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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: Debut Evaluation (1)
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‘This is insane.’
It was a rather undignified choice of words for a full-grown adult, a working professional no less.
But it was the only word that could express what I was feeling right now.
The Spark guys, who had torn the February evaluation to shreds just like my resignation letter, were on fire, performing as if they were on a survival audition show.
Choi Jeho and Lee Cheonghyun were, of course, flawless, as they’d always been.
But the growth of Jeong Seongbin and Kang Giyeon was remarkable.
First off, Jeong Seongbin earned bonus points right off the bat for looking a bit more confident than usual.
He was already skilled in both singing and dancing, so simply presenting what he’d prepared with such confidence made his experience palpable.
And then there was Kang Giyeon.
He still had a habit of his hands trembling and his expression stiffening during interviews, but today, he didn’t make a single mistake in his evaluation.
He showed no hesitation, especially in his specialty, dancing.
It was a performance that showed all the late nights spent rolling around the practice room had clearly paid off. The dance instructor’s eyes were already misty.
You never truly know until you see the results, but this was a foregone conclusion.
That kid, Kang Giyeon, had at least scored a solid hit.
Meanwhile, Park Juwoo, who had chosen his evaluation song just a week ago, was even told by the vocal coach that he “no longer had any weaknesses.”
‘Should I be happy about this, or not?’
My original goal was to close the distance with the Spark members, even just a little, to show my potential for growth. After all, I had to prove my worth by demonstrating future promise.
But while I took one step forward, these guys took a pole vault, and my challenge was over before it even began.
“Good luck, hyung!”
As my turn came, Lee Cheonghyun, who was sitting next to me, whispered quietly.
Thanks for the support. Though I’m not sure I’ll survive, what with you guys bringing in your own songs and being so good at dancing and singing.
* * *
‘It’s already Iwol’s turn.’
Min Jukyung, a member of the Artist Management Team in the Management Division, checked the last remaining profile and the February evaluation sheet.
Though he was a two-month trainee who had joined UA last, Kim Iwol was quietly acknowledged, even among the most diligent trainees, as the one who turned off the practice room lights every night.
A diligent person earns favor through their attitude alone.
Min Jukyung believed that Kim Iwol was someone worth rooting for, not just because she had brought him in, but because of the dedication he had shown.
‘I hope he does well.’
The existing trainees had all been with the company for at least a year longer than Kim Iwol.
Because of this, the company was weighing the possibility of him joining the debut group versus a future group at a ratio of about 40 to 60.
‘It would be easier for him to build up his skills before debuting, but… no one knows when the next group will come out.’
Considering the idol market where youth was a weapon, Min Jukyung wanted to debut Kim Iwol as soon as possible.
If Kim Iwol could just handle one person’s share of the vocals, it wasn’t an entirely impossible story.
‘He just needs to be good enough to be a sub-vocal…!’
Min Jukyung cheered him on internally, watching Kim Iwol stand perfectly straight, just as he had last month.
Oh Eun, sitting next to Min Jukyung, asked Kim Iwol.
“You chose the same song for both your vocal and dance evaluation?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
At Kim Iwol’s answer, Min Jukyung checked the song list.
It was a song by a famous male idol group. The title, however, was unfamiliar.
‘A B-side track?’
Min Jukyung thought it was a pretty good choice.
If the original song had a strong image, it was easy for a cover to be overshadowed, no matter how well it was performed. This was especially true for a trainee.
Kim Iwol had always made good choices in his few evaluations.
This brought to mind what Oh Eun, one of the judges, had said during a past meeting.
‘He seems to have good sense. And he works hard.’
Min Jukyung agreed.
Idol groups needed a so-called “smart one,” whether for fan service or variety shows.
‘If Iwol could fill that role, our boys would have less to worry about.’
His short career, his age as the eldest, and his upright attitude made Min Jukyung feel it was a waste to let him languish for several more years.
But she didn’t have long to indulge in her thoughts.
“Then shall we have you sing while you dance?”
In past evaluations, vocals and dance were judged separately, but the CEO had given an unprecedented mission, saying, “If it’s the same song anyway.”
UA naturally wanted to create an idol group that could sing live, but singing while dancing required a completely different set of skills than just standing and singing.
‘There’s so much to manage, like breathing!’
Min Jukyung was appalled.
While this was true for every trainee, this was a truly crucial moment for Kim Iwol.
As such, Kim Iwol, who must have practiced diligently for a whole month, deserved the same opportunity as the other trainees.
As Min Jukyung wondered why this had to happen during Kim Iwol’s turn, the wall clock in the corner of the practice room came into view.
There were only about ten minutes left until the meeting scheduled for the launch of the new idol group.
In projects requiring collaboration between many people, even a single delayed meeting could cause significant problems.
Min Jukyung wasn’t unaware of this, but…
For a trainee with a bright future ahead, an opportunity this important should at least be guaranteed.
Just as Min Jukyung was about to stand up to her employer and say, “I don’t think that’s right!”
Kim Iwol beat her to it.
“Understood.”
…he said.
And four minutes later, Min Jukyung realized she had been worrying for nothing.
* * *
After the performance, which felt like an eternity, only one thought crossed my mind.
‘So it does work.’
The reason I chose a song by a famous group was clear. It was because UA pursued the “classic idol image.”
This was evident from how they specifically requested a song with a strong K-pop flavor from Park Juwoo, and how the debut album was released with a youth concept, the standard for a rookie group.
If I had fixated on not losing points and picked some obscure song only I knew, there was a high chance I’d be judged as lacking the passion and drive expected of a new employee.
Instead, I chose a more vocally relaxed B-side track rather than a title track, which often has high and intense highlights.
All to make myself seem suitable for the sub-vocal position.
The song’s lower recognition could be compensated for by the group’s fame.
‘And if it’s a song they only performed once or twice at a concert or on a music show, there’s almost no chance of being compared to the original.’
It was a way to cash in on the name value and run.
B-side tracks had another advantage.
Since they were often used for special stages, their choreography was usually simpler than that of title tracks.
If we had covered this as a group, we would have been criticized for taking the easy way out.
But the story changes when one person sings it from beginning to end.
Being able to handle a song meant for a multi-member group all by yourself was an undeniable advantage in terms of individual capability.
To show that I could pull my weight in both dancing and singing, I had to perform them simultaneously. And in a dramatic fashion.
For instance… by having to perform them together due to a sudden proposal, when they were originally supposed to be separate.
The turn of a trainee who had only been here for two months, preparing to be an idol for the first time.
At a time like this, what would you think if you had to listen to a song that didn’t seem too difficult to sing, with choreography that didn’t look too strenuous, twice?
Especially when a meeting with many people was about to start?
People who consider time as gold—especially executives—would start to think:
‘Couldn’t we just watch it all at once?’
If needed, they could just say they took the different evaluation method into consideration.
If it went well, all the better.
I had anticipated this development to some extent by reviewing the decision-making processes at UA that the Spark members had talked about on broadcasts.
I had also checked UA’s meeting room reservation schedule for the week through people around me, like my manager and Min Jukyung.
Thanks to all these pieces falling into place, the evaluation proceeded in the best possible way out of all my planned scenarios.
What a relief. I didn’t have to resort to “Operation 21: Arouse Pity with a Sob Story and Offer Myself Up for a Slave Contract.”
‘Though I did have to grind myself to death until I could successfully do both the song and the dance…’
Since completion was a prerequisite, there was no avoiding the arduous path.
I could only hope to get bonus points from my attendance record again.
‘Now I just need to project the right image and get out.’
Balance is key when you’re scheming.
If you don’t show anything, you don’t make an impression. But if you reveal your entire blueprint, you give the impression that you were playing the other person.
‘The best outcome is for them to not realize their reaction was induced, and for me to just be praised for a good song choice.’
I quickly scanned the judges’ faces. The executives, whispering among themselves and marking their papers, looked perfectly satisfied.
It was the moment my small, precious leap had successfully landed.
* * *
“Adolescence is a scary thing. They’re so different from last month.”
Every official who attended the monthly evaluation agreed with the words of UA’s CEO, Yoon Hyunju.
“The kids did exceptionally well this time. Maybe because we told them we were selecting the debut lineup?”
“Motivation does make you focus more.”
“Giyeon’s performance was a real surprise. I was worried he’d get more nervous under pressure.”
The dance trainer, Song Junhwan, who had always had a soft spot for Kang Giyeon, looked as if a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders.
“I heard he practiced with Iwol every night.”
Manager Chanyoung, who checked the trainees’ attendance, chimed in.
“Really?”
“Giyeon has a tenacious streak. Oh, by the way, Jukyung, did you listen to the track Cheonghyun sent?”
“Yes. It was pretty good, wasn't it?”
“Right? I heard he took it to the A&R team, too.”
For trainees to find new motivation in an environment where they could easily become complacent after long periods of training was an unequivocally good thing.
They had always been hardworking members, but recently, the trainees were so proactive in their practice that the staff and trainers could feel the difference.
Realizing that everyone else was thinking the same thing, Yoon Hyunju began to ponder seriously.
What was it that had improved the trainees’ atmosphere?
From the company’s perspective, they needed to know the clear reason.
And they needed to hold onto that reason. That was the only way to maintain the current positive momentum.
Neatly arranging the six evaluation sheets, Yoon Hyunju asked the excited staff.
“What do you think was the decisive factor that changed our trainees’ atmosphere?”
Starting with the CEO’s question, a two-hour-long brainstorming competition commenced in the conference room.
