With Guitar Episode 2: The Ha Suyeon Effect
The day With Guitar Episode 2 aired. A survival program with a bland title like With Guitar, featuring guitarists from bygone eras as mentors—content that screamed "boring" at first glance. Yet Episode 1 had pulled in decent ratings, and plenty of people were eagerly awaiting Episode 2... all because of one person, as someone put it: the most talked-about figure in Korea's current music scene, Ha Suyeon.
Word that Ha Suyeon was appearing on With Guitar had people tuning in or hunting down clips on YouTube. Seeing her announced as a mentor, plus that brief glimpse of her teaching style toward the end of Episode 1... it had everyone hyped for Episode 2. The main reactions online boiled down to this.
Fueling those reactions were stories from active musicians.
"Ah, viewers, did you catch that show? With Guitar. I watched 'cause Suyeon was on, and that... what's it called these days? PTSD? How the hell do Myeongjeon Teacher and Suyeon Student sound exactly the same?"
"Really, Unnie? You learned that way too?"
"Me? I got it way harsher than that. Back then it was like... full-on cursing mixed in. 'If you don't practice, you piece of shit, your personality's rotten. Skipping practice to goof off every day—if that's how you're gonna be, why bother with music?' Yelling that with double curses and all..."
Or things like, "Teacher Junhong, did you see With Guitar? ...Yeah, I did. Man, watching Suyeon Student blew me away. That's the real guitarist mindset. You don't say 'I practice.' You don't say 'I play guitar.' Guitar's your default—you do other stuff when you're not doing guitar. Live like that, and you'll master it. Otherwise, you won't..."
Old-school guitarists showered Episode 1 Suyeon with fervent support, and that hype directly boosted Episode 2's ratings. A vibe like, 'How much will they actually change with that practice style?!'
Of course, logically, a week wasn't enough for real change. Instruments like guitar demand years of practice. A week is just 168 hours—a blink compared to years. But people were banking on Ha Suyeon power to transform Taemin's stage. His previous performance had been rough, and the buzz had everyone expecting miracles.
And With Guitar Episode 2 delivered on that hype.
The legato guitar melody fades, leaving just a lingering tail. Then a single strum. Taemin's voice follows.
"How the hell did he pull that off in one week?"
"What'd you do?"
"Don't ask..."
Location: Taemin's one-room apartment. Facing a spread of assorted sashimi, Taemin muttered weakly amid his friends' barrage of questions. His fingers still trembled faintly.
"Don't ask what? Acting all cool."
"No, seriously... Last week, I ate, shat, played guitar—that's it."
"For real? No League of Legends or anything?"
"Where'd I find time for that crap? Days I didn't practice: eat, sleep, shit... First two days, only 8 hours."
Taemin recalled it. Two days, 8 hours each—16 total. Thinking that was plenty, he'd headed to Suyeon's company satisfied. 'I did a ton. How would she even know?'
Then...
"Doesn't look like you practiced."
"Huh?"
"I can tell just by watching. You did exactly what I told you—about 8 hours, right?"
Without even asking how much he'd practiced, she'd nailed the time from his playing alone. Chills ran down Taemin's spine.
"Doesn't matter if you don't. I taught you—it's you suffering on that show. Gonna settle for 8th again?"
Coming from someone way younger, it could've felt insulting. But instead of offense, Taemin felt scolded by a grizzled guitarist. Her words carried weight, life experience.
"If you're sticking to 8 hours, no point even doing that. Just do your usual thing. I only pushed practice 'cause there's technique only grinding fixes—and that's your weak spot. If you hate it, fine."
"S-sorry."
Taemin apologized on reflex. Suyeon had tilted her head slightly and said,
"So you'll practice properly now?"
"Y-yes."
"Your issue—get in position. Play the Savvy part once."
"And then?"
"She pointed it out right away. Like, legato getting messy, touch off... Listened once, felt the finger strength issue—said I was palm-muting unconsciously when it needed half-muting. Taught me how to drill it into muscle memory."
"Holy shit, that works?"
"Grabbed my hand, adjusted the angle, elbow like this, that... Fixed it right there. It just clicked."
"Dude... Someone teaches like that, and you were gonna half-ass with 8 hours?"
"How was I supposed to know?"
While they bantered, the TV showed An Taemin's ranking: 5th. Not earth-shattering, but jumping from 8th? Dramatic climb.
"Yo, 5th place."
"That arrangement by Ha Suyeon too? She fixed it all?"
"Yeah. Next songs, she's handing me full arrangements. Teach-as-she-goes style. Says she'll guide me at the company."
"You're so lucky. Who gets that kinda mentorship?"
"Right?"
Even with the guidance, a sliver of doubt lingered. Not on Suyeon's skill—that was undeniable after experiencing it. More like, 'Was the improvement coincidence?' or 'What about a totally unfamiliar genre?'
"But I grinded hard this week, so next time... maybe she'll go easy?"
"Why?"
"They always crack down hard at first. Now that discipline's set, she'll loosen up next week..."
Taemin said, popping a flounder slice—chewy bliss spreading in his mouth, chased perfectly by soju. Heaven.
"After grinding like that, she'll give me some breathing room next week, right."
Vain hope, of course.
"Wanna cut back on practice?"
"Uh, yeah... Next week, got some stuff going on."
"Hm... Rest up, then. Work-life balance is key these days. Free time's great."
"Right. So next week, focus on technique like you said, arrange it, bring it over and..."
"Nah, no need to bring arrangements. Just do your thing."
"...Huh?"
"I don't need to check. Practice, handle your stuff—no time to show me anyway. No need for approval."
Taemin's eyes darted frantically, mind racing. Suyeon smirked inwardly. Play all you want, rest all you want. Not asking for three years—just 12 weeks for this show. Why join if you're half-assing?
"B-but next week, I really gotta head out for..."
"Go ahead. Handle your business."
"S-sorry. I'll practice."
Taemin sweated bullets, grasping for escape, but surrendered. Suyeon said,
"This mentor-mentee thing's just 12 weeks, so who knows after... But I want you to gain something from this time. Got a girlfriend? Even if you do, have her bear with it. Treat these 12 weeks like the army—commit to leveling up."
"These days, even the army gives phones..."
"Pardon?"
"N-nothing."
Taemin, head bowed like a scolded man. Suyeon tilted her head, fetched her notebook—notes scribbled last night for him.
"Come here. Key is you're doing fingerstyle, so arrange accordingly. But your song? Overloaded elements. Casual listeners go 'cool tune~' but pro guitarists spot the flaws."
She broke down specifics, compared to her arrangements: "I changed this part with that intent." Taemin's clouded face cleared, soaking it up eagerly.
"Hi~ Oh! Who's this?! External intruder! Yeonsu got a boyfriend?? Holy crap, Dispatch scoop time."
"What're you doing?"
The lesson ended abruptly thanks to two intruders. Iseo, K-high-school-girl style with rollers in her hair, spouting nonsense; Seoha eyeing her pitifully.
"Group Sound, right!"
"Yep~ Who's this guy?"
"You didn't watch Suyeon's show? That's the mentee... Taemin, An Taemin... right?"
"Yeah. Thrilled to meet Group Sound."
"Oh yeah, him!"
Iseo burst into laughter, chatted a bit, then grilled Taemin: Solo life? YouTube going well? Income?
Suddenly, out of nowhere: "Oh yeah. In Group Sound, who's your fave? No Yeonsu. Bet you hate her now anyway."
"H-huh?"
"Why ask that?"
"Hold up. She was bragging earlier that excluding you, she's the most popular in the band."
"You..."
Suyeon stared incredulously; Iseo explained. Seoha's facepalm was bonus.
"Why not Suyeon Teacher...?"
"I know best. I'm victim #1 who got wrecked by her."
"Ah..."
Taemin's gaze toward Iseo turned pitying. "Tough break..." He scratched his head awkwardly.
"Can't decide? Pick one of us! No need to say 'drummer's kinda meh' or whatever."
"You nuts?"
"Uh... then..."
Iseo's chipper tone screamed 'You'll pick me.' Taemin hesitated, then spoke...
"PffftHAHAHA!!!"
After Taemin pointed and left.
"I... prefer Yoo Seoha the drummer... yeah..."
Seoha laughed till the building shook, leaving sunk Iseo behind. Manager Go Kyung-min might pop out any second.
"Ask a lose-lose question, you lose."
Suyeon jotted notes. Stunned Iseo shuffled over, hugged her tight.
"What?"
"Won't show it to unpopular girls~"
Normally, Seoha-punch time, but the blow hit hard—Iseo just bared teeth. Suyeon eyed her pitifully.
"Working on next EP tracks."
Next year's solo concert. Gymnastics Arena—KSPO DOME now—over 10,000 seats. First step to filling it.