128 - Upki Girl

< This is Heaven > The rules and elimination process for the Replay Girl competition had been sent to each company a month prior. Similar to a football league played in seasons, the ranking was determined by an accumulated point system. For each mission, whether it be singing, dancing, or gaming, points were awarded to the top three teams. After the fourth week, the team with the lowest total score would be eliminated. An interesting aspect was the inclusion of evaluations beyond those from the judges; scores would also reflect votes from the production staff participating in filming, managers and stylists from each company, as well as votes from other teams. The point system and basic rules are as follows: Professional judges (9 members) award 10 points, 7 points, and 4 points to the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place teams respectively. Votes from the production crew (120 members) and each company’s staff (30 members) carry the same points for the top three. Votes from participating team members (over 100 participants) also carry the same points. To ensure fairness, team members cannot vote for their own team. As all the rounds except the final are pre-recorded, there are no real-time audience votes. However, there is a single "first impression vote" by netizens, conducted once through pre-released teasers and promotional videos, with the same 10, 7, and 4 point reward structure. Essentially, teams could gain points before the actual competition began. After delivering this news to the UpKey Girl members, Yona’s face grew worried. "Online voting works against us..." Eunbit asked, "Why?" "Teams with male idols in the company will have an advantage because their fandom will help them." "Oh, that makes sense." Indeed, Yona understood well. Upon seeing the phrase "online voting," it matched with concerns the company had. While it’s branded a first impression vote, it was no different than a popularity vote dictated by fandom size. Assuming each girl group had only modest fandoms due to low recognition was a mistake. If a team had a boy group from the same company, their devoted fans would come together to support their affiliated girl group. It's often said that girl groups survive on public appeal while boy groups rely on loyal fan bases. The level of devotion and participation from boy group fandoms is on an entirely different scale. This is why female winners in audition shows are rare, and when girl groups and boy groups face off as potential winners, analyzing the pre-vote and live voting numbers clearly shows the disparity. Successful new companies that launched boy groups often choose to create girl groups next for this very reason. Even without aggressive marketing, they’d get touted as "the sister group" of someone, hence naturally gaining attention. In Replay Girl, ‘Teenagers’ and ‘love1 (love one)’ were prime examples. They belonged to companies that managed ‘Astarting’ and ‘HAK,’ both well-regarded boy groups with significant domestic and international fandoms. When the Replay Girl online voting started, their fans would likely sweep together votes, even using family accounts, to support their brother group's affiliated girl group. “What does that mean, no matter how well we shoot the teaser, we’d only be able to place outside the top three in online votes?” “It’s unfair. There are hierarchies even here.” Seeing Seowon and Eunbit’s visible disappointment, Liya responded with innocent curiosity. “No matter how many fans they have, aren’t there more people who are not their fans?” Before anyone could respond, Liya elaborated, suggesting that delivering a universally acknowledged performance could increase broader netizen participation. "Has ‘Astarting’ or ‘HAK’ ever even topped the music charts?" "Right. They might have been at the top on music shows, but I don't remember them topping digital charts." "See? No matter how much fan streaming goes on, Jun Jin’s ‘Like It’ is the number one digital hit." "Liya, watch your pronunciation..." Regardless of the slight misstep, Liya had a point. Ultimately, fandoms can’t outshine the general public. If their performance surpassed ‘Teenagers’ and ‘love1,’ the broader audience might naturally vote for them. But saying it is easier than doing it. Liya confidently continued, “We can beat everyone, so no need to worry.” Thus commenced the teaser performance meeting. The girls were determined not to lose, especially not to a team bolstered by their brother group’s fandom. The company entrusted the stage entirely to the girls. For the teaser, they had 3 minutes to perform one song of their choice. Whether it be their own track, a cover, dancing only, or singing only, was up to them. The most critical factor they considered was “impact.” Given the on-site votes from the production team and other groups, a plan emerged to have something distinctively powerful, and all agreed that Aliya and Yona’s dance performance could provide that impact. While the girls discussed, I researched international award shows and dance group performances to contribute ideas. There, I accidentally clicked on a related video, which led to a debut performance by a first-generation idol group from the late ‘90s. I remember... The 5-member co-ed group ‘KLOVE’ shook the charts for a while with their debut song ‘Who Are You,’ which blended end-of-century techno dance with trot. The male members were almost like background props, while the three female members were at the group’s center, performing powerful dances with their petite frames and cute looks, matching even male dancers. It wasn’t just simple choreography. It was breakdancing akin to B-boys. Particularly, the leader Im Yeonjeong excelled with basic one-kicks, two-kicks, along with Thomas and Baby moves, earning her recognition as Korea's first B-Girl. Her breaking dance during the intro was so iconic that even I, who had little interest in dance singers, remembered it vividly. Breakdance... B-Girl... Something clicked, prompting me to search more B-Girl performance videos. The results were astonishing. These days, B-girls aren’t just doing Thomas moves; they can handle high-difficulty moves like windmills, headspins, and air tracks, just like the guys. A powerful breakdance performed by a cute girl group... it’s a captivating idea! There’s no need to attempt such high-level techniques. Even if they stick to moves like the Nike or a backflip, as the female members of KLOVE did, it would leave an impact. In a month, they could potentially master at least one of these techniques, right? “Hey, guys, take a look at this.” *** For UpKey Girl’s teaser performance, the song selected was Michael Jackson’s Thriller. ― Ba-bam! From the intro, gasps of awe erupted from the audience. And it was no surprise. The UpKey Girl members, all dressed as monster nurses from Silent Hill, started the performance with backflips. The month-long training by the B-boy team paid off successfully. But the best was yet to come. The entire choreography was designed by a choreographer famous for street dance. Eunbit, who had the weakest dance skills, worked tirelessly, and Liya, who mentored her one-on-one without giving up, deserved praise. The routine started with Yona at the center, showcasing waacking moves, then switched to Liya in the center with popping techniques. They even included capoeira moves that Eunbit was into. The finale was a coordinated one-kick, two-kick, and rainbow sequence. ― Doom doom doot! Game over. It was a performance typically seen at street dance competitions, distinctly different from traditional girl group dances. The production crew and other teams watching erupted in applause. “Amazing! Amazing!” Writer Jeong Sojin, with her bobbed hair and round, rimless glasses, was more thrilled than anyone else. Assigned to UpKey Girl, Replay Girl used a system where each girl group had a dedicated writer, making her practically part of our team. “You were incredible, guys! This could surely secure you first place in the teaser mission!” “I told you there was nothing to worry about.” “Indeed. You guys are fantastic.” Though there were twelve more teams waiting to perform after us, she seemed convinced we’d take the top spot. She was the youngest among the writers, and her excitement was so over the top that the camera director beside her had to remind her to settle down. I glanced at Kim Seokwon and his Eye Contact team waiting on the opposite side, observing their expressions. Their faces were as murky as a dust-filled sky. I felt an urge to go over and taunt them with a snide expression. Eye Contact’s turn was tenth, but I had no desire to watch them. It would likely involve them lying on the floor half-smiling, rolling their eyes, and doing tacky waves. The team I was interested in was Promis Twelve, slated to perform sixth. “Promis Twelve, please get ready!” Oh no, come on! It’s Promis Twelve, not Promis Twelve! The UpKey Girl members watching with me continued their playful banter. “Oh? Who’s that? Isn’t that Promis, the group that the manager likes?” “What are you doing? Aren’t you recording this?” “Oh no, Myeon-myeon's nostrils are flaring.” “Just laugh out loud, you're acting like a pervert.” “Go Promis from UpKey Girl Manager Kim Yunho’s favorite group!” Eunbit’s shout was the last straw. A wave of laughter swept through the set, and eyes focused on me. Writer Jeong Sojin looked at me, seemingly surprised. “Oh, Mr. Manager, you’re a fan of Promis? Who do you like?” “It’s not like that...” “What do you mean it's not? Myeon-myeon's Heaven, you're a big fan!” “Hey, be quiet…” “Really?” “Yeah. He never misses voting during the Girl Group Bakery!” Ugh, embarrassing. Liya’s voice echoed throughout the set, as she answered with precision. Even the members of Promis Twelve on stage looked at me with amused faces. I made eye contact with Haneul, who was wearing her signature disarming smile. Ugh, my heart! As if possessed by a ghost, I unconsciously raised my fist high and shouted from the depths of my stomach. “Haneul, fighting!” “Thank you!” Oh my gosh! Haneul responded to my cheering! Eight cylinders! Eight cylinders! “Jang-woo, do you believe in heaven?” “I’m not religious.” “I’m not either, but I think heaven exists. This is heaven for sure.” “Kuh kuh kuh.” “Oh, good grief. Get a grip. She’s young enough to be your daughter.” Shut up, Han Seowon. And if you’re using age as an argument, then you shouldn’t have any designs on me either. My affection for Haneul isn’t romantic—it’s pure fandom! It’s enough to share the same oxygen under the same sky; I’m content with that! It wasn’t just Promis Twelve. Several teams today were on the verge of winning my heart. Although the girl groups participating in Replay Girl might not be well-known, that didn't mean they lacked charm. Indeed, they were entertainers, and it was clear they were the crème de la crème chosen among all the exceptional trainees. Even teams that seemed average on screen glittered in person. If this wasn’t heaven—being among over a hundred such brilliant beings—then what could it be? Among them, one particular team stood out. “Please have one of these as you go.” “Writer, this is for you.” “Remember, we bought these ourselves!” Despite the ongoing teaser shoot, they were diligently handing out health drinks and hot packs even to the lowest-ranked staff members hidden in the corners of the set. It was the four-member sexy dance group 'Lip Balm,' boasting an impressive average height of 172 cm. I found it curious that they seemed to lack a manager or stylist, but according to their interview, their office had recently disbanded after their company’s CEO was investigated for embezzlement. Because of this, Lip Balm handled everything themselves—from driving to makeup and booking gigs. They personally delivered their profiles to a Replay Girl writer they knew and auditioned for the show. Their profiles stated their ages were between 25 and 27, but it's likely they had fudged those numbers. I had the feeling that some of the members were closer to thirty. Considering that the average debut age for girl groups these days is under twenty and Plan El retired at their peak in their mid-twenties, Lip Balm were practically veterans by idol standards. The members referred to themselves as a "livelihood girl group," and amidst teams filled with youthful, bubbly energy, their maturity and boldness stood out. Without a manager, they ran around themselves, which seems to have impressed the production team. It was clear everyone on the staff was looking out for them. I had to admit, with the effort they put in, they had earned my respect as well. To survive among the young and pretty teams, they needed a unique weapon, and I considered their tact off-camera to be just that. Of course, their physique reminiscent of Western models was a visual feast in itself. “Lip Balm, are you ready?” “Yes!” The teaser shoot for Lip Balm began. As a team with a dance background, their performance was to be expectedly polished. However, I was curious to see how their overtly sexy image, beloved in military events, would fare with the general household audience. The trend of sexy idols had long been overshadowed by pure and innocent concepts. Lately, the public has been showing signs of fatigue towards the sexy concept. Or so I thought. “Wow…” As they shed their parkas and took the stage in their performance outfits, awed reactions erupted among the male staff. This works! That’s a compelling kind of sexy! Their figures were something—waists nipped in, impressive busts, exquisitely proportioned hips, and all the way down their thighs, calves, and ankles, there wasn’t a single part that didn’t exude sexiness! I struggled to categorize it as glamourous or slender due to their striking physiques. In jumpsuits that were tight and short, their average height of 172 cm was accentuated, not leaving much to the imagination. Though labeled as glamourous, their lean yet explosive bodies reflected the intense effort they put into maintaining themselves, something the gathered girl group members understood all too well. Words of admiration like “impressive” and “enviable” poured from their mouths. Their performance was equally outstanding. Their vast stage experience was evident, and they commanded the stage with confidence. Solid dance skills supported their performance. If Lip Balm epitomized “good sexy,” then Eye Contact, who followed them, represented a tacky “bad sexy.” It was almost pitiful. Regardless of how much support the CP gave them, maintaining such skills and concepts would draw criticism from viewers. Among the ten performances, the standout teams were ours and Lip Balm. From the remaining teams, Teenagers with their girl’s hip hop concept held some promise, presenting exactly the kind of performance I had anticipated. If I were a judge, I would have commented, “It was well-executed but lacked any distinctive features.” An unexpected contender appeared during the final performance. < This is Heaven > concludes here.