The pre-1-minute interview shoot was almost nearing its end.
“Uh, I’m Kim Joo An… and, I’ll work hard to debut…”
The main PD of <Targeting Star>, Joo Cheol Yeong, furrowed his brows as he looked at the trainee stammering in front of him.
“Does he really want to debut, or not? Why is he so timid?”
Despite being told that it was just a simple camera test to ease the tension, and considering it’s also a surprise project, this level of nervousness was unexpected.
“You participate this time. The program I’m in charge of has to be a huge success.”
Joo Cheol Yeong sent the trainee, who barely finished the interview, out and called the main writer, Lee Hyeon Jeong.
It was for the first-broadcast-related idea meeting.
“Which artist do you think did the best?”
Hyeon Jeong snorted.
“Does it really matter whether they’re good or not? They are separate from the ones AG asked us to support.”
“Stop that. There are 18 trainees, and there might have been others besides them. Tell me.”
After a brief contemplation, Hyeon Jeong began folding her fingers one by one.
“Well, excluding the AG purebloods… among the individual applicants, there’s one from England, and another who’s a student from the Department of Philosophy and Fine Arts.”
“Again? No more?”
In truth, Cheol Yeong had a specific trainee in mind.
And he believed that this writer would mention the same person.
“And, there’s that guy with the old-fashioned name. Chun-sik or something.”
“…Kim Chunyong?”
“Yeah, that’s it. What can I say… he gives off a prepared vibe?”
“I knew this writer would think the same way.”
Joo Cheol Yeong leaned back in his chair with a satisfied smile.
“An individual applicant went to the shop? Of course, those who heard about it in advance have all been there. Whether you know or not, the result is ultimately the same. But it’s not about the acting. It’s about Kim Chunyong. His gaze is different.”
However, Hyeon Jeong responded skeptically to Cheol Yeong’s words.
“Why do you keep talking about things like that with a sense of fatalism? PD, do you believe in that too?”
Cheolyeong tapped the armrest of his chair, raising his voice.
“No, this writer. It’s not about fatalism. Have you seen him looking directly at the camera and talking? Not a bit awkward. It feels like he’s been rolling around on a film set for about five years. Even Son Jae Ha, who’s considered the ace among the current male trainees at AG, is nervous.”
Is he really that good? Hyeon Jeong recalled Kim Chunyong’s pre-interview.
“Indeed, he seemed a bit different in terms of naturalness from others.”
Cheol Yeong drew a big star on Kim Chunyong’s personal information with the pen he was holding.
“I’m thinking of pushing Kim Chunyong a bit this time. This guy will surely take responsibility for the ratings. I’m really sure about this. My instincts are telling me.”
“But what about Director Shin’s pick? If we don’t push him, there might be pressure…”
“Wait a moment, this artist.”
Cheol Yeong brought his finger to his lips, indicating silence, then pointed to somewhere with his other hand.
“…Oh.”
Looking at where his finger pointed, Hyeon Jeong closed her mouth.
She momentarily forgot.
They were still within AG.
Soon, the footsteps faded away again, and as Joo Cheol Yeong nodded, Hyeon Jeong spoke.
“He’ll come in. There are already parts we’ve aligned on.”
“Currently, Director Shin is not in Korea, attracting Chinese investment. Until Director Shin arrives, I can shoot as I please.”
“Heh, PD-nim, you might get stabbed.”
“You can think about that after it happens.”
Cheol Yeong touched his chin and raised his arrogance.
It was an attitude that naturally emerged when Joo Cheol Yeong had great confidence in something.
“And what if Director Shin disapproves? I guarantee you, even Director Do would welcome it with open arms if he sees that I’m endorsing Kim Chunyong. Remember Lady Swan. Are there any foreign members there?”
“Well… that’s right. They’re all Koreans
“In short, if Kim Chunyong joins, you can come up with about six to eight members, right? We’re not the ones doing the voting. The mentors and the public are. Among them, deduction, you know.”
But… we’re the ones creating the broadcast in such a way that the voting can happen.
Hyeon Jeong couldn’t say this aloud.
It was because Joo Cheol Yeong, the Midas touch of the idol survival program world, was laughing sinisterly.
“This can be a huge success, Ms. Writer. My instincts tell me. It’ll be perfect for mentors, protagonists, and even the extras*.”
Although it felt somewhat creepy and distant to have Cheol Yeong, who was risking the lives of young trainees, refer to them as “extras,” Hyeon Jeong couldn’t say anything.
“If it goes well, after it’s over, go on a trip with your family. I’ll make sure you get plenty of vacation.”
…He had no intention of getting off the unsinkable ship called Joo Cheol Yeong.
Two days left until the first shoot.
The day when PD-nim would exercise absolute power was also two days away.
[TN: The word used in the original text is ” 들러리들까지”, which translates to ‘bridesmaids’ or ‘groomsmen.’ I chose to use the term ‘extras’ instead, because within this context, they are referred to in a derogatory manner, and only as individuals who assist/serve as stepping stones or assistants for those who will eventually debut.]
YOU ARE READING
TMMIB!
Random**Story not mine** Title: The Malicious Member is Back! Nicknamed the worst malicious member in idol history, called 'Trash-Rex.' Stage name Rex, real name Kim Chunyong. As he was urgently arrested, with only the entertainment world waiting for him...
