The Genius Scout's Verdict
Suhyeon’s sudden question caught Go So-young off guard, and she stammered back in surprise.
“Plastic surgery?”
“Yes. Plastic surgery. I was just curious if you’d be open to it if your agency offered to cover it.”
Go So-young pondered for a moment before replying.
“If the agency required it, I think I could go through with it. But... my family would probably oppose it strongly. My parents are pretty conservative...”
“I see. Hmm. Then, wouldn’t your conservative parents also oppose you becoming an idol? It seems like something they’d frown upon...”
“Yes. They opposed it a lot even when I first started as a trainee. I was young back then, so they let me give it a try as an experience... But after the bad incident, their opposition has only gotten worse.”
Suhyeon smiled at her response and pressed further.
“So how did you end up here today? With your family so against it, and being in your senior year of high school when you should be focusing on studying for the CSAT...”
“I got early admission to Y University a while ago...”
“Y University is a top school... You must be quite the student. You could just go to college and take the stable path, so why risk your parents’ opposition to chase being an idol?”
“...It’s been my dream since I was little.”
“Hmm. I understand. That’s all the questions from me.”
As Suhyeon wrapped up, Jeon Hanmu jumped in with his cue.
“Alright, that concludes the judges’ questions. Now let’s hear Go So-young’s song. Once it’s over, judges, please press the O or X buttons in front of you. The song is Gummy’s Adult Child. Music, please!”
Moments later, the intro to Adult Child began to play. Go So-young, her face tense, gripped the mic and sang the first line.
“- Like a good child~”
Suhyeon pressed the O button right there. He crossed his arms and closed his eyes. The production staff in the studio buzzed in shock, whispering among themselves.
As the murmurs rippled through amid Go So-young’s song, it finally came to an end. Jeon Hanmu called out loudly.
“Okay! Judges who haven’t pressed yet, please hit your buttons now.”
Lee Jang-woon pressed X without a second thought. Yoo Hee-gyeol, after some hesitation, picked up his mic.
“Honestly, to me, it was just average. But Suhyeon pressed O so early... I’m dying to know why. I’d like to hear his reason before deciding.”
Jeon Hanmu glanced sideways at the production crew. The lead PD held up a sketchboard with O.K. scrawled in big letters.
“I get it. I’m curious too about why Suhyeon hit O so fast. I’ve worked with him on Problematic Human, so I know—he’s the real deal, a genius. Let’s hear how a genius sees it differently from us regular folks. Suhyeon?”
Suhyeon picked up his mic at the prompt.
“The reason I pressed O early is simple.”
Jeon Hanmu cut him off, shouting at the camera.
“Hold on! We’ll be right back after this commercial break.”
After a three-second pause, he turned back to the dazed Suhyeon.
“Welcome back from the break. Suhyeon, please continue.”
“Whew, you handle this smoothly. What I wanted to confirm from Go So-young’s singing was just one thing: whether she’s tone-deaf or off-beat. She hit the first note on rhythm, proving she’s neither, so no need to hear more—I pressed pass.”
“I think her singing is average too. That’s it.”
As Suhyeon finished, Yoo Hee-gyeol followed up.
“So if she’s not tone-deaf or off-beat, automatic pass? You said it’s average yourself—why pass?”
Suhyeon lifted his mic again.
“I’m sitting here thinking: if I were producing a rookie girl group, who would I pick? If this were about scouting the next diva to represent Korean female singers, I’d fail her, no question. But this is about finding potential idols, right?”
He paused to gather his thoughts before continuing.
“To me, an idol’s core is how well they appeal to fans with their charm. In that regard, Go So-young has plenty of potential.”
“What charm do you see in her? I’m not getting it.”
Jeon Hanmu’s skeptical question drew a calm response from Suhyeon.
“First, her facial bone structure is stunning. No need to touch her jaw or cheekbones. As everyone knows, the riskiest part of plastic surgery is shaving bones—it can damage nerves and cause facial issues. That’s why we can’t recommend it lightly, but she doesn’t need it. With simple, low-risk procedures, she can achieve a beautiful face. And besides...”
“There’s more?”
Jeon Hanmu asked breathlessly, and Suhyeon replied.
“Her leg structure—what we call killer legs—is exceptional. It’s hidden under some extra weight now, but with proper diet and exercise, she’ll have legs rivaling—no, surpassing—other idols. Simple surgery for idol-level looks, body management for superior legs, and no tone or rhythm issues. If I were the producer, I’d pick her in a heartbeat. That’s why I pressed O. End of explanation.”
As Suhyeon’s long breakdown wrapped up, Jeon Hanmu stared in awe.
“Is that what a genius sees? Even looking at her now after your words, I don’t get it. Go So-young?”
“Yes.”
“You heard special judge Suhyeon today. How do you feel?”
“I’m truly grateful he sees so much potential in me. But... I wonder if my family will allow surgery... They haven’t even okayed me becoming an idol yet...”
Go So-young bit her lip, worry etched on her face. Suhyeon let out a short sigh, picked up his mic again.
“Go So-young. Being an idol is your dream, right? Then you have to chase it. I get worrying about your parents’ opposition. But there’s an old saying that’s been passed down:”
“Do you know what that means? If it weren’t your child—if you weren’t the parent—you could view them objectively, encourage risky dreams that might hurt. But because it is your child, and you are the parent, you hold them back, interfere, block their path. In the end, you turn their life into a failure. Never forget: your life is yours, Go So-young. Your parents can’t live it for you.”
Go So-young cried out almost hysterically.
“Then! What should I do? Fight my opposing parents? Or... run away from home?”
Suhyeon picked up his mic once more.
“It’s your life—why ask me? We’re not that far apart in age. But if I must say... loving parents are never your enemy. Not devils tormenting you, not obstacles blocking your way. They’re parents who love you so much it’s worth cherishing. There’s only one way to overcome their worries.”
Suhyeon gazed at her with shining eyes, his tone gentle yet firm, encouraging.
“Honesty. Be straight with them: ‘This is my dream. I want it so bad, and even if I fall chasing it and get hurt, I won’t regret it.’ That’s the best way. And always remember: your future is shaped by your own hands.”
Suhyeon set down his mic. Go So-young burst into tears. Once she calmed a bit, Yoo Hee-gyeol pressed X.
“I still don’t see the charm Suhyeon mentioned. And even if I passed her now, she’d likely fail later—so I’m failing her.”
Jeon Hanmu followed up.
“Unfortunately, Go So-young, you’re out. Please exit the stage.”
Suhyeon grabbed his mic as she turned to leave.
“Go So-young.”
“Yes, sir.”
“I’m not ‘sir.’ Anyway... if being an idol is truly your dream and you can convince your parents... come to YK. Our doors are always open to you. Good luck.”
“Thank you, sir. I’ll never forget what you said today.”
Go So-young descended the stage with a bright, confident face, as if she’d never cried. Then Park PD’s voice rang out.
At Park PD’s break call, Suhyeon stood, muttering discontentedly.
“Keeps calling me ‘sir’... How much older is she...?”
Park PD approached Suhyeon.
“Suhyeon, great job.”
“PD, I think I went overboard earlier. Viewers might see a kid acting too cocky. Edit it down, please.”
“Don’t worry. We’ll take a short break and resume shooting.”
Suhyeon watched Park PD leave with a beaming smile, thinking to himself.
That grin says no editing... Gotta tone it down for the rest of the shoot. Sigh.
Time flew. Suhyeon wrapped Union filming smoothly and returned to the company. Amid a hectic schedule, three days passed like lightning.
Suhyeon arrived early at the office and headed to Actor Team 1 Manager Park’s room.
“Suhyeon, come in. Sorry to call you so early. Filming starts today, right?”
“Yes. Moonlight Escort cranks in today.”
“That’s why I called you in early. It’s like a heads-up, or precautions.”
“Precautions? What kind?”