PM CHAPTER 1.1

“Mr. Baek Do-won, have you ever participated in any ‘active’ extracurricular activities?”

 

The interviewer clicked their pen as they asked the question. Their gaze, which had been fixed on the application form the entire time, finally lifted to meet Do-won’s. The unexpected question caught Dowon off guard. Among all the anticipated questions he had prepared for before the interview, nothing like this had been on the list.

 

‘Active?’

 

Active, as in extracurricular activities? Wasn’t this interview itself for an extracurricular program?

 

They say it’s getting harder to find a job as the years go by, but now even extracurricular programs are looking for candidates with prior experience? And not just any experience—they have to be active? A wave of disillusionment crashed over him, mixed with his initial shock.

 

“Ah, well… I’ve placed more focus on academic activities….”

 

His words came out hesitantly, which was unlike him. Do-won had been certain he would get into this program. Even though he was only a junior, he had already obtained every possible certification relevant to business administration and had won four grand prizes in competitions. If he counted all the smaller awards he had received, he could go on listing them for days. And yet, here he was, being nitpicked over the lack of some so-called ‘active’ extracurricular activities….

 

“I believe that team-based competitions also fall under the kind of activities you’re referring to. As for the preparation process….”

 

Do-won forced himself to suppress his bad habit of dragging out his sentences when flustered and mustered all his strength to finish his explanation. Cold sweat trickled down his back.

 

The interviewer listened to his justification with an indifferent expression, then replied in an equally dry tone, “Alright, thank you.” It didn’t sound like they had listened at all.

 

Their gaze moved on to the next candidate, and no further questions were directed at Do-won for the remainder of the interview.

 

The result? A miserable rejection. The feedback stated that he lacked experience in group-oriented activities.

 

Damn it!

 

“A Mid-Tier Company, Really…!”

 

Do-won irritably gulped down his milk in one go, crumpled the carton, and tossed it into the trash can.

They could have just rejected him quietly—why did they have to give him advice? Even on Monday, after the entire weekend had passed, he still couldn’t shake off his frustration.

 

From Do-won’s perspective, certifications and competitions were the most efficient and effective ways to build a solid résumé. He couldn’t understand why people wasted so much time on extracurricular activities—gathering in groups, laughing, chatting, and ultimately walking away with nothing but a flimsy certificate of completion. It seemed utterly inefficient to him.

 

Prioritizing efficiency in all aspects of life, Baek Do-won focused on acquiring professional certifications that would provide tangible benefits for employment and work. Certifications allowed him to build specialized knowledge, and since all he had to do was study diligently on his own, there was no need to deal with unnecessary distractions.

 

Competitions were similar. As long as he could find a few like-minded teammates—people who could thoroughly handle research, PowerPoint preparation, and presentations—he could maximize efficiency. Do-won always had at least a few competition-winning ideas up his sleeve, so he approached contests with confidence, knowing that, at the very least, he would place.

 

“Haah…”

 

Dragging his weary steps toward the business school, Do-won let out a deep sigh. He had thought his portfolio was flawless, but he had been blindsided by an unexpected obstacle…

 

It wasn’t a huge deal—just a short three-month-long extracurricular activity. But still, being rejected stung. It was his first interview as a third-year student, and failing right from the start put him in a miserable mood.

 

“That company is on my blacklist from now on.”

 

He had heard rumors that it was a ridiculously conservative, old-fashioned company, so he assumed they would appreciate a résumé packed with certifications.

 

But apparently, the company had recently undergone a sudden shift in culture—talks of activating their social media presence and launching a university volunteer program had started circulating. It seemed they wanted to recruit “active” students in the most literal sense.

 

Given the current trend of aggressive media marketing, it made sense for a stiff, outdated company to try modernizing its approach. After all, what companies wanted from college students nowadays was precisely that creative, dynamic energy.

 

Thinking about it that way, he could sort of—just a little bit—accept the rejection.

 

“Yeah… I need to think efficiently.”

 

Being annoyed wouldn’t solve anything, and there was no guarantee that this wouldn’t happen again.

 

To avoid similar setbacks in the future, Do-won decided it would be a good idea to participate in a relatively easy extracurricular activity. But what options were there? Since a mid-tier company had rejected him, perhaps he should aim for a smaller organization instead… or maybe a club?

 

“…Oh.”

 

Lost in thought as he stepped into the building, Do-won suddenly found his gaze locked onto a large poster on the bulletin board.

 

[Korea University Student Ambassador ‘Hanul’ 20th Recruitment]

– Eligibility –

– Students who love Korea University and possess sincerity and responsibility

– Students who are in their first four semesters and have a neat appearance

– Students with outstanding skills in media planning/production, including blogs and social media

– Students with a GPA of 3.0 or higher

– Activity Period –

April 20XX ~ March 20XX (1 year)

– Activities –

– Admissions promotions and protocol duties for major events

– Leading campus tour programs

– Managing and operating social media for online promotions

– Participating as models for official university promotional videos/brochures

– Benefits –

– Official appointment as a student ambassador

– Volunteer scholarships and activity stipends based on participation

– Individual profile photo shoot

 

As soon as class ended, Do-won rushed to his senior, Younghoon, and practically sprawled in front of him.

“Hyung, hyung. Give me a hand, will you? Please?”

“You ignored me when I tried to scout you!”

Stumbling upon the student ambassador program had been like discovering a beacon of light. It was a group activity, incredibly active, and didn’t seem to require much preparation. All he had to do was show up, promote the school, wear the uniform, take a few pictures, and post some cheerful group shots with thumbs-up gestures on social media. Just like that, all the missing gaps in Do-won’s resume would be filled.

On top of that, there was even a scholarship. If he remembered correctly, Younghoon had once mentioned receiving several hundred thousand won. There was no sweeter gig than this. Do-won’s mind, spinning rapidly, stamped the program with a mental seal of approval: The most efficient extracurricular activity!

“And why do you suddenly want to be a student ambassador? Weren’t you focusing on certification exams?”

Dressed in a worn-out department jacket and training pants, Younghoon was pouring hot water into a cup of instant noodles. Despite his casual appearance, he was actually a former captain of the 17th class of student ambassadors. Back when Do-won first entered Korea University, Younghoon had spent nearly two weeks trying to recruit him.

At the time, Do-won had a meticulously planned four-year university schedule, and there was no room for extracurriculars. He had repeatedly refused the offer, but now he regretted it. He should’ve joined when he had the chance.

“I already got my certifications during the break. I need some extracurricular activities for my resume, and the student ambassador program seemed like the best option. It doesn’t look too difficult, and I can just coast through it.”

“Coast through it? You think being a student ambassador is easy?”

“You drank all the time and just went around collecting numbers from ambassadors at other schools,” Do-won muttered as he flopped onto the department lounge sofa.

Younghoon smirked as if he’d heard everything and snapped apart his wooden chopsticks.

“You said you could get me through the document screening since you were the captain. You tried to lure me in with that back in freshman year.”

The one issue Do-won had to consider was that he was now a junior. The program was recruiting only freshmen and sophomores, so he needed Younghoon’s help to get through the initial screening. If he could get that help, he could pass the document stage without even needing to write a personal statement, making this an even more efficient choice than applying to other clubs.

“That’s true, but I’m old news now. I barely have any say. The only thing I can do is get you through the document screening.”

“Then please do it!”

“The interview’s even harder! The admissions office staff are insanely strict with their evaluations.”

Despite saying that, Younghoon figured Dowon would have no trouble passing the interview. In the end, the program was about selecting promotional models to enhance the school’s image, meaning looks played a significant role. A well-groomed and good-looking candidate naturally had an advantage.

And Do-won… was objectively good-looking. He had a clean-cut, wholesome face—the kind of warm, friendly college student image that the admissions office loved. That was exactly why Younghoon had tried so hard to recruit him in the first place. Since Do-won had always been on the list of potential candidates, Younghoon figured granting this request wasn’t a big deal.

“I’ll buy you a meal! And drinks too!”

“Then can you set me up with your friend Yu-jeong?”

“I think Yu-jeong and her boyfriend already registered their marriage or something.”

“Wait, she had a boyfriend? Then how about one of her friends?”

“She’s a total loner. No friends.”

Younghoon twitched his eyebrows as he peeled back the lid of his now-cooked ramen.

“You little—how is the class rep a loner? Just say you don’t want to.”

“Ah, hyung, I’m telling you, I’ll buy the drinks! And Yu-jeong only likes younger guys, so it wouldn’t work anyway.”

Do-won had no intention of dealing with the headache of setting people up, only to get nagged from both sides if things went south. He grinned slyly, sidestepping the request.

“Ha… Will they even let a junior in? Whatever. I’ll put in a good word with the admissions office.”

“Hyung…! Seriously, thank you.”

Younghoon shook his head in exasperation but ultimately accepted the request. Do-won, who had been slouching, immediately straightened up and expressed his gratitude.

“As I said, there’s not much I can do. You have to ace the interview yourself.”

“Yes! I’ll do my best. Thanks again, hyung!”

Perfect. He was now one step closer to a flawless resume.

“Oh, hyung, I have to head to my next class.”

“Yeah, yeah, get lost. My ramen’s getting soggy.”

“I’ll text you when I’m free! I’ll treat you to a feast.”

Checking the time on his phone, Do-won hurriedly grabbed his bag. He had to get to a building a bit farther away, so time was tight.

As he rushed out of the student lounge, Younghoon called after him.

“Don’t forget! The application deadline is today. Submit it by six!”

“Got it! Thanks, hyung!”

The atmosphere in the ambassador interview room was almost too cheerful to be true.

 

While Do-won had thoroughly prepared to avoid repeating the painful failure of his first interview of the year, it seemed that from the moment he stepped into the room, the interviewers’ attitudes had already shifted. No matter what he said or how he answered, they nodded in agreement, and even when he said nothing particularly remarkable, they burst into laughter, calling him humorous.

 

The candidates he had seen in the waiting room were all dressed in crisp suits, their hair meticulously styled as if fresh from a salon. Do-won, who had only dressed neatly without any extra effort, had been slightly concerned, but in the end, the results were in his favor. Being a third-year student, which he had feared might be a disadvantage, turned out to be irrelevant—his name was proudly listed among the successful candidates.

 

Not long after the results were announced, the first gathering for Hanul’s student ambassadors took place.

 

When he entered the assigned lecture room, the successful candidates were scattered throughout the room, some chatting with friends, while others exchanged awkward first greetings.

 

At the front of the room, a few people, dressed in matching navy blue suits, appeared to be preparing something. It was the official uniform worn by the university’s student ambassadors. Toward the back, a few professors and admissions office staff, who looked noticeably older, were engaged in conversation.

Do-won gave them a short, polite nod before finding a seat among the successful candidates.

“Is this seat taken?”

“No, no.”

Placing his bag on the empty seat beside him, Do-won subtly glanced around. It didn’t seem like many people had been selected. If no one else was coming, including himself, there were only eleven people—six women and five men. Considering how many had applied, it was surprising how few had made it through. Finding a job really was tough.

“Um, you’re senior Baek Do-won, right? I’m from the Business School. I saw you once in class last year.”

“Oh, really?”

The student sitting in front of him had been sneaking glances at Do-won before suddenly turning around to strike up a conversation. There were still about ten minutes left before the meeting officially started, so Do-won took the time to introduce himself to the people around him and ease his nerves.

“We’re ready to begin.”

At that moment, the front door swung open, drawing everyone’s attention to the man who walked in.

“…….”

With long strides, the man entered the room, and Do-won found himself unable to look away. In fact, everyone in the room seemed equally captivated.

The man stepped up to the podium and exchanged brief glances with the staff members, as if silently coordinating. Then, after tapping the microphone to check the sound, he finally spoke.

“Good evening, 20th-term student ambassadors. I’m Han I-rok, the leader of the 18th-term ambassadors.”

—

Following a brief schedule, the first meeting proceeded in a calm and orderly manner.

The executive members of Han-ul took turns introducing themselves and giving a short explanation of their roles. Then, one by one, the professors and admissions staff took the stage to deliver speeches that sounded more like tedious lectures, emphasizing the significance of being a student ambassador. As representatives of the university, they were expected to conduct themselves with dignity, maintain proper attitudes, and so on… In short, they were being told not to tarnish the school’s reputation.

‘Yawn.’

Do-won understood that the message was important, but it was impossible to suppress the boredom-induced yawn. After all, anyone who applied for the student ambassador program would have anticipated this. No one here would have gone through all this effort just to disgrace the reputation of Korea University.

“Now, I’ll explain the activities you’ll be participating in as Han-ul ambassadors.”

Once the lengthy speeches finally ended and the staff and professors left, Han I-rok took the stage again. Immediately, the half-dazed expressions around the room disappeared, replaced by a renewed focus. The once-dull eyes of the ambassadors now gleamed with interest.

“There will be a two-week training period before you officially begin your duties. The training will be led by the 19th-term ambassador leader, whom I introduced earlier….”

His voice was commanding. Calm yet firm, like that of a news anchor, with each word enunciated as if processed through a computer for precision. Maybe that’s what it took to become the leader.

Then again, his appearance alone set him apart. Without realizing it, Do-won rested his chin on his hand and subtly looked Han I-rok up and down.

His deep-set eyes, framed by a prominent brow ridge, gave him a sharp, intense look. His nose was high-bridged, and his jawline was clean-cut without any unnecessary softness. Even from another man’s perspective, there was no denying it—he was ridiculously handsome.

And he looked tall as hell. Easily over 190 cm.

His uniformed torso was just as impressive. The navy-blue student ambassador uniform, fastened with silver double buttons, fit snugly around his broad shoulders and chest. Even the similarly colored tie blended seamlessly into the ensemble. Before Han I-rok had walked in, Do-won had simply thought, Oh, so that’s the uniform…. But now, seeing I-rok wearing it, it looked more like a military dress uniform.

He must work out.

Even the uniform couldn’t fully conceal his muscular build. His thick forearms alone were proof enough.

Do-won absentmindedly squeezed his own arm. Soft. …A sudden urge to start working out hit him.

“…….”

Still fiddling with his arm, he looked up—and locked eyes with I-rok.

For a brief moment, those deep brown eyes seemed to narrow slightly before looking away.

Did I imagine that?

I-rok’s expression remained composed as he gestured toward the PowerPoint screen, continuing his explanation as if nothing had happened. Shrugging it off, Do-won refocused on the presentation.

There was a lot more to being a student ambassador than he’d expected.

Why are there so many external events?
We have to gather at dawn?
Memorize the entire booklet?
Why didn’t Young-hoon hyung tell me any of this?
Did I make a mistake joining this…?

Then, the next slide appeared—detailing the financial benefits.

“80% of your tuition for the semester will be covered by a scholarship.”

Jackpot…!

Gasps of excitement rippled through the room.

Indeed, humans were creatures of money. The moment finances were mentioned, everyone’s attitude shifted. On top of that, they would receive additional stipends for attending external events and even be provided with meals.

Honestly, it was too late to switch to another club anyway. Most recruitment periods had already ended. Besides, there was no reason to quit after going through the whole application process and interview.

A pleased smile crept onto Do-won’s face as if he could already feel the scholarship money in his hands. He was planning to invest it in some stocks and ETFs he had been eyeing.

“The most important thing is that you all take this role seriously and act responsibly.”

I-rok’s precise, clipped tone yanked Do-won out of his thoughts. The PowerPoint reached its final slide, and with a few clicks, the lights in the lecture hall flickered back on.

Standing at the center of the room, I-rok locked eyes with Do-won once more.

This time, he didn’t look away.

His expression wasn’t exactly a frown, but there was something cold in his gaze—an unyielding sharpness directed straight at Do-won.

“No matter your reasons for joining Han-ul, you are expected to give it your best effort. That is the first principle we uphold here.”

His voice was calm, yet firm.

“In the past, several members have been dismissed for a lack of cooperation, and irresponsible dropouts have caused unnecessary burdens for the remaining team.”

I-rok paused briefly, scanning the room.

“To prevent such issues from arising again, let me make this clear—”

A beat of silence.

“If anyone joined this program intending to just ‘coast by,’ you’re welcome to leave now.”