Government Support Project
"Hello~ I'm Choi Iseo, the bassist of our band, Group Sound. The video I'm shooting today is our first YouTube upload, so I thought I'd show you some practice footage!"
"Somatnim, what're you doing?"
"Ah~! I'm not Somatnim. Call me Iseo, Iseo! I'm filming a YouTube video right now. Gonna upload it somewhere."
"You got a place to upload it?"
"I'll try putting it on Suyeon's YouTube first, see the reaction, and if the band gets bigger, we'll make our own band channel and post there."
"Do we really need to post on someone else's channel? We could just start our own now..."
"It's all about who sees it, this stuff. If you post something and it only gets 10 views, 100 views, that's depressing. You use another YouTube to build an audience first, then keep it going. Yeah? That's strategy, that's sales."
The moment Myeongjeon opened the practice room door, what she saw was Iseo—not practicing as she should be, but holding a selfie stick and chattering away.
"What're you doing? You planning to just sit around playing every damn day? Let's practice."
"No, I'm filming YouTube right now~ Subscribers, everyone, the owner of this channel is normally like that. When she does YouTube, she goes all sweet and calm like 'Hello there?' That's so fake..."
Myeongjeon let out a deep sigh and snatched Iseo's phone away.
Iseo whined and clung to her, begging for it back. While the other two watched with interest, Myeongjeon handed the phone back to Iseo and asked,
"Thought you were doing a live stream or something. What is this?"
"I think we should start doing YouTube stuff now. A band YouTube."
"What's that got to do with this?"
"What do you mean? Didn't you see NewJeans? They did that real high school girl concept on YouTube, posting stuff like that. What was it? Anyway, something like that."
Iseo rambled on incoherently, but if Myeongjeon summed it up:
NewJeans had dropped a new song with a fake documentary styled like real high school girls, and it was a hit. So why not do the same? Plus, they were actual high school girls, documenting their real Band Pioneer challenge—that authenticity would amplify the effect.
"Isn't that just vlogs? Like challenge vlogs. '100 days to college entrance exams vlog' or whatever."
Yoo Seoha voiced the slightly absurd feeling Myeongjeon was having.
"Uh... uh? It's not... like that, right?"
"Choi Iseo. Ever thought how nice it'd be if batteries were removable again? Like, phone back pops open, battery slides out."
"Oh... Never thought of that, but sounds good."
Iseo answered Myeongjeon's question without a second thought. Myeongjeon just stared at the ceiling in silence.
Was the world really like this? Even if kids didn't know old tech...
Someday they might see a pager and go, "Why use that? Phones are way more convenient."
But setting aside Iseo's disrespect for history, the idea wasn't bad. Document the Band Pioneer challenge on YouTube... Not just that, but the band's daily life too.
'Like a challenge diary?'
No matter how great a fictional work, it couldn't beat the real thing. Filming Myeongjeon and the girls tackling the government project, advancing step by step, winning, releasing an album... Uploading that to YouTube would surely grow the channel.
"Sounds decent."
"Right? Let's do it."
Ha Suyeon's YouTube had indeed stalled lately. Early on, it was daily uploads, and until early March, every 2-3 days. But from early March to now, too many things happening—no time for videos.
The comments were full of pleas for new videos, but subscribers had grown to late 20k. Revenue covered food costs... But even after recovering the Echorec, Fuzz Face, Big Muff, rebuilding the pedalboard was still a ways off.
"What do we do?"
"Okay, let's reshoot from the start. From that part I did earlier. Nah, actually, just letting the video roll like this might be more fun. More natural..."
* * *
The cigarette tip glows faintly, then snuffs out in the chilly spring breeze.
"Fuck!"
The lighter flicks on again with a curse. This time, he inhales deeply as the red ember catches.
"Heeseong. What time can we use the studio?"
"Hold on. Checking."
Heeseong squats, scrolling his phone schedule. Meanwhile, the man smokes deeply, exhales. Even in daylight, the smoke hazes the street. A few passersby wrinkle noses at the smell, some glance over. But when he glares back, they scurry off like nothing happened.
He chuckles at that.
"Hyung, 3 PM? Fixed at 3."
"3? Why? Last week they said 11 AM. Something about free if no bookings."
"That was if it was empty... Anyway, another band booked yesterday. They need it for shooting first, available from 3."
"What the... We've used it how many times? They should hook us up. Fuck, no VIP treatment."
Heeseong thought it wasn't about VIP, but stayed quiet. No point.
"Kyungyun?"
"Just arrived. Call her?"
"Yeah. Straight to studio. Lee Junsung?"
"On his way."
"That fucker 'on his way'? Probably just waking up. External hires are useless. Treats band like shit. No dedication. Some of us bet our lives, he just rich kid. Fuck him."
Heeseong wanted to plug his ears at the endless griping.
How'd it come to this? Back when they started the band, he was cool.
Heeseong and the man walked silently to the studio. Then, out of nowhere:
"Heeseong. What if we ask those borrower kids if we can have it next? We're in a rush."
"Huh? Obviously not."
"Not that urgent for them. We need it today or bust. We're more rushed. Check quote, ask 'em to yield."
"Won't work..."
"Hey, asshole! Gotta try asking. Fuck, so negative?"
Sudden curse barrage. Passersby stare, the man mutters "Dumbass won't get it..." and keeps walking. Heeseong follows quietly. Routine.
"Yoo Seoha?? Why're you here?"
"Yoon Hyung?"
Heeseong and the man arrived at a Hongdae studio. Kyungyun was already there, talking to someone.
"Heeseong. Isn't that Seoha?"
"Yeah... looks like."
"Why's she here?"
The one chatting with Kyungyun was Yoo Seoha. Promising drummer in Hongdae indie, great skills and attitude—poised to pillar metal scene. As another band bro said, 'better than wild ginseng, top high school girl.'
'Lots of guys chasing her, why here suddenly? Thought she ghosted to avoid them?'
She'd hustled Hongdae live clubs slickly, but vanished second half last year. Weird rumors flew.
"What brings you here?"
"Ah... Here to record today."
"For real? Recording?"
"Oh, Seoha?"
"Gyeosik oppa. Heeseong oppa. What about you guys?"
Gyeosik lowered his voice meeting Seoha. Heeseong found it pathetic, waved at her.
"Recording too. We're regulars. Heard morning free, maybe snag it cheap... You?"
"Uh... Our band for Band Pioneer. You guys?"
They were there for the same government project.
As talk flowed, studio door opened.
"Seoha. Not coming in? What're you doing."
"Ah, sec. Know some people. Be right in."
Peeking out: girl with forehead slightly showing, long hair swept back. Stunning looks made Heeseong and Gyeosik pause. She bowed lightly, went back in.
"Who's that?"
"Our band leader."
"Seoha, you in a band?? That's why no Hongdae? Band stuff."
Chit-chat followed: how'd you start, what music, lineup... Questions 20% curiosity, 30% lust for Seoha, 50% rivalry hostility.
Seoha answered as best she could.
"All-girl high school band? Blues, J-pop, anime, alt rock...? What... You should do metal, not weird shit."
"Hyung. Seoha's here."
"Yo, Seoha picky? Seoha, why? Can't do that. Oppa said he'd raise you. No wasting time on lame friend bands."
Gyeosik poured earnest concern. Kyungyun chimed, "Don't waste talent on amateurs."
"No, we're all good at music."
"High schoolers? How good? Real pros like you. Look, kid friends no help. For music, build network via bands."
Heeseong wondered when this farce ends. Seoha uninterested, never heard their music... Plus, her face darkening unnoticed by others.
"Seoha. Still talking? Recording started."
Studio door opens again. The high school girl strides up.
"Ah, coming now."
"Should've come earlier. Sorry, need to record. Taking her."
She grabs Seoha to leave. Right then, Gyeosik speaks.
"Excuse me. We're band people too."
"Yes."
"Mind if we observe? Just a bit."
Some rivalry, scouting competitor vibe subconsciously.
"Huh? Oppa, no, we gotta film for the project..."
"Quick peek fine. That no?"
Seoha should refuse, but acquaintances, elders—awkward to cut hard.
"Why observe?"
"Curious. New rookie band, wanna see skills."
Gyeosik's tone dripped unhidden envy. Obvious to all, but...
"Sure, whatever."
Suyeon smirked faintly, allowing it.