210 - Upki Girl

**<School Uniform Model>** **210. School Uniform Model** **<April Girl Group Brand Rankings>** 1. Upki Girl 2. Chaming Carpet 3. Priyami 4. VNF 5. Riz Girl . . . "Yay!" "Unbelievable!" "Wow!" The moment the April brand rankings were updated, the office buzzed with excitement, like a volcano erupting. Brand Ranking No. 1! Based on big data analysis and a survey with over 40,000 participants, Upki Girl was identified as the girl group most frequently discussed by the public over the past month. Naturally, this was in a positive sense, excluding any negative perceptions. While everyone was reveling in joy: "Wow! Hong is ranked No. 1 in the individual rankings too!" Mi-jung from the PR team announced the back-to-back home run. Our very own Hong, who had swept both the sports and entertainment sections with a video of her throwing a 109km fastball, earning the nickname "Hongdeblum," had also secured the No. 1 spot in the individual brand rankings for girl group members. Yeom chuckled incredulously, shaking his head. "Do you realize how incredible this is? We've achieved what even the big agencies couldn't." Yeom assessed that Upki Girl's brand ranking topped the entertainment industry and created a sensation. It was even more significant as we clinched not one but two record-breaking monumental titles. We were the first team to achieve this without being No. 1 in music or music broadcasts and the first outside the Big 5 (Chaming Carpet, VNF, Red Shadow, Riz Girl, KGB15) to do so in the past two years since the brand rankings for girl groups were introduced. An unprecedented underdog uprising. Considering Priyami, who practically dominated music programs and the Gaon chart with a surprise gust, ranked third, one could estimate the extent of Upki Girl's prestige. "Hello. Yes, hello, Reporter. Of course, I remember." "Hello?" "Hold on a second, where did you say you were from?" The palpable effect was simmering down. Barely three minutes had passed since the April brand ranking announcement, and calls flooded my and Yeom’s, and Director Kim Sang-in’s phones. Interviews requests from various media outlets, offers for advertisements, events, and broadcast appearances were coming in. For things like commercials or external performances, we needed to coordinate with Ripple Girl SPC, with whom we share joint management, so we couldn't make independent decisions, but our spirits were sky-high. There was even an inquiry from a Chinese management company about co-producing Upki Girl's next album. But their proposal was more like offering a massive transfer fee to buy Upki Girl from us, so it was declined. Yeom had a skeptical view of Chinese capital. "For newcomers like us, we need to be especially cautious. Look at Lunatic Enter. Chinese shareholders banded together and eventually ousted the Korean head. There are many places that run on money from triad-like organizations, so we need to be well-informed." Director Kim Sang-in also opined that with our current momentum, external investments might not be necessary. "We need to start planning for Violet's next album now. It's crucial to strike while the iron is hot. The era of reserving and hiding when you're doing well is over. The best strategy now is maximizing visibility. We’re going to keep receiving offers even from overseas, so we shouldn’t think about taking a break for the next 1-2 years." "Director Kim Sang-in, you're not planning to leave us anytime soon, are you?" "Come on, I have to raise my own recruits too. I'll see this album through but that’s it." He said the same thing during "Hug Me," but he's still around. I asked Director Kim Sang-in. "Director, are you only planning to mentor rookies?" "Of course. If I were to continue managing existing artists, I wouldn't have left the Plan. Why?" "I was wondering if you'd consider taking on Lip Balm." "Huh? What's Lip Balm?" "Lip Balm is currently looking for a head manager. I thought about setting up a solo office with Lip Balm and taking in trainees." "Hmm, that could work. Since Lip Balm is already doing events…" Director Kim Sang-in needed capital and a signed artist, whereas Lip Balm required trustworthy management. During a week-long collaboration mission, Director Kim Sang-in was responsible for Lip Balm’s commuting. Observing from the side, it didn’t seem like a bad combination. For most girl groups, the top-ranked source of income is events. Lip Balm is a fully organized team that doesn't require additional investment, and with steady event participation, they generate stable income. So, from the company's perspective, they are an undeniable asset. These days, the number of girl groups with a sexy concept has sharply decreased, and even their competitive group, Eye Contact, has crossed the river Ssongbagang, making Lip Balm the reigning top in this genre currently. Their pay isn't exceptionally high either. While they might not become top-tier commanding 40 million won per event, they can consistently rank second or third with event fees ranging between 10 to 15 million. There had been suggestions within the company about recruiting Lip Balm into Heung Heung, but with our current manpower, even just managing Upki Girl was a handful. Nurturing one is challenging enough, and adoption seemed premature. That's why I thought of Director Kim Sang-in. With the exception of him being a bit loose-lipped, Director Kim Sang-in possesses top-notch managerial skills. He has extensive connections in broadcasting and events, manages work with precision, maintains a clear distinction between professional and personal matters, and holds a good reputation in the industry. Though he had constantly thought only in terms of nurturing new talents, Director Kim Sang-in seemed intrigued by what I suggested and said he’d seriously consider it. After adjusting Upki Girl's CF and event schedules in collaboration with the representative of Ripple Girl SPC, I headed to the dance studio armed with the finalized agenda. The girls were so immersed in performance practice that they didn’t notice my entrance. However, Lan, a former member of Eye Contact, greeting me while filming on her phone did. "Hello, Director Myundengdaeng." "Oh, hello Lan. Do you have a lesson today?" "Yes, Teacher Hyung-dong said to start without him as he’ll be a bit late." "Then why aren’t you practicing too?" "Watching a master practice is a form of practice too, isn’t it? Seeing is believing, after all." Her knack for witty replies is unparalleled nationwide. "You're practicing well, I assume?" "Yes, I've really improved recently!" "How much can you possibly have improved..." "No, really! Ask Teacher Hyundong." Of course, I've already heard about it. Hyundong had said, "There's a long way to go. She's just barely escaped being a total mess, but she's working hard and will likely improve quickly. It’s that prime time for growth." "Keep it up." "Since I’m working hard, please debut me, Director." "Did you find a part-time job?" "Yes." "Where?" "An online shopping mall office." "What do you do there?" "I answer customer inquiries, package items, and sometimes do fitting model work... just general odd jobs." "Fitting model...?" "It’s for a women's handmade shoe site, so my face doesn't show. No worries." "That's a relief." "See, you were worried about me, weren't you?" "Worried about what?" "You were thinking, 'Is she working at some shady place?'" "Stop writing your own novel. Even if I did think that, it would be suspicion, not worry." "I'm going to consider it worry." "When's your trial?" "Oh, it was originally in two weeks, but Attorney Gwangotak postponed it by a month." That's right. Lawyer Woontak took on Rani's case. Seeing as she had unknowingly consumed substances, he took up the cause out of camaraderie with the first Eyesight members. —I suspect Yona secretly requested it. They even covered the attorney fees themselves— As for Sumi, evidence in the form of text messages had surfaced, suggesting prior knowledge, thus excluding her from the defense. "I'll definitely repay this kindness one day." "No, no. It's not like I did anything for you. Don’t mix me in with it." "I know you're just pretending to be aloof with me, Director Myundengdaeng." "What do you think you know? Are you some sort of mind reader?" "I'll repay your kindness with my singing." "Explain to me why your singing would be a repayment to me. Isn't it just what you want to do?" "Isn’t that what most celebrities say when they want to give back? Through their acting, or singing." “But that's just them earning money, how does that count as giving back?” "I have no idea. Ask them." "Sigh..." I was foolish to try having a conversation with her. Even if Rani lacks talent, she's got a quirky charm that might work well in variety shows. Pity about that drug scandal. If it’s proven she wasn’t acting voluntarily, she might be able to do internet broadcasting. She may not have much skill, but having debuted as a girl group member, she’s got a basic foundation in singing and dancing. Transitioning to streaming could attract an audience. "Have you ever thought about doing internet broadcasts?" "Internet, alone, whatever—just give me a shot. I can’t afford to be picky right now." "I must admit, your determination is commendable. Why didn’t you have this mindset earlier?" "Snapping out of it now is better than never." Not a word, not a word. "Oppa!" "Huh? When did you get here?" "Myungdangdang!" Once the music stopped, the girls flocked towards me. They were drenched in sweat and their cheeks were flushed, evidence of how hard they had worked. In the spirit of encouragement, I shared the great news. "Upki Girl, brand ranking No. 1." "Huh?" "We’re April's top girl group in brand rankings." "No way! Seriously?" "Come on..." What's this? Only one was surprised while the others were too skeptical. Seowon and Lia even snorted and confronted me. "Eunbit, don’t tell me you got fooled again." "Myungdangdang, your acting is terrible. This has to be a prank." "Wait, is this a shoot for 'Shadow’s Light'...?" "Why would I lie about brand rankings when I'd gain more credit lying about music chart positions? If you don’t believe me, see for yourselves." Yona was already on the studio laptop verifying. "Oh, it’s true! We’re No. 1. Chaming Carpet is second. And in the individual category, Hong is No. 1. Incredible..." "It’s true!" "Wow!" The girls went wild after Yona’s confirmation. Even Rani, who understood the significance of brand rankings, was left gaping in amazement. "Seriously, this is amazing. I’m so envious. I guess Eye Contact didn’t make the list?" "Nope." "They did hit No. 7 at one point though." I delivered additional good news to the girls spinning in a circle dance. Something even more important than brand ranking. "We've secured three CFs." "Wow, which ones?" "A screen baseball park, school uniforms, and a mobile game." "Oh my gosh! School uniforms! No way!" One of the girls, who had always wanted to model school uniforms since she’d never worn one, was practically in tears. "So envious... Eye Contact used to get lots of print ads too..." "Are you going to keep bringing Eye Contact into this celebration? If that's the case, why not go back to CEO Kim Seokwon?" "Director Myungdangdang, are you jealous?" "Ugh... I’m sorry..." Having a CF contract is a sign of a certain level of fame. Among these, some are indicative of overwhelming popularity in any era. Universally known are ads for chicken, coffee, telecommunications, cosmetics, and open markets. For idols, endorsements involving school uniforms and mobile games geared towards youths are undeniable proof of being in the spotlight. Upki Girl managed to land both of those deals. The screen baseball park commercial was clearly thanks to Hongdeblum's image as a baseball pitcher. Initially, the offer had been for Hong individually, but the SPC management team successfully negotiated for all the members of Upki Girl to be included. The next day, a meeting with the advertiser for the school uniform CF took place. The brand in question was "SoCoolSchool," currently ranked 4th in school uniform sales. Among the attendees, I spotted a familiar face, which turned out to be Kang Chul, a member of the first-generation idol group "OPPA (5―BBA)." Now a co-CEO, he attended the meeting as the advertiser. OPPA was known for having five members, each handsome in their own unique way, drawing a large female fanbase, although their peak period was short-lived. They were active in the late 1990s, and if memory serves, they faded with the dawn of the millennium. Kang Chul proudly mentioned that he personally recommended Upki Girl to be the model for the campaign. With a hopeful expression, he asked the girls if any of them recognized him. How could they? These kids weren’t even born during his active years. As the girls exchanged awkward looks, unsure of how to respond, Siva suddenly raised her hand and shouted not only the group's name and Kang Chul’s name but even a phrase that seemed to be a song title. "OPPA! Kang Chul! Silence of the Stars!" "Wow, how did you know?" "I was a huge fan!" <End of School Uniform Model>