Chapter 18
Chapter 18
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: Episode 6. Job Hunting (1)
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In front of the BLT Broadcasting Station.
The two young men, Kang Han-do and Oh Min-tae, entered the lobby and smoothly passed through the turnstile using their access cards.
There hadn't been anything like this back in the day. They used to have to tell the security guard they were examinees here for the public recruitment comedian exam before they could even step inside the station.
But things were different now.
"Once you become a public recruitment comedian at BLT, you even get an ID card."
After the beep and passing through the turnstile, Min-tae examined the card in his hand once more.
It didn't look particularly special on the surface.
Just like a regular company employee ID, it had a photo, name, and other personal info printed on it.
"Because you're an affiliated public recruitment comedian at BLT."
Kang Han-do stepped into the lobby, taking this kind of entry as a matter of course.
Before his regression, he had repeated this routine for over a decade.
No reason to be surprised now.
As soon as they entered the lobby, he headed straight for the HSL Studio where recording took place.
"Let's see... the location should be..."
The broadcasting station was so vast that Min-tae tried to find the HSL Studio using a guide map.
Kang Han-do gave Min-tae's shoulder a firm pat and started walking ahead.
"Quit yapping and just follow me. I know where it is."
"Back during the public recruitment exam, and now this. Have you ever worked here or something? How do you know the layout so well?"
"Who knows."
There was no point telling Min-tae he was from the future.
He brushed it off vaguely and led Min-tae to the spot.
His stride was confident and unwavering.
At the end of it lay their target: the HSL Studio.
"Alright, let's go in."
Just as he reached for the door, Min-tae suddenly looked at him with a worried expression.
"Hey, you sure it's okay to go in with zero prep?"
"What's there to prep?"
"You prepared so much for the public recruitment exam. This time, no skit ideas or anything. I'm not sure about showing up empty-handed."
"That was possible because it was the public recruitment comedian exam. This is a program audition. We don't need to bring any comedy props. HSL already created the new corner they're adding, and they're holding this audition to cast entertainers who can play the characters in it."
Not all program auditions worked like HSL's. Sometimes, like the public recruitment exam, you had to prepare your specialties and show them to the PD and writers.
HSL needed exactly three characters for their new corner.
Additionally, a guest would appear each episode to unfold new skits.
It was a news-style skit, divided into three roles: main announcer, field expert, and assistant host.
Among the three roles, the one with the highest prominence was undoubtedly the main announcer. It had the most lines and the longest camera time.
It went without saying, but Kang Han-do applied for the main announcer role.
Min-tae went for assistant host, the role with the fewest lines. Lacking Kang Han-do's confidence, he chose the part with minimal dialogue.
Kang Han-do didn't interfere with Min-tae's choice. He believed personal preference should weigh heaviest in role selection.
If someone lacked confidence, claiming a smaller role might be better. Kang Han-do had 15 years of comedian experience latent within him, but Min-tae was a fresh public recruitment comedian on his first program audition.
If he knew he couldn't beat the pros, putting his name in for assistant host—where competition would be lower—seemed the smarter strategy.
The announcer role was different.
'A ton of people must've applied for main announcer.'
He'd heard even famous pro comedians whose names rang bells had applied.
A showdown with seniors.
He had to snag a gig in this cutthroat audition!
As they entered the studio, a woman waiting near the entrance approached the two young men.
"Are you here for the audition?"
"Yes!"
"Hello. I'm Lee Yeon-shin, the head writer for HSL."
"I'm Kang Han-do, a rookie from the 16th public recruitment comedian exam."
"Likewise, Oh Min-tae, same 16th rookie comedian!!"
Pleased by their energetic greetings, Head Writer Lee Yeon-shin smiled with her eyes.
The moment she heard the name Kang Han-do, a recent conversation with PD Yu Tae-hwan flashed through her mind.
The rookie comedian he was keeping tabs on.
'This is the guy...'
Her gaze lingered unusually long on Han-do.
Then she turned back to business.
"Just follow me."
"Yes!"
As they walked side by side behind Head Writer Lee Yeon-shin, Min-tae whispered to Kang Han-do, keeping his voice as low as possible.
'That writer seems extra interested in you. You know her?'
'No clue.'
'Hmm, really?'
Back in his no-name comedian days, they'd crossed paths a couple times.
But they weren't close. Plus, Kang Han-do had regressed. No way she knew him.
Still, if she was paying him attention...
'Did she hear something about me?'
He couldn't tell if it was good or bad.
But he hadn't caused any big issues yet, so probably not badmouthing.
"Have a seat here for now. Staff will call your names when it's time."
"Yes, got it."
She opened the waiting room door and went inside.
That moment.
"...!"
A familiar face entered Kang Han-do's view.
The man fiddling with his smartphone also stood up reflexively upon eye contact.
"Here for the audition?"
Kang Han-do knew who he was.
"Kang Han-do, 16th public recruitment comedian. Pleasure, Sunbae Jeon Yu-hyeon."
* * *
Jeon Yu-hyeon, the comedian at the peak of his career.
His unstoppable talent and flair had propelled him to the top, but panic disorder forced him to halt all broadcasts temporarily.
A born broadcaster, he couldn't stay away from the stage forever.
Everyone in the industry believed he'd return.
Who would've thought his comeback vehicle would be HSL.
Jeon Yu-hyeon was a Pobokjeoldo alum. After passing the public recruitment exam, he caught PD Jo Woo-kim's eye and joined "Why Call!", one of the station's blockbuster corners.
His popularity was at its zenith then.
After Pobokjeoldo, he shone in various variety shows with his witty talk, and now he was declaring his broadcast comeback.
'No way he'd show up here...'
Even Kang Han-do didn't remember every future detail.
He only recalled stages he'd been on.
So he'd never dreamed Jeon Yu-hyeon picked HSL for his return.
Digging into his memories, Jeon Yu-hyeon's actual comeback was elsewhere.
So why was he here?
Two possibilities.
The timeline had diverged from his memories.
Or someone sabotaged his Pobokjeoldo slot, pushing him to HSL.
After a light handshake with Kang Han-do, Jeon Yu-hyeon eyed him closely.
"This might be rude on a first meeting, but you don't look like comedian material. Ah, just a joke—don't take it seriously."
"Haha, I hear that a lot. I've got a pretty generic face."
He nodded slightly, not denying it.
Kang Han-do had zero comedian aura.
Even Hoi-do, his convenience store coworker, hadn't realized he was comedy-aspiring until told.
Making people laugh required innate flair beyond effort.
That heaven-sent gift defined a comedian.
Yet Kang Han-do, with his ordinary looks, passed BLT's public recruitment exam on the first try.
Hidden talent and flair lurked beneath the averageness.
Jeon Yu-hyeon tensed up without realizing it.
* * *
Jeon Yu-hyeon approached Min-tae next.
"What's your name?"
"Oh Min-tae, 16th public recruitment!"
"You two are in the same class."
"Yes, sir!"
Military speech slipped out unbidden.
Impossible not to tense up before Jeon Yu-hyeon.
Grab any passerby on the street—80% would know him. A former mega-star.
How could one not feel intimidated?
"There are three roles this time. Any overlap with me?"
"Which role did you apply for, sunbae?"
At Kang Han-do's question, Jeon Yu-hyeon revealed it immediately.
"Announcer."
"Looks like we overlap then."
"Oh, ho."
Jeon Yu-hyeon's eyes narrowed further.
Meanwhile, Min-tae sighed inwardly in relief—no overlap with Jeon Yu-hyeon.
Going head-to-head? No confidence there.
He'd made minor flubs from nerves during the public recruitment exam.
The judges overlooked them, thankfully. Back then, they'd overcome together; now, solo.
Without Han-do's help, he had to secure the role himself. Dodging a superstar clash eased his mind somewhat.
Unlike Min-tae, Kang Han-do showed no intimidation despite the overlap.
"Here's to fair competition, sunbae."
"Good luck on your audition, hoobae."
They exchanged fighting words.
For now, polite senior-junior encouragement.
But once the audition started...
They'd be rivals bent on taking each other down.