise from his mind.
Riding in a car driven by Nemig, Kang Han-do headed straight home.
Today's Driving License Academy ideas meeting was set for Kang Han-do's place.
Oh Min-tae had arrived before him and taken over the house.
"Good work out there, Han-do-ya."
"You're here before the homeowner."
"You told me not to wait outside when you're not home and gave me the passcode."
"True."
Kang Han-do and Oh Min-tae were inseparable best friends.
Kang Han-do trusted Oh Min-tae completely—that's why he shared his home passcode.
In the past, Oh Min-tae never betrayed him.
He always had Kang Han-do's back.
Loyalty. Without it, Oh Min-tae was little more than a corpse.
Kang Han-do asked while taking off his jacket.
"Yeon-ji?"
"Coming soon. Said ten minutes."
"Not long then."
Today was an important meeting.
Someone suggested tweaking Driving License Academy a bit.
The suggester was Jo Woo-kim PD.
Kang Han-do agreed.
Even the funniest corner gets stale with repetition.
Right when it starts feeling old, you need a fresh look.
Straight pitches lose meaning. Mix in changeups to keep batters off-balance.
Today's meeting was about that changeup.
What kind? That was the key.
"Wanna brainstorm between us before Yeon-ji gets here?"
Kang Han-do asked Oh Min-tae first.
"Any ideas?"
"Yeah."
Oh Min-tae confidently shared his.
"How about adding a fourth member?"
But Kang Han-do was against it.
"Too soon."
"Too soon?"
"Yeah. It's been less than three months since the corner started. Adding a new member now feels off. If it wasn't popular from the start, maybe, but it is. It's going steady. Introducing a fourth now could ruin it. Adding members is for later."
Too hasty right now.
That's what Kang Han-do wanted to say.
Oh Min-tae grew more swayed by Kang Han-do's words.
They were convincing.
"Now that you say it, yeah..."
"It's not about a long-term overhaul—just a couple changeups. Think short-term."
"Hmm..."
Now Oh Min-tae had to think hard.
Because.
"I only came up with the fourth member idea."
"Knew it."
Oh Min-tae was loyal but simple-minded.
Having known him so long, Kang Han-do saw it coming.
"I wonder about Yeon-ji."
Kang Han-do pinned hopes on Hwang Yeon-ji, but.
Oh Min-tae beat her to it, relaying her words.
"I asked her yesterday by chance, and she thought the same as me."
Suddenly, Kang Han-do was the last hope.
He leaned back in his chair.
'Think, think. An answer will come.'
Kang Han-do was a veteran with over twenty years in entertainment.
Long obscurity didn't mean wasted time.
He could come up with something solid.
Deep in thought.
Meanwhile, Oh Min-tae glanced at the TV.
Entertainment News Focusing was airing right then.
Not Kang Han-do's part, though—he was scheduled for next week.
Oh Min-tae suddenly remembered something.
"By the way, Jeon Yoo-hyun sunbae was a guest on Entertainment News Focusing today, right?"
"How'd you know?"
"You told me."
"Oh... yeah? Sorry, my head's full."
Kang Han-do's face suddenly hardened.
"Wait. Guest?"
"Yeah? What's up?"
Kang Han-do flashed a thumbs-up at the puzzled Oh Min-tae.
"Min-tae-ya. Nice one. Thanks to you."
"What? Thanks to me how?"
Baffled Oh Min-tae.
Kang Han-do shared his sudden idea.
"We invite a guest."