158 - Upki Girl

< Showtime: Flipping the Table > The children were left angry and hurt, thanks to the devil's editing. After returning to the dorm, soothing the kids and laying out the future plans marked the end of my day. I called Yona, who was understandably heartbroken, aside for a special pep talk. “When the time comes, just overturn things properly, so don't stress too much, okay?” “Yes. If we want things to go according to plan, we need to practice even harder.” “Hey, you can have fun while doing it. Relax. I expected us to be on a similar level, but there was a significant gap during the role model mission. Even the judges said we were rated harshly because of the high expectations they had for us. Despite that, we still secured first place.” Yona is the type who won't be satisfied unless expectations are met. She would probably dwell on the judge Song Hyun-woo's remark, “UpkiGirl has to do better," for a long time. She forced a smile, taking only the underlying message of my words. “Good night.” “Yeah, you too, sleep well.” I took a can of beer and went up to the second-floor room. After monitoring the Maxxim that I didn’t get to watch in the office, I sent a message to Editor Jung Ah-yoon. Me: [The interview was really fun to read, haha] Maxxim Jung Ah-yoon: [I posted a preview on SNS, and the response is already hot, haha] Jung Ah-yoon attached the link to the article. Me: [Thank you] Maxxim Jung Ah-yoon: [It was a joy to work on it, and with pre-orders already closed, it feels fantastic] Maxxim Jung Ah-yoon: [I hope to work with other members too, someday, haha] Me: [Let's have a meal with the kids once the Replay Girl filming wraps up] Maxxim Jung Ah-yoon: [Definitely ^^] After wrapping up the conversation, I skimmed through the preview article and monitored the comments below. ――――――― <February 2018 MAXIM KOREA COVER PREVIEW> Maxim, the number one item soldiers pick up during leave! But have you heard the innocent story of a girl group that mistook this Maxim for another and turned their military base into a sea of mixed coffee? Does it sound like classic internet humor from CyWorld days? Nope, this is real. Remember the meme of two girl group members weeping holding a dead red snapper, flooding SNS with pity? Both jokes occurred within one girl group, and they are the ones you absolutely should nurture — <UpkiGirl>. Maxim got exclusive coverage of the first clubbing experience of two same-age members, Yeon-hong and Seo-won. Their first clubbing took place at Gangnam Athens, the hottest spot among clubbers. M: After hearing about the Maxim fiasco, our whole team burst out laughing. Did you really not know? Seo-won: We aren’t the type to pretend not to know when we do. We genuinely had no idea. Yeon-hong: Member Eun-bit asked a question on a knowledge search site, leading to a major disaster. M: The manager said neither of you has ever been to a club. Is that true? Seo-won: It's true. We were pretty excited today. It would have been even better with more people around. Yeon-hong: There wasn’t any club in the area where I used to live. Even if there was, I wasn't really in shape to go. (She reportedly gained a significant amount of weight before debuting.) M: Do you have any personal images or fantasies about clubs? Seo-won: Grinding? Yeon-hong: Grinding! M: If you meet your ideal type in a club, how far is skinship possible? Seo-won: If it's my ideal type, I might make the first move. Yeon-hong: If it’s my ideal type, well... I’d be just like Seo-won. M: Does that mean a one-night stand is possible? Seo-won: If it’s a dream ideal type, wouldn't most feel the same? Yeon-hong: I just imagined it now, and I think it’s entirely possible. M: This is bold talk for a girl group. Do you both have a lot of experiences with men? Seo-won: I've always been single. Yeon-hong: Me too. M: You’re both strange. Seo-won: I’m the most normal one on the team, so what’s your point? It’s upsetting. Yeon-hong: That's a lie. I'm the closest to normal, and Seo-won competes for the top watch-list spot. I guarantee our manager has aged ten years because of her. Poor thing. Seo-won: Shut up, pig. Yeon-hong: There you go again. Seo-won: Manager! Hong-pig is trying to hit me! Yeon-hong: See? How can the manager avoid aging without premature wrinkles? *The good-looking manager who was watching calmed Seo-won down. Yeon-hong, feeling hungry because of Seo-won, asked the editor if there was any leftover chocolate bar. Luckily, there was, and once she had it, she wore a Buddha-like peaceful expression. M: There's been a surge in cover model requests among Maxim readers. Why do you think that is? Seo-won: Probably because of the Maxim fiasco. I heard many soldiers applied. Yeon-hong: After performing at the army show, we realized how much hard work our country's soldiers put in. It was minus 24 degrees that day. The cold was so intense that even standing for a minute made your nose freeze, yet the soldiers spend all winter in those conditions. The members cried a lot on stage that day. We plan to keep appearing on military tours as much as we can. M: The military performance video went viral, and you’re now hailed as the new queens among the 600,000 soldiers. What’s your reaction? Seo-won: It feels amazing. I only realized my military uniform fantasy after seeing the combat uniforms. Yeon-hong: We’re just thankful. Get more photos and interviews with Yeon-hong and Seo-won in the Maxim February issue. @MAXIM Journalist Jung Ah-yoon ㄴBaraming Dingeru: Hey, journalist, why stop mid-interview? So what exactly are their ideal types? ㄴAltera: I feel compelled to get this, haha. ㄴHangbaek: So, what's their ideal type? ㄴIlsanDalija: So, what's their ideal type?222 ㄴMongdang000: So, what's their ideal type?33333 ㄴWinash: I pre-ordered it, can’t wait for it to arrive!!!! ㄴMugyeongGeomgak: Regardless of anything else, I appreciate their mindset towards soldiers~ I watched the troop concert video, and it definitely deserved the attention. Those who haven’t seen it, you should check it out^^ ――――――― The response to the girls' candid answer about one-night stands with their ideal type was dominant. It feels like another catchphrase is about to be born. So, what's their ideal type? The fan café was no different. Amidst the frenzy of devil editing theories, someone diligently posted the preview link. Contrary to concerns that the boldness of their statements might lead to fan backlash, the fans were surprisingly proud of the girls for handling even this image. Indeed, our fans have a stronger defense than those of other groups. While there were many who understood the appeal of doing a photo shoot as a one-off event, the majority were against turning the album concept into something entirely sexy. Apart from the Maxim interview, the discussion boards were ablaze with dissatisfaction about the editing of Replay Girl. Even without an official explanation, UpkiGirl fans knew Yona’s expressions were the result of intentional editing by the production team. Evidence supporting this was gradually being uploaded. Captures showing Yona’s poses, subtle hairstyle changes, and angles with surrounding objects compared with direct eye-contact stage videos proved such angles were impossible. These vindications were being shared across other communities as well. This is indeed the era of collective intelligence. This method of countering is likely more effective than directly rebutting from the company. Since the kids occasionally browse the fan café before bed, they must be aware of this. Unsurprisingly, within minutes, Yona posted a simple but heartfelt thank-you and good-night message on behalf of the team on the attendance check board. ★UKG Yona★: You all must be feeling upset because of today’s broadcast, right? But we’re honestly okay, so our fans should just shake it off and sleep well, okay?♡ *** Four days later. The awaited third mission of ‘Replay Girl,’ titled ‘Sing a Different Song,’ was set to film. We made a beeline to greet PD Jang Ho-jun amiably in FM style. “Hello, PD Jang Ho-jun!” “One, two, three, hello! We’re UpkiGirl, the girl group PD nurtured! Please take care of us in today's recording!” “Oh, oh, sure.” PD Jang seemed slightly taken aback. After the controversy over devil's editing, he'd find such a cheerful greeting surprising. But only briefly. His gaze soon turned mocking as he prodded pointedly. “Your greetings are louder than before. Has your attitude changed a bit?” Feigning innocence, I offered the response he sought while concealing my true feelings. “Yes, we realized that doing well by ourselves isn’t enough—we need to harmonize with the program. Please continue guiding us positively.” “Yes, well, the editing part was something I couldn’t entirely catch, so don’t dwell on it. Everyone knows UpkiGirl excels. But which team here isn’t desperate? It’s our role to balance and coordinate; don't take it too personally.” His jubilant chatter was infuriating. “Well, we’ll head for rehearsal preparations.” “Sure, sure. Not like we rig scores like some other shows.” Yeah, thanks for that. “First for dry rehearsal is UpkiGirl! Please check each member’s name tag and mic number!” The rehearsal timing alters check-in schedules, so ideally, you want a later time. Being first in line shows just how much he wants to mess with us. Our chosen mission song was “HOLIC” by MayQueens. MayQueens rushed to release this fresh track just before the first broadcast to qualify for Replay Girl. Honestly, I wanted to choose Eye Contact’s “Revenge” to confront Yona’s rumors head-on and highlight our level difference, but “HOLIC” was already rearranged, making a switch impossible. The problem was, with MayQueens being relatively unknown, hardly anyone knew their song. Despite that risk, we chose it not because it’s Seo-won’s friend Yujin’s song, but simply because we liked it. “Silverwolf,” a famous composer who helped usher in Plan L’s early success and is still regarded as a top A-list producer, crafted it. There’s no way it’s not good. The arrangement by Hyun-dong was well done, paired with a strong stage setup, promising better evaluations than during the role model mission. Most importantly, since this mission required a major impact, the already dedicated practice efforts of the kids had increased even more. The judges, aware of the efforts and passion the kids poured in, acknowledged it first. Given that their reputations were staked on the program, their affection was naturally higher, particularly from Tae-jin, known as “celebrities’ celebrity,” who attended even when he didn’t need to, offering advice to each team. Who was Tae-jin? An icon universally recognized for “effort” across not just the music industry, but the broader entertainment sector—a top male solo dance singer who, through effort, triumphed over natural talent. While even Tae-jin hasn’t escaped time, handing over the spotlight to brilliant junior artists, he remains an undisputed icon who once electrified Korea for years. After UpkiGirl’s rehearsal, he didn’t hold back his praise, smiling brightly with his signature eye-smile and perfect teeth. “You guys are really good. It shows how much you've practiced.” “Thank you!” “Wow, I have nothing to say. You guys don’t belong here; you’re in a different league.” Tae-jin boasted to the PD and writers next to him as if they were his own group. He then added to the kids as they left the stage. “Just do as well in the real performance, okay?” “Yes! Thank you!” Back in the waiting room after wrapping up the rehearsal. “Wow! Tae-jin acknowledged us, huh?” “Amazing!” “It was inevitable.” Given who praised them and the significance of the day, the girls couldn't help but feel elated. Writer Jeong So-jin, who came in with us, shared the backstory of why Tae-jin ended up visiting the rehearsal hall. "It seems there was some friction between Tae-jin and PD Jang Ho-jun due to the change to the sports event mission." “Why?” “They opposed it, fearing injuries when the kids should be focused solely on practicing for the stage. Other judges felt the same way.” “So, PD Jang Ho-jun pushed for it unilaterally?” “Seems like it.” Even though the PD has authority, it’s unwise to ignore someone on Tae-jin and La Yena’s level. Yet, that guy did. Writer Jeong So-jin found out a few days ago that the biggest reason the judges had to step back was due to advertising and sponsorship. The list included sportswear, drinks, energy bars, and chocolate they wore and consumed at the sports event. “They said the first episode’s ratings weren’t as high as expected, but it’s attracting ads now, even though initial reactions at the advertiser briefing weren’t great.” Given the production costs, it’s understandable. For Jin Sang-yun and PD Jang Ho-jun, the sports event was a perfect strategy—they could secure sponsorships and potentially impede our dominance. Too bad it backfired, as we dominated, winning 5 out of 6 events, stealing the spotlight in every scene, making it impossible to edit us out. And we were first in the role model mission before that too. The increased advertising is beneficial for us as well. “Well done, everyone!” The rehearsal, intense as the actual stage, concluded. Thanks to the benefits from winning the role model mission, we chose the last spot again. It’s tough to manage tension, but worth the risk. Other groups would create a bland setup that let us shine even more. Dressed in their stage outfits, the UpkiGirl members went around greeting each of the judges. “Hello, Senior Jason!” “Oh, UpkiGirl! Tae-jin said you guys worked hard today?” “Yes! We prepared diligently.” “When naturally talented ones also work hard, what happens to the other teams? Take it easy, take it easy.” Judges’ reactions were overwhelmingly positive. Having enough industry experience, they already realized Yona was the scapegoat in the first broadcast. “Hello, Senior La Yena!” “Oh, hi there, girls!” La Yena, in particular, was sympathetic. Back when Yona was in Eye Contact, they once covered a song from Rosemary during the legendary special, and since then, Yena had her eyes on Yona. She was as down-to-earth and straightforward as she appeared on TV. Without hesitation, she asked Yona right away. “Yona, why did you appear like that on the show? It was editing, right?” Yona responded with a textbook rookie remark. “We don’t mind as long as we can help the program in any way!” “Puhaha, what’s that robot-like answer? Should I say something to PD?” “No, it’s really fine! Our job is to work hard on stage without worrying about such things!” “Aww, cute, cute. Your outfit is pretty today too. Whose song are you doing?” “MayQueens’ ‘HOLIC’.” “What’s that? Pick something more popular!” “The song is just too good.” “Well, UpkiGirl is just that good.” The stage was set. The main contest began an hour later. UpkiGirl exceeded expectations from the role model mission, delivering an outstanding performance deemed as the best stage by judges. A unanimous, undisputed first place. “Tae-jin mentioned he’s concerned. If you show this level of quality at just the second round, what will you do for the rest, he wondered. Leader Yona, do you have any thoughts on that?” “Yes… We’ve prepared hard, so it’s rewarding to see great results. We won’t rest here and will strive even harder.” “Seo-won, who stood out the most today, would you like to share your thoughts too?” “Can I say one more thing?” “Oh, yes, certainly. You may say two things.” Seo-won’s intended remarks were cut short by Yona. I stood closest to PD Jang Ho-jun, watching his expression. The real showtime we prepared for begins now, enjoy it to your fullest. “We feel we've received more than we deserve. UpkiGirl will be withdrawing from the mission after this.” “Yes? What are you doing? Withdrawing?” “What’s going on, all of a sudden?” The judges all turned to the production staff. Faces of the 14 teams seated in the panel turned to shock, causing a commotion. The crew looked at each other, questioning if this was pre-arranged. Naturally, eyes also fell on me, being closest. “Are you saying you’re withdrawing?” Tae-jin, who had praised UpkiGirl’s performance more than anyone else, furrowed his brow and asked again. Yona replied firmly. “Yes. We’re withdrawing.” “Hold on, hold on.” Finally, Tae-jin gave the sign to stop recording. Lowering his microphone, he turned to PD Jang Ho-jun, questioning vocally. “PD, was this prearranged? What’s going on? What are we supposed to do with them dropping out so soon?” Other judges also descended from their seats, making remarks. “Please tell me this is a prank.” “Seems like there's an issue with the production team? The editing in episode one was a bit off.” Jang Ho-jun PD, trying hard to maintain a composed expression, stroked his chin. A lone bead of sweat trickling down from his sideburns captured his current state of mind. So, what now? We're not the ones missing out. < Showtime: Flipping the Table > The End