NIS Agent Reincarnated as a Genius Actor

“You’re saying that my appearance itself becomes a novelty?”

“Yes.”

Kong Min-jung nodded firmly in response to Yeon-woo’s question.

Everyone in the meeting room, except for Yeon-woo, seemed to agree with that statement.

“Hmm, I see.”

With everyone so strongly convinced, Yeon-woo didn’t have much else to say.

While the former LN Media had a reputation as a production company, the current New Star Media was still a new company without any track record.

Of course, the industry openly knew that all the core personnel were here, but from the public’s perspective, the position of New Star Media and New Star Entertainment was ambiguous.

Yeon-woo recalled a post he had seen a few days ago.

– So, in the end, is the agency Ryu Yeon-woo joined a management company created by former employees of the agency that nurtured him? Did Ryu Yeon-woo join to support the company out of loyalty, like a young head of household?

└ But can we say they nurtured him? He became famous from his debut work and signed with them after that

└ I heard a few actors joined recently, but I’m not sure lol. It’s not like they’re idols, they’re actors, so does the agency matter that much? They’ll manage on their own

He thought it was reasonable to follow Kong Min-jung’s opinion since, for now, what was famous was Yeon-woo’s name value, not the name New Star.

It was already unusual for an agency to produce and release its own content on YouTube, and if the content itself was also unfamiliar, the consumers would end up being just a small number of fans rather than the general public.

Most of the self-produced content by idols tended to flow in that direction, eventually being watched only by fans.

However, considering that this project aimed for more mainstream popularity, it made sense to go with a famous PD and an already popular variety show format.

“Then, as you suggested, it would be best to proceed with the most proven format possible.”

Once Yeon-woo, the alpha and omega of New Star, agreed, the meeting came to an end.

“The media team will discuss the details with the PD.”

Yeon-woo nodded at Director Yoon Mi-yeon’s words.

And the very next day, a YouTube channel named “New Star Tube” was created.

They had set up the channel first while on the subject, and with the intention of gathering more subscribers before the official content was released, an important mission was given to Han Byul.

Unlike Yeon-woo, who came to work every other day because the small theater play wasn’t over yet, Han Byul, still on winter break, came to the company every day. Since there were older sisters and brothers at the company to play with her when she came, she had more work attendance days than any other employee.

“So, I just take this and film whatever I want?”

“Yes. Han Byul, you film whatever you want. Let me know if the battery runs out.”

“This is going to be fun! Then, please let me interview Director Yoon first.”

“…Huh? Me?”

After handing Han Byul a steady cam, she went around every corner of the company, interviewing various people including actors and staff without discrimination, and also captured everyday moments like chatting about this and that between Seo Ji-eun and Jeong Soo-yeon, whom she had become close with recently.

Among those videos, they started cutting out the interesting ones to release as shorts, and editing and uploading the mundane daily life videos.

Perhaps because there were many fans of recent hit works, vlog-style videos mainly featuring the daily lives of Han Byul, Seo Ji-eun, and Jeong Soo-yeon started to gain popularity, and the number of subscribers to New Star Tube increased at quite a fast pace.

“Wow! It’s already 300,000 people?!”

“Han Byul, but you know what?”

“What is it?”

“Not a single video featuring Yeon-woo has been uploaded yet.”

Indeed, the number of comments from subscribers wanting to see Ryu Yeon-woo on New Star Tube videos was increasing day by day.

– Moist Castella (1 hour ago): Why hasn’t Yeon-woo appeared even once?

– Lee Hae-yeon (1 hour ago): I don’t know, lying down, demanding Yeon-woo’s appearance Day 1

– Demon Slayer Kalguksu (45 minutes ago): Han Byul, isn’t Yeon-woo at the company? Please film him

– honey khan (28 minutes ago): I want Jin-yuk’s hands. From Thailand fan THKR

– Felix (4 minutes ago): AAAA SO COOL We love you Ella

– Attention King (37 seconds ago): Many photos of Yeon-woo’s daily life on Byeolsta [Link]

And finally, the long-awaited daily life of Yeon-woo was uploaded.

There wasn’t anything special about it.

It was just his everyday routine of coming to work, reviewing scripts, going to the cafe on the third floor, turning on his laptop, doing various searches, and having conversations with Son Jin-yuk.

The only notable thing was him smiling at the camera a few times because Han Byul, who was following him around filming, was so cute.

From the day the video was uploaded, the number of subscribers to New Star Tube started to skyrocket.

The next day, when the YouTube team checked the subscriber count after coming to work, they felt good but somehow deflated at the same time.

“…It was all for nothing.”

“This is good news, but…”

The number of subscribers they had gained over a week by editing and uploading shorts and full videos had slightly exceeded 400,000.

However, just one day after Yeon-woo’s video was uploaded, it surpassed 700,000, and at this rate, it seemed like it would reach 1 million by tomorrow or the day after.

Meanwhile, the YouTube variety show was progressing rapidly and was about to start filming.

PD Joo Hyun-seok recalled the day he received the casting call from New Star Entertainment.

At first, when he received the offer, PD Joo tilted his head in confusion.

“An entertainment company wants to produce its own variety show and wants me to be the PD…?”

Moreover, even the name of the entertainment company was unfamiliar.

Still, since they had made the offer, he thought it would be impolite to refuse outright, so he searched for New Star Entertainment on a portal site to check which celebrities were affiliated with the agency.

“Why are there so many articles…”

Ah, so that’s the place.

PD Joo Hyun-seok quietly picked up his smartphone.

Ring ring─.

“Ah, yes. This is Joo Hyun-seok who just spoke with you. Yes, yes, I’ll do it. No, please let me do it.”

His instincts had never been wrong.

There were writers who had quit the broadcasting station together to start an external production company, but this was not the time to ask for their opinions.

He had to seize this opportunity before it might go to someone else.

===

**

===

The actors started arriving one by one at the Korean restaurant where cameras were installed in every corner.

Son Jin-yuk arrived first and was waiting when Jeong Soo-yeon entered.

“Senior. Hello!”

“Ah, Soo-yeon.”

Son Jin-yuk awkwardly stood up, shook hands with Jeong Soo-yeon, and sat back down.

“I guess you haven’t heard what we’re doing today either, Soo-yeon?”

“Ah, no. I was just told we’re meeting before the variety show filming…”

“I see. Right.”

And then silence fell again.

Son Jin-yuk scratched the back of his head.

With over a decade of broadcast experience, he could already imagine the ‘Awkward’ caption that would appear between him and Jeong Soo-yeon when this airs.

‘But it really is awkward, so I don’t know what to say.’

Jeong Soo-yeon was originally the type to be shy around strangers, and Son Jin-yuk’s closest actress friend was pretty much just Han So-hyun.

‘I wonder when Yeon-woo will arrive. Or even Teacher Jung Cheol-min…’

Jeong Soo-yeon was thinking the same thing.

‘Is Han Byul coming late today…?’

She found herself missing Han Byul’s constant chatter as she fluttered around like a chick.

As the awkward silence lingered and Jeong Soo-yeon was about to try saying something, the door opened and someone came in.

“Ta-da! I’m here! Hello everyone!”

It was Seo Ji-eun, entering with a bright energy from the start.

Seeing Seo Ji-eun’s entrance, both of those who had arrived earlier breathed a sigh of relief.

“Ji-eun unni.”

Jeong Soo-yeon and Seo Ji-eun clasped hands, seemingly delighted despite seeing each other almost daily at the company.

Then, with a bright smile, she rushed over to Son Jin-yuk and gave a deep bow.

“Hello, Senior!”

“Ah, yes, yes. Ji-eun.”

As Son Jin-yuk stood up hastily to greet her, Seo Ji-eun waved her hands.

“Oh, please speak comfortably.”

Watching this, Son Jin-yuk smiled inwardly.

‘I see exactly what Yeon-woo meant. Little Han So-hyun.’

Although they had only crossed paths a few times at award ceremonies or at the company and never actually talked, there was a strangely familiar feeling.

Just then, the door opened and the other members, along with PD Joo Hyun-seok, all entered the restaurant at once.

“Everyone’s here now.”

PD Joo observed people’s gazes as he entered the room.

He noticed that the other actors’ eyes naturally focused on Yeon-woo.

‘Hmm, I guess Ryu Yeon-woo is indeed the central figure among these people.’

When filming a variety show, it was important to quickly read the relationships between the cast members.

After all, the chemistry between them ultimately determines the entertainment value.

Everyone gathered around the table, and the other staff members came in as well.

Then, PD Joo, who had been observing the members, spoke up.

“So, today is our pre-meeting, but actually, there’s nothing specific to announce. Just enjoy the meal and chat comfortably.”

“Eh, we just need to eat?”

At Seo Ji-eun’s question, PD Joo nodded.

He planned to observe their conversations during this pre-meeting to understand the relationships between them and the actors’ usual personalities, which would help set the direction for editing.

With that, the members naturally started talking while having their meal.

Sitting at the far end and occasionally joining in the conversation while observing the members, PD Joo felt that the composition of these actors gave off a family-like vibe.

Not in the sense of being affectionate or close like a family, but in terms of their age demographics.

Jung Cheol-min as the father figure, and below him, five siblings.

Starting with the eldest brother Son Jin-yuk, then the three middle siblings of similar age – Ji-eun, Yeon-woo, and Soo-yeon, and finally the youngest, Han Byul.

‘Hooh. I should structure the character composition that way.’

He nodded, taking notes diligently.

‘Besides, maybe because they’re all actors, but visually, they’re definitely top-notch. What a luxurious cast.’

These were actors who would normally be treated as special guests on other variety shows.

Ryu Yeon-woo’s current power in the broadcasting world was unparalleled, but even excluding him, the same could be said for the other actors.

Ironically, the only entity in South Korea that could assemble such a cast outside of an award ceremony was the new company, New Star Entertainment.

‘Filming a variety show with these members and releasing it only on YouTube…’

PD Joo nodded as he looked over the impressive lineup of members who were laughing and chatting, finding something greatly amusing.

He had thought this during the planning stage, but seeing them all together now, the future looked even clearer.

In fact, the members’ features seemed even more distinct than the future PD Joo was envisioning.

‘This is definitely going to be a hit. It’ll eat up all the TV variety shows.’

Han Byul, who had been chatting, raised her hand and asked a question.

“Sir!”

“Yes?”

“By the way, what’s the title of our variety show?”

Come to think of it, the other members also became curious and looked at PD Joo.

They only knew they were filming a variety show as the agency’s own content, but hadn’t heard the title.

PD Joo looked at the members and opened his mouth.

“I deliberately didn’t set a title. How about you all come up with one while chatting?”

At this, Seo Ji-eun tilted her head and said,

“That’s a bit of a cop-out…”

“Pardon?”

“Nothing!”

After that, various names came up among the members, but nothing really stuck.

In the midst of this, Yeon-woo, who had been pondering, spoke up as if he had thought of something.

“Rather than something fancy, how about just keeping it simple with ‘New Star Family’?”

At Yeon-woo’s words, PD Joo recalled that his own impression of the character composition was family-like.

The other members nodded in agreement.

“This guy’s naming sense is really old-fashioned, but when you hear it, it actually sounds pretty good.”

At Jung Cheol-min’s words, Son Jin-yuk also nodded.

“It certainly sticks in your mind and seems to represent our characteristics well.”

The video of the pre-meeting was edited the next day and immediately uploaded to YouTube.

– [New StarEnt] Variety Show ‘New Star Family’ Pre-meeting