Projeckt 6's Drunken Leak

Unlike what people think—that idols dominate the entire music scene—Korea’s major music market surprisingly has bands too. The problem is… most of those bands are used and consumed just like idol groups. Project groups from big agencies, lip-syncing at live shows, chart battles with digital singles, releases focused on singles and EPs, and so on. No one knows how the musicians and their fans feel about it, but to the general public, they’re just another idol group.

Stage name Ryujin, real name Seo Jinwoo—he’s a musician in one of those groups. His life journey mirrored the perception people had of him. One day, scouted by an agency, he heads up to Seoul, trains, debuts in a boy band, and succeeds. He might feel like he’s special, but to others, it’s a typical story. And after that? Like everyone else, he lives a life of “What the hell am I doing?” just following orders… as a member of the boy band Projeckt ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠6.

“Hello. Making music again today? Yes, I am. What kind of song should we try today? You want a good one? Haha, I’m just starting to study composing.”

One day a week. His Instagram Live time. He instinctively ignores the prickly chats slipping in like [has-been], thanks to years in a major agency, and starts chatting with fans.

“What’s that in your hand? It’s a drink to clear my head~ Ahaha.”

Sipping his beer, Jinwoo fiddled with his program today as always. He spent more time talking to fans than composing, but after a few months of effort, something was starting to take shape… a song that felt a bit more complete.

“Everyone, that’s it for today’s broadcast… Wait. You want more? What was that KakaoTalk sound? Yeah, what is it? Why’s Jaehyun hyung messaging at this hour? He sent a song? Should I play it? …”

And the perspective loops back for the first time. To that moment when Jinwoo, buzzed from a beer and without a second thought, leaked Group Sound’s unreleased track.

“Whoa…”

The song Ashen Days sent by his label’s composer hyung, Sung Jaehyun. Jinwoo listened, a bit tipsy from the beer. At first, he was shocked. Then silent. By the end, his eyes were red.

Ashen Days. Short title, no lyrics attached… but Jinwoo felt like he knew what it meant. Especially since the vibe perfectly captured his own life.

“This song is too good.”

Back when he first got scouted. He thought he could live making only the music he loved. Playing guitar, singing, composing. With good people, making good music…

But reality? Practice, practice, practice. His youth had long passed. Blink, and the military was knocking. His prime slipped away meaninglessly.

That resentment turned to regret, and even the regret faded—that was now. This song dredged up memories of his old days. Made him nostalgic for that brilliant time. Felt like it was compensating, even a little, for the joys he should’ve had back then…

“Can you all see me? I’m tearing up here. Sniff! Sorry. I had one of those… head-clearing drinks, and now I can’t control my emotions?”

The chat was blowing up, questioning if this was a leaked unreleased track, but Jinwoo was too immersed in the song and drunk to check closely.

“It’s so good. I’d kill to get a track like this. Band song. Who made it? Oh, just Jaehyun hyung sent it. Said to check it out. No name listed… Huh? This is… wha?!”

People’s reactions to Jinwoo’s panicked voice split into three camps.

First: Loyal Projeckt 6 fans. Something’s gone wrong—rush to communities to cover it up and force ‘Ryujin’s’ Insta Live to end.

Second: Casual fans. Gotta lip-sync this unreleased leak quick. Can’t miss hearing it early.

Third: Projeckt 6 haters. ‘Ryujin’ fucked up. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Grab the track and scream it everywhere. Projeckt 6 Ryujin Controversy.jpg sounds like a solid title.

Hey neighbors, check this out!!

While the situation spiraled without cleanup, Jinwoo—drunk head loving the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠song—replayed it once, twice. Fans trying to stop him, fans lip-syncing, antis hunting drama… The absurd synergy from these three groups had enough firepower to burn at least one corner of the late-night internet.

“What the hell is this?”

Waking up in the morning, Myeongjeon faced a flood of KakaoTalks. Voice messages, texts. Good thing notifications were silenced at night—vibrate or sound would’ve kept her up.

“Spam?”

Messages from total strangers too. Something happened? Internet news reporters introducing themselves. Boy band Projeckt 6 member Ryujin here… What? Why’s this guy messaging me?

Myeongjeon racked her brain, then decided to deal later. If urgent, they’d call. Stretching and cleaning were more pressing.

“Suyeon, you see this?”

“Yeah. I saw.”

First break after class one, Iseo burst in panting. No time for kid greetings, she shoved her phone at Myeongjeon.

But Myeongjeon had already seen it. Hell, even gotten contact from the source. No clue what happened, though.

“Why’d that guy advertise our song… What, advertise? Anyway, he did that?”

“No idea.”

Woke up to this out of nowhere last night. Session contacts asking [Did you sell the song?] Net articles like ‘Projeckt ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠6 Ryujin Leaks New Song?’ The track was the one Myeongjeon had circulated with “Please promote this a bit.”

And her renamed Ashen Days became Projeckt 6’s unreleased track… until some White Room fans pointed out it plagiarized indie band Group Sound’s YouTube-uploaded Return, O Ashen Days (unavoidable since Myeongjeon tweaked the arrangement repeatedly).

Now the boy band was an overnight plagiarism band. Pleas like “Please explain or help, talk to us!” from their agency and members. The internet wasn’t fully ablaze, but those involved seemed desperate.

“What do we do?”

“Dunno…”

Myeongjeon scratched her head at Iseo’s question. What now? Easiest: “That’s not plagiarism, it’s our song.” Problem solved.

But wasn’t that a waste?

“They’re handling the viral spread themselves. That thing? Uh… promotion’s getting copied.”

Myeongjeon boldly dropped her learned MZ slang, but Iseo didn’t notice. Ignoring her slight dejection, Iseo spoke.

“Still, they look in trouble. Shouldn’t we help somehow?”

“Yeah, maybe.”

They’re promoting for free—why rush in? She’d checked online wondering if it was real promo, and damn, it was.

“For now, let it ride and watch. The longer we stay quiet, the more we gain, right?”

Of course, they couldn’t stall forever. Process felt off, but basically, that idol? Band? Whatever—the member did nothing wrong. Myeongjeon started the circulation, even asked for promo. Hard to cling to “It’s promoting us, your mess isn’t my problem” with her thin face.

After figuring apologies, acceptance, cleanup… Seeing that Ryujin guy’s face when he came to apologize in person, Myeongjeon sensed headaches ahead.

“Ah, hello. Ryujin, Seo Jinwoo here…”

“Hi. Ha Suyeon.”

He looked totally spaced out. The man beside him nudged him. Jinwoo’s eyes refocused.

“Th-that song. Ashen Days? You’re the composer, right?”

“Yes. I made it.”

Ooh! An exclamation from the side. Myeongjeon sighed inwardly, eyeing Jinwoo’s face.

Clearly off his rocker. Myeongjeon just wanted to send him off quick and work on the EP. Time for the next track.

Where to draw inspiration?

“Your composing and arranging are killer. If you ever quit the band, hit me up. Promising talent spot’s always open.”

As dazed Jinwoo got dragged out, the guy handed her his card. Producer Kim Seunghoo, Production Center 2.

“Take outside commissions? Demo form?”

“Always welcome. But stuff like Ashen whatever isn’t our specialty. Anyway, give me a call.”

Why never thought of it? Too busy using them for the band… Not that she’d sell anyway.

Still, new connection—good enough. Myeongjeon figured.

Stress from songwriting? Buy nicotine gum, patch? Do they sell to minors?

Lost in dumb thoughts… something flashed in Myeongjeon’s mind.