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Chapter 325

KPOP. A newly coined word that mainly refers to Korean idol music.

In fact, it is not a name given on its own in Korea.

'I think this word has existed in foreign countries since hallyu started.'

TL/N: "Hallyu" is "Korean wave," a neologism referring to the rise in popularity globally of South Korea's contemporary culture.

So, if the new mission is to "break a KPOP record," isn't there a high probability that only records recognized overseas will be recognized?

I asked by text message to confirm what the status window said.

[I had never thought of it that way, but I think it's true.]

"..."

I don't think it was updated on all kinds of KPOP music records just because I asked this.

I closed my phone with a bad feeling.

After returning to the apartment, I was now sitting on my bed in my room.

Am I going to sleep? No, I have to go to the practice room as soon as the choreography for the special performance is completed. The end of the year is not such an easy season.

And likewise, the roommate who was sitting on his bed waiting, spoke up.

"If we were to break a record, then we would have to do better than all the sunbae groups."

"Yes."

In the car he said, "I'll think about it," and it seemed like he was really concerned. He's an honest guy.

The words that followed were like his personality.

"Why didn't we target a new assessment element recently? It's easy for a new element to make a record."

It was a realistic comment worthy of a person who has lived as an athlete. I raised my chin.

"Let's take a look. First of all, in Asia, the records for records..."

VTIC ate them all. Fuck.

"Haha. The sunbae-nims have worked hard, right?"

"Yes."

That's true. They have already set records of winning the top spot for several weeks, millions of sales and dome tours.

While TeSTAR focused primarily on securing its national placement, VTIC even strengthened its global position....You could say they ate it thoroughly.

"The same goes for South America."

"That's right."

It's an area where the KPOP market is a hit and has already had outstanding records. It's a reckless challenge to try to make a new record during the coming summer when we only have one bullet.

TL/N: He means it would be difficult to create a new record in South America when you have only one chance to try.

And it's not necessarily the sunbae records that are the only obstacles.

"They are all working hard right now. They have good qualifications."

Globally, not only VTIC but also quite a few groups do better than TeSTAR.

CheongWoo also nodded as if remembering what he heard at the company briefing.

"Hmm, it is difficult. Even if we do our best to make a good comeback, there is no guarantee that the results will be good."

The entertainment industry is like that.

"It's a big matter of timing and luck."

"Yes. There are a lot of similarities, but I think it's a little different from sports in this sense."

CheongWoo smiled bitterly.

"I've tried to break records even when I was doing archery, but celebrities don't just win and lose...I think it's very complicated that we have to win people's hearts."

"You are right."

I nodded and CheongWoo seemed to be lost in thought.

The atmosphere is deeper than I thought. It would be better to relax it slightly.

I went a little off topic.

"Now that I've heard you, I wonder what were the records you challenged before."

"Huh? Haha. It's no big deal, it's stuff that everyone always tries. I went to the Asian Games, the World Championships and won 3 gold medals at the Olympics. I tried to win them as the youngest member, that's what everyone wants."

"..."

3 gold?

I don't know what kind of industry Korean archery is.

'Why are you talking about those gold medals as if you won them in a regional league?'

This specimen is beyond common sense.

"You are unbelievable."

"Unbelievable? No, I failed. I was not selected as a starter in the World Championship."

CheongWoo smiled a little embarrassed.

"Still, I got a record for being the youngest in the Olympic selection."

"That's good enough."

"Haha, but I think that's going to be broken soon. A lot of younger friends made it to the selection finals..."

"...!"

Wait. Something seems to come out of those words.

'The youngest...'

Suddenly, a new path appeared in my mind.

'...That's right. That kind of approach is possible.'

Instead of getting the best overall score, we can aim to break a category record in another way.

As long as it's an "interesting element" that influences overseas.

'Great, I've almost got it.'

I just have to catch the thread. I nodded my head.

TL/N: To weave a piece, you first have to "catch/find the thread". In short, to prepare your plan well, you must first research what appeals to the audience you wish to conquer in order to accomplish your mission.

"Anyway, I will think about your question some more. I'm sorry I can't tell you anything useful at the moment."

"No, rather, thank you. I think I have a clue."

"Do you...? Really? If so, that's a relief."

CheongWoo laughed even though it was clear from his face that he didn't know where I got the clue from.

I added more words, just in case.

"You can be sure that I will never think of anything that will harm TeSTAR's image and interest."

"I had never worried about it before...It's okay."

Ryu CheongWoo agreed to that extent.

It's the same reaction he showed last time when I said, "We have to win the Daesang."

"..."

Come to think of it, he didn't even ask me why I asked him this until the end. He seemed to have guessed that it would be a burden.

'What kind of person is this?'

The same thing happened in the car. Strangely, he was a bit shocked by the situation, but unlike what I thought, he treated it with care, accepted it, and went on...

I wonder how the hell this guy is convinced by this situation.

'I thought you didn't believe in supernatural phenomena at all.'

He's the kind of guy who isn't even afraid of ghosts.

But no matter how long he has been deceiving, isn't it too much of a stretch to accept this unrealistic situation and still trust Park MoonDae?

'Although he doesn't seem to have ulterior motives.'

I rubbed the back of my neck and sighed.

I don't know. Let's just ask.

"Hyung."

"Yes?"

"About what you said earlier in the car...I was wondering how you were so sure about my situation, hyung."

"..."

"Honestly, I thought it sounded ridiculous."

I'm referring to his certainty in the proposition that "Ryu GunWoo and Park MoonDae have switched their bodies."

CheongWoo smiled awkwardly.

"Hmm, actually, I tried to think of another explanation...but there were loopholes in everything I thought of."

"..."

"At first, I wondered if the two of you were so influenced by each other that you shared a lot as one. I thought I should take that into account and accept it."

I remembered him suggesting that I should "talk comfortably."

'Was that the reason you said that?'

But the explanation didn't end there.

"Then I met "Ryu GunWoo" today...and that's where I realized it wasn't him."

CheongWoo concluded calmly.

"He was very different...as if you had switched bodies."

"..."

"And I remembered what I said the last time we went to a mountain. It came to my mind like a flash of lightning."

"I just...act the way I am."

CheongWoo laughed.

"If taken literally, your answer would fit perfectly with everything I've questioned myself so far. It fits precisely."

"..."

"Your knowledge, coping skills, trauma, and so on. Even your reactions matched those of Ryu GunWoo-ssi."

He smiled bitterly.

"And also, the reason why you got angry with me before and...avoided me."

"..."

"It made a lot of sense."

Summer Package's "I."

Had he gotten to the point where he thought I had a fit that time because I remembered the story of his own car accident?

I kept silent and Ryu CheongWoo continued to speak softly.

"At that time, it was as if I understood you one-sidedly, but...actually, you've been taking care of me a lot too, right? I'm sorry."

"...No."

I managed to reply.

"No matter what, I'm the one who should apologize."

CheongWoo laughed.

"I guess stubbornness runs in the family."

"..."

"Anyway, that's how I found out. Of course, I still don't know how it started...It's okay that I don't know. There's no need to listen to it."

In the end, this guy...exercised his instinctive judgment based on reason.

On top of that, he's also a very calm guy, so it seemed like the situation had flowed smoothly up to this point.

'After hearing this, it seems that the value of information is incredibly high.'

In the end, I laughed too.

"It's embarrassing to hear explanations every time I can't explain it properly. Thank you."

"No worries."

CheongWoo smiled, but his expression changed as soon as he remembered something.

"Hmm, come to think of it, that wasn't the end."

"What?"

Was there something else?

"Actually...I even heard it myself unintentionally."

He seemed to be a bit embarrassed.

"When I went out to talk on the phone at the restaurant, I was standing outside the door trying to time it before I went in..."

Wait.

"...So, maybe..."

"Yes. He called you "hyung" very naturally."

"..."

Was that how you confirmed it?

As expected, the sad feeling wasn't wrong. I understand.

I felt a tug on the back of my neck because of the situation I was worried about, but I was soon relieved.

'Anyway, it ended well.'

It's a blessing in disguise. I went back to see Ryu CheongWoo.

TL/N: "Blessing in disguise" is a situation where an unfortunate and unfavorable event turns into good fortune.

And I said out of the blue.

"I look forward to your continued support."

"Haha, I look forward to your kind cooperation."

Suddenly, I got a helper to whom I didn't have to hide my identity.

And not long after, the door bursts open and the others come in.

"Guys~ The choreography is now ready~"

It's time to practice again.

"Really? Wait for a moment."

CheongWoo immediately stood up and said to me as if he was adding.

"Let's keep talking about the KPOP record when we come back."

"Okay."

I think I can slowly think about it alone, but I had to talk steadily unless I was going to act alone anyway.

So I nodded, but the reaction came from another guy after Ryu CheongWoo left.

It was Keun SeJin.

"MoonDae MoonDae, what KPOP record?"

"We were discussing what we could have as our next target."

Isn't it a productive idea that anyone could discuss with a leader?

"Oh~ I think you're getting much more comfortable with CheongWoo hyung since you became roommates."

Keun SeJin smiled and then deliberately pretended to cry.

"Heuk, heuk, only you guys came out to play before, SeJinie feels so left out..."

How did this bastard know that we went out secretly?

"You were talking on the phone with a variety show MC at the time."

"Eeei, if our lead vocalist, my best friend MoonDae, had called me, I would have hung up the call and run to him~"

He said nonsense so matter-of-factly.

I was about to slap his back, but I stopped myself at the thought that came to my mind.

'...I remember telling this guy that I would tell him about my situation as soon as I could.'

...Ryu CheongWoo already caught me first.

"..."

"MoonDae?"

Do I have to explain it to him voluntarily?

But he...he hasn't caught me yet, and I don't know if I can say it openly. That would be too risky.

It's not like I can restart in case I fail to persuade him.

'Besides, this bastard has the characteristic of hearing everything, I'll have to tell him what the hell is going on, from 1 to 10, the moment I confess.'

TL/N: "From 1 to 10" means "everything". In this case, it will require knowing the whole story, down to the smallest details.

I'm also worried that if I think about explaining it to an idiot who doesn't even know what the status window is, I'll end up embarrassed, regardless of whether he believes me or not.

I was silent for a moment, but then held back a sigh and spoke.

"...When we have more time, let's go out by ourselves..."

I'll have to try as soon as I find the opportunity to do so. This kid doesn't know, but CheongWoo does, so if he ever makes a mistake and misses something, the picture will become weird.

"...! MoonDae finally wants to get out of the house! Alright, alright~ I'll wait for it!"

No, bastard.

Keun SeJin chuckled and patted my back, but I walked out the front door quietly with the members.

'I have more work to do...'

How to explain this unrealistic situation to him?

'I'll decide when I read the environment.'

I gave up on the idea for now and regained my original concerns.

Then, to make it easier to break KPOP's record, which is the goal of the mission...

1. Pioneering a new market

2. Subdivision of new evaluation elements

It's organized like this.

So, even if the elements are subdivided, the market is big enough to appear authoritative, and the public conscience is good, there is still a pie to eat...

I accidentally missed the expected answer.

"United States."

"Are we going to the United States?"

"No."

It's just a candidate area.

"Boohoo..."

Cha YooJin, who reacted like lightning, walked past me with slumped shoulders and got into the car. But there is nothing we can do.

'There are many cases of groups that could not enter the United States.'

There are other things that need to be prioritized.

'Let's start an analysis.'

We need to find which market TeSTAR would have the most advantage in, extract value from the data, and then establish a method of entry.

I won't keep the U.S. in mind as much as I can.

And to do that...I need to get a good night's sleep so I can plan the revenue method and activities as I wish.

I bent my neck.

'It's time.'

I remembered the changes I made to the contract with the Executive Director of the agency.

"If TeSTAR wins the Daesang at any annual award ceremony the following year, the establishment of a new independent label for TeSTAR will be fully supported."

We already won the Daesang...

So the time has come to create an independent label for TeSTAR.

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