The date for “Vanguard”’s show-con, uttered from CEO Ha Seohwan’s mouth, was April 5. It seemed like there were roughly two months left, but once they subtracted the time needed for preparations and everything else, the actual leeway was a month and a few weeks.
It was, if anything, quite tight.
Still, April 5 was a date they had stretched as far as they could. Since this year’s baseball season began in mid-April, the deadline for using Gocheok Dome was the first week of April. On top of that, it was CEO Ha Seohwan’s decision after taking everything related to “Vanguard” into account.
“Keep that in mind and everyone prepare accordingly.”
About an hour later, the date of April 5 was relayed not only to all of GN Entertainment, but also to Kang Rojun and the members of “Vanguard.” The members made all sorts of expressions.
Their debut show-con in two months.
They had been running toward that day all this time, but now that the date had actually been fixed, their minds seemed unsettled. Kang Rojun, realizing as much, looked over the members.
‘This is the timing where I’m supposed to say something really inspiring. But I’m bad at this kind of thing.’
He managed to squeeze out a few words.
“Two months means we’ve still got plenty of time. We’re fine, totally fine.”
It wasn’t exactly a powerful remark, but Sihu, Kangmin, and Dokyung looked at Kang Rojun and took courage. Rather than the words themselves, perhaps it was Rojun’s composure that gave them strength.
“Right. Two months is plenty of time.”
“True, things were way more hectic during ‘Geubaekpeu,’ weren’t they?”
“Agreed. Back then, we had evaluations every week, and we even threw together a mini concert in just a few weeks.”
Recalling the past, the members shook off their needless thoughts and threw themselves into practice once more. By now, the members had begun to get the vocals for their debut songs into shape, as well as the choreography. Since they spent almost all their time practicing except when they ate, it was only natural.
And so the weekend arrived, and GN Entertainment tossed the next piece of bait after “Gocheok Dome” out into the world.
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The bait was that “Vanguard”’s show-con would open in April. The exact date would be revealed once the attention gathered even more. In any case, the media and the public grew excited over the fact that, at most, only two months remained, and clamored for the ticket page to open quickly.
Then the weekend ended, and the weekdays returned.
Tuesday, February 9.
The producing team delivered good news.
“The songs are finished. We’ll send them to each team.”
It meant that “Vanguard”’s debut songs had been completed.
After that.
With the show-con date confirmed, GN Entertainment immediately started stage construction at Gocheok Dome. Since they had already brought in contractors and held meetings about the stage concept, breaking ground took no time at all. Director Kim Gibaek, the A&R team, and others gathered at Gocheok Dome, where the foundation of the construction was in full swing.
Each of them held a pre-selected finalized version of the show-con stage.
‘Gocheok Dome is famous for a reason, but no matter how many times I see it, it really is huge.’
A large main stage, a circular extended stage, standing sections, audience seats from the first to fourth floors, massive screens placed throughout the venue, and many other installations were planned. In particular, the scale of more than twenty thousand seats was considerable.
Meanwhile, the members of “Vanguard” were gathered in GN Entertainment’s large practice room.
Standing before them was the in-house choreography team.
“Starting today, we’ll begin group practice.”
Having more or less wrapped up their individual practice, “Vanguard” was now starting choreography group practice in earnest. A great deal would be added in group practice: detailed movements, each member’s parts, and the formations for stepping forward and falling back.
Of course, before that.
“First, we’ll check each person’s choreography progress.”
They had to test how much choreography each member had learned. The first person GN Entertainment’s in-house choreography team called was Kang Rojun, the leader of “Vanguard” and, subtly, the one everyone had been worried about.
“We’ll start with Rojun.”
Soon, Sihu, Kangmin, and Dokyung sat at the back of the practice room, leaving only Kang Rojun standing in the center. Kang Rojun swept back his black hair and didn’t seem particularly nervous.
‘Tests are something we do all the time anyway.’
The members watched their leader with curiosity welling up inside them. They knew how insane Rojun’s skills were, so it wasn’t doubt; they were simply curious how much he had improved while training on his own.
‘Since it’s Rojun, it’s obvious he’s learned all the choreography movements, right?’
‘He’s definitely memorized every move, and he’ll probably do it with ridiculous ease.’
Just then, the song began playing throughout the practice room.
-♬♪
The starting shot was “Geurinbi.” Kang Rojun, who had been standing still, moved with the rhythm of the song and showed a sultry wave. It didn’t take long for the eyes of the in-house choreography team, who had been watching with their arms crossed, to widen.
And in those eyes.
‘……?’
Question marks gradually multiplied. They had no choice.
‘W-when did he get that good……?’
Because right now, Kang Rojun was sweeping through the practice room. It was choreography performed alone, not as a group, but Kang Rojun instantly stole the choreography team’s attention. That was how great his presence was. On top of that.
‘His movements… are just perfect, without a single mistake.’
There was nothing to nitpick. He was graceful and smooth.
‘Is it possible to copy it that perfectly on your own? And for someone who’s only debuting now?’
The leader of GN Entertainment’s in-house choreography team stared quietly at Rojun’s dance lines, looking dumbfounded.
‘Sihu, Kangmin, and Dokyung are quick learners and highly skilled too… but Rojun is just in an entirely different category. I understand why Lee Hanna praised him so much.’
In the end, Kang Rojun pulled off the choreography for “Geurinbi” spectacularly up to the second verse, and the next songs, “Windveil” and “Flying Bell,” were no different. Watching Rojun breathe heavily after dancing one routine after another, the choreography team was deeply flustered.
It was a moment in which their common sense had been denied, so they didn’t know how to react.
In the meantime, Sihu, Kangmin, and Dokyung.
“……”
“……”
Their faces turned extremely serious. Because the moment they saw Kang Rojun’s, their leader’s, level of intensity, they felt it. They would have to practice several times harder than they were now. Rather than falling into despair, the members resolved to chase after Kang Rojun as best they could.
‘I can do it. I did it during “Geubaekpeu” too. If I practice twice as much as Rojun hyung—no, about three times as much—it’ll work out.’
The atmosphere of the practice room, already hot from Kang Rojun’s breathing, grew even more heated with the members’ passion. The next test was Sihu. Kangmin and Dokyung followed after him. Having roughly checked the balance, the choreography team immediately began group practice with the “Vanguard” members.
After that, time flew like a bullet.
Kang Rojun and the members spent almost every day on vocal and choreography practice. After group practice began, Rojun also spent more time in the practice room than in the studio. In group practice, the overall picture of “Vanguard” took priority over each individual’s skills.
-♬♪
They matched formations and movements, and refined everything from eye contact to the members’ chemistry, pacing, and the structure from beginning to end.
They practiced vocals at the same time as dancing.
Because “Vanguard”’s show-con would be performed entirely live. In addition, Rojun and the members weren’t only practicing their debut songs, “Geurinbi,” “Windveil,” and “Flying Bell.” Songs that would be shown as event performances were gradually added as well.
Meanwhile, the completed “Vanguard” songs were handed over to the music video filming team.
The music video production company and director had long since been decided, and “Vanguard”’s concept had also already been set. It was last week that the music video director had handed over the plans containing the storyboards and shot lists for the music videos for “Geurinbi,” “Windveil,” and “Flying Bell.”
For reference, the production cost for an idol music video can range from tens of millions to, at most, hundreds of millions of won per piece.
Each of “Vanguard”’s debut songs was a title track, and since they had to shoot high-quality music videos for all of them, the cost would easily surpass hundreds of millions. But since CEO Ha Seohwan had sternly told them not to worry about the budget, the production company and director in charge of “Vanguard”’s music videos expanded the scale without hesitation.
“We can focus mainly on sets and include outdoor shoots too, right?”
“Let’s add more cameras and make the movements more varied.”
“GN told us to go all out on everything, starting with set props, so we can make this nice and big.”
“It’s been a while since we shot a music video without worrying about production costs.”
Before long, the music video production team also began location scouting and set construction. Once construction was complete, all that remained was filming and editing. Music videos take the longest to prepare, and surprisingly, filming ends within just a few days. Editing to produce the final version afterward takes about a week. Since “Vanguard” had three videos, that meant three weeks.
In this way, while not a single person had time to rest, a week melted away.
“Everyone, the date for the music video shoot is out.”
On the morning of February 15, Director Kim Gibaek informed the “Vanguard” members of the first shooting schedule for the music video.
“Monday, March 2. We’ll start with ‘Geurinbi.’”
It was roughly two weeks later.
Around noon on the 15th.
Around the time GN Entertainment spread the date of “Vanguard”’s show-con to the world.
《Vanguard Show-Con Confirmed for April 5, When Will Ticket Page Open?》
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Kang Rojun, Sihu, Kangmin, and Dokyung were in a filming studio. There were more than a dozen filming staff members, the management team including Director Kim Gibaek, the A&R team, the PR and marketing team, the “Vanguard” NewTube team, and more. The total number of people in the studio easily exceeded forty.
The reason they had gathered in the studio was simple.
For the album jacket shoot.
The shoot schedule consisted of two days, indoor and outdoor.
Of course, they weren’t using the entirety of both days, but rather half a day each. Kang Rojun and the members, whom the “Vanguard” NewTube team was filming, were currently getting their makeup done. Their outfits were leather jackets with details that differed drastically by member. Other outfits, such as suits, were waiting as well.
Among the “Vanguard” members, who had mostly worn practice clothes until now, Sihu was the first to speak.
“I’m nervous. Intensely nervous.”
Kangmin and Dokyung were not in good condition either.
“I did hear directions for posture and expressions… but my body and face are stiff, so they won’t really move.”
“Hyungs, just relax. Relax. It’s just taking pictures.”
“Dokyung. Your eyes are out of focus.”
“…Honestly, I feel like I’m going to throw up.”
Kang Rojun was the calmest of them all. After all, he had already experienced this kind of shoot during “Rental Lover.”
“It gets easier if you let go of yourself. Like you’re trampling down the embarrassment and awkwardness and just going wild.”
“Okay. I’ll trust you, Rojun hyung, and jump as soon as the shoot starts.”
“That’s not it. Do it within the direction they give you.”
Soon, the members finished their makeup and received the standby signal. It began with solo shots. The photographer called Sihu first.
“Sihu, you’re up first!”
Thanks to that, Sihu entered the white-backed shooting zone looking awkward, and the photographer, eye pressed to a cannon-like camera, shouted.
“Smile, smile! Let’s start with a smile!”
When Sihu awkwardly raised the corners of his mouth, the photographer shook his head as though dissatisfied.
“No, no! Naturally! Let’s try a clean smile!”
At that moment, behind the photographer, Kang Rojun, who had been standing with the staff, waved his hand slightly. Rojun met Sihu’s eyes. Then he abruptly picked his nose with his index finger. At the absurd motion, Sihu burst into a snort of laughter. The photographer’s thumbs-up followed.
“Nice! You’re good! That’s how you do it, just like that! This time, keep that smile! Let’s put both hands in your pockets!”
-Click! Dddddd!
The flashes burst brightly.
By the time about an hour had passed, the individual shots of the “Vanguard” members were finished. Now it was time for the group shots, but before that, the photographer, GN Entertainment staff, and others gathered in front of the monitor to review the shots they had just taken.
Sihu, Kangmin, Dokyung, then Rojun.
“Sihu looks cute, but a cold image suits him well too.”
“I think Dokyung would be better with an indifferent tone rather than smiling. But his jawline is nice too.”
“Mm—Kangmin unexpectedly has a decadent charm? Doesn’t he?”
Their conclusion was that, visually, they absolutely wouldn’t lose to other idols. Finally, Kang Rojun’s shots came up. The interesting thing was that everyone’s evaluations stopped.
“……”
“……”
But inwardly, they were all muttering the same thing. With profanities attached that they couldn’t say out loud.
‘Wow—he’s seriously disgustingly handsome.’
‘The more I look at him, the more absurd that face gets.’
The first evaluation came from the photographer’s mouth.
“Is my skill lacking? The photos can’t capture the real thing. They just can’t.”
About a week later.
From early morning, dozens of reporters holding cameras were packed in front of the entrance to Gimpo Airport.
“Hey, hey, don’t push! Hey!”
“Let’s keep this reasonable!”
“Who keeps pushing?!”
As they waged a jostling war to claim spots, a black van stopped on the other side of the crosswalk. At the same time, the excited reporters began pressing their shutters.
-Pababababak!
A black-haired man stepped out of the van, where the flashes were concentrated. The reporters shouted fiercely toward him.
“Please say hello to the fans who are curious about you!”
“This way! Please look over here too!”
“Can you do a finger heart?! A finger heart!”
“Are you going to Japan alone?!”
The man lightly waved his hand at the dozens of reporters.
-Swish.
It was Kang Rojun.