157 - Upki Girl

< See You at the Next Recording (Including Content and Announcements) > The duration of Replay Girl's broadcast is 1 hour and 20 minutes. The first episode was expected to primarily focus on introducing the judges and the stories behind the 15 participating teams, and that's how part one unfolded. Naturally, some teams would benefit from more screen time, while others would face disadvantages. Despite the necessity to introduce all 15 teams within a limited timeframe, the allocated time inevitably wouldn’t be fair to everyone. At the start of the broadcast, teams that are relatively popular or have compelling backstories tend to receive more airtime. Teams with neither recognition nor noteworthy stories might not even get introduced. It’s similar to audition shows where some contestants are introduced for the first time only when the main rounds start. The three most prominent teams on Replay Girl at the moment, in my opinion, are Teenagers, LOVE1, and our own Upkick Girl. Back when we were contacted, GIG and Eye Contact seemed ahead of us, but thanks to Hong-i's runner-up in the Girl Crush contest, the morale-boosting train performance, and the Maxim Doll incident, we've climbed the ranks impressively. But that doesn't mean we can be complacent. The ultimate authority over segment allocation and editing lies with the PD. Even teams that aren’t particularly noteworthy can be made to shine with the power of editing, and conversely, malicious editing can tarnish a team's image completely. Considering that, instead of clashing with the main PD, Jang Ho-jun, we should be buttering up to him tremendously. However, I made a vow with the Upkick Girl members during our Replay Girl shooting: even if we face disadvantages and get eliminated, we will not resort to groveling behavior. If Upkick Girl could only succeed by bowing low and sucking up to others, then I judged that we didn’t have the potential for success as artists from the start. If we are talented and charismatic, offers will come our way inevitably. And I’m aware of the talents and charm the members possess through their aura. Moreover, we’re not exactly struggling with finances here. “If funds run short, I’ll sponsor it again; if there’s no income, I’ll handle the settlements. So never do anything you don’t want to, just because the older sisters are against it. If you break this rule, you’ll be in trouble.” This was what Alia sternly instructed me and Yeom without the other members knowing, no less than a command. Indeed. The source of all this confidence is none other than the noble Princess Alia herself. Thinking of that, the person we ought to be buttering up to isn’t Jin Sang-yun or Jung Ho-jun, but Alia. Lost in these thoughts during a commercial break, I felt grateful and proud of Alia and patted her head without thinking. ―Swoosh, Swoosh “Why are you patting my head?” “Just seeing it suddenly, your nape seemed irresistibly pettable.” “If that’s the case, feel free to pat it more. Go on, more.” At that moment, Yeom, who had returned from a quick restroom visit, heard this and casually wiped her wet hands on Alia’s nape as she passed by. “Aaaaah!” Alia shrieked as if her nape had been exposed to nasty germs, frantically brushing her hair as if to peel off the condition. “What’s this filthy, rude conduct, gangsta Yeom!” “Why, didn’t you say it was fine to pat as much as we wanted?” “Don’t you know that only Rang-kang-kang is allowed that privilege? Resign from your CEO position and get out of my sight! Get out!” Of course, Yeom didn’t bat an eye and ignored Alia’s demand. “They won’t drag the team introductions into next week, will they?” “Writer Jung So-jin mentioned that after today’s team introductions and teaser mission, the role model mission would follow next week.” “None of the main ones have appeared yet, right?” “Yeah.” Part one introduced the luxurious panel of judges, and perhaps to balance things out, teams with lower recognition were introduced initially. Among them, Ladybugs from Fabre Entertainment left a strong impression on viewers with their unique team name and the delightful chemistry of their members. They even topped the trending search list, surpassing the reputable judges. The broadcast’s first part concluded just as Eye Contact was being introduced. But a suspicious feeling lingered. Brief glimpses of Eye Contact members in tears were shown. “What’s Eye Contact attempting to garner sympathy with now?” It seemed Yeom shared my sentiments. He voiced the hypothesis I hadn’t dared say aloud. “Surely, they’re not bringing up Yona’s departure, are they? It reeks of that situation...” Yeom’s intuition is undeniably sharp. Our shared concern, initially dismissed as unlikely by myself, Yeom, and everyone else, turned out to be true. In the second part that started shortly after, there was an interview about how the team almost disbanded due to a ‘departing member.’ And it was none other than their CEO, Kim Seok-won, who discussed it. <CEO Kim Seok-won: That was the toughest time since forming the team. Our kids don’t express much, but they must have been extremely shocked on the inside. Even some of our staff quit over it.> The members, putting on a pathetic performance, pretended to be virtuous and victimized. <Soomi: I felt really sorry towards the member who left, as a leader. It was that hard for them, yet I, as a leader, didn’t even realize it... Sob...> <Yunyeong: Don’t cry, unnie.> <Soomi: Oh, sorry, I’m not crying. But I think it became a turning point for us. The remaining members bonded more strongly. Our album after was successful too...> <Yunyeong: We have no ill feelings towards the member who left. We were going through a tough time too, so we understand. But I do wish we could’ve talked and discussed things as members.> <Soomi: Right, that's the saddest part. We only found out about the member's departure when we saw them packing their bags.> A full shot captured the members sitting in their chairs with anguished expressions, torn between tears and composure. Then came the narration by A-Tension member Mad Max, who participated as a one-day voice actor. ―Eye Contact overcame a tough period. They recruited a new member, Hyunjin, revamped their concept, and are slowly making a name for themselves. However, they acknowledge there's still a long way to go. They aim to connect with more of the public through this season of Replay Girl. <Soomi: Like our team name, we always want to be a friendly group that can make eye contact and communicate with our fans! Please love Eye Contact a lot!> Yona’s name wasn’t mentioned. But those in the know were well aware that the member who left was Yona, and that Eye Contact's image transformation song, “Revenge,” was aimed at her. Even if someone wasn’t aware, a quick search would reveal countless articles and posts about it. Although her departure was publicly attributed to health reasons, Yona releasing a solo album shortly thereafter and debuting with another team garnered mixed reactions. Naturally, from Eye Contact fans' perspective, it could appear traitorous. While they might understand her departing due to the intense schedule despite her ankle injury, releasing a solo track and joining Upkick Girl afterward was another story. The general public who didn’t know the detailed backstory might consider Yona a traitor after hearing the one-sided narrative from Eye Contact, which would cast them in a sympathetic light. “Wow, this is maddening. Are they using our Yona like this again? What will they do for attention without her?” Sewon was the first to voice her frustration, soon followed by sighs from others. But that was just the beginning. “Oh no, what’s this now…?” Following Eye Contact’s introduction, our team, Upkick Girl, appeared next—but it was clear we were victims of malicious editing. Footage showed Yona seemingly mocking Eye Contact during their teaser shoot. This perception was crafted through editing. In truth, Yona wasn’t mocking Eye Contact’s performance. Clips of us joking and having fun were maliciously pieced together. In the first episode of Replay Girl, Eye Contact was favored, and our team became the necessary scapegoat to elevate them. Predictably, the program’s SNS blew up with real-time audience reactions, with Upkick Girl taking a larger share of the conversation. Most of the comments were aimed at criticizing Yona. ―huni4026: The Eye Contact member who left is Upkick Girl’s Yona. ―yooyt: Wow, ultimate betrayal, lol. ―Habsburg: OMG... Didn’t expect this; it’s really bad, T_T. ―dustcloud: Why is Yona’s gaze like that???? Looks like she thinks she’s the victim;; ―CitizenZ: Hang in there, Eye Contact! We’re rooting for you! ―Yujuhyuk: This is why I can’t trust TV images, haha. Among them, there were a few voices defending why Yona had no choice but to leave. However, these were few and far between. No one other than us knew of the root cause—Yona being pressured for ‘forced entertainment.’ They were also unaware that it nearly drove her to her death, so naturally, sympathy tilted toward Eye Contact’s narrative. Of course, ―no matter the real story― it was a scandalous issue we couldn’t openly discuss either, so defusing the wildfire-like negative opinions was difficult. Even though public TV might have lost some clout to cable channels, its fundamental impact was undeniable. The names Yona and Eye Contact were already trending in searches. Upkick Girl’s distinctive lively demeanor and broadcast attitude were eventually aired, but with our image already tainted, it was uncertain if they’d be perceived as intended. The atmosphere in our office quickly turned icy. According to writer Jung So-jin, the production crew was in a celebratory mood due to ratings surpassing those of survival shows. Whether we got criticized or not didn’t concern them. We jumped into a counter-strategy meeting immediately after our segment of the broadcast ended. “Should we clarify it’s malicious editing?” Mijeong from the PR team suggested. However, we concluded it wasn’t the best approach either. Getting marked as a troublemaker by clashing with the program from the first episode wasn't ideal. Naturally, the producers might relish the noise marketing aspect. “The key issue here is that the production team has targeted us. I should meet with PD Jang Ho-jun.” Kim Sang-in, who only handled the casting, hinted he blamed my handling of the situation somewhat. I couldn’t entirely refute him, as my actions had likely influenced the fallout. That said, it wasn’t something Kim Sang-in could resolve either. Pleading or groveling to PD Jang Ho-jun wouldn’t retract the broadcast that had already aired. It’s our responsibility now. Ultimately, it’s up to me and the girls to address this alone. “No, I will call PD Jang Ho-jun myself.” As soon as the broadcast ended, I phoned PD Jang. ―Yes, hello. “Hello, PD Jang. This is Kim Yoon-ho from Upkick Girl.” ―Go ahead. “Don’t you think the editing was a bit outdated? Malicious edits are pretty passé for a public TV show.” Changa remained nonchalant as he responded. ―I’ve already mentioned it to the editing team. “You didn’t have a hand in the editing?” ―While I outline the bigger picture, the editors sometimes get creative on their own. "Oh, so the conflict between Eye Contact and Yona was just impromptu editing by your team?" ―Seems like it. "However, didn’t you have a final monitoring meeting before the broadcast went live, PD Jang?" ―Ah, I was too busy with other matters to attend. My apologies. Apologies, my foot. His tone was nonchalant, as if saying, "What are you going to do about it? A nascent rookie girl group daring to challenge the main PD—this is your consequence.” I decided not to push the conversation any further. "Ah, I see. I understand your stance, PD Jang. I'll see you at the next recording." ―Yes, take care. His voice was practically dripping with satisfaction. He probably thinks he's got me under control. Alright, let’s see about that at the next recording, you jerk. < End of 'See You at the Next Recording (Including Content and Announcements)' >