Chapter 22 - Didn't They Say to Handle It?
“W-What did you just say?”
Park Yeong-ho asked with a trembling voice.
“That you secured a spot on a new TVX program?”
“Yes, it's a new program that the Seo Dong-cheol Division is preparing with all their heart and soul.”
“No, but how on earth...”
At Baek Hyeon-woo's explanation, Park Yeong-ho couldn't complete his sentence for a while.
“Ah, by any chance, are you saying they'll have us on as guests? Like how Kanade appears on Idol Weekly...”
“It's not like that.”
Baek Hyeon-woo shook his head.
If it were something like that, there would be no need to negotiate with PD Seo Dong-cheol himself.
“It's a survival program where a total of seven girl group teams will appear and compete. The deal is that one of those spots will be given to our Newstarz.”
“……!”
A new survival program being made by Seo Dong-cheol.
It's a huge opportunity that many entertainment agencies would drool over.
Once the news gets out, everyone will be antsy, wanting to get their own idols in there somehow.
But Baek Hyeon-woo secured it?
“No, what is this...”
Park Yeong-ho simply couldn't understand.
“How impregnable a person is Seo PD-nim, and you secured it just by massaging his wrist a bit? Does that make sense?”
“Team Leader Park.”
Baek Hyeon-woo retorted while maintaining a calm demeanor.
“Seo PD-nim is not someone who can't properly separate public and private matters.”
“……!”
“You were the one who repeatedly emphasized that to me, Team Leader Park.”
This time, Baek Hyeon-woo did adjust Seo Dong-cheol's wrist.
However, that was merely a catalyst.
The reason he was able to win an appearance for Newstarz was because he used that catalyst to persuade Seo Dong-cheol.
That the reborn Newstarz of the future would be able to generate the kind of fun that would satisfy Seo Dong-cheol.
“Of course, he didn't say he would put us in unconditionally. There is one condition.”
“A c-condition?”
“We must have broken away from the existing system and be in a state of having been reborn as a 5-member group with new charms.”
“……?”
Park Yeong-ho tilted his head to the side.
“A 5-member group?”
With a blank expression, Park Yeong-ho stared at Baek Hyeon-woo's face.
“This is the first I'm hearing of this.”
“Because this is the first time I'm telling it.”
“……”
In front of the speechless Park Yeong-ho, Baek Hyeon-woo said in a calm voice.
“I will explain, Team Leader.”
He had persuaded the members, and a rough roadmap had been established.
Now, all that was left was to get permission from his superiors.
***
Accept Yoo Jeong-ah, who applied for the last audition, as the fifth member of Newstarz.
Make Yoo Jeong-ah the new main vocalist and reorganize them into a 5-member group as per the original plan.
Have the thus reborn Newstarz appear on the Seo Dong-cheol Division's girl group competition program, and have the group itself make a new leap.
After hearing Baek Hyeon-woo's plan, Park Yeong-ho couldn't say anything for a while.
“Phew…”
Only after a good while did Park Yeong-ho let out a sigh and open his mouth.
“Hyeon-woo-ssi.”
“Yes, Team Leader.”
“From now on, I'm going to speak informally to you.”
Park Yeong-ho abruptly used informal speech.
“I'm saying I'm going to speak informally because I think of you not as someone who will work here for a bit and then leave, but as a colleague and junior with whom I'll share my fate from now on. Okay?”
“Understood.”
Baek Hyeon-woo smiled.
Until now, Baek Hyeon-woo had felt a subtle sense of distance from Park Yeong-ho.
Even though he trusted Baek Hyeon-woo's ability, he had the feeling that he was keeping his distance, thinking, 'That kid will quit someday and go back to working as a physical therapist.'
That sense of distance was no longer felt.
It felt like he had been acknowledged as a colleague who would struggle together for Haram Entertainment and Newstarz.
“Putting Yoo Jeong-ah in Newstarz, this is a very good idea.”
Park Yeong-ho said in a serious voice.
“In the past, there were often talks about recruiting a new fifth member for Newstarz. Since they were a group being prepared as a 5-member lineup anyway. But it was difficult to find a suitable person.”
In the meantime, time continued to pass, and in the end, Newstarz settled in as a 4-member group.
That's why everyone stopped thinking about adding a new member to Newstarz.
“If it's Yoo Jeong-ah, she is not lacking to become the fifth member of Newstarz. Rather, she's a member who can fill the parts that Newstarz was lacking.”
“Yes, if we make Yoo Jeong-ah the main vocalist, we will be able to supplement Newstarz's weakness.”
To Newstarz, whose main vocal is weak, add the rookie Yoo Jeong-ah, who has an A-rank Vocal.
With this, Newstarz can become a complete group.
“When recruiting an additional member like this, the biggest thing to worry about is the backlash from the existing members. Because the group itself could be shattered to pieces from internal conflict. However...”
Park Yeong-ho looked at Baek Hyeon-woo's face.
“Since it seems you've already resolved that part in advance, Hyeon-woo-ssi, I suppose there's no need to worry at all.”
“I also thought that to recruit a new member, that part had to be resolved in advance. That's why I went around talking to the members first.”
Normally, the right way is to talk to the superiors first and then notify the members after the fact.
However, Baek Hyeon-woo proceeded with the work in the opposite way.
Because he thought the most important people in this matter were the Newstarz members.
“If we add a fifth member like that... a narrative is created for Newstarz.”
“……”
“The narrative of Newstarz, who lost a member due to trouble right before their debut, debuted in an incomplete state, and has struggled for a long time... is finally born again by recruiting the best newest member and becoming a complete group, taking a new leap.”
Fans also expect a narrative from idols.
They don't just consume the idol's songs and dances, but they also take their story—what path they have walked so far and where they are headed now—as an object of consumption.
“Even if it's the same song, it's bound to sound much more charming if it carries a narrative. It's one of the reasons why people go wild for singers who debuted through audition programs.”
The narrative of having passed the audition through bloody effort and fierce competition.
Because they know that process, people feel a greater sense of emotion from the songs of singers who debuted through audition programs.
“So the plan is to let the world know about that narrative... through the Seo Dong-cheol Division's new variety show.”
“Yes, that's right.”
Today, Baek Hyeon-woo made such a proposal to Seo Dong-cheol.
That if it's a Newstarz reborn by recruiting a new member, they could provide a new kind of fun that the Newstarz of the past did not have.
“Everyone knows that Newstarz was a mediocre idol group. However, if we recruit a new main vocalist and show them taking a great leap forward, that will definitely become an interesting narrative.”
“Yes, people would respond to that.”
Seo Dong-cheol had said that Kanade was fun because her ups and downs were severe.
If Newstarz, which had been flying at a low altitude until now, suddenly shoots up, that sharp rise itself becomes a factor that interests people.
“Newstarz is a group with potential. They will be able to grow more within a program where they compete with other girl groups. The viewers, while watching them grow like that, will come to have a greater affection for Newstarz.”
This wasn't simply wishful thinking.
Yoo Jeong-ah possessed the enormous potential of SS, and the rest of the members also have high potential.
If they can just display that potential, Newstarz can take a great leap forward.
“And.”
“Hm?”
“There is one way to maximize the fun of this narrative.”
This part as well, was something he had already finished discussing with Seo Dong-cheol.
“The member who left right before Newstarz's debut, she's currently in a girl group at DP Entertainment, right? How about we also cast that girl group for this competition program?”
“……!”
In front of Park Yeong-ho, whose mouth fell wide open, Baek Hyeon-woo smiled.
“It'll be a huge hit. In many ways.”
***
Recruiting a new member isn't something Team Leader Park Yeong-ho can decide on his own.
He has to talk with Director Choi Tae-hyung, and ultimately, he has to receive the approval of CEO Baek Yeon-ah.
“I'll bring up the story to Director Choi, so you just sit quietly next to me, Hyeon-woo-ssi.”
Park Yeong-ho earnestly requested of Baek Hyeon-woo.
“You probably know this, but Director Choi is a very strict person. His nerves are on edge right now because of making the new group, so don't say anything random.”
“Could the Director possibly oppose it?”
“The possibility of him opposing it... I can't say it's nonexistent.”
Choi Tae-hyung does not like Yoo Jeong-ah's type of style.
It's making her an additional member of Newstarz, not recruiting her for the new girl group he's making, but in any case, he won't welcome it with open arms.
“If Director Choi opposes it, we'll have to talk to the CEO. We'll push it through with the CEO's power. In that case, you have to persuade the CEO well, Hyeon-woo-ssi.”
“Understood.”
A situation where the director opposes but the company CEO pushes through is by no means desirable.
Baek Yeon-ah herself would also find it burdensome.
So a situation like that should be avoided if possible.
“I guess we have to hope that Director Choi says okay without any complaints.”
“Well, the possibility of that is higher. Because Director Choi doesn't have much interest in Newstarz.”
Choi Tae-hyung came to Haram Entertainment to create a new girl group.
For that reason, he had entrusted almost all of Newstarz's matters to Park Yeong-ho.
“For now, let's bring it up cautiously.”
“Understood.”
Like that, the two of them headed toward Choi Tae-hyung.
Approaching Choi Tae-hyung's seat, which was the seat of honor in the office, Park Yeong-ho spoke first.
“Director, do you have a moment?”
Even when he spoke to him like that, Choi Tae-hyung didn't raise his head.
He just continued to look at the monitor and tap on the keyboard.
“Was the problem with PD Seo Dong-cheol resolved well?”
“Ah, yes, it went well.”
Park Yeong-ho answered urgently.
“It seemed that Seo PD-nim took a great liking to Hyeon-woo-ssi.”
“Really? What's with that guy?”
Choi Tae-hyung, who had been tapping on the keyboard, glanced at Baek Hyeon-woo for a moment.
However, he immediately moved his gaze back to the monitor as if he had no great interest.
“Alright. Keep up the good work.”
“Ah, Director.”
Park Yeong-ho said cautiously.
“Besides the matter with Seo PD-nim, there is one urgent thing I need to discuss...”
“What is it?”
“It's a matter related to Newstarz.”
“Newstarz?”
Choi Tae-hyung slightly frowned.
“I'm pretty sure I told you, Team Leader Park, to handle Newstarz on your own.”
“Well, it's a matter related to their future activity direction, so I wanted to consult with you, Director...”
Since there were other employees around right now, it was a conversation that should be had in the meeting room.
“You don't need to consult me, so just handle it yourself.”
“Pardon?”
“I'm telling you to proceed with it at your discretion, Team Leader Park.”
Choi Tae-hyung stopped tapping the keyboard and operated the mouse.
Taking a peek, it seemed he was sending some kind of email.
“I have to leave quickly right now. You take care of it, Team Leader Park.”
Choi Tae-hyung, who had shut down his computer, packed his things and got up from his seat.
“D-Director, but still, this is very important for Newstarz...”
“Team Leader Park.”
As Park Yeong-ho kept pestering him, Choi Tae-hyung made an annoyed expression.
“Newstarz, it's been almost 3 years since they debuted, and they're a group that hasn't hit number one on the charts even once. All that's left for them is to go on a downward trend and then disband, so don't put too much effort into them.”
“……!”
At Choi Tae-hyung's remark, Park Yeong-ho's eyes widened.
Leaving the speechless Park Yeong-ho behind, Choi Tae-hyung strode out of the office.
“No, what the...”
He had thought that he didn't have much interest in Newstarz, but to think he felt that way about them.
It seems he really is only interested in the group he is newly creating.
Park Yeong-ho shivered with a sense of betrayal.
However, unlike that Park Yeong-ho, Baek Hyeon-woo was composed.
“This turned out well.”
“Turned out well?”
In front of Park Yeong-ho, who was staring with a dumbfounded expression, Baek Hyeon-woo smiled.
“He told us to handle it ourselves, didn't he?”
“……!”
If he tells us to handle it ourselves, then we just have to handle it ourselves.
Then all the results from it will be ours for the taking.