Starboy Diaries
arenkohi
"Starboy Diaries"
(From School Stage to Hallyu Stardom: The Story of K-Pop's 'It Boy')
Ciel Han thought his life was pretty set: lead vocalist of his high school band, local heartthrob, and future karaoke legend. But then one night, a talent scout from a huge K-pop agency crashes his school festival, hands him a business card, and says, "Call me."
Fast forward to Ciel trading late-night burger runs with his bandmates for brutal trainee schedules, all-day dance practices, and way too much instant ramen. Things get even crazier when he's thrown into Rising Star, a survival show where trainees compete for a shot at debuting in the next big K-pop group. Cue the drama, the tears, and the fans who can't decide if they want to stan him or cancel him.
But the real plot twist? Matt Lee. He's a stupidly talented rapper and dancer with a massive trainee fanbase and the kind of grin that makes people forget how to breathe. At first, Matt's just another rival, but somewhere between late-night practices and rooftop conversations, he becomes the one person Ciel can't imagine this journey without.
From small-town band boy to K-pop "It Boy," Ciel's rise to fame isn't all glitz and glam-it's messy, complicated, and full of feels. And in the end, he has to figure out what matters more: the dream he's chasing or the people chasing it with him.
For anyone who's ever dared to dream big (and secretly shipped kpop idols, like me), Starboy Diaries is a chaotic, heartfelt rollercoaster through the K-pop industry you won't want to miss.