Debut or Die

Episode 569

“I want to get that popcorn.”

“Be patient.”

At dawn when the other members were all asleep, the three testers started searching for information by connecting to the Internet through TV in the dark living room.

A rookie ‘mixed’ idol group that pushed us and claimed first place on the music charts.

HaloHe-im.

[I don’t even wonder who came up with this strange name anymore.]

“… … .”

The mixed group’s debut song flowed on the screen along with the evaluation of native speaker Cha Yoo-jin. [I’m curious now

, to whom is

your heartbeat beating

in the seat next to me ]

An up-tempo, natural and pleasant song that sticks well to the ears.

A refreshing and atmospheric melody that would be good for a place like a cafe flows with the accompaniment.

“The song is good.”

“I agree.”

However, no matter how good a song is, there will be singers who disappear without seeing the light of day.

Even if a mixed group doesn’t run backwards and takes first place in a week after the release of the sound source… .

“I think there are other selling points.”

“Yap.”

I continued the search with the tacit agreement of Sejin Cha and Yoojin Cha.

There was nothing to do for long.

It was because a 40-minute related video with over 5 million views was released in that music video.

It is the content of the thumbnail, in which several Haloheim members in school uniform are smiling while facing each other.

[Is it good that you’re a transfer student? < Heartheim > Ep.2 / HaloHeim]

“… … .”

For an idol’s own content, it was a title arrangement that felt out of place somewhere.

However, it is a somewhat familiar form, as seen on Witube.

“for a moment.”

I found episode 1 of the content and played it.

The narration came out against the background of a bench with a green school scene.

[Haven’t you ever wanted to meet someone who’s perfect for you?]

[Who clicked on ‘the type that suits you most’ whenever you did all sorts of MBTI sentence making psychological tests?] [This is our story of finding that kind of

person.]

“ ah.”

The moment I saw it, I realized what it was. I crossed my arms and sobbed.

‘crazy.’

The offspring of this agency openly benchmarked the reality mating program.

Mixed-gender groups are known for dating rumors?

Using that in reverse, we created the world view of the group.

I want the viewer to create and analyze the drama at will.

[Jihyun: Hello. I am Jihyun Kang, born in Busan.]

[Jihyun: My personality… … I think it’s kind of quiet. Even at school… (Edit) Yes. I didn’t even go on a school trip on purpose.]

The video first introduces four female students with different personalities against the backdrop of a fictional school.

And one after another, the male members appeared at the school under the concept of ‘transferring’ as male students.

[Male Student 1: Nice to meet you. I am Hyunwoo Ko.]

In this way, students learn more about each other’s personalities and behavioral patterns while doing various team missions based on the school concept.

From laboratory assignments to culinary practice performance evaluations to courage tests.

And at the end of the day’s work, each of them picks one person of the opposite sex and one person of the same sex who they matched best and sends a text message anonymously.

[Jihyun: Um… Hyeonu’s fear without pretentiousness seemed a little honest and nice. I’ll send it to Hyunwoo.]

[Hyunwoo: Wasn’t Jihyun really trustworthy today?]

It shows who gets along well and who doesn’t get along well, who has a crush on whom.

The poles of love and the poles of friendship were rife with each other, and they even raised the mark.

“… … .”

“… … .”

Looking at the mess, the three testers couldn’t bear to react.

It was because of culture shock.

‘… It’s an openly dating reality.’

It’s like closing your eyes and screaming.

Still, when I took a closer look at it while enduring the shock, it wasn’t just a fucking aggro. The meticulous work was evident.

For example, this ‘school’ setting was handled with a moderately immersive feeling, even though everyone knew that it was fake, just like the background setting of a reality program.

[Jaebin: This is a school concept.]

[Hugo: That’s why it’s fun. I hardly ever went to a Korean school.]

Comfortable so you don’t feel like you’re acting. To make each person feel much more natural and authentic.

And at the decisive moment of every flower, their debut title song plays like an OST.

[This trembling is still only in my heart,

I can stay calm] The

highlight melody of the song that comes out right before moving on to the trailer fits perfectly.

The sound source is exposed once very naturally.

-Jaebin-ah, please let Hugo team up with Jin Gook-im Hugo. -Honestly, Hyunwoo and

Jihyun get along the best.

Do you think this Hugo is cute

?

there was.

It’s because the program was fun and scary.

even say

“… They say that if you vote as the ‘two people who fit best’ here, you will receive the center for the next album.”

“… … Wow~”

Big Sejin couldn’t follow his words. I understand.

Still, the guy managed to complete another sentence.

“this… No, it would be impossible to manage public opinion.”

“I guess so.”

It was a way that existing idol fans would be flagship.

So, it seemed that this video was mainly viewed by people who originally liked love reality.

Besides, these people were overinvolved, which was more of a problem.

Going straight to episode 2, one of the members was filthy swearing. It was the reason why he suddenly and unexpectedly chose another member of the opposite sex in home practice.

-It’s not polite

, it’s really too

much .

Crossed the line hard.

In addition, they secretly touch each other’s nerves and then show them fighting in anger.

‘It’s spectacle.’

It’s bullshit for kids who are only 20 years old or older. It’s bullshit from all kinds of broadcasting companies, but even though this is the agency’s own entertainment show, it’s like fucking awesome.

‘Isn’t it an atmosphere where being a fan of a group can’t happen?’

It was to the extent that we still had the atmosphere of individual fans from the days of < Azusa >.

The pre-debut survival program has such a strong influence, but if you do something like this with guys who debuted… … .

“It usually self-destructs on its own.”

Originally it should have been.

but.

“But it worked.”

“… … .”

Its own content, which seemed to be a clever mix of web dramas and reality programs, seemed to garner great immersion and repercussions, mainly among teenagers.

The next thing to do is the viewers of dating programs.

It was a huge number of people who now make up the majority of viewers.

What are the benefits of attracting them?

“It went viral.”

Posts are being posted on the Internet by people who are overinvolved.

-Heartheim is surprisingly fun

-I’m going to a test of courage, but my partner says

he’ll leave me.

└Jihyun debuted?

Then, hardcore KPOP listeners who watched the minor survival show < Be My Girls > lightly join in.

One after another, if global KPOP fans who originally like this kind of thing stick together… … .

‘The number of views is exploding.’

Of course, there were clear traces of the swearing and backlash controversy.

First of all, what was the fandom of the debutants created through < Be My Girls >?

‘It must have been like death.’

I thought I was barely debuting, but the agency would have come out and said something stupid and frowned.

But it wouldn’t have come out too strong.

‘The manipulation controversy is already attached.’

Even if it was worth claiming that the members were not at fault, they would have been cautious about raising gossip because it was such a big bite.

I was trying to respond to the company quietly, but eventually gave up when the reaction got hotter and better.

‘So even all those negative chemical reactions are digested with buzz.’

Bad comments are better than no comments. because I’m interested

If you are confident in the quality of the things you sell.

‘Public opinion can be overturned.’

And the agency laid the plate up to that point.

-What is it… Ah, I thought it was because I received the letter from Hyeonu. ㅠㅠ

The more the member gets angry, the more the misunderstanding is resolved and the three-dimensional aspect of the member gradually recovers.

As the main point of view members kept changing, sympathy was drawn from similar types of people in each episode.

In the end, I was able to appeal all the members’ charms as members of the opposite sex and their character charms.

And just the right timing when the feeling is ripe.

Haloheim’s first music broadcast broke.

Here’s the winner.

-Wow, you’re good at it

. -You’re an idol…

You did a good job on stage.

Viewers reacted as if they were watching the performances of the main characters of their favorite dramas.

The excitement and freshness of imagining being realized in reality created an unexpected synergy.

-Something too daunting. Haloheim is a real drama.

If you made the wrong step, the discomfort would have overcome the interest, but whether it was luck or calculation, it pierced through all of that.

In this way, the mixed group successfully launched.

“… … .”

Dark dawn in front of the TV in Testa’s living room.

Seeing the stage of a rookie group that succeeded in an unexpected way, the three people were lost in thought.

“OK. all right.”

First, Cha Yu-jin shrugged.

“This team is doing well. But it’s okay because we do better.”

It was a bold statement.

“How was the mixing of the sexes?”

“Why?”

“In Korea, there have been very few successful mixed-gender groups since the 2000s.”

Cha Yoo-jin replied with a natural face.

“Hey, there is no eternal fad.”

“… … !”

“KPOP groups are not traditional either. Trends can change at any time.”

that… … Yes.

There is no guarantee that mixed-gender groups that were popular in the 2000s will not work in the market forever.

Even if it was eaten in a completely unexpected form.

“Our group needs to do well as we always do. Got it?”

“Of course~ Got it.”

When Sejin Keun replied with a smile, Yoojin Cha waved and quickly walked back and forth to the kitchen to return the water cup.

However, Keun Se-jin frowned and sat still on the sofa until Cha Yu-jin returned.

as if lost in thought.

“why.”

“no… No matter how you think about it, it’s strange.”

Sejin muttered while watching the TV, which was turned off.

“This is not going to work in the long run.”

“… … .”

“why?”

“Eugene said you said that there is no eternal fad, right? There are no eternal couples.”

“… !”

“I don’t know what to do with the next album, but it feels like I consumed images too quickly. Um, it’s very experimental~ You want to?”

It was true.

It was almost impossible to use such a promotion method again to achieve the same effect.

As for Testa, it seemed that if she just waited, the sweet water over there would soon run out and she would not be able to endure it.

Of course, I’m not making any promises in this industry.

“Let’s think about it while being vigilant.”

“okay.”

The dawn monitoring of that day was finished like that. The three quietly tidied up the living room and went back to their respective rooms.

I too lay down on the bed and thought briefly.

‘It’s a new method.’

It was a short-lived, radical promotion method that changed people’s personal lives and personalities.

But that’s what I think.

– Aren’t the idol groups we’re doing now also models with a long lifespan?

Even popular idol groups have an average life expectancy of around 7 years. With the exception of a few people, everyone found their own way of life and focused on individual activities.

It is because of the burden of group camp, the burden of high-intensity choreography, and the problem of the appropriate age.

‘We and VTIC who want to eat more are the eccentrics.’

Let’s consider that.

‘This way is just a flow of consuming idols faster… … ?’

“… … .”

I don’t know. I felt dirty somehow.

‘It feels different.’

I don’t know if it’s because I’m of a different age in the first place, but what can I say about this… It even made me feel a little uncomfortable.

How does the company promote mixed-gender groups?

‘It encourages consumption in a fucking weird way.’

Especially when I think of those rookies who did the stage properly.

“… … .”

I just decided to go to sleep or sleep.

When it’s time to worry about our competitors, let’s worry about our group, which has members who will be enlisting in the military next year.

Don’t forget the crazy fact that I went to the army twice.

‘… after.’

But strangely, even thinking about it, my mind immediately cleared up and I couldn’t fall asleep.

Like an ominous foreboding.

I feel like I’m missing something… .

“… … .”

just said

What did I hear as the reason for the short lifespan of idol groups?

Appropriate age for camp and… … .

‘High intensity choreography… … .’

“… … .”

for a moment.

“… !”

I immediately got up from bed and picked up my smartphone.

And immediately connected.

Under the water, which has not been monitored because there has been no controversy.

There are expressions that catch your eye the moment you become conscious and look at them.

-Epic doesn’t have choreography either bhhhhhhhh -Hm

… I feel a little bit bitter because I want to end up like this for all of them

-Ah, this is why I think it’s not okay if the sound source does well, but I think it works even now like this b-

George is a selfish idol with group dance like this again One goes.

Even cold water feels like getting hit.

‘A group’s heyday as an idol does not last long.’

When that time comes, the lodgings will be eliminated, individual activities will increase, and the proportion of group work will decrease.

Many groups have been

‘This is already official.’

It was a fact that all idol fans now know.

So, Testa’s album this time was accepted as a kind of signal to these people.

It was an attempt to see if Testa would abandon the existing concept and switch to a comfortable way.

As a sign that they no longer intend to grit their teeth and live fiercely as an idol group in their prime.

As a sign that the reason they originally liked Testa will disappear and be replaced.

-Actually, it’s not a bad thing. To be honest, it’s time for the kids to think about

cartilage

.

There are people who dare to find the bottom of the water and talk like this, but usually they don’t bother to express their dissatisfaction.

I think it’s a natural process.

‘just… Gradually, you will start to recognize other idols.’

The activity will decrease and the mind will open.

“… … .”

Cha Yoo-jin would say this.

-Let’s release a new album soon. Then no problem.

It is to appeal that we will still work hard.

‘That’s the correct answer.’

But the bigger problem is… Now that’s not the case.

‘I’ve already been active as Epic!’

It worked so well that it became a problem!

The image that the public expects of us right away has been formed towards it.

A popular, slightly comfortable, yet easy-to-listen sound source.

But if a new album suddenly comes out in this atmosphere?

‘But we prepared this regular album very intensely and conceptually.’

This is because they adhered to the route of targeting the global fandom with the aim of receiving a cultural medal.

Then how is it?

-Oh, I

like the

song

. … .’

“… … .”

I banged my head.

it’s X