Chapter 15
Chapter 15
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: Episode 5. Audition (2)
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"Now we need to come up with another strategy."
The trial phase to enter the entertainment world hadn't ended yet.
They had to find programs suited to them and pass the auditions to truly begin their careers as entertainers.
In Kang Han-do's case, he hadn't passed this program audition, so he'd been off the airwaves for quite a while.
And that made sense, because the program audition he'd targeted first was Pobokjeoldo, the unchanging number one on BLT's gag lineup.
Jo Woo-kim PD was a good guy at heart, but when it came to comedy, he had his own objective, rigorous standards and convictions like no one else.
Kang Han-do had talent, but not enough to put him straight on the Pobokjeoldo stage based on talent alone. That's why Jo Woo-kim PD hadn't hired him for a long time.
As a result, Kang Han-do had challenged the Pobokjeoldo audition dozens of times and only got on stage three years after passing the public recruitment exam. Even so, he didn't resent Jo Woo-kim PD. Putting an unfunny comedian on stage would harm not just him but the whole program. Kang Han-do knew that better than anyone.
Of course, he needed to reflect on stubbornly sticking to the Pobokjeoldo stage like digging one well his whole life.
To succeed as a comedian, he had to get on Pobokjeoldo no matter what! Because of that mindset, even after becoming a public recruitment comedian, he couldn't show himself on air.
But things were different now.
Gain a feel for broadcasting on other programs, then challenge Pobokjeoldo again. That was Kang Han-do's scenario.
"First things first, we need to carefully select gag programs that match our styles well."
"Yeah, but there aren't that many. Like four or five?"
"That's only if you're counting regularly scheduled shows. If you include ones in the production planning stage, it's about eight or nine."
"Nearly ten! Then it's like lying down and eating cold rice porridge!"
Only about ten to twenty people passed the public recruitment comedian exam.
If they evenly split among eight or nine programs, they could pass without issue, right?
Plus, most comedian hopefuls targeted BLT's flagship gag program, Pobokjeoldo.
Accounting for the crowd heading to Pobokjeoldo, targeting niche markets with other program auditions should lead to easy passes.
But this was just Oh Min-tae's complacent thinking.
"What the hell's in that head of yours?"
"What? Why insult my glorious brain out of nowhere?"
"That's why I'm saying this—because you don't realize program auditions are harder than the public recruitment exam."
"Harder? What's so hard? You're just competing with one or two teams for one corner. What's the big deal? We beat 700 competitors already, this is nothing..."
"See, you really aren't thinking."
A sigh escaped Kang Han-do's lips.
At the same time, he pierced through Oh Min-tae's complacency.
"Listen up, my dumb friend. The opponents you'll face in each program's individual audition aren't just newbies like us who've just passed public recruitment. Don't forget it includes senior comedians too."
"......Damn."
The competition was fiercer than the public recruitment exam.
* * *
Kang Han-do headed out at lunchtime.
His destination was the convenience store where he usually worked.
From morning to lunchtime, the store manager handled the shift instead of Min-ho and Kang Han-do.
He timed it for the manager's shift on purpose.
He had something to say.
"Hello, Manager."
"It's Han-do, right? Plenty of time till your shift. What's up?"
The manager asked indifferently about the visit.
But once he heard what Kang Han-do had to say next, that expression would change.
"It's nothing much. I'm thinking of quitting the part-time job."
"......What?!"
The manager's droopy eyes shot up at Kang Han-do's sudden unilateral notice.
What the hell was this out of the blue?
A reliable part-timer who was fine just the other day suddenly wanting to quit—even a thick-skinned manager couldn't help but be shocked.
"Quitting?"
"Yes."
"What's the reason?"
"Like I mentioned before, I took the comedian public recruitment exam, and the acceptance letter came yesterday. I don't think I need to do the convenience store gig anymore."
"Hmm......"
Kang Han-do had already told the manager he was taking BLT's 16th public recruitment exam. But the manager never thought he'd pass.
That's why he hadn't put up a help wanted ad on purpose......
Unexpectedly, Kang Han-do passed in one go.
"Han-do. We haven't found a replacement yet. It's awkward if you up and quit like this. Could you stick around till we do?"
"Then I'll work two more weeks. That work?"
"......"
It wasn't a long time.
But it wasn't vacation season, and during the semester, finding part-timers was tough.
"Two weeks is short. I'd prefer a month."
The night shift hourly wage at this convenience store was way below minimum. The manager exploited Kang Han-do with "We're family, family!" nonsense without adjusting pay. Family in words only—no such treatment ever.
Truth was, no one was as easy to exploit as Kang Han-do.
But that was the old Han-do. The Kang Han-do who returned from the future to the past wasn't swayed by the manager's shallow sweet talk.
"I told you beforehand, and you knew, so you said you'd post a help wanted ad early. But as far as I know, you didn't even do that. If this keeps up, the two weeks could shrink to one."
"Look at this guy. No loyalty, huh?! I've kept you working all this time, and now you ghost me?!"
"If you're saying that, I feel hurt instead. You didn't even follow minimum wage, but out of that 'loyalty' you mentioned, I haven't reported you to labor board yet. But if you push like this, I have no choice. I'll take my own actions."
"......!"
The moment Kang Han-do reached for his smartphone.
The manager rushed over and forced his hand down.
"Fine, fine!! Two weeks like you said! Geez...... Kids these days have no grit!"
In the end, the manager caved to Kang Han-do's threat and reluctantly agreed.
* * *
As goals were achieved one by one, the surrounding environment began to change.
One of them was the work period agreed upon with the manager recently.
"Yaaaaah!! Kang Han-do!!"
Bang!!
Oh Min-tae flung open the cafe door like he was smashing it, stomped over with thunderous steps, and approached Kang Han-do with terrifying momentum.
He slammed the table and yelled.
"You, quitting the convenience store?!"
"Yeah, that's the plan."
"Why!!"
"Why? We're public recruitment comedians now. We gotta act the part and find fitting work. Audition challenges are part of that."
"No, not that...... If you quit the convenience store, I lose my excuse to meet Hoi's cousin!!"
"You're mad at me over something that petty?"
"Of course!!"
A man crazy in love. That was Oh Min-tae.
Kang Han-do lightly ignored Oh Min-tae's absurd claim and gestured for him to sit.
"Stop bothering people around. Look at this first."
"What's this?"
Kang Han-do had printed something out again.
Oh Min-tae stared at the paper handed to him and read the biggest word.
"HSL?"
"Don't tell me you don't know what that is."
"Dude, you're underestimating me too much. This is that, right? The gag program BLT airs Friday nights?"
"Precisely 11 PM."
"Yeah, whatever. So what about it?"
Oh Min-tae tilted his head at Kang Han-do suddenly mentioning the HSL program.
Kang Han-do scowled.
"You're my friend, but your sense is seriously lacking."
"What is it, man? Explain before you insult me."
"I'm saying we set HSL as the program we're auditioning for."
"HSL? Is it any good?"
"Not bad."
Oh Min-tae already knew Kang Han-do had boldly decided to skip the Pobokjeoldo audition.
Honestly, he was a bit shocked.
Kang Han-do, who was obsessed with Pobokjeoldo day and night, giving up its audition.
Oh Min-tae knew Pobokjeoldo's walls were high. But boldly ditching it for HSL was a fresh shock for someone who knew Kang Han-do well.
That didn't mean HSL was easy by any means.
It only seemed that way compared to Pobokjeoldo—HSL wasn't a walk in the park either.
Still, Kang Han-do was confident.
'Go slow and safe.'
Thanks to passing the 16th public recruitment in one shot, he saved six years.
Of course, investing those six years in Pobokjeoldo auditions was one option.
But in this life, Kang Han-do decided to think differently.
Straight shots saved time and weren't bad, but sometimes you needed to take the safe detour.
He'd learned that painfully during his long unknown days.
You couldn't survive this industry on confidence and bravado alone. You needed strategies suited to you.
Right now, Kang Han-do and Oh Min-tae were just fledglings who'd passed auditions. Better to plan accordingly.
No need to panic. No rush.
Even if a bit late, build a solid foundation first, then climb.