Chapter 249
Chapter 249
Rewinding time to a few weeks ago.
Right after the subtle teaser dropped for the "broadcast that would reveal the stages not chosen for TeSTAR’s charity concert."
Excited fans were left a bit puzzled after checking the broadcasting station.
It wasn't a channel specializing in popular music like Tnet, nor was it just a broadcast of the performances; it was a cable channel famous for variety shows and dramas.
Unless it was an exceptional case, idol reality shows usually used their own internet platforms. It was rare for a full-scale program to be suddenly scheduled on a major channel like this—especially during an awkward period that wasn't a comeback or a tour season.
It was an exceptional enough situation that a few people expressed suspicion or worry, but the majority simply waited for the new content with a hint of curiosity.
And a few days later.
[Let’s go to a villa just for TeSTAR!]
[<TeSTAR’s Island Life>, 9/30 Wed]
The teaser images featured a beach under a blue sky, hammocks, and refreshing drinks. This new promotion, released through official channels and articles, pointed to one fact.
TeSTAR’s rest and healing!
Fans were relieved and delighted by the very typical and sensible reality show format.
When articles even leaked that TeSTAR would be given a full vacation over the Chuseok holiday following the filming, the atmosphere softened even further.
The public concern that they wouldn't be able to rest properly because of the filming subsided. The general sentiment on fans' social media and communities was, "TeSTAR can rest well even after filming," and "That damn company is finally reading the room."
Of course, not everyone felt that way.
‘Did they trade a reality show for a vacation?’
An office worker who ran an account posting photos of Park Moon-dae and Lee Se-jin was a realist and a pessimist.
‘They probably said something like, "We’ll let you rest during the holidays if you just do this. We won't make you do anything hard; you just have to play."’
She guessed it was a move by T1 to rehabilitate their image. However, the fansite master soon shrugged.
‘Well, that’s not the important part.’
The important part was that if the program was truly just about "healing," scheduling it on CVN was actually a bad move.
‘Healing is boring.’
She could already see the reactions of the general public who, drawn in by the hype surrounding TeSTAR after the car accident and the charity concert, would watch the first episode and then drop it.
So, if it was a true healing show, she had to assume that only fans would be counted in the viewership ratings.
‘If the ratings tank like that, people will start talking shit again.’
She could already see the headlines. The office worker predicted that TICA, the fans of VTIC, would go wild with joy, and a sharp, tiring situation would persist for about two weeks.
Still, there wasn't much she could do.
‘Well, unless T1 is insane, they wouldn't give them anything difficult in this situation.’
Public opinion had barely shifted back to their main job as idols through the charity concert, but it had only slightly covered up the shock of the car accident. If it hadn't been this kind of format, they wouldn't have been able to avoid a massive backlash.
‘If it was like last time, making them sell hotteok to pay off travel debts… people would have tried to kill the company.’
Given the current atmosphere, it wouldn't even be strange if an article came out saying the company had prostrated themselves in apology to the members. Of course, the office worker thought that such an opinion was quite detached from the reality of the company.
‘They’re probably just working. Anyway, this variety show will just go as planned.’
She thought indifferently, and this thought became even more solidified after seeing the next teaser.
[TeSTAR, do everything you want to do!]
[TeSTAR: Wow, we get this whole place to ourselves?]
At a glance, it looked like the kind of healing show where they let them do everything they wanted, from food to hobbies.
And the first episode that actually aired was exactly like that.
A beautiful, serene island in the South Sea and a gorgeous villa. A simple chicken coop and wildflowers in full bloom.
[Cha Yu-jin: Chicks! They’re so cute!]
[Lee Se-jin: Wow, I don't know if we’re allowed to enjoy all of this.]
The members excitedly explored the island and the villa, ate nourishing food, and enjoyed luxury massages.
[Bae Se-jin (Massage Enthusiast): Ughhh...]
[Park Moon-dae: (Flustered)]
[Ryu Cheong-woo (Hiking Enthusiast): I packed some hiking boots.]
[Park Moon-dae: (Looking away)]
Funny scenes like these were sprinkled in, but they were minor. Overall, it was a vicarious-satisfaction type of reality show that pampered TeSTAR.
The fans were happy, but the office worker gave up on it. It was content meant only for fans.
‘I guess there are times when things slip a bit.’
Thinking that they were smart guys who would prepare well for the next album on their own, the office worker smacked her lips.
However, everything was flipped upside down in the teaser that played at the end of Episode 1.
[The next day…?]
[???: (Static) — Day 1, 9:11 AM.]
[???: The recorder is (Static) — 21-year-old Kim Rae-bin.]
“…!?”
The newly released teaser… suddenly and unexpectedly became spectacular!
[An unexpected weather anomaly]
[Announcer: Heavy rain accompanied by strong winds in the South Sea….]
[The production crew is stranded!]
[Junior Writer: We barely have any water left?]
[Assistant Director: Hahaha (Losing it)]
[Mental Breakdown]
Bam-bam-bam, bam-bam-bam-bam, ta-ra-ra-ra! ↗
Against a backdrop of intense BGM, clips of the storm-ravaged island and news segments were edited in. Then, the faceless profiles and backs of the mental-breakdown-suffering production crew were rhythmically cross-cut.
The last thing to appear was Kim Rae-bin, appearing on a screen edited to look like a camcorder. Kim Rae-bin clenched his fists.
[Kim Rae-bin (21): We will save the chicks…!]
[TeSTAR: Aaaaah!]
The teaser ended with the sight of TeSTAR in their pajamas running toward a chick floating away on the water.
“…….”
Social media was already flooded with question marks and laughter.
‘…They’re twisting it like this?’
The office worker laughed despite herself, then stopped searching for a moment in bewilderment.
And a short while later.
The reaction exploded even in communities used by non-fans.
"Hmm."
As they say, those destined to succeed will succeed no matter what they do; it seemed her idols couldn't even tolerate a stagnant period.
The office worker watched the situation with satisfaction and picked out edited shots of Park Moon-dae and Lee Se-jin to post on her account. It was a cut of Lee Se-jin playing a prank on Park Moon-dae during meditation.
However, at the same time, she had a premonition.
‘The people who find this "uncomfortable" are going to start popping up, aren't they?’
Sure enough, by the time she was uploading the GIF files she had edited, new opinions were being shared.
‘Ah, here comes the agitation again.’
In fact, it was a morally appropriate demand, but the office worker’s brain, saturated with the desire for social success, felt like it was all just a buzzkill.
‘Fuck, they already filmed it. What, should they discard the footage?’
What were they supposed to do about a sudden natural disaster? Why didn't they realize that those idols they liked would have tried their best to save whatever they could during the disaster?
"Really."
She subtly lent her support to the public opinion that pushed all those protests as being "too serious." Anonymously, of course.
The result ended with the controversy being buried as the news of TeSTAR’s wonderful vacation spread.
‘Good.’
She snorted as she saw a post from Park Moon-dae’s first fansite master on her personal social media account, still worrying.
‘Being an idol is a profession where you’re supposed to overdo it.’
Their prime isn't long, so it’s a job where you have to row when the tide is in. Thinking that, the office worker waited for the next broadcast of TeSTAR’s reality show.
And Episode 2 aired amidst even greater interest than Episode 1.
Surprisingly, the starting point wasn't TeSTAR. It was the production crew.
[An unprecedented suspension of filming]
[The junior production crew members who lost contact and became stranded....☆]
[Assistant Director: Ah, this wind and rain is insane;;]
[Junior PD: Are we going to be stranded like this?]
[Junior Writer: I think we’re already stranded… hahah.]
The production crew lamented their situation in a dark indoor space cluttered with filming equipment, writing tools, and water bottles. However, the editing atmosphere wasn't that dark.
[※ Boat routes cut off ※]
[※ Helicopters can't fly ※]
[Junior PD: This won't work, it won't work. We can't even get to the villa. No contact with the cast.]
[Junior Writer: Wow….]
[※ Can't even walk (!) ※]
Tragedy from a distance is a comedy. With funny BGM and editing, their hardships were edited somewhat playfully, like a hidden camera prank. However, the pity was still felt.
[Junior Writer: We, we haven't been able to wash our hair for three days now… (Speechless)]
Because lines like these were exchanged. Even the people focusing on TeSTAR’s situation became solemn in spite of themselves.
Of course, the fundamental question remained.
‘But what about TeSTAR?’
And just as this question was growing in people’s minds.
[Riiiiip!!]
[Production Crew: Aaaaaah!!]
Suddenly, the dark wall the production crew was leaning against was torn away, and a door opened! And what popped out from inside was… TeSTAR.
At that moment, the screen froze with close-ups of TeSTAR’s surprised faces.
[TeSTAR: Aaaaaah!!]
[????]
Enormous red captions were even added. And then, the voices.
[Ryu Cheong-woo: Are you guys okay?]
[Junior Writer: Gasp]
[TeSTAR… has come to the rescue!!]
The "Chorus of Angels" BGM played. It was an entrance production that made them look like nothing less than heroes. They even added a halo CG behind TeSTAR.
“No way…!”
It was an impactful entrance that left even the office worker speechless.
[Assistant Director: No, you didn't even know the location, how on earth….]
TeSTAR looked at each other intermittently and then gave smiles that sounded like they were letting out a breath. And then, the caption again.
[How on earth did TeSTAR appear here?]
[◄◄◄]
The screen began to rewind.
[Day 1 of being stranded]
And so, the story of being stranded from TeSTAR’s perspective began.
[Park Moon-dae: The wind is too strong. We shouldn't go out.]
[Lee Se-jin: You’re right~ Another day wasted. Phew!]
[Kim Rae-bin: 12:00 PM. The hyungs discussed the future direction of our lives. It seems the ban on going out will be established as a new rule.]
Kim Rae-bin’s camera played a big role. The sound of Kim Rae-bin’s self-cam was subtly inserted into important scenes like a narration. And it made the situation even funnier.
[Bae Se-jin: No! Sweet potatoes, sweet potatoes are easier, so I’ll go first….]
[Ryu Cheong-woo: Se-jin, they say beans grow faster? I’ll take this card.]
[Bae Se-jin: (Shocked)]
[Cam: During a board game, content about grains came up. I checked carefully just in case we might have to cultivate them.]
Because his immersion was incredible.
Even without those humorous elements, there was less of a feeling of glorifying or glossing over the hardships. It was thanks to the impact of the first entrance edit.
Because rather than the hardships TeSTAR faced, their kind and challenging aspects were emphasized more. In fact, TeSTAR didn't panic or complain because of the weather; they diligently found things to do and played hard.
[Cha Yu-jin: Hide and seek?? Let’s do it!! Hide, Hyung!]
[Park Moon-dae: (Shaken)]
[Seon A-hyun: Okay…! Should I hide?]
The broadcast, which proceeded smoothly like that, entered the long-awaited power outage episode.