diff --git a/scripts/generate_ai_samples.py b/scripts/generate_ai_samples.py
index 7165036..a68c861 100644
--- a/scripts/generate_ai_samples.py
+++ b/scripts/generate_ai_samples.py
@@ -127,10 +127,34 @@ def _build_prompt(meta: dict[str, str], target_chars: int, style: str) -> str:
     )
 
 
+def _column_values(frame, column: str):
+    """pandas DataFrame(테스트/하위호환) 또는 dict 행 목록에서 컬럼을 읽는다."""
+    if isinstance(frame, list):
+        return [row.get(column) for row in frame]
+    return frame[column].tolist()
+
+
+def load_xlsx_rows(path: Path) -> tuple[list[str], list[dict[str, object]]]:
+    from openpyxl import load_workbook
+
+    workbook = load_workbook(path, read_only=True, data_only=True)
+    worksheet = workbook.worksheets[0]
+    iterator = worksheet.iter_rows(values_only=True)
+    try:
+        headers = [str(v).strip() if v is not None else "" for v in next(iterator)]
+    except StopIteration:
+        workbook.close()
+        raise SystemExit(f"빈 xlsx입니다: {path}")
+    rows = [dict(zip(headers, row)) for row in iterator]
+    workbook.close()
+    return headers, rows
+
+
 def load_human_length_band(frame, text_column: str) -> tuple[list[int], int, int]:
     """human 분포에서 목표 길이 후보와 허용 구간을 뽑는다."""
     lengths = sorted(
-        len(t) for t in frame[text_column].dropna().astype(str) if len(t) >= 120
+        len(str(value)) for value in _column_values(frame, text_column)
+        if value is not None and len(str(value)) >= 120
     )
     if not lengths:
         raise SystemExit(f"'{text_column}' 에서 길이를 잴 수 있는 행이 없습니다.")
@@ -201,29 +225,29 @@ def main() -> int:
     if args.concurrency < 1:
         ap.error("--concurrency는 1 이상이어야 합니다")
 
-    import pandas as pd
-
-    frame = pd.read_excel(args.xlsx, sheet_name=0)
-    lengths, low_chars, high_chars = load_human_length_band(frame, args.text_column)
+    columns, rows = load_xlsx_rows(args.xlsx)
+    if args.text_column not in columns:
+        raise SystemExit(f"길이 분포 컬럼이 없습니다: {args.text_column}")
+    lengths, low_chars, high_chars = load_human_length_band(rows, args.text_column)
     logger.info(
         "human 길이 분포: 중앙값 %d자, 허용 구간 %d~%d자 (n=%d)",
         lengths[len(lengths) // 2], low_chars, high_chars, len(lengths),
     )
 
-    requested_meta = args.meta_column or [c for c in META_COLUMNS if c in frame.columns]
-    missing_meta = [c for c in requested_meta if c not in frame.columns]
+    requested_meta = args.meta_column or [c for c in META_COLUMNS if c in columns]
+    missing_meta = [c for c in requested_meta if c not in columns]
     if missing_meta:
         raise SystemExit(f"프롬프트 소재 컬럼이 없습니다: {missing_meta}")
     usable_meta = assert_no_body_columns(requested_meta)
     if not usable_meta:
         raise SystemExit(
-            f"소재로 쓸 컬럼이 없습니다. 기대: {META_COLUMNS} / 실제: {list(frame.columns)}"
+            f"소재로 쓸 컬럼이 없습니다. 기대: {META_COLUMNS} / 실제: {columns}"
         )
     logger.info("프롬프트 소재 컬럼: %s", usable_meta)
 
     group_salt = os.environ.get(args.group_salt_env, "")
     if args.group_column:
-        if args.group_column not in frame.columns:
+        if args.group_column not in columns:
             raise SystemExit(f"그룹 컬럼이 없습니다: {args.group_column}")
         if not group_salt:
             raise SystemExit(
@@ -243,7 +267,7 @@ def main() -> int:
 
     rng = random.Random(args.seed)
     # 소재 행을 결정적으로 섞는다. 같은 seed 면 같은 순서가 나온다.
-    order = sorted(range(len(frame)), key=lambda i: _stable_int(f"{args.seed}:{i}"))
+    order = sorted(range(len(rows)), key=lambda i: _stable_int(f"{args.seed}:{i}"))
 
     client = None
     if not args.dry_run:
@@ -272,15 +296,15 @@ def main() -> int:
         if prompt_id in done:
             return None
         meta = {
-            c: sanitize_prompt_metadata(str(frame[c].iloc[idx]))
+            c: sanitize_prompt_metadata(str(rows[idx].get(c)))
             for c in usable_meta
-            if isinstance(frame[c].iloc[idx], str) and frame[c].iloc[idx].strip()
+            if isinstance(rows[idx].get(c), str) and str(rows[idx].get(c)).strip()
         }
         if not meta:
             return None
         source_group = f"ai-topic:{prompt_id}"
         if args.group_column:
-            raw_group = str(frame[args.group_column].iloc[idx] or "").strip()
+            raw_group = str(rows[idx].get(args.group_column) or "").strip()
             if raw_group and raw_group.lower() != "nan":
                 source_group = pseudonymous_id(raw_group, group_salt)
         target = rng.choice(target_pool)