88 - Upki Girl

**< Promising Upkeygirl >** Out of the blue, during the mink discussion, Eunbit chimed in with a comment. “I watched that video. The one from China about skinning raccoons. It’s incredibly brutal.” Seowon covered her ears and shook her head. “Hey, stop it, Eunbit. I can’t handle that stuff.” “I couldn't watch it to the end, my heart ached too much.” “Talking about raccoons makes me want to have some raccoon soup. Just half a bowl.” At Hongi’s playful wordplay, Alya shrieked. “Oh my gosh, Hong-hong unnie, do you actually eat raccoons?! Boiled? Like in a soup?” “No, not that raccoon. There’s a ramen called Neoguri, you know, noodles.” “Oh my God. Eating noodles named after raccoons, that's shocking for Alya…” “The ramen's name is ‘Neoguri,’ you fool.” “Aah, it’s the brand name Neoguri. I got it.” The nonsensical sequence of jokes continued to spill into the audience through the mike. Surprisingly, the reactions weren’t bad, with most chuckling as if they found it cute. Of course, some journalists wore expressions of disdain, wondering, ‘What are they talking about?’ “How do you live with them? I couldn’t last a day without going crazy.” With the kids’ ceaseless chatter, Yeom shook his head, a look of resignation on his face. “I’ve been seriously considering moving back home lately. Once the album promotions are done, I should.” “I think things would get even more chaotic without you. The kids only behave because you’re there to manage them.” “Yeom, I need to live my life too. Since moving in, I’ve barely slept more than four hours a night.” “Well, you brought them in…” “Right?” From minks to raccoons, to ramen, and then to late-night snacks—the nonsensical relay only halted when the MC intervened. “Excuse me, just a moment. This is a showcase stage. Can you save those chats for when you’re back at the dorm?” “I’m sorry. Our members just love talking so much.” Yona, who had some sense, managed to smooth the situation, prompting the MC to quickly ask her a question, her expression suggesting ‘Ah, right. You’re the normal one.’ “Yona, you’ve experienced both group and solo activities, haven’t you? Can you tell us something better about being in a group than going solo?” “Definitely not being lonely is the biggest thing. Traveling is so much fun with everyone.” “Yes, from the brief chat, I can imagine. Then, who’s the funniest in the team?” “Eunbit.” “Eunbit, would you mind showing us a special talent?” “Four dollars.” “Pardon?” “Four dollars.” “Ah, is this an imitation of comedian Kim Young-chul?” “Four dollars!” Hongi, who’s skilled with online humor, easily played along at the right timing. “Two dollars.” Eunbit became even more animated and continued the act. “Four dollars!” “Three dollars.” “Four dollars!” “Phew... okay, four dollars.” And thus, the ‘Four Dollars’ negotiation was sealed. Just like at the dorm, all members jubilantly erupted into an ecstatic dance to celebrate the conclusion of their skit. Even normal-peep Yona couldn’t resist the celebratory dance, throwing herself in wholeheartedly. Moreover, Alya’s and Yona’s wacky dance skills were unexpectedly high. At this point, even journalists, who initially found it amusing, wore expressions of ‘Who are these kids? Why are they so hyper?’ — New idol group Upkeygirl, wild group dance breaks out. — Upkeygirl: A unique four-dimensional charm. — Upkeygirl claims the title of this neighborhood’s beagle energy! “Do they always act like this?” Kim Sang-in, initially telling the kids to feel at home as they do in the dorm, looked at me, puzzled by the turn of events. Oh, right, you’re the one who started this. You told them to act naturally when they were trying to behave, leading to all this. “They’re even more intense usually. This is them managing their image already. Back in the dorm, they don't stop until one’s down for the count.” “Ah…” “But don’t worry, they never curse.” “They could pretend to be a bit more polished; this is a little much. This isn’t the concept I envisioned…” Manager Kim Sang-in shook his head, admitting his misjudgment, but I didn’t see it as a bad thing. The kids aren’t just reckless—there’s substance behind them. Their skills would reshape their image when the performance started. It's this belief, shared by every Hum Hum family member, that kept us calm. After showcasing their no-filter talk session mastery, we moved on to the next segment. “Now, let’s watch the next stage prepared by Upkeygirl members. Yona, would you introduce it?” “Yes, the stage we’re presenting features vocal line Eunbit and Seowon, dance line Yona and Jinliya, and rapper Yeonhong’s solo acts. We’ve worked hard, please enjoy.” While Eunbit and Seowon’s singing was already verified through NoDew, their vocal skills had improved even more since then. After the first verse ended, the two journalists nearby shared their impressions. Looking back, they seemed about my age. “Wow, there are so many good singers in Korea. This isn’t just idol level.” “Of course. Idols these days aren't what they used to be. Unlike the 90s idols who debuted based solely on looks cast on the streets, today’s idols have top-notch training. The vocalists could easily go solo.” “But don’t they lack a bit of individuality?” “That’s the trend these days. Being trained in a standardized system does that. But it’s the same in any field. It's like comparing Lim Yo-hwan to Lee Young-ho in esports.” "The current idols excel in skill, but perhaps they lack something in terms of entertainment and emotion?" "True. But considering their ages—Eunbit is nineteen, Seowon is twenty-one—you can't expect the same emotional impact from them as you would from seasoned performers. They can definitely resonate with their peers, though." "It's a bit disappointing. Personally, I find older dancers’ performances more captivating than today’s precise choreography. It’s like the dances today, much like the music, have the technique but lack soul." However, that same journalist soon changed their tune. This happened after witnessing Alya and Yona’s original dance performance. "It’s been a while since I’ve been moved by a dance. These kids have soul." "Haha, maybe you'll become a fan?" "Ah, I guess this is how one becomes a fan. I might actually be biased in my article now." "Why not? I like Liz Girls. My mentor, a senior female colleague, joined the entertainment section just to write about idols. Honestly, is there a guy who doesn’t like girl groups? We’re guys before we’re journalists, after all, haha." "Exactly. I wasn’t interested at all, but now that I’ve seen them live, how can I not like them?" It reminded me of something my senior, Hunmin, once said: "Girl groups are always right." Hearing such praises about our group, and not just from anyone, felt strange. Not only Eunbit & Seowon, and Yona & Alya, but Hongi’s self-composed rap “Diet,” which drew from personal experiences, also received a fervent response. Commentators noted it captured the real hip-hop spirit, rather than just being an idol rapper. Female rappers with great skills weren’t uncommon, but those who also had the looks were rare, adding to her uniqueness. — Pretty Rapstar, Upkeygirl’s ‘Yeonhong’ — Yeonhong, the next-generation FutureYoon! By showcasing their individual skills and roles through unit and solo performances, the members highlighted that they weren’t just a girl group with beagle-like charm, but a talented group of musicians as well. As such, the titles of journalists’ articles evolved: — Mesmerizing Upkeygirl Dance Duo ㄴLooks like the journalist got properly enchanted ㄴEnchanted by what? ㄴFunny love spell commentㅋㅋㅋ ㄴThis is definitely an intentional typoㅋㅋㅋ ㄴJournalist: Not a typo though? — An Overpowered Group with Skills, Looks, and Stage Manners, Upkeygirl — ‘The Group We Raised’ Succeeded with Their Showcase — Quirky Debut Stage of Monster Rookie Upkeygirl The showcase, which started with absurdity and gradually increased in fun and engagement, was now left with only the live performance of their debut song, “Hold Me.” We, the office staff, were predicting a hit, based on the already positive reactions from the music video viewing. Understandably so. While the lyrics and instrumental sources were slightly altered, this track had previously been a mega-hit both in music charts and broadcasts. Its quality wouldn't just disappear. Of course, it wouldn't achieve the level of the very established Red Shadow, but I was confident it would be one of the most remarkable results for a rookie. The reaction was coming from outside the venue too. “If I knew this would happen, I wouldn’t have made Eunbit join that fishing show,” Kim Sang-in manager remarked, gleefully. Apparently, casting inquiries were pouring in already. “Well, we can’t miss Upkeygirl’s live performance of ‘Hold Me,’ can we?” As the MC was about to announce the highlight of the showcase, the press area suddenly became noisy. A ripple of people checking their phones spread rapidly, and some were seen rushing out with their phones pressed to their ears. “Hello? Is this for real?” “What’s this? Isn’t it just someone with the same name?” “I need to move my car quickly.” “But what about here?” “We’ve gathered enough information. We must leave quickly!” A team stood up, hastily packing their untouched laptops and belongings. This kicked off a wave of journalists, who had been anxiously holding their seats, to suddenly pack up and leave as if in a contest. In less than twenty seconds, 90% of the press area turned empty. Those who remained were also frantically making calls and looking lost. Even the solo MC left on stage was bewildered, asking the staff what was happening, and the Hum Hum staff were understandably flustered. “What’s going on?” “It seems like something big happened, but there’s nothing major on the internet yet.” Meanwhile, the press area was vacated as if hit by a tsunami. Only the pre-registered 100 fans were left. The fans were also puzzled, uncertain what to make of the situation. It went beyond ridiculous to downright frightening. The Upkeygirl members, waiting backstage, started peeking out, visibly anxious. “Is there a war breaking out?” “Oh, what is this?” “Manager Kim, what should we do?” “We should proceed. Tell the MC... oh, wait a minute.” Kim Sang-in manager paused mid-sentence to check a message on his phone. The meaning of his sigh soon surfaced in breaking news articles online. —[Breaking News] Body suspected to be actor Lee Jung-han found —[Exclusive] Top actor Lee Jung-han found dead at home, suspected drug overdose —Actress Jo In-joo hospitalized in critical condition (1st report) —Female identified at scene with Lee Jung-han confirmed to be Jo In-joo —Is the November curse haunting the entertainment industry? —Were Lee Jung-han and Jo In-joo a couple? Agencies unreachable Lee Jung-han, one of the undeniably top male actors recognized even in Hollywood. And Jo In-joo, a renowned actress in her 30s, known for her pure and clean image, reigning as a CF queen two years in a row. For these two actors, each with tremendous influence on their own, to be found at the same residence, with one deceased and the other in a coma from drug overdose, suspected to involve a new, untested drug. The incident stood to rank among the top five most shocking scandals in the entertainment world over the past decade. But this event didn’t occur in the past I remembered. What connection exists between Eunbit not joining Happy Joy and the incident with Lee Jung-han and Jo In-joo? This was the intricate butterfly effect at play. For the next two weeks, the entertainment world was abuzz with discussions about the scandal, and just as interest seemed to wane, Jo In-joo, who was in a coma, passed away, plunging all of South Korea into shock. The investigation unearthed Jo In-joo's scandalous personal life, which starkly contrasted her pristine public image, causing widespread disillusionment that swept across the entire entertainment industry. Moreover, the revelation that the new drug they used was readily accessible even to minors elevated the situation to a national crisis. Amidst the comeback launches of major agency groups being overshadowed, Upkeygirl’s debut couldn’t possibly gain traction. Shouldn't my information panel have warned me about something of this magnitude? That little info window, always nosy about others’ private lives, has been dropping the ball recently. Or perhaps it implied this event didn’t hold significant weight in the grander scheme of the kids’ futures. Yes, let’s think of it that way... *** “Boom, are we doomed? Is that it?” “No way, you’re not doomed. You’re destined to rise, so don’t worry. You just stumbled over a small stone on the path.” “Then why are you crying, Boom?” “I’m not crying.” “Yeah, right. Your eyes are all red.” “Look, the manager is really crying…” “Why are you doing this? We’re just standing here.” I must be getting old. To shed tears over something like this. “It’s…it’s unfair… why do we have to suffer when we’ve done nothing wrong…” “Oh, our Yoonho, come here. Let sister give you a hug.” “There, there, there.” “Please don’t cry…” In front of all the kids, I shamefully bawled in Eunbit’s embrace. Seowon and Yona patted my back soothingly. “Boom, you have a cute side to you. Crying like that makes you look more pitiful.” “Hey, Hong-hong unnie is crying too…” “Yeonhong, why are you crying now?” “Waaah, seeing the manager cry makes my heart hurt.” I thought the road would be smooth once we debuted. Highest ranking 77th on the charts. Average 45th on music shows. While considered a decent showing for rookies, it fell well below my expectations, and “Hold Me” wrapped up with mediocre results. We had to take solace in the fact that the entire industry was in a slump and that within the industry, we were still seen as having ‘promising potential.’ Hyeondong [Who did you think music show 1st place was for, some dog? This is a good outcome] Yeom [Schedules are still rolling in. Shake it off and let’s prepare for the next album] We strategized to make a comeback in the first half of next year with a six-track mini-album, while planning for external events and boosting individual profiles through cable programs and online broadcasts. **— December Schedule —** Upkeygirl: Filming reality show ‘The Group We Raised’ Eunbit: Filming fishing channel FTV’s ‘Flap Flap,’ recording drama OST Seowon: Shooting game show ‘Fun Battle,’ recording drama OST Yona: Participating in female rapper battle, ‘Girl Crush’ preliminaries Yeonhong: Participating in female rapper battle, ‘Girl Crush’ preliminaries Alya: Attendee **< Promising Upkeygirl > End**