“An idol debut project?” I asked, puzzled.
“Yes,” the production team answered as they handed me a takeaway coffee.
Producer Shin Mu-rok smiled as I cautiously sniffed the beverage. “You have an iced chocolate, right, Woojoo?”
“How did you know?” I was surprised.
“Our team may not know everything, but we’re the best at pre-research at PBS. I saw your interview where you mentioned your weakness for coffee.”
That was an interview from my debut days.
The production team boasted about collecting terabytes of data on us.
“Take your time with the drink and check the contents,” Producer Shin suggested.
I sipped the cocoa and flipped through the proposal.
Idol Debut Project.It was a special feature where the members of ‘Mr. Producer’ would try their hand at becoming idols.
“Hmm.”
In short, we were to participate as idol mentors.
‘Mr. Producer.’
Along with TBC’s ‘Around the World with Dice,’ it was one of the two major variety shows, receiving absolute support from the 2030 demographic.
If Joo Se-han’s show was popular with the general public, this one was a hot topic among the younger audience.
For instance, after a calligraphy special, calligraphy schools would pop up everywhere.
It was even popular enough overseas to hold fan meetings in China and Southeast Asia.
I asked, “So, we’re acting as producers for this special feature?”
“That’s right,” they confirmed.
The program’s format was simple.
Each special episode featured a Mr. or Ms. Producer as a mentor, guiding participants through various experiences.
They might invite an announcer as a mentor to challenge announcing or a photographer to teach the art of taking the perfect picture.
Even running a food truck was part of the show.
Depending on individual or team performance, winners received rewards, while the last place or failures faced embarrassingly severe penalty missions.
“This time, we’ve invited New Black as the special producers to debut the members as idols.”
“Are we training the members?” I inquired.
“It’s more mentoring than training,” Producer Shin clarified.
“For practical skills, we’ll separately invite vocal and dance trainers, and composers to provide the music. New Black will essentially play the producer role.” 𝐑ÀŊo͍ʙЁ𝘴
It seemed our role was to provide overall direction and advice as senior idols.
I understood the meaning but hesitated.
During my pause, Rihyuk asked, “Can we really do this?”
“Huh?” they responded.
“We’ve only been active for two years since Something. Isn’t it a bit early for us to mentor anyone?”
“Ah…”
The production team uttered in realization as we nodded in agreement.
To be honest, even TNT would jump at the chance to appear on ‘Mr. Producer.’
I continued, “There are famous seniors around, and it feels a bit off for us to step in as producers. And…”
“And?” they prompted.
“We’re quite young, aren’t we?”
Four out of the six ‘Mr. Producer’ members were in their thirties.
Honestly, mentoring isn’t just about saying nice things.
We could be seen negatively by the public if we, as entertainment industry juniors, criticized our seniors.
Producer Shin Mu-rok raised his hand as if to pause the conversation.
“Let’s hold on for a moment.”
A sheepish smile appeared beneath his downcast eyes.
He reminded me of a neighborhood brother famous for being bad at games, whom I often encountered at the PC cafe.
We became wary of that expression, which usually appeared when he was about to pull a scam on the ‘Mr. Producer’ cast.
“So, you’re worried about your lack of experience and age?” he clarified.
“Yes,” I admitted.
“There’s no need to worry about that at all. We’re not just any show; we’re ‘Mr. Producer.’ Don’t you think we would have researched that aspect?”
We leaned in as the writers handed us a paper.
“We surveyed netizens, and it turns out that New Black is perceived as having a significantly high level of experience.”
“Oh,” I expressed my surprise.
“It seems the public perceives our seniority to be greater than it actually is because they see us so often,” PD Shin Murok continued.
“Among idols, there are groups that debuted a long time ago but still feel like rookies, and conversely, those who’ve been around for just a year or two yet feel like veterans. NewBlack falls into the latter category.”
“Ah, I see.”
“So, you’re not worried about your years of experience anymore?”
We all nodded in agreement.
Just as another topic was about to be broached, PD Shin Murok carried on.
“There’s no need to worry about age either. Who are we? We’re famous for the ‘Angel’s Edit’ at MiPro.”
“Ah, right.”
“You’ll see in the interviews. The producers always say they ‘appear better than in reality.’”
That was indeed true.
Experts from all fields are eager to appear on the show precisely because of such editing.
PD Shin Murok lowered his voice as if sharing a secret among us.
“What happens when our NewBlack, already likable in live broadcasts without any edits, meets the editing of MiPro?”
“And then…?”
PD Shin Murok clapped his hands with a snap, startling us all.
“It results in an explosive rise in ratings along with an image boost.”
“Wow.”
“And it slightly alters our image too! Don’t you want to do something cool more often?”
“Yes, absolutely.”
Bijoo nodded vigorously while the youngest member spoke up.
“We’ve always said we wanted to do something cool among ourselves.”
“That’s right. That’s what I’m talking about. Showcasing our stage presence, exuding seniority, becoming the compass for the MiPro members.”
While the younger ones were impressed, the main writer took over.
“There are about three reasons we invited NewBlack this time. One is that among the currently active idols, you have a higher public recognition and likability than Daylight.”
Being more talked about than Daylight, the top girl group of the second generation, was the first reason.
The assistant writer added.
“Another is that in preparing this idol special, we found no other idol group with a self-producing ratio as high as NewBlack’s.”
The rarity of idols actively participating in the producing process was another reason.
PD Shin Murok concluded.
“And lastly, it’s not just NewBlack appearing this time.”
“Who else will be there?”
“Other idols will make occasional appearances, whether it’s TNT, TeenSpirit, or Scarlet, all of whom have a good relationship with NewBlack. No matter who we pair up, the chemistry is guaranteed to be lively.”
The last reason was that any idol guest would bring chemistry to the show.
I asked.
“Are TNT or TeenSpirit scheduled to appear?”
“Not yet.”
PD Shin Murok replied.
“But if we call them, they will come.”
His confident gaze made me marvel involuntarily.
As the conversation reached this point, the younger members looked at me with enchanted expressions.
‘Brother, shall we do it?’
‘We should. We must.’
All three were utterly captivated.
Rihyuk was tilting his head, checking the logic flow.
But a con recognizes a con, and while PD Shin Murok was laughing, I fell deep into thought.
“Hmm…”
Honestly, it’s usually best to say OK to a pro offer from MiPro.
But the risk is significant.
If it’s a one-time guest appearance, it’s one thing, but a special feature can drag on for over a month.
“How long will this special last?”
“If it’s just this special, it will be about 3-4 weeks. If we include the mini-corner that started it all, we’re looking at about 5-6 weeks.”
As I thought.
It’s a burdensome period.
That’s precisely why I’m pondering so much.
As PD Shin Murok said, is known for editing that endears the featured experts…
But the problem is the audience.
MiPro heavily relies on the guest draw, so whether it goes well or not, the attention falls on the guest.
For that reason, no matter how much we wrap it in likability, if it’s boring or drags even a little, we’ll get all the criticism there is to get.
The production team, with the air of just inviting TNT or Teen Spirit as guests, had their reasons for such gentle persuasion.
Among the groups with enough recognition to appear as producers on MiPro, all would wave off the idea of such a long-term project.
It could be a hit if it goes well, but…
There was no need to risk the slings and arrows of public opinion when things were already going well.
And we felt the same.
“Mr. Woojoo.”
Producer Shin Murok called out to me.
Noticing that my younger brothers were only glancing at my face, he seemed to be strategizing his approach.
“How about it, Mr. Woojoo?”
“I have a question.”
After some thought, I asked the production team.
“When we appear on ‘Mr. Producer’…”
“When you appear?”
“I wonder if we can keep it entertaining for several weeks, not just once or twice.”
At my words, the production team’s eyes widened, and they began to laugh heartily.
As they laughed as if my question was absurd, my brothers and I exchanged puzzled looks.
Producer Shin Murok and the writers laughed.
“Then, we’ll take that as a yes.”
The manager pushed the papers in front of us.
“Let’s sign the appearance agreement right now.”
After a lengthy meeting, our appearance on ‘Mr. Producer’ was confirmed.
The manager and the production team would coordinate the practical aspects.
We brainstormed special feature ideas with the production team.
Looking at the profiles of ‘Mr. Producer’s members, we suggested the kind of preparation that would be best.
“See you at the recording.”
“Thank you!”
The recording with the members of ‘Mr. Producer’ was set to start in April.
The goal was to shoot once a week.
The production team sent us off from the meeting room with relieved expressions.
It seemed the idol debut project was already underway, with members receiving vocal and dance training.
It appeared that producer recruitment had been challenging until now.
Many had declined for the same reasons I had pondered.
“But is this really okay?”
Junghyun asked.
“I felt enchanted in the meeting room, but now that I think about it, I’m worried.”
“What if we’re boring and get criticized? I won’t be able to sleep.”
“There’s no use worrying over spilled milk.”
“Then don’t bother cleaning up the next time you spill a cup of water.”
“…”
As I was about to retort, Rihyuk shook his head and said,
“If it doesn’t work out, there’s one solution.”
“What’s that?”
As everyone’s attention focused on the mention of a solution, Rihyuk turned to me.
“Let’s ride the unicycle again.”
“No.”
I shook my head.
“That’s become too cliché from overuse.”
“Then let’s learn tightrope walking.”
The younger ones agreed, thinking it wasn’t a bad idea.
They suggested filling each week with tightrope walking, jumping through rings of fire, or sticking our heads in a crocodile’s mouth.
…What do they really think of me?
“The more I think, the hungrier I get. Let’s stop thinking.”
Junghyun said calmly.
“We’ll worry about making the broadcast fun when the time comes.”
“Right. Let’s think about it then. For now, let’s not stress.”
As I was mulling this over, a notification popped up on my phone as I headed to the PBS parking lot.
Han Taehyun [Brother]
Han Taehyun [Please call me]
What does he want me to call him for?
“Taehyun,” I called out.
The reply came back instantly.
Taehyun: “LOL, what’s up?”
Taehyun: “Not that, grandpa.”
Taehyun: “Heard you’re going to be on ‘MiPro’ as a producer.”
Taehyun: “I’d like to invite you to teach the ‘showing off on stage’ part.”
Does he have a news alert set up for my name or something?
As I pondered this,
“Huh? Our article’s up.”
“Where?”
“On the portal’s main page.”
At Jiho’s words, we all logged onto the entertainment section of the portal.
There, at the very top, was a bold headline.
[New Black confirmed for ‘MiPro’ idol project, Producer Shin says “New Black is the perfect fit”]
The speed at which the article appeared was almost light-speed.
I could almost see Producer Shin Murok waving from beyond the clouds above the PBS headquarters in Yeouido.
I scrolled down to check the comments.
“This is huge LOL”
“When does it start??”
“Murok, tone down the media play and make the show fun. It’s been so boring lately.”
“Boring? Check out the 2030 buzz index LOL”
“Here we go again with the fan wars;”
“Despite the guest controversies, MiPro fans still praise it. Impressive.”
After scrolling past the heated exchange of ‘affectionate’ insults between Jusehan and MiPro’s fandoms,
I looked for comments about us.
“Epic LOL, I’m going to watch this one.”
“MiPro idols always act so saintly, it was boring, but now I’m excited LOL”
“Love how New Black doesn’t hold back.”
“An idol without a rumored celeb girlfriend LOL”
“But seriously, if New Black is on, a lot of people will watch.”
“This is going to be epic LOL”
“LOL, the article’s photo starts with a burst button meme.”
The anticipation in the comments was palpable, and most were excited just by the news of our appearance.
Suddenly, the pressure started to mount.
“…Should I learn tightrope walking or something?”
My younger brothers nodded vigorously in agreement.
After the meeting with the producers of Mr. Producer,
The day finally came for us to depart for Jeju Island.
Pushing our suitcases through Gimpo Airport, the production crew with their 6mm cameras followed close behind.
“I’m really excited.”
I shared our ambitions for our first travel reality shoot.
“It’s our first time traveling together like this. I’m both nervous and thrilled.”
“I’m super excited.”
The youngest exclaimed with a big grin.
“We talked about doing a travel reality show last summer, and now we’re finally going.”
“Especially since we were supposed to visit Jeju Island earlier this year for a small theater tour…”
“But then the heavy snow came.”
In January, a significant snowfall had closed the airport runways.
Because of that, our 3-night, 4-day itinerary included the small theater performance we missed on the first day.
From the second day, we planned to travel for three days.
“Oh! New Black!”
“Hello!”
We bowed our heads in greeting to the people who waved at us as we passed by.
Someone called out to us.
“Where are you headed? You’re all dressed up so fancy.”
“We’re going on a trip!”
The excitement of traveling together for the first time made everyone we passed seem friendly.
The only downside was having to board a plane.
Fortunately, the flight to Jeju was incredibly short.
On the plane, I sat next to Bijoo, chatting and filming ourselves with a selfie cam to ease the anxiety.
“Hello!”
We greeted people who recognized us even at Jeju Airport.
“Wow. The weather is so nice.”
“Really, it feels like even the weather is welcoming us.”
Having visited several times before, the palm trees of Jeju Airport and the surrounding scenery were familiar as I got into the car.
The reality show producer began to discuss the schedule.
“This reality trip is really tailored for New Black,” he said.
“Wow!”
“We plan to fulfill all the things you members said you wanted to do during the pre-meeting.”
“Wow…”
Suddenly, a chill ran through me.
We looked at each other, narrowing our eyes.
Each of us had tastes too extravagant to trust.
“What did you say you wanted to do?”
“What about you?”
“Do I feel ominous right now?”
While we were having this conversation, the producer, with a warm smile, said,
“Before we head to the accommodation, we’ll grant Jung-hyun’s wish first.”
“Jung-hyun…?”
“You’ll see when you get there.”
With that, the producer turned his head forward again.
Meanwhile, we were trembling with anxiety.
“Jung-hyun, what on earth did you say you wanted to do?”
“It’s a secret.”
“Come on, tell us. It feels different knowing what to expect than not.”
“Right. Kim Junghyun, what did you say you wanted to do?”
Jung-hyun hesitated.
“But if I tell you in advance, you’ll all definitely say no.”
“That’s true.”
“So, I want to keep it a secret.”
Jung-hyun was adamant, clearly something we would dislike.
“What could it be?”
“An orange farm?”
“Isn’t it a haenyeo experience? It’s definitely that.”
“Climbing Hallasan?”
As physical activities were being speculated,
We finally arrived at our destination.
“Huh?”
It was a car rental service, marked by a ‘Rent’ sign.
I thought we were being taken somewhere strange, but it was surprisingly ordinary.
Just as I wondered if the car rental place was decorated like an escape room,
“The wish Jung-hyun expressed during the pre-meeting, ‘something I really want to do if I travel,’ is…”
“…?”
“Driving.”
“What…? Really?”
Our faces turned pale.
“…Who’s driving?”
“Jung-hyun.”
At that, Jung-hyun nodded with a shy smile like a bashful bear.
We looked at the car rental sign as if it were the entrance to the underworld.
Then we turned our gaze back to the warmly smiling Jung-hyun.
“…”
It was the biggest crisis from day one of the trip.