Chapter 30
Chapter 30
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: Chapter 11. Counterattack (1)
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The man known as the National MC, Oh Shin-hoon, made his entrance.
At the sight of him, Kang Han-do and Oh Min-tae instinctively rose from their seats.
"Sunbae-nim!!"
"What brings you here...?"
To Kang Han-do, Oh Shin-hoon was nothing short of an idol.
Just like him, Oh Shin-hoon had endured long years in obscurity before steadily climbing the ranks, one step at a time, to win over the public and earn the title of National MC.
That man was Oh Shin-hoon.
He was an object of admiration for every junior comedian, and now he was suggesting they sit together.
"Mind if I join you?"
"Of course!! It's an honor!"
Oh Min-tae's eyes sparkled as he immediately vacated the seat beside them.
Oh Shin-hoon was also a BLT public recruitment comedian. Of course, he was from a much earlier generation than Kang Han-do and Oh Min-tae, but he never treated his juniors harshly or dismissively.
"Eutcha."
Settling into the chair, Oh Shin-hoon gave a wry smile and patted his own shoulder.
"Whew. Physical variety shows are really tough."
"Were you recording a program today?"
"It's called 25 Challengers. You might not have heard of it."
"Of course we have! It's blowing up right now, isn't it?"
25 Challengers was a new program freshly launched by BLT.
It aired around the same time as HSL Season 2 during the revamp season, but it premiered three episodes earlier.
Even though it was brand new, it was already generating massive buzz and word-of-mouth.
And the reason this fledgling show had gained such recognition so quickly? It was undeniably due to National MC Oh Shin-hoon.
The program featured ten fixed members who invited weekly guests to make up a total of twenty-five participants tackling missions.
The regular cast didn't include many big names.
But with Oh Shin-hoon as the host, it effortlessly drew everyone's attention.
Any program he hosted was almost guaranteed to soar in the ratings.
There was a famous anecdote about Oh Shin-hoon's appearance correlating directly with viewership spikes.
Two years ago, there was a program struggling with ratings below 1%—the kind everyone called a total flop.
Despite heavy investment in pre-production, it nearly got canned due to an incompetent PD, an inexperienced host fumbling through segments, and one of the semi-regular guests getting tangled in a marijuana scandal.
The revamp had rumors swirling that it might get axed altogether.
But once Oh Shin-hoon stepped in as a replacement, the ratings skyrocketed exponentially, ultimately hitting double digits.
It wasn't a top-tier smash hit, but clocking in over ten times the previous numbers was proof enough of the Oh Shin-hoon effect.
After that incident, the industry reevaluated him once more, cementing his reputation at the top.
His hosting skills were that exceptional.
Even Kang Han-do saw him as a role model, which spoke volumes about his accomplishments.
"Feel free to speak comfortably with me, sunbae-nim."
Oh Shin-hoon hesitated at Kang Han-do's words.
"Haha, but this is our first time meeting face-to-face like this. Dropping the formalities right away feels a bit..."
"That's exactly how we can get close faster. It'd be an immense honor to go 'hyung-dongsaeng' with someone I admire so much."
"Honor? I'm not that impressive. Alright, let's ease into it then."
"Yes!"
Even in his previous life, Han-do had been on casual terms with Shin-hoon hyung, maintaining a close bond.
Whenever Kang Han-do felt drained, Shin-hoon hyung would treat him to a meal and cheer him on.
And it wasn't just Kang Han-do.
Oh Shin-hoon was the kind of senior who approached struggling juniors during their tough nameless days, offering comfort, advice, and support.
The humility and kindness he showed on air weren't fabricated—they were his true self, visible in everyday life.
"Now that I think about it..."
Looking like he had something on his mind, Oh Shin-hoon broached a sensitive topic as he eyed them both.
"I've heard things have been blowing up lately with Jeon Yoo-hyun and that reporter."
"..."
"..."
Kang Han-do and Oh Min-tae were at a loss for words.
They had nothing to say. Oh Shin-hoon continued, watching their reactions.
"Yoo-hyun's probably feeling really sorry toward you guys. Worried that he's causing you trouble for no reason. That's just how he is. So don't hold it against him too much."
"Hold it against him? We know Jeon Yoo-hyun sunbae isn't a bad guy. It's those media outlets twisting stories and churning out fabricated articles that are the problem."
"You're right. Anyway, time will sort it out, so don't stress too much. Just keep pushing through quietly. Whatever happens, don't give up on comedy. I'll be rooting for you."
"Thank you, sunbae-nim."
Don't give up, even when things get tough.
That was the message Oh Shin-hoon wanted to impart.
Kang Han-do would never give up.
No matter what!
* * *
4 PM News Table recording studio.
The atmosphere in the studio felt different from the usual today, permeating the entire set.
They were about to record something out of the ordinary.
"You've all checked the script, right?"
At writer Lee Yeon-shin's question, main cast members Kang Han-do, Oh Min-tae, and Jeon Yoo-hyun nodded vigorously.
They usually built the show around gag segments...
But not today.
"Jeon Yoo-hyun sunbae."
Kang Han-do approached him.
Jeon Yoo-hyun, reviewing the script in place, looked up.
"What's up?"
"Thank you so much for making this tough decision. I really wanted to say that."
"It's not that big a deal. I can't let it cause trouble for PD Yoo Tae-hwan or you guys because of me. And I'm grateful to you. Thanks to you, we can finally counterattack the media as comedians."
Jeon Yoo-hyun turned the thanks back on him.
Truth be told, Kang Han-do held a lot of affection for Jeon Yoo-hyun, but stepping up wasn't purely out of goodwill.
It was all for the program's image.
But as he got to know Jeon Yoo-hyun more—realizing he wasn't a bad person at all—Han-do genuinely wanted to help him.
By the time mutual goodwill was clear...
"Recording starts!"
"Yes!"
The counteroffensive they had prepared finally began.
* * *
"Whew."
Oh Shin-hoon let out a soft sigh as he entered his home.
As Korea's top National MC, his schedule was perpetually packed.
His wife greeted him with a gentle smile.
"You're back?"
"Yeah... Where's Jin-hoon?"
"Sleeping."
"I see."
Handing his wife his outer coat, something suddenly occurred to him, prompting another question.
"What time is it?"
"Around 10:30, I think."
"Then... it should be starting soon."
A few days earlier, Oh Shin-hoon had shared a meal with Kang Han-do at the BLT cafeteria.
Back then, Kang Han-do had asked him to watch the upcoming HSL 4 PM News Table segment.
Today was the air date of that very episode Han-do had hinted at.
After quickly washing his face,
He changed into comfortable clothes and turned on the TV in the living room.
Usually, after schedules, Oh Shin-hoon hit the gym for a light workout before heading home. But tonight, he had no intention of going out, staring intently at the screen.
His quick-witted wife sliced some fruit and placed it on the coffee table in front of the sofa where he sat.
"Have some fruit."
"Thanks."
She naturally settled beside him, watching the TV program together.
HSL Season 2—the late-night variety show topping the ratings charts.
Today's 4 PM News Table was slotted last.
Oh Shin-hoon monitored the preceding segments fully, his eyes locking onto the title card reading "4 PM News Table."
And then.
-Viewers, hello. This is Kang Han-do of 4 PM News Table.
'It's starting!'
He focused every ounce of attention on the TV, eyes and ears wide open.
It opened with their usual gags, as expected.
As a frequent HSL viewer, Oh Shin-hoon enjoyed their comedy style too. Personal tastes varied, of course. But the positive buzz on viewer boards showed that 4 PM News Table hit the gag sweet spot for most audiences.
As the broadcast neared its end...
-And one more thing. There's an important update we need to share.
Kang Han-do's eyes changed.
Gone was the comedian's playful vibe; they now burned with an announcer's resolve to deliver unvarnished truth.
Determination shone through.
-Regarding the rumors swirling about comedian Jeon Yoo-hyun. Here at 4 PM News Table—no, the entire HSL production team—have partnered with TrueJournal to debunk every fabricated article one by one, based on Jeon Yoo-hyun's account.
As Kang Han-do finished, Oh Min-tae picked up seamlessly.
-Comedian Jeon Yoo-hyun returning to TV to leverage his fame for business expansion? Pure nonsense. He runs just one barbecue joint co-owned with a friend. And that place? He opened it right before stepping away from all shows due to panic disorder. There's zero evidence of any new ventures.
-And one more thing.
Kang Han-do's turn again.
-Some speculate his temporary broadcast hiatus wasn't panic disorder but trouble with fellow comedians. Baseless again. Here are texts from his colleagues. Please review the evidence. It shows they see him as an excellent senior, colleague, and junior. When we said we'd clear his name via this segment, they sent heartfelt support messages. So, even now, would you claim he vanished from stages using panic disorder as an excuse for coworker drama?
Hammering with facts.
That was Kang Han-do's strategy.
Jeon Yoo-hyun, silent until now, finally spoke.
-My sudden exit from broadcasts due to panic disorder was my fault. But... I don't want to see not just me, but my loved ones suffer from false rumors. I mustered the courage to return because I truly miss performing. So please... look favorably on me.
Jeon Yoo-hyun bowed his head.
Then Kang Han-do delivered the closing remarks.
-If the incitement and fabrications continue, we'll publicly name the outlets and reporters responsible, pursuing legal action. This isn't advice. It's a warning. No more innocent entertainers suffering from your agitation and lies. That concludes 4 PM News Table. Thank you for watching.
A bold sign-off, far beyond rookie level.
Oh Shin-hoon grinned.
"Yeah. Own it when you need to— that's what's cool. Well done."
He applauded his courageous juniors.