God Idol Project: Hope [GIPH]

Chapter 38: Are they advertising us?

After a long practice, during our break while replenishing our energy, Hyung Chorok started speaking.

"Our debut is just around the corner. There's something I want to discuss."

Everyone focused their attention on Hyung Chorok.

"What kind of mindset should we have as idols, and what actions should we take or avoid? Things like that."

It was an important statement that could only come from a leader. Up until now, we were too focused on the goal of debuting to think about it calmly. With a sudden serious demeanor, I paid attention to Hyung Chorok's words.

"Before we think about anything else, let me share my thoughts first. I believe that without fans, we cannot exist as idols. If an idol has no fans, can they really be called an idol?"

Idol. A symbol.

Nowadays, it is a term used to describe a group of singers who dance and sing. But the word idol refers to a beloved figure and sometimes even a worshipped entity like a god.

Worshipped like a god... It may sound audacious, but in practice, there were many similarities.

"What kind of attitude should we have towards the fans who love us? We'll receive boundless and unconditional love. How should we repay that love?"

I only had the mindset to give it my all. I realized I hadn't thought deeply about fans before. I only considered it something that happened in faraway places.

When we gain fans, I would be grateful. I thought I should behave properly to avoid controversies. Those were vague and fragmented thoughts.

"Since we haven't debuted yet, it's hard to grasp, right? But eventually, you'll feel the love from fans. I've watched other idol groups grow to genuinely appreciate their fans. Though there are exceptions, it's generally inevitable."

Conversely, those who belittled or ignored their fans paid the price for it.

"Fans, just by existing, enable us to stand on stage. They cheer for us and enjoy our performances with us. They voluntarily spend their money, time, and energy on us. They share our joys and sorrows without asking for anything in return."

Even a friend or a parent wouldn't easily do that. If someone offered me such selfless love, I should respond with equal sincerity. It's only natural, but wouldn't it come naturally?

"I've thought about this too. If they come to like us, our influence becomes immense. They might mimic our behavior, or even buy the things we own. That's why we need to set a good example."

Just as Seohon-hyung said, with influence comes consequences. Like how a celebrity's death could trigger depression in fans.

Whether our influence is positive or negative depends on our actions. We have to be mindful of the aftermath that follows.

At the very least, I don't want to hear people say, "Why is it okay for them, but not for us?"

"I hope we can live up to the true meaning of idols, as worthy idols."

Living as an idol, especially as a role model, is incredibly tough. It requires flawless behavior.

"Don't forget that fans can abandon us in an instant. While they may give us unconditional love, they can also be fickle."

As idols, we have to constantly strive to leave a lasting impression on our fans. To avoid sinking, we must desperately struggle.

"What actions should we specifically avoid?"

"Dating?"

"Dating?"

Park Ha and I exclaimed almost simultaneously. After all, there's a reason why agencies impose dating bans.

"We're all at the age where we're highly interested in dating, but until we renew our contracts, dating is off-limits. Even after renewal, only if you can keep it a secret. But I think that's impossible. Fans know, but they turn a blind eye. Let's focus solely on our careers for now. We can't afford any distractions."

"You've all seen it. What happened when our seniors got caught in scandals."

Just as Seohon-hyung mentioned, while the case of SEED was extreme, they lost a significant portion of their fanbase because of a scandal. The group's image also took a hit, and other members were dragged down as well, hearing things like, "They became idols just to date."

"If you get caught dating, expect a one-hour counseling session with me."

An hour-long session with Chorok-hyung would leave anyone thoroughly torn apart by merciless truths. His sharp, direct approach hits right where it hurts.

"Anything that could land you in the news is a no-go. Drunk driving, drugs, gambling, sexual scandals, etc. And besides Seohon-hyung and me, the rest of you are minors when we debut, so no drinking or smoking. Once you're old enough, we'll have a session to check everyone's tolerance and drinking habits before granting permission."
.

He said this to protect our image in case of any unforeseen events. I didn't have much curiosity about alcohol, so I wasn't particularly upset.

"I guess I'll have to wait the longest to drink with you guys. Sigh~."

Park Ha whined. He seemed more excited about the idea of drinking with "the hyungs" than the actual act of drinking itself.

"There's nothing special about drinking. I don't think you'd like alcohol, Park Ha."

Seohon-hyung, the only one of us with drinking experience, tried to comfort Park Ha.

Since he disliked bitter tastes, he probably wouldn't enjoy alcohol either.

Park Ha argued that he could mix drinks with other things, but Seohon-hyung, confused, asked why he would even bother drinking then. The conversation ended there.

We momentarily veered off-topic, but quickly returned when Chorok-hyung, with a serious expression, looked at the two.

Chorok-hyung, who usually spent every waking moment smiling, instantly carried a different weight when he became serious.

"Focus. Don't give people a reason to start a controversy. For sensitive matters related to history, check with me first. As idols, we should avoid expressing political views, cursing, or using hate speech."

This wasn't just for idols but an unspoken rule for public figures. Even a small mistake could quickly escalate into a controversy.

"I'll be keeping an eye on whether we develop any celebrity disease later on."

There's a saying that everyone goes through a phase of celebrity disease at least once, but that would only lead to ridicule. It made me self-conscious. I think it'll take me a while to even acknowledge myself as a celebrity.

"I'll talk about the rest when the time comes—like how to approach fan meetings or what to watch out for during live broadcasts."

Chorok-hyung had an extensive understanding of the entertainment industry. He had been familiar with this world from a young age and, once he decided to become an idol, delved deeply into it. He understood the structure of the idol industry thoroughly.

"Lastly, never keep things bottled up if there's a problem. Whether we make a mistake or issues arise even if we do nothing wrong, let's discuss it together."

The advantage of having multiple members is being able to share opinions and find reasonable solutions to overcome hardships. I might also gain creative solutions that I wouldn't have thought of.

"If you're sick or feeling off, make sure to say something. I'll do whatever I can to help."

When he said "sick or feeling off," Chorok glanced at me. It seemed like he was alluding to the time I performed during our debut evaluation despite being sick.

I felt a bit guilty, so I shifted my gaze sideways. Chorok-hyung chuckled and looked at the other members.

He added that the sooner we recognized a problem, the sooner we could address it.

Chorok-hyung would take preventive measures or ensure we rested if we weren't feeling well. Even if one of us had to miss a schedule, he'd handle everything perfectly.

"If there's anything you'd like to add or oppose, speak up."

It was all sound reasoning, so I couldn't disagree. Other members briefly added their thoughts on rules they wanted to establish.

The list of rules for Teorra kept growing. We started with strict ones, but eventually, even chores and garbage duties were assigned.

It was only after a long time of living together that these discussions emerged. Our schedule had been too hectic to voice any complaints.

"Write it down and post it where we can all see."

As Oran suggested, we had to see it every day to keep it in mind. It would also help Jion, who might find it hard to take everything in at once, to have it written down.

After all, our country tends to be particularly harsh when it comes to scrutinizing celebrities.

In the end, a large piece of paper listing the numbered rules was posted on the dorm door. The rules Teorra had to follow were written in large letters, and the dormitory rules were written smaller below.

"We should read it every time we leave the dorm."

The large letters would undoubtedly catch our attention as we stepped out. At this point, we might end up memorizing it through sheer repetition.

Jion read each word as if analyzing them, then asked Chorok-hyung a question.

Although he understood the meaning from context, he seemed unsure about the specifics.

Chorok-hyung, with Park Ha's help, began explaining with real-life examples. Seeing them narrate situations like a storybook, Oran, Seohon-hyung, and I exchanged amused glances.

"Is this education for children?"

"Chorok and Park Ha could be great at storytelling. Who said Park Ha couldn't act?"

Both Chorok-hyung and Park Ha performed with perfect ease. As Seohon-hyung said, Park Ha was good at acting unless it involved ruining his image.

It's rare for an idol to contort their facial muscles into ugly expressions for a performance. So wouldn't that still count as good acting?

"I get it now. I understand perfectly. Enough, enough."

"No, you don't. It's still lacking. You need to be able to respond differently depending on the situation."

"Yeah! Jion-hyung needs to study more!"

The two clung to Jion without getting tired.

Eventually, Jion, worn down by their persistence, fled, bringing that day's conversation to an end.

˚˖✧✧✧˚.

One evening, our manager-hyung took us to a small meeting room. As always, he had a camera in hand. That could only mean there was something to film.

"Is there a meeting?"

Park Ha asked. Usually, when there was a meeting, we'd be informed ahead of time and then called. So it felt odd to be brought to the meeting room without hearing a reason.

"No. Just sit here and wait."

We were the only ones in the meeting room. We sat on the chairs and waited. The manager turned on the TV and stepped back, camera in hand.

"Why turn on the TV all of a sudden...?"

It was the start of the evening drama time, so the TV was showing commercials.

Were we supposed to watch the drama? Could this be an opportunity to appear in one?

Other members seemed to share the same thought as their expressions lit up with anticipation.

While we indulged in our own fantasies, a few commercials passed. Just as I started losing focus and looking away, the advertisement on the screen changed, and the Teorra logo appeared.

"...?!"

The letters spelling TEORRA appeared one by one, eventually settling at the center of the screen.

Park Ha pointed at the screen, his mouth agape. Jion, in disbelief, called out to God, and Seohon-hyung widened his eyes in shock. Chorok-hyung and Oran, who quickly grasped the situation, smiled subtly after their initial surprise. As for me, I just blinked in disbelief.

Is this... our advertisement? Are we being advertised on TV?!