Chapter 75: The Audition Goes Live

In the heart of Gangnam, a massive billboard ad captured everyone’s attention. 

It featured actors like Yoo Seunghyun, Jo Inho, and Kim Sihyun—heartthrobs adored by countless women—flashing across the screen.

“What’s that? Did they shoot an ad?”

“Wow, they really are good-looking. It’s like a highlight reel of their prime.”

“I was so obsessed with them back then.”

“Who wasn’t into them back then?”

The actors’ visuals, enough to make anyone smile just looking at them, stopped passersby in their tracks.

[Choose Your First Love.]

[From Love Some.]

“What kind of ad is this?”

“Choose your first love?”

“What’s Love Some?”

Unable to contain their curiosity, some whipped out their phones to search. 

The ad wasn’t just on the billboard—it was at subway stations, on SNS, and YouTube too.

[What’s that ad with Yoo Seunghyun and Kim Sihyun talking about first love?]

└ It’s for picking the male lead of Love Some.

└ └ What’s that?

└ └ └ Don’t you know the webtoon? They’re making it into a drama, and this is the ad for choosing the male lead.

└ └ Huh? They’re picking the lead like that?

└ └ └ It’s an open audition. Videos go up on YouTube on the 8th at 6 PM.

[They must be spending a fortune on ads—it’s everywhere.]

└ Seriously, it’s all over YouTube. Who’s causing all this fuss?

└ └ Probably mostly rookies, right?

[That silhouette looks like Jung Gunwoo.]

└ For real? I like him! It’s about time he took a lead role.

[I think my actor’s in it 😭😭 Please let him get it.]

└ Who? I’ll vote for him.

└ └ Not sure yet, but I’ll post a promo when it’s confirmed!

“Director, the ad’s getting more buzz than expected.”

“It’s trending quite a bit online too.”

The Love Some production team was closely monitoring the reactions.

“Pouring everything into the ad seems to have paid off.”

Instead of allocating funds to Ji Seojin’s casting fee, they’d invested heavily in the audition campaign, and the response was beyond expectations—though using “nation’s first love” actors to draw attention helped.

“Didn’t expect it to hit like this.”

When I first suggested an open audition for the male lead, the director had brushed it off, thinking no one would care about an actor audition.

These days, people barely watch dramas—who’d care about an audition?

But with no male lead in sight and no other options, they pitched the open audition to the investors as a last-ditch effort. 

Surprisingly, the response was positive.

“They said actor auditions are common in their country or something.”

The investors greenlit it immediately, and with a “let’s go all in” mindset, the team prepared the audition and launched a massive ad campaign.

[Choose Your First Love.]

The tagline alone grabbed people’s attention.

“How many videos came in?”

“Over 300 just yesterday and today.”

The male lead spot for a tvM weekday drama was coveted, drawing everyone from mid-tier rookies to complete newcomers and actors stuck in supporting roles.

“We’ll probably have to pull an all-nighter to review them all.”

“You know we’re short on time, right?”

To stick to the original shooting schedule, the audition had to move fast.

“Filter it down to about twenty.”

The director tasked the assistant director with the initial cut. 

With so many submissions, only a few would be worth watching, so he didn’t need to review every single one.

“Got it.”

“Oh, what about Hyunjae? Did his video come in?”

The director asked about me, the one who sparked this whole thing.

“It came in on the first day.”

“How is it?”

Having seen Blue Sky Spring, the director thought I was perfect for the supporting role of Doyoon. 

The mysterious, charismatic vibe of the male lead didn’t seem to suit me, and he still hoped I’d stick to the supporting role.

“Honestly?”

“Yeah, honestly.”

The assistant director shared their first impression of my video.

“He’s already got the male lead spot locked down.”

“What?”

The director, expecting comments like “decent” or “not a good fit,” was stunned.

“No need to watch the others—he is Lee Kangha.”

In their three years working together, the assistant director had never spoken with such certainty.

“You’ll think the same when you see it.”

“But… doesn’t Doyoon suit him better image-wise?”

The assistant director shook their head vigorously.

“No. He’s Lee Kangha.”

It sounded exaggerated, but it piqued the director’s curiosity. What kind of performance could prompt this reaction?

“Director! Director!”

A drama staff member rushed in mid-conversation.

“What?”

“Met wants to air our audition!”

“On TV?”

No need to hesitate. 

They’d planned to post a few good audition videos and announce the winner in an article, but airing it on TV was a huge win.

“When are they airing it? Set up a meeting ASAP!”

“This is getting big, isn’t it?”

“The bigger it gets, the better for the drama’s promotion.”

They’d do anything to get even one more person interested in the drama.

***

“TV?”

“Yeah, Met’s airing the audition.”

The open audition was my idea, but I hadn’t expected it to blow up to a televised event.

“And it might be live?”

“Live?”

Live, no less?

“They’ll pick twenty from the 5-minute videos, select five in a second round meeting, then have them perform improv live on air to choose the final male lead.”

“So five people make it to the live broadcast?”

“Exactly. And the network’s coming to film you.”

If they’re filming, do I need to perform or something?

“What do I do when they come?”

“Just casually say why you want the role, what kind of acting you want to do—stuff like that. Smile, show off your face.”

“Huh?”

Show off my face?

“You were a model for an idol audition show. Never watched one?”

“…No.”

I was forced into that gig and had zero interest, so I never watched it.

“You have to watch an idol audition show. You think the top ranks are all about skill? It’s charm, charm.”

“Charm? What kind?”

“Maybe go for a cool, stoic city guy vibe.”

“What vibe?”

Stoic city guy? Is that still a thing?

“Don’t worry, just do what I say.”

Hyungkyu tried to force the “cool city guy” concept on me, but it fell apart before filming even started.

“Hey! PD!”

The person filming me was none other than Jintae, the PD from the idol survival show.

“Yo, long time no see! How you holding up?”

“I’m good! How about you, PD?”

Jintae approached with quick steps, extending a hand, and I greeted him warmly, happy to see a familiar face.

“Thanks to you, the show did great, and I’m doing fine. I was shocked seeing you act. You said you weren’t interested in being a celebrity.”

“Haha, it just happened.”

Embarrassed by my past claims, I gave an awkward laugh, and Jintae laughed louder.

“Good call! This is what guys like you should do. I knew you were made for this the moment I saw you.”

“Please take care of me today!”

“Come on, between us? Don’t worry. I’ve done this before—I know exactly how to make you shine.”

Jintae’s confidence put me at ease and inspired trust.

“So you’re in charge of this?”

“After Number Nine blew up, the network throws every audition show my way.”

“You’re a star PD now.”

“Star PD, my foot—just a salaried worker. Alright, let’s start shooting.”

Normally, I’d be nervous, but Jintae eased me in with light questions, making the interview flow naturally.

“So, what do you and Kangha, the male lead, have in common?”

“Common ground…”

There was one thing: Kangha regressed from the future to the past, and I went through the absurd experience of turning from a dog into a human.

“I don’t think we have any. Kangha and I are very different.”

“How so?”

“Kangha doesn’t try to change the past for the female lead, but I would’ve fought to change it.”

Love Some was a sweet, youthful first-love romance, but it had deeper layers. 

The female lead, who regresses to the past, tries to save her first love, while the male lead tries to preserve the past for her, creating a poignant clash of intentions.

“So you’re the opposite of Kangha?”

“Pretty much.”

“Then why do you want to play him?”

“Even though we’re different, Kangha’s dripping with charm. You know, the kind of person who draws your eye without even trying.”

Jintae gave an enigmatic smile. 

Questions about Kangha continued, along with a few personal ones.

“You debuted as a model for an audition show—how does it feel to be in an actor audition?”

“Honestly… super embarrassing!”

“Why?”

“I swore I’d never do this celebrity thing… and now I’m here, meeting you again.”

I laughed awkwardly, and Jintae chuckled.

“I’m going to do my best, like the audition model I was!”

I expressed my determination, and that interview later appeared in the audition’s teaser video.

[I’m so embarrassed.]

[I never thought I’d be standing here again.]

[It’s gotta be me.]

[I’m confident.]

[I’ve been waiting for this moment.]

Jintae, proving why he was the go-to audition PD, teased the silhouettes of the five finalists, drawing attention with their interviews.

[Isn’t that silhouette Kim Minjun?]

└ Wow, he’s switching to acting?

[My baby 😭😭 It’s real!]

[Who’s the last one? That silhouette is insane.]

└ Looks like a model.

└ └ Maybe Hwang Inwoong?

└ └ He acts too?

└ └ Models crossing over to acting is pretty common.

[This lineup’s actually solid.]

[Isn’t the first one Jung Hyunjae?]

└ Yeah, his acting was good.

[When’s this airing?]

└ Next Friday!

High-profile actors openly competing was a juicy premise. 

Though they were mostly new to acting, it was intriguing enough to draw attention.