Suddenly, I Became Crazy Handsome, and the World Became Easy

PD Woo Han-suk of ‘JTVM’ Entertainment Department. With his messy hair, tanned skin, glasses, and a exhausted expression, he was now in his 12th year in the industry. He hadn’t been with ‘JTVM’ for the entire 12 years; he originally worked in a public broadcasting station before transferring a few years ago.

He was a producer with quite a few hit shows under his belt, and a significant number of them were audition-related entertainment programs.

Survival competitions for forgotten past singers, rap battles, and acting duels among actors. He had once achieved nearly 20% viewership ratings on public broadcasting, and after transferring to ‘JTVM’, his highest-rated show had reached 8%. At a glance, 8% might seem small, but for a cable TV station, that was an enormous figure.

In short, PD Woo Han-suk was a pro.

Because of that, when Writer Kim Se-hee was making a huge fuss about someone being "super handsome" or whatever, PD Woo Han-suk didn’t have high expectations. Sure, he was a little curious, but just that much. He must be good-looking, but after surviving in the variety show industry for over 12 years, PD Woo Han-suk knew the truth.

There were plenty of handsome guys in this industry.

That’s why “uniqueness” and “charisma” mattered. Good visuals alone were no longer enough to win. But even a seasoned pro like PD Woo Han-suk had something he didn’t know.

No- something he had never seen before.

“Please appear on our show. I’m begging you.”

‘...Wow- fuck.’

No words came out except for a curse. No exclamation could adequately describe Kang Rojun’s insane visual.

‘There’s not a single blemish on his skin. How do his eyes, nose, and mouth line up so perfectly like that?’

His sharp jawline emphasized his small face, and his eyebrows and eyes were long and well-defined. On top of that, there was a subtle decadence in his gaze. The atmosphere? The aura? The way the writers were practically swooning with just one glance said it all. Saying he was just "handsome" wasn’t nearly enough.

A god-tier visual that completely trampled over concepts like uniqueness and charisma.

‘Is he even human?? At this level, not just in Korea... No, even on the world stage, people would be left speechless.’

For Kang Rojun, evaluations and all that didn’t matter. Even if his skills were garbage, his face alone was a guaranteed pass.

‘Sure, the idol industry has plenty of talented people, but there are also tons of idols who dominate the scene purely with their looks.’

The mindset was that skills could be improved later. Of course, there were cases where someone remained talentless forever. But

‘They still manage to stay popular and keep working.’

That was the reality of the idol industry.

Meanwhile, Kang Rojun, whose hand was suddenly grabbed by PD Woo Han-suk, was internally panicking. He would’ve been flustered even if a woman had grabbed his hand, but this was some random older man, what was he even supposed to say?

‘Why is this guy suddenly grabbing my hand like this?? His eyes are kind of scary, too.’

Feeling goosebumps, Rojun shook off the hand that was holding his.

“How long do you plan on holding my hand?”

Only then did PD Woo Han-suk snap back to reality. He awkwardly chuckled and let go of Rojun’s hand.

“Haha, sorry about that. I grabbed it without realizing.”

“Okay.”

“...Wow, but seriously, your face is just ridiculous. Even while looking at it, I can’t believe it.”

"I do exist."

“Huh?”

PD Woo Han-suk blinked in confusion before bursting into laughter again.

“And your character is oddly unique, too. Anyway.”

Turning his head, he shot a thumbs-up toward Kim Se-hee, who was grinning victoriously in the back.

"Okay, I admit it. This person's face would work worldwide."

“Right?! I told you, didn’t I?!”

“Yeah, yeah. I get it, so just close the door already.”

Once the meeting room door was shut, PD Woo Han-suk gestured for Rojun to take a seat. Rojun felt a bit disoriented but tried his best not to show it. He didn’t want to look dumb from the get-go.

PD Woo Han-suk spoke first.

“Hmm- just as is, you could easily take over the idol industry... No, forget idols, even the acting world. You’re already at this level, but with some styling and polishing, you’d be absolutely incredible. You know that, right?”

No, not really. Rojun had lived with this face for less than a week. But if he said he didn’t know, it would probably come off as fake humility, wouldn’t it?

“Yes, I know.”

“Haha, of course. There’s no way you wouldn’t. Alright, first, let me introduce myself.”

The PD pulled out a business card from his wallet and handed it to Kang Rojun.

“I’m Woo Han-suk, a PD from ‘JTVM’ Entertainment Department. You’ve heard of ‘Freestyle Crew’ or ‘Comeback Home Stage’, right?”

Those were the hit variety shows he had worked on. Since Rojun had seen them before, he nodded.

“Yes.”

“I’m the PD who directed those shows, and when I asked you to appear on our program the moment I saw you, I meant it.”

“......”

“I have a thing for auditions, competitions, and survival shows, and the variety show I’m currently preparing is along the same lines. To put it simply-”

His briefing could be summarized like this, it was a massive survival audition program for male idols. The competition aimed to recruit those who dreamed of becoming part of a boy group, not just in Korea but also in Japan, China, the United States, and beyond. With its global scale, the stakes were high, and thanks to PD Woo Han-suk’s reputation, the investment was substantial.

However, the concept strictly targeted raw, undiscovered talents.

If someone had even briefly worked in the entertainment industry, they were excluded. Already had an agency? Excluded. An influencer? Excluded. Any previous experience in other audition shows? Also excluded. In other words, the target was ordinary people who had never been exposed to the industry. The official teaser, recruitment page, and production presentation would all launch in about a month.

“Of course, the preliminary screening will be handled by me and the production team. Once we filter out the ones we want, the filming schedule will be set. You can discuss the details with Se-hee while reviewing the project plan. Oh, I got so caught up that I forgot to ask for your name.”

Rojun, who had been listening attentively, answered.

"I'm Kang Rojun."

“Great name. You could use it as your stage name as is. Now that I think about it, your voice is on the deeper side, with a bit of a cold edge. it’s got a rare appeal. Looking at your face, I expected something softer.”

Internally, Rojun let out a dry chuckle.

‘In the past, people used to describe my voice as gloomy, eerie, or chilling. But how am I supposed to respond to this kind of thing? It’s kind of embarrassing.’

Having lived a life where he mostly received insults, Rojun wasn’t used to compliments. After thinking for a moment, he came to a conclusion and replied.

“I’m soft on the inside.”

“...Excuse me?”

“Not exactly squishy, but still.”

“H-haha. You’re unexpectedly quirky. You definitely have a unique character, but it’s all mixed up in an unpredictable way. And since your visuals are out of this world, everything just comes across as a plus. Do you happen to have an agency?”

“No, I don’t. I’m unemployed.”

“For real? But with that face, you’ve never been interested in the entertainment industry at all?”

“I’ve recently developed a little interest.”

PD Woo Han-suk’s expression quickly turned serious.

For the audition show he was preparing, he had three key criteria for selecting contestants: visuals, skills, and buzzworthiness (shock value, controversy potential).

‘Since he’s never been interested in the entertainment industry before, it’s obvious his skills won’t be at a high level. There’s a high chance he’ll get eliminated early on due to lack of talent, but with this kind of insane visual, just like Se-hee said, the initial hook will be massive. Plus, we can use his face prominently in teasers and previews.’

Even if he had no talent and only survived based on his looks, that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. It would create controversy. And controversy meant skyrocketing interest, which directly translated into viewership ratings. It was basically a form of noise marketing.

‘I absolutely have to secure this guy.’

After clearing his throat, PD Woo Han-suk spoke in a weighty tone.

“That little bit of interest you’ve developed in the entertainment industry, why don’t you fully explore it by joining our program? I’m sincerely asking.”

His words were dripping with genuine enthusiasm.

Meanwhile, Rojun, who had been silently observing the PD, was internally rejoicing.

‘I looked it up, and apparently, even passing the preliminaries for this show is insanely difficult… But I’m just getting in this easily??’

Once again, he realized it, being ridiculously handsome was the best. What a thrilling advantage. Life was just so much easier this way.

However, he couldn’t afford to get carried away over something this minor. So, Kang Rojun deliberately pretended to be deep in thought.

“Hmm.”

Sensing an opportunity, PD Woo Han-suk quickly jumped in with more persuasion.

“Rojun-ssi, I guarantee that the moment you appear on TV, you’ll blow up instantly. Not just the viewers, even the guest judges will be completely floored. And of course, those judges will be the top names in the industry.”

“Well- since I’m unemployed anyway, I’ll give it a shot.”

“You made the right choice!! Letting a face like yours go to waste would be a crime, an absolute crime. But, can you sing or dance at all?”

It was a tricky question to answer. Technically, he was tone-deaf and uncoordinated, but with AI Simulation, that wasn’t entirely true. Still, it was probably best to keep expectations as low as possible.

“No. I can’t.”

“That’s totally fine! If you had that face and were also great at singing and dancing, that would just be straight-up cheating! Your visuals are already god-tier, so the rest can be improved with practice. There are plenty of visual centers in both girl groups and boy groups who are insanely popular despite lacking skills.”

At that moment, Rojun responded internally.

'What if I become overwhelming in both looks and skills?'

A little while later.

PD Woo Han-suk passed the baton to the writers waiting outside. The one handling Rojun was none other than Kim Se-hee, who had discovered him first.

“Rojun-ssi! Over here, over here! Sit here!”

Her energy was over the top. As Kang Rojun took a seat, several female writers surrounded him. Kim Se-hee immediately started firing questions.

“I already know your name, but how old are you?”

“I’m 24.”

“Where do you live?”

“Near Giheung Station.”

“Your family-”

“I live alone.”

“Ah, so you’re independent! Just looking at you, I bet your parents must be so cool and beautiful.”

The other writers enthusiastically agreed. However, Rojun poured cold water on the conversation.

“They passed away.”

“...Oh. I’m so sorry.”

“It’s fine. It’s been a while.”

Kang Rojun answered calmly. That was genuinely how he felt.

Kim Se-hee, who had been fumbling for words, quickly changed the subject.

“A-Anyway! This is our program’s project proposal. It’s just a draft, but you should be able to take a look!”

The first thing visible in the proposal was the program’s title.

- Produce That 100!

Kim Se-hee immediately added an explanation.

“As the title suggests, the 100 officially selected contestants will be produced by the viewers! It has a survival format, and while there are judges’ scores, the viewers’ votes matter the most. Contestants have to win the audience’s favor.”

One hundred people? That seemed like a lot. Curious, Kang Rojun asked.

“And if you survive among the 100?”

“The final four will debut as an official boy group. But you’ll find out more as things progress.”

Debut.

For some reason, that word felt deeply unfamiliar to Rojun.

Kim Se-hee continued speaking.

“Starting tomorrow, promotions and marketing will officially begin! The open recruitment for contestants will start soon, but you’re the first!”

After briefing him for nearly an hour, she pulled out a contract that included confidentiality clauses. The contract itself wasn’t complicated. Since Rojun had already decided to participate, he signed it without hesitation. Kim Se-hee then extended her hand for a handshake.

“Really! Thank you so, so much! Let’s do our best together!”

“Yeah, I’ll do my best.”

“You’re already doing amazing! Just by existing! Super super amazing!"

Following Kim Se-hee’s lead, the other female writers also reached out their hands to him, one by one.

“M-Me too.”

“I want to shake hands after this.”

“By the way, I’m really looking forward to the day viewers finally see Rojun-ssi on screen… Am I the only one?”

“Agreed. Absolutely agreed.”

"I'll bet my neck that this will be a nuclear bomb."

"Se-hee, stop betting your neck already."

It was around this time that Kang Rojun asked the writers a question.

“Is there anything I need to do until then?”

“No. Until the filming schedule is confirmed, you can just go about your life as usual.”

That worked out perfectly for Kang Rojun.

'I can just focus on collecting tons of coins then.'

Later.

Back home, Kang Rojun replayed the day’s events in his mind. A strange feeling of excitement surged through him.

Just a few days ago, he had been a hideous monster. But now, he had secured first place in a major variety show.

If things had changed this much in just a day, what about the future?

What would happen in six months? In a year? In five years?

With his imagination running wild, Rojun decided to follow Kim Se-hee’s advice and carry on with his daily life. He continued gathering Coins through missions and focused on working out. Meanwhile, he searched for "Produce That 100!" online.

The show was already generating a flood of news articles.

《‘JTVM’ Announces: PD Woo Han-suk’s Upcoming Audition Show Titled ‘Produce That 100!’》

《PD Woo Han-suk’s Next Variety Show Confirmed, Will He Once Again Capture the Audience’s Favor?》

《Title Announcement of 'Produce That 100!' Draws Public Attention/ Photos》

Not only that, but news about "Produce That 100!" spread like wildfire across various search engine ads, social media, online communities, and YouTube. Public anticipation was through the roof, all thanks to PD Woo Han-suk’s history of multiple successful programs.

Two weeks passed like that.

During that time, Kang Rojun accidentally discovered a video on Youtube.

"Huh??? That’s me??"

The thumbnail featured Rojun’s face.

- The Ultimate Fashion is the Face… Super Super Super Handsome Guy I Met in Gangnam | Fashion Hipster

- 1,221,008 views

It was the interview he had given when he went to Gangnam on the first day after his face changed. Now, that moment had been uploaded as a video. In the footage, Rojun calmly responded.

-[“What’s your outfit concept for today? You look super hip.”]

-[“...I just wore whatever I had at home.”]

The video had been up for less than a day, yet it had already surpassed 1 million views. Curious, Rojun scrolled through the comments. The reaction was explosive.

-Wow… Who the hell is this insanely handsome guy??????

-How do you even handle a face like that?

-WTF? With that face, he would completely crush every idol out there right now.

-ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋWTFㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ he's seriously so fucking handsome ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-Being good-looking is the best… If you’re handsome, that’s all you need…

-His face is excessive??? Seriously excessive! Why don’t I ever see god-tier handsome guys like this when I go to Gangnam???

-Bro, I’m telling you, do NOT work out. I am warning you.

-I found myself smiling contentedly.... Humor? Who needs it? If you're handsome, even just breathing is funny.

-Fuck, I guess I'll just have soju with pig's feet that look like me tonight.

-Someone please give us his info ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ

-I don’t even smoke, but after watching this video, I’m heading out to buy cigarettes.

-Seriouslyㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ. If you’re this insanely handsome, life must be so damn easy.

About a week later, Kang Rojun received a call from Kim Se-hee.

“The preliminary screening for contestants has started!! If everything goes smoothly, we’re aiming for the first shoot in about two weeks!”

That meant they had started selecting the 100 competitors Rojun would be up against. She also shared another piece of information.

“Also, Rojun-ssi, your insert shoot has been scheduled, it’s in three days! It’s just some simple shots for your introduction and greetings, so no need to feel pressured!!”

At that moment, Rojun’s phone vibrated briefly.

- Woo-woong.

A notification popped up from the AI Simulation app.

-[Hidden Mission ‘Throwing the First Gauntlet’ has been achieved! You have been awarded 15 Coins as a gift.]

Rojun smiled at the free Coins. Hidden missions were such a jackpot. By now, he had been completing missions every single day without fail, and his Coin balance had already exceeded 100 Coins.

-[Coins: 164]

Then, out of nowhere.

- Woo-woong.

The AI Simulation app sent another alert.

-[Sudden Title Mission Activated!]

-[Acquire Title: ‘Side Job Tycoon’ / Reward upon completion: 30 Coins / Completion Condition: Choose your first side job and engage in a related activity.]

The unexpected notification caught Rojun off guard.

“Side job?”

***

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