First Impressions
Marketing. "Self-content?"
"Yes! Self-content!"
At Jeong Yu-young's words, Myeongjeon wondered for a moment if she'd misheard. Self-content... what did that even mean? Self-produced content? But what did that imply?
The thought vanished quickly. She recalled a term she'd learned recently. Self-content, shortened to . Unrelated to its dictionary meaning, in modern slang, "" referred to content created by idols themselves. In simple terms, idols filming their own reality shows, vlogs, SNS events, or anything else—without relying on external broadcasters or production companies—to entertain or attract fans. That's what ChatGPT had taught her...
'Look at me, adapting to the new generation like a pro. Even trying out this trendy new-gen content...' She felt proud of looking up unfamiliar terms on ChatGPT, oblivious that such pride itself proved she was an old fogey...
Myeongjeon continued listening intently to Jeong Yu-young. It was intriguing.
"I don't know much about rock bands! And if the CEO wanted me to just follow rock band norms, I don't think she'd have hired me! Anyway, in my opinion, you all are the type of group that could blow up with self-content! So..."
"Why is that?"
Go Kyung-min cut in abruptly—a timing that could come off rude—but Jeong Yu-young just beamed and answered.
"Because you're all pretty! If you're pretty, you're golden! Your combined visuals mean people will watch no matter how boring it gets—the faces alone melt away any tedium!"
"Makes sense..." Choi Iseo muttered to herself. Myeongjeon thought the same. In an era where good looks could bankrupt families and still win hearts, who wouldn't watch a video?
"And since you're all teens! I haven't chatted with you much, but teen content is fun no matter what—it's got that energy! Your main audience in their 20s and 30s loves watching cute teen girls just laughing!"
Jeong Yu-young went on passionately justifying self-content. Myeongjeon tilted her head slightly, glancing at the members. The three girls seemed thoughtful. Iseo looked hooked, Hyeona was... well, her usual worried self. Seoha appeared dissatisfied.
'Well, Seoha wants to be a 'proper rock band,' not some idol knockoff...'
But as the saying went—Ilmodo Won (Day Dusk Far Road)—no need to be picky. They'd already committed to commercial tactics anyway. She could bulldoze through any complaints. If Seoha pouted later with "I don't wanna!", some sweets or mala tang would fix it, Myeongjeon figured.
"So, what kind of self-content would we do?"
"Good question!"
Jeong Yu-young swiped her iPad again, showing various self-content examples. Even Myeongjeon recognized idols in several. Iseo let out an "Ooh~," and Seoha pretended nonchalance but sneaked peeks.
"I helped produce these! Not all fully by me—some minor roles, some key ideas. Anyway, we'll probably do one like these! Don't worry—no damage to your image!"
"But what exactly—"
"That's a secret!"
Jeong Yu-young grinned, saying to save the fun for the reveal. Myeongjeon started to speak but let it go. Knowing ahead spoiled the surprise anyway.
Jeong Hyeona stared at the chart site.
Their song had lingered briefly post-audition. After halting activities, it had sunk to the genre chart's bottom. Now, it had climbed to the main chart.
'Thanks to Suyeon-unnie's radio appearance...'
Hyeona, Iseo (Somatnim), and Seoha (Horang) hadn't tuned in. Suyeon had reacted with "You haven't heard this?!" then gotten mad at being called old-school. So the others hadn't expected much—just value in traditional media exposure. Even Suyeon said, "Just appearing is good. No downside, right?"
But that was a miscalculation.
Suyeon performed four songs on air (originally two, plus two encores): a cover of some Messiah tune, an unreleased full album track, Past Mistake, and Ashen Days.
First buzz hit Ashen Days.
Result: Ashen Days charted.
Not main chart, but rock/metal—and re-entering top 50 from the depths? Huge morale boost.
Then Past Mistake revived.
Rock bands these days have leveled up skills big time. Not into modern rock usually, but this one's solid.
Unlike past buzz on general forums that fizzled, the radio sparked fire in music communities. Hopes for Korean rock? Rare gem or not? Old fogeys stuck on classics ignoring new stuff? Mixed reactions, but crucially, it reached true music lovers' ears.
'Traditional media... radio still packs a punch. Shocking.'
Hyeona checked EP sales via the company account. Recent trends were single digits; now, hundreds. Official channel subs surged too—not rivaling Suyeon's White Room (no silver button yet), but progress was clear.
"Whatcha looking at?"
Hyeona grinned at the band's gains on her laptop when Suyeon's voice cut in—languid yet pressuring, her usual tone.
Hyeona hesitated. 'Our signature track Past Mistake entered TOP 100, Ashen Days hit rock/metal ranks, sales up, YouTube subs booming... plus tons more positives. Like this post...' How to convey her analysis effectively?
After agonizing, Hyeona summed it perfectly.
"G-Good... it's good."
"...What's good?"
Suyeon bristled at the delayed "good." Her eyebrow arched, voice dropping low.
"H-Hiiik..."
"Hyeona-unnie, calm down~ It's fine. Suyeon won't bite. She's not a wild animal."
Iseo arrived just in time; Hyeona ducked behind her. Iseo petted Hyeona soothingly. Suyeon gaped.
"Why treat her like a kid? Is Hyeona younger than you?"
"Aren't you?"
"Uh... no, that's not what I meant."
Suyeon clammed up, switching topics. Iseo hounded relentlessly.
"You totally meant that. Obvious."
"Drop it anyway."
"Drop what! Look, she runs when cornered."
Iseo grabbed Suyeon trying to slip away, but Suyeon bolted with "Grabbing coffee!"
'Filming soon—where's she going?'
Iseo spotted Seoha entering. Suyeon was getting bolder by the day. She hadn't been like this at first...
"Today's shoot!"
Label office. Simple shooting setup. Myeongjeon eyed Jeong Yu-young pointing at the whiteboard beside the pro camera. Bursting with energy.
"Like we discussed—self-content! For the first one, nothing huge: just introducing you to YouTube viewers...? Something like that! Titled..."
Board marker squeaked. After scribbling, the reveal: 'First Impression'.
"Your first impressions! Time for 'Let's Guess First Impressions!'"
"Isn't that too childish?"
"Not at all!"
Myeongjeon blurted without thinking, instantly regretting—but Jeong Yu-young brushed it off.
"First impressions matter! And they might not match. What was leader Ha Suyeon's first vibe? Iseo's? Hyeona's? Seoha's? How did they strike bandmates? And now? How do they see each other? A game to find out! Key is..."
She paused dramatically.
"Be brutally honest—no sugarcoating! And no getting offended! Don't baby each other with 'I thought you were an angel from first sight~'—nobody buys that! No image control!"
"But someone might think that—"
"No image control!"
Seoha looked wronged at the finger-point. Myeongjeon thought, 'Even if the sky fell, I doubt she'd see anyone as angelic.'
"First up: Ha Suyeon's first impression! Suyeon, write what you think yours was. Others, hers. No overthinking!"
Myeongjeon pondered, then wrote a long sentence—her standing belief. The others jotted single words swiftly.
"Three... two... one! Done! Now, Suyeon's 'self-perceived first impression'!"
"I think 'self-perceived impression' is impossible. Impressions are defined by others, so how I see myself doesn't matter much. It's just self-overestimation, not the real—"
"Got it! Kinda weird, but anyway!"
Myeongjeon froze mid-philosophy. Interrupting someone's deep thoughts...? Is this how the world works now?
"Now, others' answers!"
He anticipated mildly. She'd said self-evaluation was invalid, but she had an image: serious yet cool, skilled. Looks and aura contributed...
[Delinquent]
[Gangster]
[Playgirl]
Spellings varied, but meanings identical.
"Puhaha!"
Ignoring Jeong Yu-young stifling laughter, Myeongjeon narrowed her eyes at the three avoiding her gaze.
"Playing it like that, huh..."
She murmured coldly. Looked like pens would taste blood today.