Silencing the Dinosaurs
At his words, people packed up their things and headed back to the waiting rooms or dispersed.
"Why do they have to be like that?"
"I'm sure they have their reasons..."
"Do you really think they have a good reason? Because I don't see it."
A staff member quietly replied to the PD's muttering. The PD glanced at the staff member as if asking what she meant.
With a look that said, It's always been like this, she began packing up the equipment.
I seriously want to quit this show. I can't stand looking at those old geezers.
The PD thought to himself as he chatted with the smiling judge-guitarists who walked over to make small talk.
Most of them were washed-up musicians who had played in minor bands back in the day and now cleared their throats acting like respected veterans, coasting on their past glory. Their technique was still there, but that was it. Their only merit was that they had played the guitar for a long time.
Yet, whenever a truly skilled guitarist appeared, they would shut their mouths, unable to say a word... Typical bullies who preyed on the weak and cowered before the strong.
"PD-nim!"
I'm only tolerating this because it's my job...
As the PD forced himself to keep up the conversation, a staff member approached and called out to him.
"What is it?"
"That girl you mentioned before. She agreed to appear. We just got the call."
"Oh, really?"
"Oh? Is there someone interesting? For the PD himself to personally scout them?"
"Haha, it's nothing like that," the PD deflected.
He knew that if these old men found out who he had cast, they would swarm her and god knows what they would say.
Super Guitarist - In Search of the Legendary Guitarist.
The show, which bore such a grandiose title, was a guitar-focused TV show produced by a Japanese satellite broadcasting station.
Under the pretext of "finding a super guitarist," they would invite a guitarist, listen to songs they composed or participated in, give them promotional time, and then test their guitar skills...
"The rumors about that show aren't very good."
"Is that so?"
"A senior I know went on it. It helped with promotion, but... he said the judges were pretty awful."
Suyun twirled a lock of her hair, looking at the people in front of her.
They were members of an indie band she had met while touring live houses. They had hit it off well enough to agree to grab lunch sometime.
However, Suyun hadn't expected them to actually follow through so quickly.
And so, they ended up eating Japanese-style Chinese food together. Now, at a cafe for coffee, she had brought up the show to see if they knew anything about it, and this was their response.
"How do you eat this?"
"Spread the red bean paste on the toast and eat it."
"Pardon?"
Suyun stared at the person who had just spoken, wondering if she had misheard.
Spread red bean paste on toast? Did I hear that right?
"Did I hear you correctly? You want me to put red bean paste on toast?"
"That's... correct... This cafe is famous for that..."
Suyun turned to Hyun-ah, who had tagged along, for confirmation. The answer she received was somewhat shocking.
"You've been teasing me lately because my Japanese isn't great. Is this another one of your jokes?"
"Well... I do like teasing you... but this is real. People eat red bean bread, don't they?"
"No, I get red bean bread, but who the fuck spreads red bean paste on sliced toast?"
"Oh! Shibaru! That's the first time I've heard a real shibaru!"
Watching the band members marvel at hearing her swear, Suyun stared at the ceiling for a moment.
They don't seem normal. Is it really okay for me to associate with these people?
They had briefly discussed a collaboration recently, but she was starting to seriously doubt whether she should do business with people who seemed to lack basic sanity...
"So, what kind of bad rumors are we talking about?"
After trying the red bean paste on toast (which was surprisingly delicious), Suyun asked the question.
To summarize the band members' explanation:
Once filming starts, the MC mocks the guest, and the judges tear their guitar skills to shreds or act like total condescending snobs. If someone appears who they think is slightly better than them, they do everything they can to drag them down. If the guest is lacking, they just laugh and ridicule them... It was a show that generated entertainment and ratings through sheer toxicity.
"It used to be a decent show, though."
"Yeah. The judges used to be highly skilled, and there were active band members on the panel. But ever since the judges changed..."
Before the change, they said the show was actually great for the guest guitarists. The judges would encourage their juniors and give them plenty of time to promote themselves.
However, due to poor ratings, the show's direction shifted. While the ratings went up, the show itself degenerated into a toxic mess.
"Since you're asking, Ha-san, did you get an offer to appear?"
"Yes. I agreed to it yesterday."
"Oh. I hope you'll be okay."
"Ha-san is amazing, so she'll be fine! Besides, those guys can't say a word when someone truly skilled shows up!"
In front of the encouraging band members, Suyun twirled her hair.
So, in short, a bunch of old geezers couldn't let go of their ugly habits and were throwing tantrums.
If you're old, you should learn to temper your ego and live quietly. What on earth are they doing? Is acting like a snob really that fun?
Suyun herself was no saint when it came to being a grumpy old-timer, but as the saying goes, it's easy to see the speck in another's eye while ignoring the log in one's own. Suyun pondered her next move. If they were really that kind of crowd, she would just have to shut them up.
The day of the shoot.
Will she be okay?
As the cast and crew arrived one by one, the assistant director scratched her head anxiously. She was worried about the guitarist scheduled to appear today.
Ha Suyun... was that her name?
The PD, who rarely interfered with the casting lineup, had personally instructed her to recruit this specific guitarist.
Since Suyun had recently entered the Japanese music market and was making waves, the AD assumed the PD had heard the news and wanted her on the show...
But the actual reason was entirely different.
Not long ago, a Korean documentary titled In Search of Korean Rock had been imported by a Japanese cable channel, and that was what the PD had watched.
Her Japanese didn't seem very good, though.
At a live performance the AD had attended recently, Ha Suyun had only spoken a few clumsy words of Japanese. She could communicate basic thoughts, but anything beyond that seemed difficult.
She played the guitar exceptionally well, but would she be able to withstand the malice of the judges?
The AD shook her head to clear her thoughts. Ultimately, it wasn't her problem to worry about.
"Hey, AD-chan, who's today's guest?"
The MC approached her with a sleazy, lingering attitude. Forcing a smile, she brushed him off and quickly walked toward the PD, ignoring the laughter behind her. She didn't have anything specific to say, but she simply didn't want to be near that man.
However, the place she arrived at was even more irritating.
A group of washed-up old men were standing in front of the PD, tossing comments back and forth.
"PD-san, isn't it about time you told us? We're going to see them soon anyway. Tell us about the guest."
"Well, you will see her shortly, but alright. Her name is Ha Suyun, a Korean guitarist."
"What? Joseon... Korea?"
The guitarists murmured at the PD's words.
"Are there even any good guitarists in Korea?"
"I've never heard of one."
"Isn't Korea just a country that manufactures idol songs? It's all idols over there. But a band?"
As the dismissive remarks flew around, the PD spoke up.
"She's practically our first foreign guest, so please watch your words. Her Japanese is a bit rusty as well. I heard an interpreter will be coming with her..."
"Ha, an interpreter? If you can't speak Japanese, don't come to Japan. What a joke."
The PD frowned at the cold sneers.
These damn old geezers. If they weren't close friends with the station director...
"Hello, nice to meet you. I am Ha Suyun."
After waiting a bit longer, two women entered the meeting room, guided by a staff member.
The PD immediately recognized Ha Suyun. He had already seen her face. Or rather, she possessed the kind of appearance that anyone would recognize instantly.
"She's incredibly gorgeous, isn't she?"
"...You don't play the guitar with your face."
"Even if her skills are mediocre, a face like that makes up for it... It's probably one of those cases."
"Isn't she just an idol band member? Someone else writes all the songs, and she just stands there holding a guitar."
The judges openly exchanged these rude remarks.
The PD cleared his throat and greeted her politely. Suyun bowed her head in return.
Then, a voice called out from behind.
"Let me ask you one thing. Do you even know how to play the guitar?"
"Excuse me?"
The PD whipped his head around. One of the crazy old men had already opened his mouth.
"Aren't you just an idol band member? Just a pretty face... I find it hard to believe."
"Honestly, I doubt there's even a real band market in Korea. Isn't it a market completely dominated by idols? Hahaha..."
"Please, stop saying things like that! Ha-san, everyone here is just being a bit mischievous, so please don't mind what they just said. Now, to talk about the broadcast..."
The interpreter (presumably) glared at them with clear displeasure, while Suyun quietly stared at the judges.
The PD tried his best to defuse the situation.
However, without a word, Suyun pulled her guitar out from her back, sat down on a chair, and looked directly at the guitarists opposite her.
Amidst an atmosphere thick with doubt and mockery, Suyun silently began to play.