Seok-hwan hyung said to , staring off into space.
“Uju.”
“Hm?”
“It’s a weekend sitcom.”
Our TF team leader sighed.
“You know people don’t really watch sitcoms these days, right?”
“Yeah.”
“And your role in a weekend sitcom—what’s your screen ti like?”
“Really small.”
He stopped there, and our manager prompted to think it over.
“From the producer’s perspective, it’s a drama that might not even succeed, and they want you for a tiny role.”
“...Is that a good thing?”
“It’s more than good! You dummy.”
“No. Dummy?”
But he wasn’t wrong.
They could use my na for all sorts of promotion, so there was no way I’d turn it down.
“...So I absolutely couldn’t lose this audition?”
“Exactly, man.”
“...”
I felt strangely hollow.
Our TF team leader looked at , incredulous.
“You really thought you wouldn’t get it?”
“I figured I’d at least have to audition.”
“...It’s about ti you realized your place.”
I gave an embarrassed laugh, and even Seok-hwan hyung cracked a smile.
“Well, it worked out. Even the smallest part—you must be precious to the producers.”
“That’s true.”
From the production company’s point of view, there’s a difference between an actor who just shows up and one who cos prepared. It was sothing I ought to do to make a good first impression. I didn’t need to stay up all night like this, though...
“But now that I think about it, I might have overdone the practice.”
“How much did you practice?”
“Like we were preparing for a year-end performance.”
“...”
I recalled past mories.
― I don’t know why you’re using that tone there. Do you really think it should be that tone? Uju hyung, like you told —do you really think that’s the best? Kkk!
― If I were a viewer, I’d have switched the channel during that scene!
― Why can’t you understand this? Just imagine you’re K and deliver the line... Can’t you do that?
It was truly Spartan training.
Now I understood why the juniors were afraid to work with .
Rihyuk snickered, calling it mirror therapy. Bi-ju and Jung-hyun munched popcorn and watched eagerly.
― Am I really that bad?
― No. Hyung explains things very patiently... it’s not that bad.
Bi-ju smiled kindly.
― About twice this much?
It was a mont to reflect on myself.
Anyway, I’d learned the ropes from the maknae and more or less completed Agent K’s performance. Just as I was worrying that this might feel burdenso to the producers—
“How much did you prepare?”
“A lot...?”
Seok-hwan hyung handed the script.
He told to treat it like an audition and read one of the lines. I nodded, then recited Agent K’s dialogue.
“...”
First, Seok-hwan hyung’s face showed slight surprise—then it ward into a broad smile.
I asked cautiously, “How was it?”
“Well, I’m no expert in acting, so I don’t really know, but...”
He grinned.
“If the producers saw that, I think they’d be shocked—in a good way.”
Drama production company, Gon Pictures.
A commotion was underway here.
“Over there! Wipe it down so there’s no dust showing. Line up the potted plants more nicely!”
“Oh my! Dust! Hurry and clean this up.”
“When are they arriving? We need to tidy this place before they get here...!”
Office staff swept the floor and arranged the plants. It was for a very important upcoming guest.
CEO Kim Woo-yong hurried around.
“Pass a broom.”
After grabbing the broom and cleaning himself, the CEO cald his excited heart.
‘Uju is going to be in our drama...!’
It was still hard to believe the news that NewBlack’s mber wanted to appear in this drama. It was a jackpot. If it had been a major studio, a popular idol cao would be welcod, but for them it was different.
‘This is our first terrestrial broadcast drama.’
So far they’d produced mostly cable dramas—praised online for originality but never a big hit. This ti, they’d lucked into a weekend sitcom deal with TBC. That ant they could cast recognizable actors and secure significant investnt. And they were confident in their production.
‘This will succeed!’
The director was talented and the script was fun. The only problem was marketing.
― Who watches sitcoms these days, kkk...
― This will probably kill everyone in the finale anyway.
― It claims social satire but isn’t really teaching any lesson.
― Finally a weekend sitcom again—fighting!
Lack of viewer interest was the biggest issue.
‘If only they’d watch episode 1... that’s all we need!’
They had to get as many people as possible to see the first episode, but weekend sitcom slots offered few promotional opportunities. They couldn’t hire a top star with an eight-figure salary, had no star writer, and couldn’t pitch it like a genre show. They desperately needed press releases.
― Director, about that Agent K role—
The idea to cast NewBlack ca from CEO Kim.
― What if we put a well-known idol in a cao for that role?
― Sounds good. Let’s do it.
Their first thought was Uju of NewBlack. The guy could perform any stunt, had a mood-boosting face, and thanks to Mister Producer enjoyed top idol recognition. But...
― He’d never agree to our project...
― Even if he wanted to act, wouldn’t he pick sothing else? Any move he makes makes headlines.
― If he did agree, we’d have to seriously plan how to beg him.
They didn’t think it would happen—they just pitched it. Then suddenly the agent called: “He’ll audition.” It felt like a golden rope from heaven.
‘We have to lock him down...!’
CEO Kim even sprayed his mouth with breath freshener, steeling his resolve. The director and writer of Our Family Is Alien huddled around a laptop.
“Wow, he’s really handso.”
“I wonder if he looks as good in person? He photographs well—easy to fra.”
Writer Hwang Jeong-yeon and Director Hwang Jeong-gu, real-life siblings turned drama team, admired Uju on the screen.
“But, hyung, do you think he can act?”
“Why?”
“K in the CF for that magic school was fine, but that’s a comrcial. Drama is different.”
They needed him for promotion, but they worried.
‘I only need basic skill...’
Thanks to yesterday’s clip, Jung-hyun drawing a face on his foot and wiggling it as a skit of bad acting, the best comnt read:
― What is this? → Why does this even exist? → But since I saw it, I can’t be the only one → Hey, watch this (infinite loop)
Director Hwang shook his head.
‘Let’s just be grateful he’s appearing.’
An idol with no acting background, having Uju ant they’d secure so ratings. Just then, a staff mber ran in.
“CEO! The car’s here!”
“It’s here?”
“Yes! Amazing...! It automatically opens the door!”
“Get ready.”
CEO Kim Woo-yong, big as a bear, nodded sharply while checking the reception room. The Gon Pictures team straightened up. The elevator opened to the sharp-eyed manager, followed by a tall, long-limbed figure.
“Hello.”
“...!”
He was the most handso young man they had ever seen.
Warm laughter filled the reception room.
“Ha ha ha ha!”
“Ha ha ha!”
CEO Kim offered a friendly smile.
“How did Uju end up linked to our drama? I’m so curious.”
“Oh, the script was really fun. The more I read it, the more I wanted to be in it. I’d have regretted missing the chance.”
Uju’s radiant smile lted Writer Hwang’s heart.
“And one of my mbers loves acting... they recomnded your work .”
“Jiho likes that? Haha.”
“Yes—he was so jealous I got in.”
Uju kept the mood light, unlike his fierce TV persona as Ujuseon. Then, joking, he said:
“Did you know one of my mbers has great instincts?”
“Oh! That magic jelly bible!”
“Yes—that friend told this drama will be a hit. So here I am~”
They laughed as if sharing a secret. Their hearts raced—like hearing a fortune that they’d hit the jackpot.
Amidst rising fondness, Director Hwang said:
“Your vocal projection is really good. Your diction is excellent.”
“Thank you.”
“No wonder NewBlack’s lyrics are always so clear.”
When conversation reached that point, CEO Kim gently asked:
“If you’re ready, could we see so acting today?”
“Of course.”
Uju smiled, and the producers stiffened expectantly.
‘Will this be okay?’
Uju’s natural warmth in tone and expression contrasted sharply with Agent K’s cold, expressionless persona. Novices often struggled playing the opposite of themselves—trying too hard made them stiff and awkward.
“What scene shall we do?”
Director Hwang asked.
“Do you have anything special prepared?”
“I practiced them all, just in case.”
“Then let’s try Scene 23: Agent K interrogating the alien family.”
“Okay!”
The director leafed through the script.
“I’ll handle the alien lines and the bosses. Think of it as an audition and act it out.”
“Understood.”
“Then let’s start.”
Uju leaned forward over the table, hands clasped.
Scene 23
In a dark interrogation room, the alien family sits while Agent K watches them.
‘He must have morized the lines.’
Director Hwang smiled as he delivered three lines in succession.
“Wh-what’s going on?”
“Why are we here?”
“We’re not weird people...”
His ham-fisted bad acting drew no reaction from Uju, whose face remained impassive. The producers watching were quietly impressed.
‘That’s K!’
The cold gray figure staring at the aliens was exactly what they wanted—no kindness, but eyes burning with so inner longing.
“Hello. I’m Agent 9762-1 from the Administration Bureau. I will be in charge of your interrogation today. You may invoke your right to remain silent...”
His businesslike tone was utterly natural. As the producers ntally shouted, “He’s perfect!” Director Hwang held the scene, wanting more.
He gulped and continued the aliens’ lines; Uju responded precisely. The exchange was essentially the aliens realizing Agent K knew their secret, then denying it. Uju, having morized every word, spoke flatly like Agent K.
Then:
“Now, let show you this.”
With perfect mi, Uju placed a transparent box on the table as if from a 007 briefcase. For a mont, everyone felt as if it were real. When K opened the invisible case, a clicking sound echoed in their minds.
“...”
In the story, the box contains five hundred million won in cash. To comically expose the aliens, K attaches heart-rate monitors and reveals the money. No change in their readings. When K nodded at the one-way mirror, the producers nodded too.
The next part played exactly as written: the inept bosses calling “K!” and K returning a polite response, but with a slightly different, colorless look in his eyes compared to the alien scene. When it ended:
“Oh my goodness! Uju, where have you been—this is fantastic!”
CEO Kim Woo-yong applauded wildly. The producer, director, and writer bead genuine smiles.
For about ten minutes they praised nonstop. It felt like all my hard prep paid off. Their reaction was beyond expectations; Director Hwang kept saying, “I really thought K was here.”
“But I’m curious about one thing,” Writer Hwang Jeong-yeon asked.
“When you interrogated the alien family, your expression differed from when you talked to your superiors. Why?”
“Oh, that.”
I explained my interpretation of Scene 23 that Jiho had told .
“I wanted to try interpreting the script my way.”
“Interpreting... this?”
“Yes. Because I wanted to do it well.”
I explained to the amused writer.
“In any organization, if soone talented shows up, they try to recruit them into their own faction, right?”
“Right...?”
“But Agent K doesn’t belong to any faction.”
It was odd. Such a competent character would usually be courted by one of the bosses, but there was no reaction. They gave polite praise but no official reward.
“They say he’s the best agent, but they treat him like a tool. Yet the protagonist shows no resentnt.”
“Exactly.”
“My concept of K is soone who, without any ambition for rank or fa, focuses solely on the task given.”
Everyone listened intently as I continued.
“If he cared about wealth or honor, he’d be doing sothing else. Any field he entered, he’d end up founding Waterlon Corporation in a few years.”
He was so capable. Yet he forsook advancent to obsess over his work. I offered a rational reason:
“I think there must be a reason Agent K must handle alien cases. So personal motive—though I don’t know what.”
A person with to shadow aliens for a specific reason.
“So that’s why his eyes blazed a bit when interviewing them!”
“Yes. I wanted to differentiate those monts.”
“I see.”
As I wrapped up, Writer Hwang Jeong-yeon gave a knowing smile, like a proud teacher.
“Uju.”
“Yes?”
“I’m so glad you ca to our drama.”
Her hand closed warmly over mine. I hesitated, then smiled back. The eting was a resounding success.
“Thank you!”
“Thank you just as much! Ha ha ha!”
After signing the contract and exiting with a celebratory bouquet, I opened the car door to see my teammates all looking my way.
“How was it? What did they say?”
“They asked you to act out scenes—what did they say?”
“Hyung! Did it go well?”
I offered the bouquet to my gathered juniors and relaxed my stern expression.
“Three words.”
“...?”
“Total success.”
They cheered wildly.
“See? I must be good at acting!”
“Told you I could do it! Our eldest did great!”
“What did they say? Did they praise a lot?”
I recounted the eting, then turned to the maknae excitedly.
“Jiho, you were right. When I explained my interpretation, the writer said, ‘That’s it!’”
“Really? Wow! That was the key!”
“It was amazing.”
“I wasn’t sure, but it was true!”
My maknae and I bead, thrilled that all our hard work paid off.
In Gon Pictures’ reception room, Director Hwang Jeong-gu laughed heartily.
“This guy is sothing else!”
“I know, right? We should’ve given him a lead role!”
“How did he nail K so perfectly? It wasn’t an easy part.”
CEO Kim looked at Writer Hwang sipping coffee.
“Writer, what about you? Was Uju’s interpretation really what you intended for K?”
“No.”
Her blunt reply made everyone look over.
Writer Hwang Jeong-yeon’s eyes narrowed, a dissatisfied expression on her face.
“What? ...It ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) wasn’t?”
“It wasn’t at all. His interpretation—”
As they gulped, she gave a rueful smile.
“It was too good...!”
“...?”
“I didn’t write the role that deeply. I just needed an agent character.”
“Ah...”
“How did he think it through so much? Did he have an acting coach?”
She laughed wryly.
“Anyway, about Agent K’s screen ti—I think we should increase it.”
Everyone had been thinking the sa.
“I agree. We could weave him more into the main story.”
“With that acting, he’d have chemistry with any actor.”
And so the producers began an in-depth discussion about Agent K’s role. As they created new backstory and screen ti for a part that hadn’t existed, they even gave the naless Agent K a na.
“K... must be Kim, right?”
“Like the other characters, let’s use his real na.”
“Kim U-ju. Perfect!”
And thus was born Kim U-ju, special agent of Our Family Is Alien.
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