Producer with no Regrets - Chapter 815



Only Krnovel

Episode 815 Epilogue: Young Forever (1)

I don’t want to doubt myself.

I believe that at the end of the path I take, there will definitely be a reward commensurate with my efforts.

If not, what is the point of the blood, sweat, and tears that have been shed so far? No, what is the meaning of the sweat that is still being shed?

If this effort doesn’t lead me to the landscape I want… …then what on earth am I doing?

“I’m sorry I failed… … .”

To Erica, Park Soo-ryun is a senior she respects, but at the same time, she is someone she feels reluctant to see.

It’s not because of her personality or her romantic inclinations.

Because of the path she has walked.

‘The top of the third generation.’

An unprecedented human revival in the entertainment industry, with talented people from the Korean cultural world being drawn into the idol world.

There was a time when it was common to hear talk of an era with 1 million idol trainees.

Park Su-ryeon was one of those 1 million people at the top.

With top-notch training, top-notch production and management, and top-notch promotion, has she reached the top?

‘Three top.’

Even if you look at it favorably, Byus was one of the top three.

Among the K-Sports, Girls’ League, and Globe, it is in charge of Globe’s position. Globe is a mid-sized company among entertainment companies, so even if we say it is an honorable third place, what happened to BIS?

What on earth was missing?

Did you lack talent?

Was it the lack of support from the company? The producer’s qualifications, the failure of management, the lack of promotion. What was the decisive cause of B.I.S.’s defeat?

No, not all of them.

It shouldn’t be.

The reasons should not be attributed to external factors.

If the reason for the failure of the VSS is external, then it follows that Caius could also fail for external reasons.

Since Caius is also part of the same company as BIS, BIS’s failure must be internal.

Internally, it must have failed due to the shortcomings of the BWS itself.

‘That makes sense.’

In Erica’s view, the leader, Park Su-ryeon, was a problematic person.

At first, she seemed like a person with a lack of character, but after practicing with her, she seemed like a person with a lack of will.

‘That’s why it stayed in third place.’

By only wearing the name of a fancy peak, becoming complacent, and not making any effort to improve, they wasted precious time and eventually fell into ruin.

‘At least you shouldn’t bother your juniors.’

Erica still has a future.

Three long years lie ahead of her.

You can’t do a single broadcast or a single stage carelessly. You never know what kind of opportunity will help K-Us grow, so you have to do your best at every moment.

Among them, the special stage of the HPT Music Awards is important. K-pop fans from all over the world will watch the stage, so they have to work twice or three times harder than usual.

Girls’ League’s ‘Song for People’… … achieved a record of 70 million views in just 24 hours after its release.

Popularity in Japan… … After seeing it in person, I knew that it was at a level that Keus couldn’t match.

‘This is the turning point.’

Byes also faced the same situation as Caius. After rising to the top with ‘Portrait in You’, ‘Intimacy’ chased Byes with a frightening momentum.

I chased after him and overtook him.

‘Intimacy’ is the first girl group since the second generation to surpass 100,000 copies in initial sales.

‘Right there.’

At that point, BIS gave up.

‘I don’t.’

Never be overtaken.

So I accepted Yoon Hee-yeon’s offer.

The K-Artistry Project turned into the Erica Artistry Project, because Erica had proven creativity and Kim Minju didn’t.

‘We must maintain normalcy by any means necessary… … .’

Doing… … .

“sorry…….”

Park Su-ryeon sobbed.

It was amazing. A person who didn’t seem like he’d bleed a drop if he was pricked with a needle burst into tears because Erica said a few words.

It wasn’t Erica’s words that were hurtful.

Park Soo-ryeon has already heard similar criticism too many times.

To the people at work, to the internet public, and even to the fans… … .

What Erica said was like adding another needle to a burden that was on the verge of collapse. The weight of that one needle brought Park Soo-ryeon to her knees.

“If you understand, get up and practice again,” she should have said, but Erica couldn’t speak.

“… … .”

Instead, there was only silence.

I don’t think what I said was wrong. It was just that I felt bad for Park Soo-ryeon who was crying, so it was hard for me to push her further.

I don’t even know what to say.

Erica left the practice room with her luggage, as if running away without saying a word. Until then, Park Soo-ryeon was still sobbing.

My heart was pounding.

“Why did you come so early?”

When I returned to my accommodation, Ginger welcomed me.

“I told you I was going to be late today because I had to practice.”

“My senior said he had something to do.”

“also?”

Ginger got angry instead of Erica.

“Another Rubinstein impersonator, you idiot.”

“… …Rubinstein?”

“Senior Park Su-ryeon is my favorite pianist. She said he was my role model.”

While Erica sat at the table eating a snack, Ginger told the Rubinstein story.

“Hamida was a very famous pianist. When he played the piano, women would immediately lose their souls and fall in love with him. He was the heavyweight champion of women’s charm.”

“He’s like Casanova.”

“Rubinstein loved as if he was breathing. And that was just one day.”

“Ginger, I think you have a talent for storytelling.”

“Is that so?”

Ginger became more excited and added liveliness to the storytelling.

“When I went on tour in Spain, the guide took Rubinstein to a brothel. Pretty Spanish girls flirted with him, but Rubinstein didn’t feel like doing it. He said it was because it was too hot.”

Ginger seemed to have found the story that Park Su-ryeon told very interesting.

I remember it in pretty good detail. Or I remember it roughly and then add more details.

‘I can see why my senior said that.’

It must be a defense mechanism to rationalize his own profligate nature. That’s why he brought up stories of great men to justify his own arrogance.

The story would probably be something like this.

Pianist Rubinstein was inspired by love, and through that he was able to become a great artist… … in the same way.

“At that moment, Rubinstein was suddenly frightened.”

“… …Are you scared?”

“He’s a black man who’s afraid that women will think he’s disabled.”

“Then… … you did it under duress?”

“I played the piano.”

Rubinstein walked over to the cheap piano in the center of the store and gave a divine performance.

The gathered ladies were so entranced that they showered Rubinstein with kisses and perfumed handkerchiefs.

“Hami said that he couldn’t stand being rejected by women. He said that he was a person who lived with such obsession.”

“Is that the case for you too, senior?”

“He said he was afraid that someone might not like him. That’s why he checked it out. To me, it sounded crazy.”

“… … .”

“ah.”

Ginger went off somewhere and came back, holding a cheering stick in her hand.

“It’s the 2.0 version of the K-Force cheering stick. I received a prototype from a company employee. I haven’t received the app yet, so it’s not connected yet.”

The KARA cheering stick 2.0 had a bumpy, uneven tip instead of a clean spherical shape, resembling a tree full of leaves.

You could call it a transparent tree.

The fandom of Kaius, ‘Youth’, means youth. It seems that they adopted the cherry blossom tree as a symbol of youth.

It is polar opposite in both meaning and shape to the ‘torch’, the cheering stick of the Girls’ League.

“I think this is better than 1.0, what do you think?”

“Yeah, I think so too.”

“Should I check it right away?”

“Probably. I need to take care of my condition since the awards ceremony is coming up soon.”

Ginger was dead. It seemed like there was something she wanted to do together.

When I asked, I heard that a documentary featuring Jeong Ho-hwan was released on NFlix.

“The name is ‘Behind the K-Pop’. I wish we could watch it together. Minju and Soyou unnies watched it first without waiting for Erika unnie.”

“You waited because of me?”

Ginger smiled and waved her cheering stick. Erica smiled back.

The two lay on the sofa together and logged onto NFlix on Erica’s phone.

“Behind the K-pop… … .”

As soon as she searched, Erica was startled. Seongpil’s face was on the cover of the program.

‘Director Jeong Ho-hwan said that several producers will be coming out… … .’

As for faces, Sungpil is probably the most famous right now, so I guess his face is on the cover.

His bright face with broadcast makeup gave Erica a strange sense of alienation.

“Shouldn’t we start?”

“Oh, sorry.”

Erica turned on ‘Behind the K-Pop’.

About 1 hour and 30 minutes.

It was an opportune time.

* * *

[Nam Tae-seop/pop music critic]

Nam Tae-seop, with a tense face, explained with a gesture that was even more stiff than his expression.

[With the advent of the archive, the 4th generation girl group theory has come to the forefront in earnest.

The basis is sales volume, but you can’t divide generations based on sales volume alone.

If you look at each generation side by side, you can see that the most important criterion for distinguishing generations is the way they are expressed.

[The first generation is classic femininity.

In the second generation, in addition to the classic feminine image of innocence, a social atmosphere was formed that allowed women to express their desires, leading to the rise of the sexy concept.

These seemingly conflicting concepts are simply an extension of two stereotypes that have represented women for thousands of years.

The second generation girl groups passed through cross-editing.

We see girl groups whispering sweet nothings while wearing pure white dresses, and girl groups flaunting their sexuality in provocative outfits.

[The girl group’s way of expressing itself was all about innocence or lust.

The limitation is that it is an image that men see, not an image that women create themselves.

The imagination is being chained. It’s the producer’s imagination, not the idol’s.

This is where the paradigm shift occurs.]

YJS Entertainment CEO and general producer Lee Jun-ho.

He put his hands together and then spread them wide as if to symbolize an explosion.

[Girl crush.]

‘Intimacy’ stands on stage in the United States, giving a passionate performance to thunderous cheers.

Lee Jun-ho scratches his head while looking at it.

[Actually, it’s been a common concept overseas since the 00s. I don’t think I’m special. Many producers have tried it, and I’m a bit… ]

[The most stylish?]

[Yes, I guess you could put it that way. Oh, this is really embarrassing.]

A line of fans waiting to enter the concert hall is visible. There are not only Asians, but also Westerners and Middle Easterners.

Nam Tae-seop appears on the screen again.

[This was a revolution in that it expanded the gender spectrum of girl group fandom, which had been limited to men, to include women.

If the first and second generations were positive, the third generation would be the opposite. At this point, girl groups were able to use original images created by producers, rather than just fixed images.

It was a revolution and a new era because it liberated the imagination of producers.]

The next person to appear was Kang Sung-wook, CEO of SMS Entertainment. He raised the corners of his mouth as he listened to Nam Tae-seop’s explanation. On the contrary, his eyebrows were furrowed.

[If you explain it like this, what will I become? I’ll just be like a ghost caught in the old days.]

Next was Jeong Ho-hwan. He had a kind smile.

[Yes, the 3rd generation is complete. YJS Entertainment’s ‘Intimacy’ succeeded in expressing girl crush in the most artistic and popular form.

It’s beautiful.]

SMS Enter’s ‘Layered’ and KS Enter’s ‘B.I.S.’ are displayed on the screen.

Nam Tae-seop is looking at the screen.

[YJS Entertainment’s ‘Intimacy’ was… … the original. It was so well-made that it made other girl crush concepts look like copies.

That’s why other big companies were competitive.

SMS Enter’s ‘Layered’ has refined and developed the legacy of the second generation to the extreme.

KS Entertainment’s ‘B.I.S.’ showcased surreal artistry.

It’s not that one is superior, but they just walked different paths. They’ve all become the highest achievements and nutrients of K-pop.]

Intimacy, Layered, and B&S were each the pinnacles of their respective generations.

[If the 1st and 2nd generations are positive and the 3rd generation is anti-positive, then now there should be a union.

Isn’t it American pop music that has the deepest influence on the Korean music scene?

Pop seems to have reached a fusion point recently.

In a market where girl crush has completely taken over, the answer that pop presented was surprising.

The biggest reaction was the return to the classic female image. An example would be the ultra-feminine concept that pop stars have been trying recently.]

A performance video of a pop star who adopted a corset, stockings, and garter belt as her stage costume.

[Girl Crush has completed its historical mission.

There is no need to deliberately pursue coolness to escape the boring girl image. Now, you can just pursue the beauty you want. That is the kind of society we have become.

A situation where you can choose an image rather than being forced to do so is a union.]

A photo of an orangutan scratching its head as if to say, “So what do we do now?”

[In the 3rd generation, K-pop has simultaneously perfected the flow of pop. It has continued to chase pop, but has ended up running along the same line.

Now that there is nothing left to chase, it is time for K-pop to make its own choice.]

4th generation.

Caius, Globe, Girls League.

[What are you going to do now?]

Nam Tae-seop’s figure fades out, and a new person sits in the chair.

He straightens his tie and bows his head toward the camera.

[Hello, this is Park Seong-pil, director of Garo Enter.]

Then the scene changes again.

The new character had his hair tied back in a neat bun, and his outfit was much more free-spirited than Sungpil’s, consisting of a short-sleeved T-shirt and jeans.

[This is producer Sangyeol Yoon.]

* * *

Practicing for the HPT Music Awards.

The Girls’ League rented a basketball court and held a full practice session with dozens of assistant dancers.

It was just like a real stage, except there were no stage effects.

“Take a break!”

Because of the practice that was done so many times in a row, everyone, whether they were idols or backup dancers, collapsed.

A&R team member Lee Jae-ho chatted with Atlas CEO Cho Jin-man while watching the recorded video.

In the past, the Girls’ League would have also taken an interest in it, but that is no longer the case.

Because I don’t know what I’m going to do anyway.

And I know that Jo Jin-man and the A&R team will do a great job.

[It’s hard to understand.]

The Girls’ League, which had been focusing all its energy on resting, immediately reacted to Seongpil’s voice heard from somewhere.

The source of the sound was Rika. She was watching a documentary on NFlix on her phone.

“Are you seeing that again?”

“This part is the most fun!”

This is a scene where the interview scenes between Sungpil and Sangyeol Yoon are shown continuously. Rika says that it’s fun because they’re like enemies fighting each other.

I don’t know how many times I’ve watched it already.

[What does ‘Our Producing’ feel like?

It’s like a pianist telling the tuner, ‘Make the bass notes darker and the treble notes more transparent.’

Although the expression is awkward, I think it is the role of me as the executive producer and the A&R team to understand that. I believe that there is a piece of jewel in that awkward expression.

Something that you can best express yourself because you created it yourself… … .]

When Seongpil speaks like this, Yoon Sangyeol pops up in the next scene.

[I think idols are artists. They are artists in the sense that they have mastered some kind of skill.

And skill and technique are the first responsibility and duty given to artists, regardless of the field of art.

The first thing is to be able to complete the form of art. Everything else is secondary to an idol.

If idols call themselves artists, and want to be respected for it, I think they should have the minimum qualifications of an artist.

And that’s everything.]

“Oh, counter punch.”

Before we knew it, Joara had started watching the debate between Seongpil and Sangyeol Yoon, sitting right next to Rika.

Other members also gathered one by one.

[If technique is everything.]

“We fight back.”

[That would be just like a technician. Idols are also entertainers.

Why do ministers get appointed by the president? Because they need people who can read the public sentiment and have public support. If the qualifications of a minister are not technical bureaucrats, then they are no different from vice ministers.

Saying that technique is everything to idols is no different from saying that idols are technical bureaucrats of art.

What people want from their idols isn’t just technical perfection. They want stories, the idols’ stories.

It’s individuality.]

“This part here.”

Rika was quite excited.

“This is the real thing!”

“Who, sir?”

“I hate to admit it, but it’s Yoon Sang-yeol.”

[What makes a musician memorable in history?

It’s been on television a few times.

How many SNS followers do you have?

How many times has it been re-ited?

All that is secondary.

The attention that pours in like the Milky Way is soon forgotten. It’s like a high-culture magazine printed on high-quality paper that passes through people’s hands and then gets thrown into the trash.

Placing stars into the celestial sphere and turning them into constellations is not about getting attention from the press, media, or social media.

It’s the stage, the music, the dance and the song.

So we have to practice. Towards that one stage that will touch everyone’s heart.]

“It’s a bit tiring.”

“I guess it was scripted?”

“I like the next one better.”

Jang Ha-yang rested his chin on Rika’s shoulder.

“I like what Director Park said better.”

“Me too!”

“You just said that Yoon Sang-yeol was better.”

“Ara-chan, read this flow! Every time we exchange blows, we release a burst of energy!”

[I know a pianist. He told me the story of Chet Baker.

Chet Baker’s first album was still a young album. He just blew it without any plan, without thinking that he would fail.

It sounds like it’s going to go on and then suddenly stop, so it gets fainter towards the end, but it’s a straight sound.

He described it as the sound of youth, saying that it was not technically complete, but had a soul that was more than that.

I totally agree.]

[Can you give me an example?]

[Oh, Ara singing ‘Dance With Me’ at Girls’ League’s first concert ‘Domino Theory’. That’s the sound of youth.]

Everyone looked at Joara.

Joara turned her head, her cheeks slightly blushing.

“Ara-chan, you’re young!”

[The perennial baker adds.]

“Sir, your ultimate skill is coming out.”

“Ara-chan, are you embarrassed? You’re cute!”

[I stand on stage with my body ruined by alcohol and drugs.

It’s not like I’m in a situation where I can expect any technical skills. I’ve lost a few teeth and my lung capacity is probably worse than that of a neighborhood kindergartener.

Although he has been a bit of a slacker in the past, it is absurd to compare him to the world’s best performers.

And yet, the sound of that feeble trumpet resonates, the soul.

The nutrients of the fertile era that his soul absorbed were repeatedly absorbed into music over time.

His music was just a means of expressing that soul. A single drop of essence squeezed out of a person’s life. People are moved by the trumpet he played in his later years because they see the life contained in that essence.

Music is illogical, and it draws its power from the illogical.

It’s a story.

What I want to show you is the essence and story of such a soul.

[It’s an idol story.]

Certainly, Seongpil’s argument struck a chord with the hearts of the Girls’ League.

Because they were the ones who proved Seongpil’s claim.

In the minds of the Girls’ League, the debate had already ended with Sungpil’s victory. However, Yoon Sang-yeol in the documentary did not give up.

[The birth of professional classical musicians came with the death of composers.

The performers at that time were also composers and only played their own songs.

But since the composer who was supposed to perform the piece had passed away, people had to look for a replacement.

The professional musicians who emerged with death, unlike their predecessors of the past, served music rather than themselves.

I am…….]

Yoon Sang-yeol on the screen hesitated slightly.

[I hope so, Globe too.

I hope that the Globe will remain the ultimate stage, so that people in the future will yearn for a living Globe, and try to revive it in their own time, even if it means forcing it.

I hope Globe has that kind of vitality. I don’t think that’s possible through social media activities or media appearances…

So, what I’m hoping for is, no.

I think that’s the ultimate stage that all idols should pursue.]

The screen changes back to Seongpil.

The production team asked Sungpil a question. What is the ideal idol image he wants, or what kind of image idols should pursue?

And then he shows Yoon Sang-yeol’s interview and asks.

Which methodology is correct?

Seongpil chuckles and lowers his head slightly.

Then the screen changes.

Yoon Sang-yeol is shown Seong-pil’s interview. He did not worry like Seong-pil.

He said this like an adventurous student who automatically spits out the answers when the teacher asks him a question.

[I am right. That is why I pursue this path.]

The screen changes again.

Seongpil is still thinking with his head down. He pauses, saying, “Ah… …,” and then raises his head with a bright smile.

“I’ll practice again!”

“Ah, this is the highlight!”

* * *

[The choice of the 4th generation K-pop producers was to deepen the concept.

The general trend in the industry is that when there is a successful product, imitations of it are constantly produced.

As an industry grows larger, it produces more and more copies to maintain its quantitative expansion. Why do we need to do something different when there are already successful examples?

In popular music, this flow is almost like a law.

However, K-pop producers saw the end of the 3rd generation and started creating other weapons to counter them.

The stages of Kairos, Globe, and the Girls’ League appear one after another.

[Cayers adopted the myth concept, narrative, and worldview.

And by refining the musical experiments attempted by ‘B.I.S.’ into a more perfect form, it pursues the unity and completeness of narrative and music.

The aesthetics of producing are brought to the extreme in the arduous and relentless effort to bridge the gap between artistry and popularity, and in that precarious tightrope walk.

[Globe symbolizes the perfection of the K-pop industry. Globe members exist as professional performers, which is the equivalent of reversing the idol image of a comprehensive entertainer.

The choice that those who have reached union can make is a return to the past or a reproduction and development of the past.

The blood, sweat, and tears of idols, who are the professionals behind their performances and a pillar of the K-pop industry, are distilled into the essence.

[Girls League brought humanity to the forefront. By expressing personalities rather than idol characters, they encouraged fans to immerse themselves in their human stories.

‘Our Producing’ will be the completion of a project to bring down idols who are worshipped to the ground.

[It’s a bit too much to compare him to Socrates, who brought philosophy down from heaven to earth…] Oh, yes, it’s just my personal fandom haha… [

Kaius’ 3rd regular album ‘Helios’.

Globe’s 2nd regular album ‘Chemical Impact’.

Girls’ League ‘Our Producing Season 3, Song for People’.

[What reached the peak was

The second generation is innocent.

The third generation is girl crush.

The 4th generation is… … .

Is it an elaborate worldview and perfect character performance?

Does it highlight the fact that they are professional performers and declare that they are the origin of the first-generation idol industry?

Is it an expression of individual creativity, represented by each idol’s personality?

We don’t know the answer yet, but I’m sure it exists in each producer’s head.]

Seongpil appears again.

He is asked questions.

[Producer Park Sung-pil is considered one of the best producers of this generation.

Attitude, performance, methodology, many people in the industry are influenced by you, Producer.

The fruits that the producer has achieved are incredible compared to any other producer so far.

The Girls’ League has achieved such great results that it is hard to find a comparison.

First girl group to reach #1 on Billboard 200.

Perhaps these achievements are a manifestation of the producer’s beliefs and philosophy.

then.]

Are you sure that your solution is the best?

Do you believe that the answer he chose is correct?

In other words, do you think other methods are wrong?

The answer that Yoon Sang-yeol gave earlier quickly passes by.

[I am right.]

The screen switches back to Seongpil, who is being questioned again.

He is worried.

Finally, he raised his head.

Seongpil answers lightly to a question that seems to be intended to bring out a provocative scene.

[I am nothing.

All that I have accomplished, all that I have done, it is all for nothing.]

Is it humility?

For the production team, this is a disappointing answer.

But his answer didn’t end there.

[There is no such thing as an achievement that is accomplished alone.

Because success is influenced by so many factors outside of your control.

The reason Girls’ League was able to succeed was probably because there was a foundation laid by senior idols.]

From the first generation to the third generation, countless videos of idols pass by.

[It is also thanks to many senior producers that I am able to sit here as if I am something.

No matter how many albums the group they produced sold, how high they ranked on the music charts, or whether they were ultimately remembered or forgotten by people.

Who was right, who was wrong, what should have been done this time, what should have been done that way, it’s all a result-oriented story. Anyone can say that.

The real challenge is trying.

All of the seniors who created groups before me were pioneers and visionaries.

I guess I’m just standing on the foundation they laid.

I am.]

we are.

Producers and idols who achieved huge success in the 4th generation.

[All of this is just a byproduct of the great success that our seniors achieved by taking risks.

It is just a tiny echo of the cry that echoed through the ages.

Without them, I am nothing.]

YJS Entertainment’s Lee Jun-ho looks at the screen. He lets out a short ‘ha’ laugh after hearing what Sung-pil is saying.

[Ugh, it’s creepy.]

Lee Jun-ho makes an exaggerated expression, swiping his arms as if he’s getting goosebumps. He may be ogling, but it’s definitely not a face he dislikes.

Next, SMS Enter Kang Sung-wook’s face is shown. He playfully makes a gesture of wiping away tears from his eyes with his index finger.

I really started crying later.

[Young and MZ friend is really deep in thought… … .]

Lastly, it was Jeong Ho-hwan.

He stares at the screen as if in a trance. His hands on his knees turn into fists.

[ah…….]

A groan of unknown meaning.

That was all he could react to.

After a while, he bit his lower lip. Then he slowly lowered his head.

[Even if the idol I produced sells 10 million albums, I can never be greater than them.

I can’t be more right than them.

You can’t surpass them.

It is an honor just to be breathing the same era as them.]

* * *

A hotel in Tokyo, Japan.

KS Entertainment’s artists were waiting in the lobby, ready to go out.

The outside entrance was lined with fans. Their screams could be heard all the way into the lobby, ringing in my ears.

Erica found B.I.S. among many seniors.

“Hey, Su-ryun is now 31 years old? This is crazy, this is crazy!”

“Auntie, aunty!”

“Wouldn’t it be better to start looking for a husband rather than a lover?”

“How long do you think you can live like that? Huh?! Come to your senses, please!”

Park Su-ryeon, who was used to being the eldest sister who was teased by the members, showed no reaction.

“I…….”

When Erica appeared, the members who had been beating up Park Soo-ryeon immediately shut their mouths.

“Senior Trainee? Can I talk to you for a moment… .”

“okay.”

As Park Soo-ryeon followed Erica to the corner of the lobby as if she had been waiting, the members started whispering.

“Now you’re not satisfied with men, so you’re seducing women?”

“Your junior? You’ve been turned around.”

Beating Park Soo-ryeon had already become a traditional game within the BBS. And the BBS members had the right to do it.

How much effort has been put into protecting Park Su-ryeon from gossip since the past?

And how many of Park Soo-ryeon’s ex-boyfriends did you meet on stage?

In order to prevent any awkward situations that might occur on stage, the members of B.I.S. have always acted as a wall surrounding Park Soo-ryeon.

“You two seem to get along well. I guess you have some popularity with your senior.”

Erica, who came to the corner, first praised Park Su-ryeon.

“Does this look good to you?”

Erica was left speechless when Park Soo-ryeon coldly snapped at her.

“Why did you call me? Do you want to curse at me again?”

“… …I want to apologize.”

“I’ll take it. Okay?”

When Park Soo-ryeon turned her back coldly, Erica grabbed her wrist. A scream was heard from the members of B.I.S.

Other senior and junior idols also looked towards Erika and Park Soo-ryeon, wondering what was going on.

Not only that, but all the staff members who assist the idols also looked this way.

Erica killed her voice and spoke as quickly as she could.

“I said things I shouldn’t have said. Album sales and all that stuff are meaningless.”

“No, it makes sense. Oh, sorry. How could I talk back to a superstar who sold 1.05 million copies in the first week? Will you forgive me?”

“… … If it weren’t for the foundation laid by our seniors, our achievements would have been nothing. That’s because there are special characteristics of the times.”

“Have you seen ‘Behind the K-Pop’? He repeats Sungpil’s words like a parrot.”

“… …Please forgive me.”

Park Soo-ryeon sighed deeply. She put her hand, which was spread out like a megaphone, to her ear and tilted her head toward Erica.

And shouted.

“What? I can’t hear you?!”

Erica’s face instantly turned red.

I feel like everyone is focusing their attention on me.

But there’s no escape from here.

It is clear that he made a mistake.

I feel it deep in my bones.

The last part of ‘Behind the K-Pop’. Erica shed tears after seeing Sungpil expressing his gratitude to his senior.

He reflected on his past mistakes and vowed to definitely ask Park Su-ryeon for forgiveness.

So, it’s okay.

“Hey, forgive me! I was wrong!”

Park Su-ryeon’s face turned pale.

The managers rushed in and pushed Erica and Park Su-ryeon away.

“Soo-ryeon, calm down! What if you say something to your junior again? I told you not to do it anymore!”

“Oh, no!”

“You still haven’t fixed your bad habit? Why are you doing this when there are so many other people watching you?”

“No, it wasn’t me who did it, it was him… … !”

“You want to see Director Nam Hong-beom again?!”

“Nooooooo!”

The misunderstanding was resolved a little later.

Park Soo-ryeon faced Erica again and poked her shoulder with her index finger.

“Is it fun when I eat shit?”

“Ah, sir, senior… … .”

“Yeah, I ordered it.”

Park Soo-ryeon grabbed Erica’s shoulder and hugged her lightly.

“I’ll accept your apology. Let’s do well on stage today.”

“……yes!”

The first ones to leave for Tokyo Dome, where the concert was being held, were Darkest’s Ha Min and Young Won. The sedan carrying them arrived, and other cars lined up behind them.

So the seniors left the lobby one by one and got into the car.

Caius was the last one.

As if blessing soldiers heading to the battlefield, Erica took in the faces of her seniors heading to Tokyo Dome.

A sense of duty burned in her chest.

‘Today’s stage, it has to be a success.’

It’s not about achieving success, it’s about making tens of thousands of people scream in joy at Tokyo Dome.

The special stage of the two is the fastest among KS Entertainment artists. In other words, it is a signal flare.

‘This year should be the year of KS Entertainment.’

The ones who will be the start are Erica of Kaius and Park Su-ryeon of B.I.S.

You absolutely must do well.

‘This year is the year of KS Entertainment… … .’

At that moment, Seongpil’s face and the faces of the five members of the Girls’ League passed by like a panorama.

Girls’ League’s ‘Song for People’.

1 million copies.

iTube views surpass 100 million in one week.

First girl group to reach #1 on Billboard 200.

And the back of Jeong Ho-hwan leaving the company… … .

“Cause!”

At the manager’s call, Erica took a deep breath. She took a rough step forward.

“Let’s go, guys.”

This year is the year of KS Entertainment.

* * *

At this very moment, Korea’s top producers were watching the same broadcast.

YJS Entertainment’s Lee Jun-ho rented out a rooftop bar he had personally invested in for a day. Inside the empty bar, he watched the HPT Music Awards on a large screen.

He slurped down drinks from the bartender and watched the idols appear on the red carpet one after another. The moderately drunken feeling warmed his chest.

“It’s cool, it’s pretty… … .”

As I looked around at the idols, something I had heard from Hong Gyu-heon, the CEO of Garo Entertainment a few months ago, struck me.

I asked if he ran away because he was scared.

Lee Jun-ho chuckled.

“… … Sir, you can’t. The chairman said not to let anyone in… … .”

His mind, clouded by alcohol, was a little late in picking up external information. Lee Jun-ho looked in the direction of the sound.

The personal assistant, or errand boy, who had been stationed at the entrance, broke through without stopping a single person. Just when he was thinking about cutting it off, that person came and stood in front of Lee Jun-ho.

It was Soeun, the leader of ‘Intimacy’.

“Sir, let me speak.”

“… … ?”

“When are we coming back?”

Lee Jun-ho turned his eyes back to the screen without looking at her. Usually, this would make So-eun angry. There was even a time when he grabbed her by the collar.

But this time, I just sighed.

This is the reaction of someone who has given up everything.

“This is the last one. If you don’t give me a specific comeback schedule, I won’t renew my contract.”

“Look over there.”

Lee Jun-ho pointed to the screen.

The Girls’ League was coming in.

“It’s so beautiful, isn’t it?”

“Yes, it’s over now. Goodbye.”

“Should we get them? They’re small and medium-sized. It’s unusual. What do you think?”

Soeun bowed her head and left.

Lee Jun-ho took a sip of his drink and sat down on his chair. His secretary ran over and knelt down next to him, meeting his gaze.

“Mr. Chairman, shouldn’t we catch him?”

“If they hit the target.”

“yes?”

“If they target me, I’ll catch them.”

* * *

Kang Sung-wook of SMS Entertainment watched the HPT Music Awards alone in his living room.

The family members are either out on business or locked in their rooms.

SMS Entertainment’s idols began to appear on the red carpet one by one. They smiled golden smiles at the cameras and fans as they had been taught.

“Oh my, good job my kids!”

The daughter, who came out to drink water, clicked her tongue at her father. The daughter and her workaholic father have not been on good terms since long ago.

He may be the type of person who spends more time with idols than with his family.

Kang Sung-wook continued to watch television, probably because he was used to his daughter being treated like that.

“Oh my, how can he be so good at something so young?”

Kang Sung-wook was always impressed by idols who handled media attention so well.

Especially the archives.

These are the youngest members of SMS Entertainment. They are children that I wouldn’t mind putting in my eyes, and they are so precious that if I bite them, I’ll die because it hurts so much.

They stood on the red carpet with slightly stiff gestures, waving their hands briskly in all directions.

“Yeah, at the photo zone, like that, good… … .”

The entrance of SMS Enter Idols is over.

Kang Sung-wook swallowed dry saliva and headed to the refrigerator. As he opened a pack of protein drinks and gulped them down, a loud cheer erupted from the television.

Was the remote control malfunctioning? Or was the TV broken? Kang Sung-wook ran to the TV in a panic and saw an idol on the screen.

“The volume… is the same?”

And the screen settings will remain the same.

I had the illusion that it was brighter than before.

* * *

Jeong Ho-hwan’s wife felt good.

At this time of year, my husband would usually go out. He would go out and have company dinners with his coworkers.

I asked if it would matter if I didn’t go since I have the age and position, and they said there was a program I had to watch with the company people.

That was happening in my living room right now.

This is the HPT Music Awards.

“Are they BIS?”

My wife would recite the names of each KS Entertainment group as they came out.

It was as if he was asking, ‘Did I do well?’, so Jeong Ho-hwan had to praise him with a smile every time.

“pretty.”

“Honey, will you only do it when you’re young?”

“What? Right now? You’re saying I’m worse than him?”

“Ah, ahh… … .”

Jeong Ho-hwan recalled a sentence from Zorba the Greek. Women are creatures who want to look beautiful even before they die… … .

“Is it, is it similar now… …?”

“hmm.”

Fortunately, his wife forgave Jeong Ho-hwan.

Park Su-ryeon of B1A4, who dared to compare herself to a woman who was once called the most beautiful woman in South Korea and said that they were ‘similar’.

“Are they Butes? Hey, do you remember me? He was that guy who wore a suit jacket and showed off his chest like a man. Right?”

“Uh, yeah… … .”

“It’s still cold today, so dress warmly.”

He broke my heart so shamelessly, la… … .

If Yoon Hee-yeon heard that, she would have screamed at the top of her lungs. What do you know? If you say it’s shameful, then I’m a pervert for wearing that outfit. Do you know how many fans’ hearts were touched by that outfit?

“Well, my husband is more handsome.”

“Uh, uh… … .”

“In the old days, yes. Is it similar now? No.”

It was my wife’s revenge. She said it was similar to Park Su-ryeon earlier.

In the past, it wasn’t just an empty phrase to say that he was better looking than the leader of Butes… In the past, Jung Ho-hwan was actually better looking than most idols.

It was so bad that Chairman Moon Gyu-wan even tried to carry out a plan to just debut Jung Ho-hwan.

Jung Ho-hwan is a man who almost became the first self-produced idol.

“Oh, I know their names! Caius, Erica, Ginger, Minju, Soyou. Right?”

His wife looked at Jeong Ho-hwan again, smiling brightly.

Jeong Ho-hwan nodded with the corners of his lips raised. Then he gently stroked his wife’s hair.

“Honey, you have a good memory too.”

“I remember it because it was my husband’s business.”

All of KS Entertainment’s idols walked the red carpet and passed the photo zone.

Now, idols from other agencies are coming in.

My wife no longer mentioned the names of her idols. She just said that they were all pretty, handsome, not as good as when I was younger, but not as good as my husband.

Then, my wife pretended to know about a certain idol.

“That’s the girl from the car commercial. She, she broke the car window. Who, who is that? Snow… … white… … Ha-yang! Right? Oh, I remembered the group name too. Girl’s League Ha-yang, right? You said I looked like her when I was young.”

The wife also wanted to compliment Jung Ho-hwan. However, Jung Ho-hwan just stared blankly at the screen.

My wife got angry right away.

“Why? Are you speechless because she’s so pretty? Are you going to start a family with her and move out? Why? Are you here? With me? Yes?”

Jeong Ho-hwan still had no answer.

The wife stopped playing around.

“self?”

Suddenly, tears welled up in Jeong Ho-hwan’s eyes. His wife hugged her husband in shock.

“What’s wrong? Why are you crying? Suddenly? Why?!”

Jeong Ho-hwan rubbed his eyes and soon burst into sobs. His wife, not knowing what was going on, tried to comfort him.

“Turn it off, TV, turn it off… … .”

Now it was the limit.

The screen that had been showing the glamorous idol and dreams was dyed black like Jeong Ho-hwan’s vision.

* * *

In front of the lounge on the first floor of Garo Enter.

Hong Gyu-heon and executives from Garo Entertainment gathered in front of the television, drinking alcohol.

While watching the idols’ positions, Min Kyung-seop shouted loudly.

“It’s coming, it’s coming, it’s coming!”

A black limousine stopped in front of the red carpet. Reporters and fans caused a huge uproar at the appearance of such an unconventional entity as a limousine.

Who on earth will come out?

“Girls League Kitaaaah (Here we go)!”

Rika’s smooth legs in heels were revealed, and she jumped out with her arms outstretched.

Even though it was buried under the screams of fans and the sound of camera shutters, I could tell what she was saying by the shape of her lips.

[Shoujo Renmega Kita (The Girls’ League Has Come)!]

The volume of the cheers is incomparable to that of before.

The reporters from Korea were so overwhelmed that they couldn’t even press the shutter and just looked around.

It was truly a cheer that shook the heavens and the earth.

When Rika didn’t move away from the car door, Joara pushed her away and came forward. Following her, the other members also appeared at the entrance of the red carpet.

The MCs who were broadcasting the red carpet scene were flustered by the unexpected reaction and could not continue their conversation properly. The microphones that were recording the sound of the scene even produced a crackling noise.

“Overwhelming.”

Hong Gyu-heon commented on the atmosphere on site.

Everyone agreed.

Seongpil took a sip of beer.

‘It’s the beginning.’

A scene that has the attention of the K-pop world focused on.

Today, a new superstar is born.

HPT Music Awards, opening ceremony.