Chapter 3
Chapter 3
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: Chapter 1. 15 Years of Obscurity (2)
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After Sheridel vanished from sight.
Kang Han-do sorted through the jumble in his mind with simple clarity.
“First things first, I need to debut.”
There were endless ways to debut.
As a singer, a talent, a movie actor, and so on.
But Kang Han-do didn’t have any standout talents like a great singing voice or exceptional acting skills.
What he could do was make people laugh. And what he had in spades was overflowing energy and flair.
Add youth to the mix.
The best way to leverage all that was the public comedian recruitment exam.
The 2012 public comedian recruitment exam.
He’d already failed it once, but having tasted defeat, he knew the strategy now.
“What were the laugh codes from 22 years ago?”
He began rummaging through his memories.
One month until the exam. In his past life, Han-do would’ve already taken it by now.
Just to be sure, he checked the computer himself to confirm registration.
Only after verifying it was properly submitted could he plan his next move.
Han-do wanted to pass the first exam if at all possible.
Passing at 23—a young age—would give him far more opportunities than in his previous life.
Sure, 29 wasn’t exactly old. It was still in the twenties, after all.
But early twenties and late twenties felt worlds apart.
Time is money!
That was the biggest lesson from his 15 years in obscurity.
The annual exam came once a year. Erasing six failures from this life would save a full six years.
‘With six years, I’d be set.’
But the question was *how* to nail it on the first try.
“This calls for some serious thought.”
Normally, he’d mull it over more, but at 23, Kang Han-do had skipped college to chase a debut in entertainment, leaving him strapped for living expenses.
That’s why he was working the convenience store night shift—and why he hustled to get ready early.
Not a weekend, but a weekday. Not days, but nights.
It wrecked his sleep schedule and left him exhausted, but for money, there was no choice.
The exam? He could pull an all-nighter for that.
The 44-year-old Han-do wouldn’t dream of it, but the 23-year-old? He could go two or three days without sleep if needed.
Youth made it possible.
“Time to head out.”
With the weather cooling, he bundled up thick.
From memory, the convenience store owner skimped on heat, so nights were freezing.
He armored up early: down jacket and all his cold-weather gear.
* * *
“Hello!”
The bell on the door jingled.
Kang Han-do stepped into the small store.
The young woman handling the day shift, Min Hoi, gave him a warm smile.
“You’re early.”
“Figured you might be cold, Hoi-ssi.”
“Oh, thank you.”
It had been ages since he’d seen Min Hoi.
Her bright smile as she took his words hit him with fresh nostalgia.
22 years back, a meeting with an acquaintance like this made it real—he’d returned to the past.
They wrapped up the handover quickly. Min Hoi rushed to clock out.
“Good luck with your shift!”
“Yeah, you too.”
He settled into the folding chair behind the counter.
Tucked in a corner of a dense neighborhood, the store saw almost no customers past midnight.
That’s why he stuck with this gig, despite the pay barely scraping minimum wage.
Easy work.
That alone kept him coming back to convenience store nights.
Even five nights a week barely covered a million won—rent and food on top.
He could ask family for help, but his wasn’t well-off.
Worse than average, really.
So Han-do ditched college and jumped into the job market.
Working factory shifts, rotating three ways, it hit him: he had no dreams.
He chased the faint one he’d always harbored: become an entertainer.
At 29, a late bloomer, he finally passed the exam.
Only to face 15 years of obscurity.
‘No, things are different now. Don’t psych yourself out before starting!’
Past failures stayed buried in memory.
Letting them linger would ruin everything.
This life wasn’t just his dream at stake—it was humanity’s survival.
Boost South Korea’s happiness index!
To fulfill Sheridel’s mission, he had to become a star.
‘But how?’
Kang Han-do sank into thought again.
BLT’s public comedian exam was stricter than other stations’.
But BLT had Pobokjeoldo, the legendary gag show.
Highest ratings across terrestrial and cable—live comedy stage. Tons of stars had launched from it.
Pass BLT’s exam, and Pobokjeoldo was yours. Worth it over others.
‘Back then, impressions got me in.’
His seventh try, barely passing—impressions sealed it.
Not voice acting, just mimicry: subway rumbles, animal noises, game characters.
Slapdash, really. But it worked because his planned material bombed with judges. An impromptu bit hit big by luck.
Pure chance.
‘This time, skill over luck.’
Needed tighter material.
Making people laugh was brutal. Especially in Korea.
A nation that forgot how to laugh.
School drilled night self-study under “academics.” CSAT looming, youth wasted in stress.
College? Same grind.
Guys enlist right away, discharge to job hunt—no break.
Land a job? Intern hell: arrive an hour early for cleaning, leave last.
Marry? Personal life over.
Korean reality.
Time to laugh? Fat chance.
No wonder the happiness rankings sucked.
Kang Han-do pondered deeper.
Then—
Jingle!
The door swung open with the customer chime.
“Welcome!”
Reflex from habit.
Midway, his eyes glazed.
“No way—Oh Min-tae?”
“What? Forgot your buddy’s face already? We were pounding shots last night. Still drunk?”
“......”
No way he was.
Han-do had just crossed from 22 years ahead. No time for drinks, especially on shift.
Just too used to 44-year-old Min-tae’s face. Seeing young Min-tae stirred joy, wonder, longing.
Short-cropped hair, sturdy build—young Oh Min-tae.
Han-do’s best friend. Fellow aspiring comedian gunning for BLT exam.
Handsome, manly for a gag hopeful. Gym rat, too—ripped.
Should’ve been a movie star. Talent wasted. Han-do always thought so.
But Min-tae was dead serious about comedy.
Still was.
“Why’re you here, anyway? My store, this hour.”
“Oh, that...”
Min-tae lived 30 minutes’ walk away.
No reason to hit this spot unless visiting.
“Ran away from home.”
“Big fight with your folks again?”
“Yeah, pretty much.”
“Man.”
Min-tae’s parents hated his comedian dream.
Sparks flew like this often.
“Rough chasing a dream with no support.”
“Yeah.”
Unlike Min-tae, Han-do got little family pushback.
His folks couldn’t even afford college—always guilty toward their eldest.
“Anyway, no heading home tonight. Crash at yours.”
“Crazy. Can’t you see I’m working?”
“Then soju here. Can’t cope sober.”
“On shift.”
“Who cares? Nights are dead anyway.”
“......”
Couldn’t argue.
Truth was, Han-do was tempted by Min-tae’s pitch.
In youth, boozing with him was sanctuary.
“Fine, you punk. Grab a bottle.”
“That’s my boy!”
Back to that day, 22 years ago.
Not enjoying youth? Your loss.