LIGHT NOVEL Chapter 112 - Kickoff (2)
The new dynasty channel, recently launched on terrestrial television.
Now revealing a day in the life of the fresh-faced, brand new idol group Spark, who have just joined the channel!
“Oh…”
Lee Cheonghyeon let out a short exclamation. I couldn’t tell if it was a positive sign or not.
“Hmm… Isn’t that a bit too ordinary?”
“That’s why I prepared this.”
Jeong Seongbin also reacted similarly to Lee Cheonghyeon.
I flipped to the next page.
Under the title ‘How to Add Tension to a Loose Concept,’ a picture of a handsome actor in a white t-shirt and jeans was placed next to a picture of Hellas’ Polo, taken from their official website.
“Sometimes, when you do this, hyung, I feel like you can see the future. Hyung, how far into the future can you see?”
“I can see myself having a one-on-one meeting with you soon. Stay behind after the meeting.”
Lee Cheonghyeon immediately shut his mouth. Yeah, you don’t like meetings either, do you?
“First, I’ll explain this image.”
Spark’s foundation was laid in youth. No one would deny that.
Then, why had youth, innocence, purity, and so on, maintained their position as dominant themes for so long?
“Everyone’s heard the saying, ‘The most Korean thing is the most global thing.’ So, what do you think is the most ‘youthful’ image?”
While contemplating the concept for our self-PR stage, I pondered the dictionary definition of youth over and over.
The spring when new buds sprout green.
The young age of life, or the most shining time.
The essence of youth was vitality, dynamism, and…
“An extremely pure and beautiful image. I think that’s another expression of youth.”
Beautiful even without elaborate adornment. Something that stood out even if just placed in a field.
Something that appealed to everyone without any exception!
“And you guys happen to have the perfect ingredient for this youthful narrative.”
“What is it?”
“Your faces.”
Untainted skin like an untouched snowy field.
A smile like a bottle of sparkling water on a winter ice rink, just by breathing.
A physique reminiscent of a strong, solid glacier on the cold Arctic sea.
So youthful they appeared almost excessively blue. Just put them in white t-shirts, and you got yourself an instant ion drink commercial.
‘Part of the reason I chose this route is because it’s awkward to ask for a big budget right now.’
With the company in turmoil due to Yoo Hansoo and the production team’s attempted embezzlement, it became difficult to ask for money for a one-time stage.
That guy was a stumbling block in everything. I’d get rid of him somehow.
“It’s like a high-level player wandering around a map wearing only a tank top…”
“I’m not sure I understand the analogy, but I think you got it right, Seongbin.”
I pointed to the picture of the handsome actor.
“Once in the intro, once in the ending. Show off your faces to a shocking degree to imprint what kind of team Spark is… That’s my plan.”
Kang Kiyeon, who was in the corner, raised his hand.
“Even so, all the participants are idols. Will this attack work?”
“What?”
It was such an arrogant statement. I was so dumbfounded I couldn’t even laugh.
Even in the nonsensical music videos produced by Yoo Hansoo in the past…
≫ Who cares if the MV is s***
Their faces already have a narrative
…Spark received such comments.
And what? You’re worried about whether your face attack will work?
“If I were you, Kiyeon, I’d use this opportunity to raise my visual score and figure out how to show the world how precious my face is.”
It seemed Kang Kiyeon’s aesthetic sense had become strange from hanging around Lee Cheonghyeon. I understood that, but I was so annoyed that I decided to give him two vitamin packs tonight.
“I don’t need to explain the idol part, right? Just wear idol-like outfits and perform well as usual. But remember, the ending has to be more youthful than anyone else’s.”
“I get what you’re saying, but what does this have to do with being rookie idols? Isn’t it closer to the on-and-off concept of professional idols?”
Choi Jeho asked a good question.
“You can’t be professionals. I’ll leave it to you and Kiyeon to figure out how to appeal with a casual image, but prioritize the rookie idol concept absolutely.”
“You said the other participants have similar experience levels. Wouldn’t it be better to create a stage that’s undeniably well done?”
“Of course, the stage itself has to be well done like always. I told you, it’s about ‘appealing’ with a casual image.”
“I don’t really… understand what that means.”
“It’s okay if you don’t understand now.”
No team would gamble from their first broadcast. They’d stick to familiar songs and concepts they had done before.
There were two ways for Spark to stand out among them.
First, we had to do what others wouldn’t
And second…
“In the end, we will become the identity of IDC.”
…We had to grab the narrative.
A narrative inseparable from the program.
* * *
Time flew by, and the day of IDC’s first recording arrived.
We, who had been confined to UA’s basement practice room only eating salads, finally saw the sunlight again.
Until now, we would go to the practice room at dawn and return home in the middle of the night, seeing nothing but stars. It felt like the Hanpyeong Industry all over again.
Still, perhaps thanks to ensuring we slept well and exercised diligently, the boys’ faces had a unique glow.
Well, they had to be. Today’s stage would be completely ruined without their faces.
I, too, had stopped monitoring and focused on regaining my own healthy complexion for the past few days.
There weren’t any dramatic effects, but judging by the reduced force with which the staff member rubbed under my eyes, it wasn’t a wasted effort.
Especially since the system reappeared after a long absence…
+
[SYSTEM] Work instructions from the ‘Superior’ have arrived.
▶ Assistant Manager Kim, why are you doing things I didn’t ask for? Don’t you have any work? Should I give you more?
+
…and almost ruined everything by picking a fight. I don’t know why this bastard suddenly appeared and acted up in broad daylight.
“Hyung, what do you think the studio atmosphere will be like today?”
Lee Cheonghyeon, sitting next to me, asked, putting his arm around my shoulder.
“Appropriately fake and pleasant. We’ll probably get some side-eye. And we’ll be the only pure summer boys amidst all the flashy outfits.”
“Ugh, I shouldn’t have asked!”
Well, who told you to treat me like a fortune-telling octopus?
And how could I predict this, you ask? It was so obvious I didn’t have to see it.
As expected, from the moment we entered, the gazes directed at us were strange.
It was a kind of preemptive strike. But since they were doing this with glittering faces, it wasn’t very threatening. Rather than being intimated, we should feel embarrassed for showing up looking so casual.
And honestly, it was not like Spark had ever caused an insubordination scandal or been caught badmouthing someone. We’d got nothing to hide, so we could hold our heads high—simple as that.
We bowed our heads energetically and respectfully to the seniors who were already there, then took our seats.
Finally, with Parthe entering and grabbing all the attention, all six seats were filled.
In such a large space, there were roughly fifty men. I couldn’t help but get reminded of the army.
While reminiscing about the barracks days, the large screen lit up.
On the screen, which had been displaying the group names as the participants entered, a new word appeared: ‘MC’.
Then, the center of the screen split open.
“Huh?”
“Wow!”
And from behind the screen, someone walked to the center of the stage.
“Hello, IDC participants. I’m Hellas’ Yur, the MC for IDC!”
He was the leader of Hellas, a boy group from MYTH Entertainment and MYTH’s most successful project, which had been incredibly popular until a few years ago.
His meticulous self-management, a fate of all idols, was evident in his clean-cut face and impeccably tailored clothes.
‘MYTH’s influence… is no joke.’
Even as I bowed at a 90-degree angle with the members, my mind raced, trying to figure out the extent of MYTH’s involvement in IDC.
Even when other programs were caught in manipulation controversies, IDC remained intact, so they probably didn’t manipulate the ranking.
I suspected they might have only intervened up to the point of selecting the participants.
No team here could beat Parthe in a fandom war.
“I’m also excited to write a new history with all of you. I believe you’re all looking forward to the stages that will unfold.”
The proceedings flowed smoothly after that.
Yur’s hosting was so skillful that it felt awkward to even argue about the fairness of having an MC from the same agency as some of the participants.
Although I had engaged in fervent proxy fanboying because of Manager Nam, my observation target was always Spark. So I didn’t know about the IDC’s MC, who hadn’t appeared with Spark before.
If I had known I’d be frequently involved with a specific group like this, I would have paid more attention to entertainment news.
Just as I was thinking to myself that I’d have to talk only about IDC the next time I went to Polo’s radio show.
My eyes met with Mr. Yur’s as he made eye contact with each of the participants while continuing his speech.
It was understandable that our eyes met since he was exchanging eye contact with everyone, but—
‘Didn’t he just smile strangely?’
I was so good at reading expressions that if there were a facial expression reading certification, I would easily get a first-class certificate. There was no way my eyes could misread that slight change in expression.
Before I could dwell on it, Mr. Yur’s gaze moved elsewhere.
It couldn’t be helped. If I had been singled out, I’d have to avoid leaving the waiting room for a while.
* * *
Mr. Yur briefly explained the program.
There wasn’t anything special.
At this point in time, IDC lacked any unique ideas, simply adopting a Joseon Dynasty concept to differentiate itself among the overflowing survival shows.
Perhaps the only significant thing about them was their grand declaration to block overseas voting, claiming they wanted a true showdown between K-pop idols.
Though ironically, after the program became successful, they seemed to regret losing voting revenue and quietly opened the path for overseas voting in season 2 under the guise of cultural exchange.
But at least in Season 1, such a thing did not happen.
This was the very reason I brought Spark to IDC. Since the production team proactively excluded overseas market intervention—where groups with quick debuts typically had an advantage—it created an optimal environment for Spark, the naive youngest member unaware of global affairs.
Additionally, several other details were mentioned, such as awarding an ‘
Eosahwa
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