"Hello, I'm Bongsik!"
1.4 million subscriber YouTuber Han Bongsik looked at the camera with a smiling face and bowed at a 90-degree angle.
An unchanging greeting that hadn't changed since he had 140 subscribers.
His attitude, which remained unchanged unlike his subscriber count, appealed to viewers in its own way.
"The trailer for the drama I've been looking forward to came out today."
- Ah, trying to ride the Joo Seo-yeon wave again?
- Honestly, she pushed you over 400k, so you have to ride it.
- Not sure about Sky Garden though.
- But the song was good, who's the singer?
At such viewer reactions, Bongsik wondered what kind of drama it was for the response "don't really know" to come out.
The fact that the song was mentioned rather than the drama's content made it feel like there wasn't much anticipation for it.
'How could that be?'
Bongsik is a YouTuber who mainly reviews movies and dramas.
However, it wasn't like he didn't watch other broadcasts.
Especially Joo Seo-yeon's.
Bongsik never missed a broadcast featuring Seo-yeon.
Honestly, at first, because his views skyrocketed thanks to Seo-yeon, he had the intention of milking it, but recently that wasn't the case.
Bongsik had sincerely become a fan of Seo-yeon.
Truly.
'Not being able to go to the last fan sign event became a lifelong regret.'
Even Bongsik, who enjoyed watching
Anyway, the reason Bongsik became a fan of Seo-yeon wasn't simply because she acted well.
Foresight.
Seo-yeon had curiously good foresight.
There were cases where Seo-yeon covered with her acting skills, but usually, a work's success isn't determined solely by an individual's acting.
Seo-yeon's acting was excellent, but it shone because the work itself was equally excellent.
Of course, Bongsik acknowledged Seo-yeon's outstanding acting skills that didn't match her age.
However, he evaluated her foresight highly, more than just that.
'But this time, Sky Garden is subtle?'
The meaning of this
Until now, villain roles, and important supporting roles.
Well, in the case of
But
It's the drama where Seo-yeon takes on the main character role for the first time.
For an actor, the work where they take on the main character for the first time is bound to be special.
The influence on the industry is the same.
Just try failing miserably in the work where you play the main character for the first time.
Naturally, from the standpoint of PDs and directors, they would reconsider the actor a little.
'That's strange.'
As much as Bongsik acknowledged Seo-yeon's foresight, it was difficult for him to understand such viewer reactions.
At the same time, curiosity also arose.
Just what is it like to cause such a reaction.
"First, let's take a look. I'm curious what kind of acting our Actor Joo! will show this time."
- Bongsik, aren't you going to review variety shows?
- This Golden Duckling was fun though.
"Yes, yes, I won't. I'm a movie and drama reviewer, right? Even though I'm a fan of Actor Joo Seo-yeon, variety shows aren't my thing."
Of course, Bongsik had watched all of Joo Seo-yeon's episodes on
Even putting off his own broadcast to watch it live.
'Actor Joo Seo-yeon's family has good vibes.'
So maybe that's why a daughter like Joo Seo-yeon came out of them.
However, it was unexpected that her father, Young-bin, was a developer at Raywill Games.
For Bongsik, who once played Raywill Games' games enthusiastically, it was quite a strange feeling.
Anyway.
"This isn't just a simple youth drama, is it?"
The played trailer for
Currently, the second day of release.
Its views were now exceeding 300,000.
It's not bad.
But if you ask if it's good, it's just mediocre.
"The views for the recently released Mon-Tue drama trailer on KMB... have already exceeded 800,000."
Among Bongsik's acquaintances, there was someone who worked at KMB.
Recently, it seemed quite noisy internally, talking about dividing the drama department.
Especially, this Mon-Tue and Wed-Thu drama seemed to be a fairly important index for that internal competition.
Looking only at the current results, the Wed-Thu drama
'Grand Game, was it.'
A drama that satirizes modern people's money-is-everything mindset.
Furthermore, it featured the hottest actress lately, Go Mi-eun, as the female lead and appealed massively.
- Honestly, Grand Game looks more fun.
- For real ㅋㅋㅋ
- Honestly, students as main characters is so boring.
Seeing such viewer reactions, Bongsik continued reviewing the trailer.
"The color tone feels much murkier than I thought. They put in effort on this side too. It feels almost like a movie."
- One side is money-worship and this side is academic background.
- But the male lead on this side is clearly ambiguous.
That was true.
The casting for
Naturally, there were many who were unfamiliar to the viewers.
And the reaction of being unfamiliar was a very dangerous evaluation for a drama that must appeal to the public.
"The drama definitely feels a bit unfamiliar. You see, usually, how much it immerses the viewers in episode 1 is important. Just looking at the trailer, that doesn't come across well..."
Bongsik stopped talking while he was in the middle of speaking.
The content of the trailer was like this.
At first, adult actors famous for their acting skills appeared in large numbers, conveying the central content of the work.
In other words, it explains how important the character 'Lee Yoo-ju' is.
To get into the best university in the country, 'Baekyeon University', Lee Yoo-ju's study method.
In a way, a portfolio is needed.
It's about using their children to approach that goal.
- Is Baekyeon Uni roughly Seoul National University?
- Honestly, if they're doing that to send them to Seoul National University, it's a bit lame ㅋㅋㅋ
The viewers' reactions were like that.
But Bongsik continued to watch it quietly.
Out of the 2-minute trailer, the first minute mainly consisted of explanations of that 'motivation'.
And the remaining 1 minute.
Suddenly, a refreshing song flowed out, and the main character, Lee Yoo-ju, appeared.
"I heard your older brother is the top student at Baekyeon University. The medical school, at that."
"Yes."
"You must be proud. It's a really amazing thing."
It was different from the atmosphere expected.
A conversation between two women with a strangely thriller-like vibe.
In particular, Lee Yoo-ju's gaze was hard to describe.
Bongsik couldn't help but admire.
Because it was a gaze that didn't even make him think of it as 'an actor's acting'.
"It is amazing. Truly."
Slightly twisting her lips.
"Minseo. Let's get along."
The trailer ended with Lee Yoo-ju's low voice.
A trailer where the song containing a clear voice rather approached terrifyingly.
- The acting is really good though.
- But I don't know exactly what the content is.
- I like that there's no romance.
- ㅋㅋㅋ If there's no romance on public broadcast, it just fails.
Seeing those reactions, Bongsik chose his words for a moment.
And.
"This is going to be the champion of this quarter, isn't it?"
- ?
- Are you saying that seriously?
"Yes, ah, I really enjoyed watching it. Why is this only at 300,000 views?"
Bongsik had already conducted a review for the Mon-Tue drama
Since he didn't show such a reaction then, the viewers reacted with absurdity.
- Again, again, again, blindly praising with Joo Seo-yeon fandom.
- ㅋㅋㅋㅋ Has Bongsik also passed his prime now?
Of course, Bongsik understood such viewer reactions.
This
In a way, it's true that the trailer came out a bit ambiguously.
However.
"It feels like a cable drama."
- Isn't that a bad thing?
"I didn't mean it in a bad way, there's something strangely fresh about it. Originally, unfamiliarity and freshness are just a fine line. The trailer emphasized the former. But... if it appeals with freshness during the broadcast."
Bongsik chose his words for a moment.
Guessing the viewership ratings was like an annual event for him.
However, honestly, it was hard to gauge this time.
"I'll bet that
- Are you crazy? What are you going to do if it doesn't?
"I'll grab a guitar and go do a live performance in Hongdae."
- For real??? I'm screenshotting this ㅋㅋㅋ
- Bongsik, even blind praise should have its limits ㅉㅉㅉ
At such viewer reactions, Bongsik laughed with an exaggerated reaction.
However, this wasn't just a simple joke.
He was sincere.
Rather.
'This
A drama that would return some of that interest back to public broadcasting in the current situation where interest was shifting to the OTT market.
Bongsik sincerely thought so.
And, was it because of the words of Bongsik, a 1.4 million subscriber YouTuber?
Or was it because word of mouth spread late?
[
[Who is the singer who sang the insert song for
It was around that time that articles started to gradually go up.
***
"Did you see the Sky Garden trailer?"
"The song was good. Will the music source be released when the drama starts?"
"Just from the vibe, it doesn't seem like an idol, is it a rookie singer?"
When she went to school, talk of
Perhaps, compared to
Above all, if the main character of that drama was in the same class, it was bound to be even more so.
'Someone try talking to me.'
'If you ask who the singer is, I'd know.'
'But~.'
Seo-yeon sat gently in her seat.
Of course, Seo-yeon's lips twitched several times as she listened to the female students' conversation.
'That's me.'
It's me!!!
She sincerely wanted to say that.
Run out to the front right now and bang on the teacher's desk.
"I actually sang the OST for Sky Garden this time."
"Wow, amazing!"
"I believed in you!"
...Of course, Seo-yeon's personality wasn't proactive enough to make a scene like that.
At least emotionally, she felt that way.
However, she couldn't do that because she had already promised PD Lee Min-hwa of
"Everyone is praising the OST you sang this time, Seo-yeon, saying it's so good. We're planning to reveal it a bit more dramatically later."
"Dramatically? How?"
Just suddenly appearing! I sang it! That level wouldn't have much impact.
"I'm thinking of tying it in with a variety show. Ah, right. I need to know your schedule, Seo-yeon. You've been super busy lately, right?"
"Yes, a little bit. But it depends on the type."
But a variety show.
Honestly, she was planning to take a break from variety shows for a while, but if it's related to the drama, it was a different story.
"First of all, I'm thinking about it. Your singing skills have improved a lot, Seo-yeon. How to show this to the public... I agonized over it a lot. Above all, you know our PD Sim, right? He's been nagging so much to bring you on."
PD Sim Kyung-hoon.
He was the PD of the currently popular variety show on KMB.
Having watched MDC's
Begging, "Please let Actor Joo Seo-yeon appear on just one KMB variety show!!"
"...Well, of course, it's not because of PD Sim's stubbornness. It's entirely to make Sky Garden, and you, Seo-yeon, stand out more."
"But as for singing, Unnie Na-hee... no, Summer Girl also."
"They are idols anyway, so of course they have to sing well. The level of demands for idols has increased lately."
That's true.
Idols are clearly singers too. Thinking about it, the term "skilled idol" also feels a bit strange.
'Like an acting-focused actor.'
Isn't it a bit strange to call an actor whose job is acting an "acting-focused actor" just because they act well?
"So, what variety show is it?"
"You've probably heard of it, Seo-yeon. It died out lately, but it's still quite good for promotion."
Saying that, one variety show came to Seo-yeon's mind.
A variety show whose ratings had died out lately, but articles still came out constantly and the viewers watched it steadily.
"Masked Singer."
***
"Yeo-hee Unnie."
At the words of the manager who had been with her for over 10 years now, a woman with a disheveled impression raised her head.
At her appearance, the manager let out a sigh.
She'll be forty next year, but she's doing the same as when she was in her 20s.
When on earth will she get married.
No, at forty, has she missed the boat?
But she's a celebrity, and her appearance still looks like she's in her early thirties, so it seems possible.
Unlike that disheveled complexion, she's practically the incarnation of self-management.
Her lifestyle is lazy, but one way or another, she works hard to manage her appearance.
Especially, having been stimulated by watching some variety show recently, she was doing sheet masks and working very hard.
I heard she even booked a dermatology appointment.
'I think she said Soo-ah, Soo-ah.'
But who is Soo-ah.
Is she a celebrity?
It was a bit curious since Yeo-hee, who had no interest in other celebrities, took an interest.
"But a singer has to sing."
"My album came out not too long ago."
"Don't you know that solo singers get forgotten quickly these days if they don't appear on broadcasts actively? There's no place for them because of the idols."
I know that too.
The woman called Yeo-hee yawned and got up.
Still, the fact that the manager was saying this meant there was some work.
'I was contemplating retiring.'
I was thinking of just traveling and living with the money I saved up~
If I hadn't seen a certain variety show, I definitely would have.
"A variety show offer came in for you for the first time in a really, really long time."
"Ah, really? Not feeling it."
"You got the offer because you have no hype, so you have to take it."
"My, my."
What a mean thing to say.
Yeo-hee opened her eyes blearily and looked at her manager.
"Alright, what is it?"
"Masked Singer."
Ah, can singers go on that?
She thought that, but thinking about it, she realized that all the skilled singers had already been on it.
Lately, it felt like it had become a comeback program for celebrities who had strangely caused scandals and gone into hiding.
So, it was a variety show whose ratings were gradually dropping because singers with outstanding skills like before weren't appearing.
"I'll do it, I guess."
"Whoa, really? I thought you'd definitely refuse!"
The manager said that, then suddenly noticed some song sound coming from the room.
It seemed to be on a loop, as the voice kept playing repeatedly.
"A rookie? The voice is good."
"Huh? A rookie? I guess she is a rookie?"
"Really? But I think I've heard this somewhere..."
Of course, the manager couldn't ever recall where she had heard this song.
Since it was a song inserted in a drama trailer that was just over 2 minutes long.