The early stages of “Geubaekpeu” had mostly been performed live. The contestants’ solo stages, the rap stage that had been a duet, and so on. Of course, that was for the vocal-centered stages; as for the choreography side, whether it was live or lip-synced was irrelevant.
Then the first time the “Geubaekpeu” contestants matched their breath as a team was with “Produce.”
However, the focus was on choreography.
Next, the first time the group performed vocals, choreography, and rap all at once as one team was with the new theme song, “Survival 100.” From that point on, they had mini concerts scheduled in Korea and Japan, and the “Geubaekpeu” contestants had never once handled a schedule of that size. Because of that, lip-syncing had been added for reasons such as the completeness of the stage, the intense choreography, and the contestants’ lack of experience.
Strictly speaking, the contestants had experienced both MR (live) and AR (lip-syncing), and depending on the situation, they had also used Live AR (LAR) and Live MR (LMR) together.
Of course, the audience was informed in advance, and the broadcast clearly marked it. The production team’s underlying message was to please be understanding since their kids had no broadcast experience and were still amateurs.
So for all ten contestants, including Kang Rojun, this was their first completely live performance as a team. To be blunt, since the final evaluation was “free,” lip-syncing would have been no problem. Lip-syncing would still use recordings of their own voices, and the viewers knew well that they were not professionals. They would not make a big issue of it and would vote after watching the contestants’ overall stage.
And yet the contestants chose to go into the evaluation with their first live group stage.
It was no wonder the judges were shocked.
“Li-live??!”
Things one has never done before bring fear and hesitation to a person.
The less experience one has, the more so.
Moreover, this was the final evaluation stage, with survival on the line.
Even so, the ten contestants positioned on the stage began their evaluation song, “Bold,” with quite composed postures, giving off a fairly professional air. As the tension rose and a grand melody, faintly mixed with an inexplicable chill, rang out—
—Ssk.
Kang Rojun, holding a megaphone, stepped forward. Naturally, a small mic was attached to his megaphone as well, and Rojun, his black hat pulled low, had his gaze fixed on the floor. Since he did not lift his head, his face could not be seen. Like that, he spat out the lyrics in a tone similar to narration, but slightly faster.
[I’ll be rich, I’ll be famous]
[I’ll be a star, I must win]
The short lyrics repeated again. This time, however, there was more force in his voice than before. The tone of the song was the same.
[I’ll be rich, I’ll be famous]
[I’ll be a star, I must win]
When the same lyrics came out for the third time, Kang Rojun’s face, megaphone in hand, was facing straight ahead. At that moment, the melody suddenly cut off. Only the organ melody spread out quietly. Rojun slowly lowered the megaphone to the floor.
And then, slowly. Smoothly, he turned his body.
The nine contestants were waiting. A circle made by six of them. Three supporting that circle. Soon, the organ melody gradually swelled.
—♬♪
With the drums, the melody that had cut off began to flow again. The beat was faster than at the start. Purple was added to the lights pouring down on them.
—Sseuk.
Kang Rojun, having turned back again, took one step forward. The six who had formed the circle moved to either side of Rojun. The remaining three, still in a straight line, took two steps forward.
Their paths crossed naturally.
The choreography had already begun. The movements of the front row and the back row were different. The front made large, sweeping motions as high above their heads as possible, while the back crouched and mainly used their legs. At that moment, No. 26 Dokyeong from the back row came all the way to the front.
He scattered a rough rap.
When No. 26 Dokyeong’s part ended, he stood at the far left, and No. 58 Sihu slipped out from the right. It was the lead vocalist’s turn. When he came out, the fast beat slowed as if in slow motion, and so did the choreography. Aside from No. 58 Sihu, the other nine were still powerful, but they spread out softly.
Up to around this point, the mood of the song and the contestants’ expressions were strongly “dark.”
What changed was after Kang Rojun appeared.
—♬♪
He smiled while looking at the camera. A natural crescent-eyed smile appeared. His stable vocals changed the mood of the song. It built up, and then a high note burst out sharply. Smiles spread across all ten of their faces. It was a deliberately planned production. The choreography also opened wide, using their entire bodies. As if a flower were blooming.
With all ten moving in perfect sync, it was quite a sight.
The five judges were staring at the final evaluation stage without moving an inch. It would not have been wrong to say they were entranced. The first to speak was choreographer Lee Hanna.
“······The choreography is well made, isn’t it?”
The fact that they were doing it live was shocking, but she had not expected much from the choreography. She had watched the contestants all this time, and because of that, she knew well what they lacked.
‘They said the choreography was made by Kang Min and a few others, right? This is surprising.’
But seeing the result, it went beyond satisfaction.
‘There are quite a few intense moves, too. They didn’t get scared just because it was live.’
On top of that, despite the short time, the ten of them were in perfect harmony. It was a part that showed just how desperately they had practiced.
‘Always—when it came to choreography, only Rojun stood out sharply. Of course, Rojun is still good now. But today······the overall balance is well set.’
As a choreographer, Lee Hanna knew very well how tough it was for that many people to match choreography as if they were one body. Had they not already experienced it through “Produce” and “Survival 100”? Thus, Lee Hanna was proud of those ten kids.
‘You did well. Truly.’
Song Mingeun was also covered in goosebumps.
‘The song is killer. Seeing songs like this come out one after another, Sihu, this guy, is a treasure too. And there’s no need to even mention Rojun, who wrote the lyrics.’
Even in the eyes of a major composer, the stage for “Bold” was high-level.
‘Who would say this is their first time performing live? They’d see them as a skilled idol group. Of course, there are parts that are lacking, but it’s fine. Their pitch is good too.’
The other judges were also stunned by the contestants’ astonishing live ability, teamwork, and stage quality.
‘Isn’t that stage precisely the essence of “Geubaekpeu,” what the viewers have been hoping for?’
Around then, Kang Rojun and the contestants finished the interlude and entered the second verse, and from the atmosphere to the tone, it made the heart beat even harder. PD Woo Hanseok, the head of the “Geubaekpeu” production team, was smiling broadly the whole time.
‘I’m happy myself. How much will the viewers like it when they see this?’
It was obvious that viewers who had fallen for the contestants would feel a thrill several times stronger than the shiver felt by the production staff and judges here. A final evaluation stage the contestants had prepared with their own hands and performed live. Then Woo Hanseok focused on Kang Rojun on the stage.
‘All of them are important, but Rojun is the core in particular. As the main vocal, he explodes the stage’s power, and it’s the same on the choreography side. Needless to say, he’s the visual center. This time he handed it over to another member, but his rap isn’t lacking either.’
A multitalented all-rounder who fit anywhere and showed presence in any position.
‘A guy like that is about to be thrown into the idol market—there’ll be plenty to keep watching even after “Geubaekpeu” ends.’
Before long.
—Sseu.
Having finished the second verse, the contestants stopped in a formation similar to the very beginning. The final stage, “Bold,” had ended. Kang Rojun, sitting inside the circle made by six of them, was.
“Haa—haah.”
Even as he breathed roughly, he looked straight ahead toward the front of the stage. The judges and the dozens of staff members were silent.
‘What is it? Isn’t it a little too quiet??’
For a moment, worry brushed past Rojun. They had done their best in their own way, but had it been bad? Had they messed up? Perhaps feeling the same way as Kang Rojun, the contestants standing around him also began cautiously reading the room. Because their own mistakes came to mind.
‘Ha—damn it, is it because I stumbled a little during the choreography earlier??’
‘I was busy dancing, so I couldn’t pay attention to my expression or where I was looking.’
‘Ugh······live is insanely hard.’
It was then.
—Clap clap clap clap clap!
The sound of applause began to spread through the wide hall.
—Clap clap clap clap clap!
—Clap clap clap clap clap clap clap!
It quickly filled the space. It was praise sent to the contestants by all five judges, PD Woo Hanseok, the writers, and the dozens of staff members. Only then did Kang Rojun, who regained his smile along with relief, give an order to his teammates.
“Line up. Let’s bow.”
A little later.
After the final evaluation stage ended, the judges’ evaluations followed.
“It was truly a huge shock! It’s amazing that you made the entire stage with your own strength, but you also pulled off the live performance so well! Really! It’s hard to find this level of live stage quality even among idols.”
No, rather than evaluations, it was a continuous stream of high praise.
“I want to compliment the choreography. I learned a lot while watching, you know?”
From the first evaluation until now, the judges had been teachers and great seniors to the contestants. Those very people were only reciting praise without a single harsh criticism. As the contestants, they had no choice but to feel like they were floating.
“Rojun had a lot on his plate, didn’t he? Leader, main vocal, and so on. Everyone did really well, but I especially want to praise Rojun for holding the center so well.”
When many gazes reached Kang Rojun, for some reason, Rojun recalled the beginning of “Geubaekpeu.” The time when he had sung “Bereavement” on this stage.
‘Somehow or other, I’ve come this far. It feels absurd all over again. The final stage is already over. What’s going to happen now?’
Like that, filming continued for about an hour, and then PD Woo Hanseok spoke to the contestants on the stage.
“Now, there are two things left for you. The viewers’ choice. And your choice.”
To explain it in detail, after the final evaluation stage aired, six of the current ten would be eliminated, and the four final winners would have the right to choose their entertainment agencies.
“This stage will air on the 6th of this week, and the final announcement, as always, will be on Wednesday after voting ends. Everyone, you’ve worked hard.”
Today’s stage would be broadcast in episode 16 of “Geubaekpeu” on November 6. At that point, Kang Rojun realized something.
“The 6th—‘Rental Lover’ premieres on the 6th too.”
Meanwhile, at the same time.
A studio where several filming teams had gathered. Right now, an interview shoot with a famous writer was in full swing here. Two people were sitting in front of the camera. One was the female reporter conducting the interview, and the person receiving her questions was the star writer with a bob haircut, Han Seoryeong.
“Writer, what is the plot of the new work you’re starting this time?”
As befitted a major writer, Han Seoryeong answered with ease and dignity.
“I’ve just finished writing episode one—the plot, to put it simply, would be a medical story. I’m working hard on it, but there’s a lot to research, so it’s tough.”
“Oh, come on—it’s Writer Han Seoryeong. I’m sure another really entertaining work will come out this time too. I’m really looking forward to it as well.”
“Thank you.”
“There was an article recently saying you were considering Choi Rina for the female lead. What do you think?”
“Actress Choi Rina is a good actress. I’m sure many writers besides me are interested in her too. I do think Actress Choi Rina would suit this work well.”
The interview mostly centered on Writer Han Seoryeong’s new work, and from time to time, her daily life was also brought up. Then the female reporter, turning over one cue card, changed the subject.
“We can’t not talk about ‘Culture Drawer.’”
It was “Culture Drawer,” the country’s massive writer management company.
“With so many star writers and master directors affiliated with ‘Culture Drawer,’ it has established itself as the management company that many rookie writers and directors dream of joining, hasn’t it? What do you think was the driving force behind its growth like this?”
“Hmm—the driving force. Well, I think the biggest thing is that we pursued ability thoroughly. We have only looked at the abilities and potential of writers and directors. There is no recruitment through personal connections such as blood ties, regional ties, or school ties in our management company.”
“Ohh, I see.”
“And we do our utmost to support writers and directors so that they can perform in the best condition.”
Just from her answer and Writer Han Seoryeong’s expression, one could feel how much pride she took in “Culture Drawer.” Soon, the female reporter changed the question.
“But ‘Culture Drawer’ is famous for not having rookie writers or directors, isn’t it? What exactly do you evaluate when you mention ability and potential?”
“Hmm—we do select rookies too, at ‘Culture Drawer.’”
“Pardon?”
“Since ‘Culture Drawer’ came up, I should share one piece of new information.”
“Wh-what kind?”
Writer Han Seoryeong swept back her bobbed hair and murmured calmly.
“‘Writer Rojun’ has decided to join our ‘Culture Drawer.’”
At that moment, the female reporter’s eyes widened sharply.