Chapter 112: Kickoff (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 112: Kickoff (2)
The Idol Dynasty Annals channel was recently launched on terrestrial TV.
And now, the clumsy daily life of the fresh-faced rookies, Spark, was about to be revealed!
"Oh..."
Lee Cheong-hyeon let out a short exclamation. I couldn't tell if it was a positive sign or not.
"Hmm... wouldn't it be a bit too plain with just that?"
"That's why I prepared this."
Jeong Seong-bin reacted similarly to Lee Cheong-hyeon.
I immediately pulled up the next page.
Under the title 'How to Bring Tension to a Relaxed Concept,' I had attached a photo of a pure, handsome actor wearing a white T-shirt and jeans alongside a cool photo of Hellas Polo taken from their official website.
"Sometimes when I see him like this, I feel like he can see the future. Hyung, just how far can you predict?"
"I can see myself having a 1:1 interview with you very soon. Stay behind after the meeting."
Lee Cheong-hyeon shut his mouth instantly. Right, you don't like interviews either, do you?
"First, let me explain this image."
The foundation of Spark lies in youth. No one would deny that.
Then, why have concepts like youth, purity, and innocence reigned supreme for so long?
"You've all heard the saying that the most Korean thing is the most global thing. Then, what do you think is the most 'youthful' look?"
While pondering the concept for the Self-PR stage, I had chewed over the dictionary definition of youth several times.
Spring, when green buds sprout.
The young age of life, or the most brilliant period.
The roots of youth are vitality, dynamism, and...
"An extremely pure and beautiful appearance. I think that's another way to express youth."
Something beautiful even without flashy adornments. Something that stands out even if you just toss it into a field.
Something that appeals to everyone without being polarizing!
"And as it happens, you guys have the perfect ingredient for a youth narrative."
"What is it?"
"Your faces."
Skin as flawless as an untouched snowfield.
A smile like a bottle of sparkling water gulped down on an icy winter day just by breathing.
Even physical builds that evoke a sturdy, steadfast glacier spread across the cold Arctic Ocean.
It was so youthful it was almost blinding. Put a simple white T-shirt on them, and it would look like an ion drink commercial.
‘Though part of the reason I chose this route is that it’s awkward to ask for a big budget right now.’
The company was in turmoil due to Yu Han-su and the production team’s embezzlement attempt, making it difficult to pester them for money for a one-time stage.
Seriously, that man is a stumbling block at every turn. I’ll get rid of him somehow.
"So it's like a veteran player running around a map wearing nothing but a sleeveless shirt..."
"I'm not sure I follow the analogy, but I think you've got the right idea, Seong-bin."
I pointed to the photo of the handsome actor.
"Once in the intro, and once in the ending. We'll show off your faces so shockingly well that we'll engrave exactly what kind of team Spark is into their minds... That's my plan."
Then, Kang Gi-yeon, who had been in the corner, raised his hand.
"But still, all the participants are idols. Will this attack actually work?"
"What?"
That was an incredibly arrogant remark. I was so dumbfounded I couldn't even laugh.
In the past, even in the contextless, baseless music videos produced by Yu Han-su...
≫ Who cares if the MV is a bit shitty?
≫ Their faces are the narrative.
...That was the kind of praise Spark received.
And yet, what? You're worried about whether your face attack will work?
"If I were you, Gi-yeon, I'd be thinking of ways to raise your visual index even further to make sure everyone knows what a treasure your face is."
It seemed Kang Gi-yeon’s aesthetic sense had warped from hanging out with Lee Cheong-hyeon too much. I understood, but it was still irritating, so I decided to make him take two packets of vitamins this evening.
"You guys understand the idol side without me explaining, right? Just wear idol-like outfits and perform well like usual. But don't forget, you have to end it looking fresher than anyone else."
"I get what you're saying, but what does that have to do with being a rookie idol? Doesn't it feel more like a professional idol's 'on and off' vibe?"
Choi Je-ho asked a good question.
"You can't look like pros. I'll leave it to you and Gi-yeon to figure out how to appeal with a bit of a clumsy charm, but you must prioritize the rookie idol concept above all else."
"You said the other contestants have similar years of experience. Wouldn't it be better to create a stage that everyone sees as 'well-done'?"
"Of course, the stage itself has to be well-done, as usual. Like I said, you're 'appealing' with that clumsy charm."
"I don't really... understand what the significance of that is."
"It's okay if you don't know right now."
No team would gamble on their very first broadcast. They’d likely perform a familiar song with the concept they’ve been doing all along.
There were two ways for Spark to stand out among them.
First, they had to do what others weren't doing.
And second...
"Because in the end, we're going to become the identity of Awangsil."
...We had to establish a narrative.
One that was inseparable from the program.
Time flew by, and the day of the first recording for Awangsil arrived.
After being trapped in UA's underground practice room eating nothing but salads, we finally saw the sunlight for the first time in a while.
Lately, we’d been going to the practice room at dawn and returning in the middle of the night, so we’d seen nothing but stars. I was starting to wonder if this was Hanpyeong Industry all over again.
Still, perhaps because I’d made sure they slept well and exercised hard, their faces looked exceptionally good.
Of course, they had to look radiant. Today's stage would be all for naught without their faces.
I had also stopped monitoring for the past few days and focused on regaining my own complexion.
There wasn't a dramatic effect, but seeing as the staff member didn't have to tap as hard under my eyes with concealer, it must not have been in vain.
Especially since the System had appeared after a long time just to...
+
[SYSTEM] A task directive from the 'Person in Charge' has arrived.
▶ Assistant Manager Kim, why are you doing things I didn't ask for? Don't you have work? Should I give you more tasks?
+
...pick a fight and almost ruin everything. I don't know why this bastard suddenly pops up in broad daylight to cause trouble.
"Hyung, what do you think the atmosphere in the studio will be like today?"
Lee Cheong-hyeon, sitting next to me, asked as he put an arm around my shoulder.
"It'll be suitably fake and nice. We'll probably get snubbed a bit. And among all the flashy outfits, we'll be the only pure summer boys."
"Ah, I shouldn't have asked!"
Then who told you to treat me like a fortune-telling octopus?
Besides, do I really need to predict this? It's obvious.
Sure enough, from the moment we entered, the looks directed at us were peculiar.
It was a sort of power play. But coming from people with sparkling faces, it wasn't very threatening. If anything, I felt more apologetic that we were the only ones dressed so casually.
And it's not like Spark had ever been disrespectful or talked behind anyone's back. We had nothing to be ashamed of, so we stood tall.
We greeted the seniors who had arrived before us with deep, respectful bows and took our seats.
Finally, when Parte entered, soaking up all the attention, all six spots were filled.
There were roughly fifty men in this large space. Even though I tried not to think about it, it kept reminding me of the military.
I was reminiscing about the barracks of those days when the large electronic display lit up.
The screen, which had been displaying group names as the contestants entered, now showed a new word: 'MC.'
Then, the center of the screen split wide open.
"Huh?"
"Whoa!"
Someone walked out from behind the screen to the center of the stage.
"Nice to meet you, Awangsil participants. I am Hellas Yur, and I will be the MC for Awangsil!"
He was the leader of Hellas, a boy group under MYTH and their greatest success story from a few years ago.
The self-management that is an idol's fate was evident in his clean-cut face and his perfectly fitted, lean physique.
‘MYTH’s influence... is no joke.’
While bowing 90 degrees with the members to greet him, my mind was busy calculating how much MYTH had intervened in Awangsil.
Since Awangsil was the only show that remained unscathed when all the others were caught up in manipulation controversies, it probably wasn't score manipulation.
I suspected they had only intervened as far as deciding the lineup. Because there wasn't a single team here that could beat Parte and their fandom.
"I'm excited to write a new history with all of you. I'm sure you're all looking forward to the stages that will unfold."
The proceedings flowed smoothly after that.
Yur’s hosting was so seasoned that it felt awkward to even discuss fairness issues regarding an MC from the same agency as a contestant.
I had been a passionate proxy fan because of Department Head Nam, but my subject of observation was always Spark. That's why I hadn't even known who the Awangsil MC was since Spark hadn't appeared on it before.
If I had known we’d be crossing paths with specific groups this often, I would have read entertainment news more diligently.
Just as I was thinking to myself that the next time they went on Polo’s radio show, they’d probably end up talking about nothing but Awangsil...
I locked eyes with Yur, who was making eye contact with the contestants one by one as he continued his script.
Since he was making eye contact with everyone, it was normal for our gazes to meet, but...
‘Did he just give a strange smile?’
If there were a license for reading facial expressions, I would have easily earned a first-class one. There was no way my eyes had misread such a subtle change in expression.
Before I could even wonder, Yur’s gaze moved elsewhere.
Nothing I could do. If I’d been marked, I’d just have to stay inside the waiting room for a while.
The explanation regarding the program was briefly introduced by Yur.
There was nothing special about it.
It was just a Joseon Dynasty Annals concept used to differentiate it from the overflowing survival shows; Awangsil at this time didn't have any particularly unique ideas.
If I had to find something meaningful, it was the grand declaration that they would block overseas voting to ensure a true showdown between K-dols.
The production team themselves must have regretted the lost voting revenue once the show became successful, as they subtly opened the door for overseas voting in Season 2, calling it 'cultural exchange by envoys.'
But at least in Season 1, that didn't happen.
This was the reason I had brought Spark to Awangsil. Since the production team took it upon themselves to exclude the intervention of the overseas market—where those who debut early usually have the advantage—it became the optimal environment for the innocent youngest, Spark, who knew nothing of the world.
Other details were mentioned, such as giving a Royal Examiner's Flower Badge to the group that took the top spot in each stage.
I thought wearing that on one's chest might look a bit odd, but I didn't say it out loud.
Only after that long, drawn-out program explanation did the curtain rise on the Self-PR stage.