102 - Upki Girl

< Heartflutter Heartflutter Fan Sign Event > <'A Wholesome Fangirling of Girl Groups' Blog> Hello, this is your confident girl group fangirl ^^ My main group is Love Melody, and I also support many others, including Rize Girl. This blog is purely for my hobby, so please be kind with any harsh comments~ ―Most Viewed Posts on This Blog *Rize Girl's Fourth Fan Meeting 'Renewal' Review *Rize Girl Hansem Fancam *Love Melody Photocard Direct Sale Review *VNF Bundang Fan Sign Event *Upkey Girl Showcase 'Hold Me' Review *20171213 Upkey Girl Fan Sign Event Review I enjoy shopping alone, so I often visit the IFC Mall near my home, where idol fan sign events sometimes happen. That day, I was thinking of buying some winter clothes at Zara, but stumbled upon a group of girl group members having a fan sign event. [Photo] ―Who could they be? Turns out it was a fan sign event celebrating Upkey Girl's album release. Is this destiny with them? It felt both curious and endearing. I had a chance encounter at their showcase, and now I was unknowingly attending their fan sign event. The photos were taken with my newly purchased iPhone X, as I hadn't brought my gear since I was just out shopping. T_T [Photo] ―Not a lot of people. But from the fan perspective, this is the best time. If they get too famous, they somehow feel more distant… Initially, I thought it was an exclusive event for fans, so I was taking pictures from the back of the line, but it turned out anyone could join the fan sign. The members were personally promoting and gathering people, which was an unusual sight. Rather than feeling like the desperation of an underrated group, it appeared lively and refreshing. [Photo] ―This is Eunbit, the most well-known member of Upkey Girl, and her smile is as adorable as a Shiba Inu's. One thing left a strong impression. Usually, at fan sign events, fans kneel in front of the table to receive signatures from the artists. [Photo] ―It's the same at Rize Girl fan signs... [Photo] ―And at Favorit fan signs... There was some controversy about this practice, though, it's a culture established out of convenience for both the fans and the artists, not a company policy. Because if fans stand... 1. The photographers at the photo zone's view is obstructed. 2. The eye level between seated artists and fans doesn't match. Therefore, without being told, fans naturally kneel for everyone's convenience (companies have adjusted following the controversy). However, Upkey Girl addressed these issues by conducting their fan sign event around a large, rustic-looking table, with everyone sitting cross-legged together. [Photo] ―This isn't a neighborhood meeting, so what's with the setup... Curious, I asked a company representative present, and he said they've been doing it this way even before the knee controversy. Upkey Girl's leader Yona (a former member of Eye Contact) mentioned she disliked seeing fans kneeling before her. In reality, Seowon caught my attention at the showcase, but after hearing that, I found myself drawn toward Yona... I couldn't tell from a distance at the showcase, but up close, her face was no joke. She has such a sophisticated and classy vibe? She even has a bit of an actress feel to her... It didn’t seem like she stood out during Eye Contact, but something must have happened in the meantime because her aura has completely transformed. At this rate, she could aim to be one of the top three visual rookies debuting this past year. [Photo] ―Is this beauty for real? Another unique aspect of this group is they're constantly giving back to fans, as if the company isn't interested in making money. At the showcase, they handed out a lot, and on this day, they gifted fans attending the fan sign with high-quality photo books usually worth 20,000~40,000 won, for free. [Photo] ―This is the kind of high-quality photo book a group like Love Melody could have easily sold for 60,000 won. By the way, my official main group is Love Melody (7 years) and my side group is Rize Girl (1 year). But as a multi-fan supporting nearly all notable girl groups, there are always a few members in each team that catch my eye, even if they're not my absolute favorites. However, every single member of Upkey Girl had their own charm. Yeonhong was continuously thanking the fans who came throughout the fan sign, which made her look so humble despite her pretty face, she didn't seem like a celebrity at all. She even mentioned feeling sorry for gaining weight and openly revealed her weight, which no one asked about, promising to get under 60kg by the next album, apologizing constantly to fans. I told her she looked pretty and didn't need to lose weight, and her face turned red before she stood up and gave a 90-degree bow... The member with the highest recognition among the fans, as the 10-decker and official entry member of the Upkey fandom, seemed to be Eunbit. The snapper picture is legendary. I predicted she'd eventually make it to variety shows since she stood out at the showcase (though I didn’t expect it’d be on a fishing show…) When I mentioned her smile was like a Shiba Inu's, she laughed and asked to be called "Shiba Eunbit" from now on, cheerful as ever. [Photo] ―A sudden Jiu-Jitsu demonstration, what gives? Jinriya, the giant baby type who is the youngest, came off as a bit aloof, but seemed every bit the youngest when interacting with the other members. She seemed quite shy around the fans. [Photo] ―Jinriya, serving as Eunbit's armbar opponent. While being the receiving end, she looks remarkably cheerful. [Photo] ―My ultimate bias, Seowon. Could it be her large eyes combined with her mono-lid? In the Upkey fandom, she's known as the singing wild fox. But there's more to come. I was about to leave after collecting signatures in the photo book when staff began handing out boxes to everyone at the exit. ―It looked just like a Starbucks Lucky Bag. Not only was it large, but it also had some considerable weight. Expecting some rice cakes or merchandise, I went home and opened it. [Photo] ―Inside: a tumbler, earphones (?), a t-shirt (??), two bestsellers (???), a Bluetooth microphone (????), gloves, a scarf, a hat (?????), a one-year streaming subscription (??????), and a USB with cover song files from the members... What on earth are these guys...? There's no other 'generous' like this generous. I always expected to be the one giving, but here I am receiving gifts instead. Is the company some kind of Samsung-level giant to give out such a generous package to all the fans who came that day? The t-shirt and hat weren't just merchandise; they were actual new products being sold in stores. (They seemed a bit too young for me, so I gave them to my younger sister, who loved them, haha.) There was also a handwritten letter from the members randomly included, and I got one from the youngest, Jinriya. She mentioned living abroad for a long time during the showcase, and although her pronunciation wasn't an issue, her spelling had quite a few mistakes... ―――――――― Hello, this is Jinriya, the youngest member and fan club president of Upkey Girl. Did you enjoy the gifts we prepared? Thanks gorously for comimg to our fan sign. Having fans is overwhelmingly joyful for me. Please continue to love UKG a lot. Seowon is the light, and Yeonhong is my truth! ―――――――― As an 8-year veteran of fangirling over girl groups, Upkey Girl seems like a group that gets more intriguing the more you know them. In a good way, not a bad one. Organizing the photos and gifts I got that day, strangely enough, my heart started racing. Seowon is light, and Yeonhong is my truth... Is this what it feels like to become a fan...? *** I woke up needing to use the bathroom. I turned on my phone to check the time, and the blog I was reading before falling asleep was still open. It was a review of the Upkey Girl fan sign event, and it seemed I fell asleep before finishing it. After 17 hours of filming 'Girl Crush,' I was understandably tired. As I lifted myself to go to the bathroom, "Ugh... What the..." Eunbit and Seowon were sleeping on either side of me on the bed. No wonder I felt cramped even while sleeping. It was 6 AM when I checked the time. I arrived at the dorm at 3 AM and fell asleep around 4 AM, meaning I’d only slept for about two hours. Today's schedule starts at 9, so I need to grab some more sleep. "Ugh, seriously..." When I got back from the bathroom, that rascal Eunbit had spread into my spot on the bed. She was smiling, as if dreaming something amusing. The blog mentioned Eunbit looking like a Shiba Inu, and she really did. I gave up on sleeping in the bed and decided to head to the next room. As I was about to pull out my pillow, Eunbit sensed the movement, snapped her eyes open, and looked at me with startled rabbit eyes. "Oppa...?" "When did you guys come?" "What? Seowon's here too..." "Weren’t you two together?" "No, I came alone... It was impossible to sleep over there..." "Did Hong snore a lot?" "It wasn't just Honghong. It was next-level. Honghong was snoring, Yonna was grinding her teeth, and Riya was speaking in her sleep and groping around..." Hong and Yona, obviously, but even Riya, who just came to watch, spent the full 17 hours at the filming site, so they must be exhausted. "Had any fun dreams? You seemed happy while you were sleeping.” "Hehe, I dreamt of a fan sign where you and I were doing Jiu-Jitsu, completely naked. Funny, right?” “What a crazy dream. Get some more sleep, I'm moving to the next room.” “Aw, why? Get back here.” “Crammed. I felt like I was suffocating while sleeping.” “Oh ho, did you touch me because you felt suffocated?” “What...? Did I?” “Yeah, you were touching my side and my butt.” “What nonsense...” But honestly, I might have done it. What Eunbit said jogged my memory; in the dream, I had been touching Jehee's waist and butt. And now that I think about it, it felt startlingly real. Ah, I want to cut off my hand... “I thought you were just pretending to sleep and touching me on purpose, so I stayed quiet.” “What are you talking about? Even if you paid me, I wouldn't touch your crappy body.” “Come on, you liked it. You made weird noises, too.” “Hey, as of today, you're banned from my room. Get out.” “Wow, the person who farted is the one getting mad. I’m the one who got touched, yet you’re the one angry?” “What the heck are you talking about...” Oh no. Our voices must have been too loud as Seowon, who had her back turned, also woke up. She asked in a drowsy, half-asleep voice. “Who’s touching whom...?” “Unnie, Oppa was touching me while he was sleeping.” The oblivious Shiba Eunbit tattled on me. Seowon looked at me with an expression of disbelief and exclaimed. “Why are you touching her?” “I didn’t do it intentionally; I must have brushed against her in my sleep... I mean, isn’t it weirder not to touch anyone when three people are tangled on one bed?” “I didn’t touch anyone!” No desire to argue. “Fine. You two can touch each other all you want. I’m moving to the other room. Okay?” “Don’t leave!” “Don’t go!” “And I'm warning you both, if I ever catch you in my room again, I'm kicking you out immediately. From today, I’ll lock the door when I sleep.” “No, don’t lock it!” As I tried to grab the pillow, Eunbit clung to it, refusing to let go. So, I just left it and exited the room. The two of them started bickering. “Crazy Yoon Eunbit, you dragged me into this mess too!” “Why are you blaming me? I was the one who got touched. I’m a victim too.” “Saying victim, huh. If it were me, I’d touch him back.” "Hehe... Of course, I touched him too." "What? You actually did? Where?" "His chest and butt?" "Wow, insane. You're dead meat." "But I've touched it a few times before. Yoonho Oppa's butt has a nice feel to it. They say the butt is what defines a man." "Oh, really? Is the manager's butt that firm?" "Oh, it's just... like, huh?" "Wow." Sigh... those crazy kids... In the other room, I locked the door and spread a blanket on the floor. Even though I tried to go back to sleep, sleep had already escaped me. Ugh. Might as well finish the fan sign event review I was reading earlier. I turned on my phone screen. Ah... and, as expected, a ten-message combo from the karoke queen popped up. Device 2 [I want to touch your butt too] Device 2 [Just a sneak peek of what it feels like] Device 2 [Why do you always favor Eunbit?] Device 2 [I feel left out] Device 2 [I'm going to hit Yoo Eunbit] Device 2 [I'll definitely hit her while she's sleeping] Device 2 [Be honest with me] Device 2 [Do you dislike me, manager?] Device 2 [If you do, just say so. I'll leave.] Device 2 [Everyone hates only me] "Hey! Go ahead and touch! My body was never mine anyway!" Device 2 [LOL! That outburst is so funny.] Device 2 [“My body was never mine,” LOL] "Come and touch! Do whatever you like!" Device 2 [LOL, so cute] Device 2 [I'll save this and touch you later, okay? LOL] Device 2 [Secretly touching during a fan sign would be thrilling...] Me [Do whatever, but don't deceive the fans.] Device 2 [LOL] Me [Who do you think you're living off?] Device 2 [Then in the car? Secretly, with just the two of us in the back seat?] Phew... It's not that there's no aftereffect; this is more like a bipolar disorder. Device 1 [Oh, it's so noisy. I can't sleep.] Me [Please, just shut up. Do you have no sense, or are you doing this on purpose?] Device 1 [On purpose, LOL] Me [Why] Device 1 [Seowon Unni's reaction is so fun. Cute, LOL] If you got hit with a ten-message combo from this text fairy... you'd wise up. Me [Go to sleep.] Device 1 [Okay, goodnight.] But I couldn’t fall back asleep. I just stayed awake staring at my smartphone until it was time to start the schedule. The morning schedule is a fan sign event, which the kids love the most. Being able to interact closely and talk with the fans gives them a tangible sense of the love and support they receive. Initially, Riya was uncomfortable with male fans, making the atmosphere a bit tense, but after consistent therapy and hypnotic treatment, she began enjoying it regardless of gender. Of course, skinship like putting an arm around someone's shoulder or holding hands is avoided. Additionally, as the unofficial president of the Upkey Girl fan club, Riya always used her own money to give back to fans at these signings. Today, she's prepared a family accommodation and dining voucher for the Oscar Hotel. "Ahem, ahem, hello. This is Upkey Girl's entertainment manager, Yoo Eunbit. I'll share today's event with the members." Holding a Bluetooth microphone in the car on the way to the signing, Eunbit announced the game to play with the fans, one she had developed. "It's called Heartflutter Heartflutter Revolution!" "And what exactly is that?" Seowon asked. "You each pick a fan. Then by either making eye contact or holding hands, try to get their heart rate up. The highest heart rate wins!" "Do we have to do it with our own fan?" "It doesn't matter. But it's probably advantageous to do it with someone who's already your fan, right?" "What's the penalty?" "The four who lose, except the winner, have to wear the outfit the winner picks at the next fan sign. By the way, if I win, the last place has to wear a bikini." "What? A bikini in this winter!? Aliya can't stand the cold!" In response to Aliya's whining, Eunbit replied with a gambler's zeal. "What's the worry? Just win." "A b-bikini is a bit much. I've never worn one in my life..." "I haven't either. How many here could say they've worn a bikini?" To Aliya and Yona's replies of being bikini amateurs, Hong and Seowon chimed in. "Aliya won't wear anything but a bikini?" "I wore one once for a photo shoot." What? There's a Yona bikini shot? "But it was a B-cut, so it wasn't released publicly." Tch. Not like I was that curious. A game to get fans' heartbeats soaring. I predict the two strong contenders are Yona, skilled in fan interaction, and the adorable Eunbit. Ultimately, though, Yona will likely win. She has the 'interlocking fingers' skill acknowledged even by top lawyer Gwag Gwag, and if she nods with those eyes that seem to say she'll grant any wish, even a perennial snow will melt. The last-place contender will probably be either Aliya, who has limited skinship, or Hong, who suffers from chronic lack of confidence and embarrassment. My predicted ranking is Yona, Eunbit, Seowon, Riya, and Hong, in that order. This is looking to be fun already! < Heartflutter Heartflutter Fan Sign Event > End