214 - Upki Girl

< Yon's Crisis > Currently, the official fan café membership of Upkey Girl has slightly surpassed 40,000 members. Before we even released a press statement, news articles were already circulating, showcasing an incredibly high number for a rookie group that hasn't even reached its first debut anniversary. Let's compare this with the "first tier" of the top five groups: Red Shadow: 20,000 members (in their third year), KGB15: 30,000 members (in their third year), Charming Carpet: 50,000 members (in their fourth year), VNF: 50,000 members (in their third year), Lizzy Girls: 90,000 members (in their fourth year). Although team SNS accounts, which are easily accessible to international fans, have developed more than official café portals, the fan café membership count remains a critical metric for gauging the size of a fandom. Considering that Teenagers and Love One, debuting girl groups in their first or second years, have fandoms evaluated between 20,000 and 30,000, one can see just how significant Upkey's influence is. For Upkey Girl, it was thanks to many videos and episodes that became hot topics on communities and SNS. While their stage performances are impressive, the chemistry among the five members has become a content treasure trove on its own. The diverse characters, beginning with 'Bitcoin' and branching out in four directions with 'Hong Seo-Yeon,' are often cited as the primary reason for joining Upkey Girl's fan café. However, officially joining a fan club is a different matter entirely. Fan cafés are easy to join out of mere curiosity with a simple click, whereas fan clubs involve membership fees and a set registration process. Although benefits like priority concert ticketing, early entry to public broadcasts, and fan meetings are available, the difference between free and paid membership is substantial. The controlled recruitment and active participation periods mean that even half-hearted dedication won't suffice. Offline activities inevitably lead to significant time and monetary commitments. Some groups don't create official fan clubs at all. For instance, last year, 'C.MIYA' disbanded after seven years without ever establishing an official fan club, as their company prioritized appealing to a broader public over focusing solely on their fandom. Charming Carpet had no fan club for two years but finally created one due to persistent demand from fans. Just as fan clubs have varying inception times, Upkey Girl's fan club started quite early—driven by Alya's determination to form a cheering squad as soon as possible. Despite her reduced circumstances, Alya personally funded special goods produced exclusively for "Obooba" members and planned fan meetings, insisting on using her own money rather than company funds, which eventually led to an agreement to fund her back through dividends during sales distribution. Initially, there were debates over not collecting membership fees, which ended with a compromise of 5,000 won when Yeom insisted it was necessary. “I hope many join…” In response to Ri-Ya's concerned musing, Eun-Bit calculated and replied. “Maybe about one-tenth of the fan café members will join the fan club?” “So, around 4,000 people?” “Yes. I read on the internet that VNF held a fan meeting exclusively for fan club members last year with about 5,000 seats. While I don’t know exactly how many attended, it implies they didn’t fill all 5,000 seats. Considering VNF’s fan café membership is 50,000, assuming one-tenth sounds reasonable.” Why can’t they just think that they might’ve limited the seating deliberately? The membership could be at 10,000, and they might’ve only released tickets for 5,000. I kept these thoughts to myself. “Eun-Bit, they say high expectations lead to great disappointment. Don’t expect too much to begin with. Didn’t the monk say during the temple stay that greed leads to unhappiness?” Seo-Won, the pessimistic realist, hoped for just 1,000 members and offered a skeptical smile. Then, she turned to Yona. “How many members did Eye Contact have?” “Kim Seok-Won never shares that kind of information. At the inaugural meeting, they combined the first and second floors in a hall with around 1,300 seats, and it seemed only half of the first floor was full.” “About 500 people?” “Probably around that.” “That’s less than I thought…” Siba and Ri-Ya grew gloomy after hearing this. “If Seo-Won sister says that even 1,000 would be a lot.” “See? Rang-Kang-Kang. Alya suggested not to collect membership fees… If we don’t reach 1,000, Rang-Kang-Kang’s responsible.” Their modest dreams are quite endearing. Since the fan club recruitment began, the ticketing site has been sending daily mid-term reports via email. A graph tracks progress over time, and within just 10 minutes of opening, we surpassed 1,000 members. Typically, there are about three venues frequently used for girl group fan meetings, with the largest seating capacity at around 2,500 seats. VNF used a university auditorium with 5,000 seats, diverging from the usual options. We might need to borrow that same auditorium to cap the attendance at 5,000. *** Upkey Girl, securing first place in the regular season of Ripple Girls, was without recordings during the three weeks of playoffs for the second to fifth place teams. But that didn’t mean a break period. It was practically synonymous with the impending release of their mini-album, demanding preparations for Ripple Girl's final performance, choreography practice for six showcase songs, concept and styling meetings, and music video and jacket cover shoots. Schedules were tightly packed with events and CF shoots, their main income source, as well as interim broadcast and radio appearances. For the next month, the schedule board lacked even a single empty slot. Yesterday, they had three engagements, including a consolation train event, and almost missed them due to a scheduling mishap. Eventually, it was suggested they needed more staff at Hum-Hum-Hum. — Alarm ringing♪ 4 AM. The sound of the phone alarm marked the start of another new day. I feel so exhausted I could die. However, because it’s my duty to cheerfully rouse the kids so that their day starts off joyfully, I need to muster more energy than anyone else. After splashing my face with cold water to awaken my heavy eyelids, I began roll call with Seo-Won's room, the nearest one. “Rise and shine, the strong and mighty morning! Obsession Goddess Han Seo-Won, wake up!” “Mmm… Please call me a queen, not a goddess…” “Alright, Obsession Queen, wake up!” “Hehe…” Next was the base camp for Eun-Bit and Our-Hong. It's my favorite room. Shouting the roll call chant for this room always clears away any stress accumulated from the previous day. Using strength from deep within… “Wake up, you're a little brat! Rise and shine, you stinker!” “Little brat reporting in…” “Stinker reporting for duty…” “Sit up and open your eyes! Eun-Bit, you wake Li-Ya and Yo-Na! Hurry!” I usually don't enter Yo-Na and Li-Ya’s room. Yo-Na has a habit of taking her pants off while sleeping, and Li-Ya occasionally sleepwalks onto Yo-Na’s bed and starts undressing like a somnambulist, so I just entrusted this task to our little brat instead. “Manager…” “Yeah.” “Could you wake me up last after the others wash up? Li-Ya woke me up in the middle of the night, and I barely slept two hours…” “Alright, got it.” “Did Yon-Li-Da munch on you again?” “Yeah…” “Oh. That must be why I was sleeping on Yon-Li-Da’s bed. Sorry, Yon-Li-Da.” I never understood why they were paired as roommates in the first place. It must have been a leader and youngest pairing, but their compatibility is way off. “Yo-Na, wouldn’t it be better if you and Hong switched rooms? Hong rarely wakes up once she’s asleep, and Li-Ya can endure her snoring better since she’s a heavy sleeper. Is there a specific reason you have to share a room with Li-Ya?” “Li-Ya wanted to room with me.” “Li-Ya, why do you want to room with Yo-Na?” “Because Yon-Li-Da’s inner thigh is as smooth as silk.” “Alright. From tomorrow, sleep with Hong.” “Alya doesn’t mind. Hong-Hong unnie has magnificent busts, and Siba unnie surprisingly has plump, soft hips that are nice to touch.” She’s like an invasive species disrupting the ecosystem. Siba drank a cup of cold water from the purifier, looking immensely refreshed, and gave a thumbs-up. “As expected, Li-Ya knows what's up. It’s all about the hips.” Then she deliberately protruded her hips back for me to see, but I wasn't interested. Even Seo-Won, who was about to enter the living room bathroom with a towel around her neck, asked curiously. “Li-Ya, what do you think is the prettiest on me?” “Of course, your waistline, unnie. But since touching is forbidden, to Alya, it’s out of reach.” It's like a pie in the sky. Anyway. I checked the schedule on my smartphone and informed the kids. “I’ll roughly outline today’s schedule while you get ready. We have a screen baseball commercial shoot at 10 AM, so we need to be at the salon by 6 AM. At 3 PM, there’s the Ilsan Flower Festival. In between, we’ll stop by Sangam-dong for a newspaper interview. We need to head to Icheon by 8 PM for a university festival. We should be done around 9 PM. I’ve posted the final ad storyboard in the group chat, so everyone should check it. Eun-Bit, memorize the school’s name well. Don’t mix it up like last time.” “Yes. Such a mistake won’t happen again.” “The Ilsan performance will be three songs, and for the school festival, prepare four songs including the encore. Yo-Na, organize the setlist and upload it to the group chat.” “Got it.” “And you remember tomorrow’s studio shoot for ‘Shadow Light,’ right? It’s probably best to keep practice short today.” “Alright. We’ll practice for only two hours.” “Morning briefing’s over. From this confirmed safe spot, you may start your showers. Go.” *** The commercial shoot wrapped up faster than expected, giving us about an hour of free time. So, we arrived early at Ilsan Lake Park, the next schedule location, and decided to enjoy a mini spring outing, taking photos with spring flowers as a backdrop and going for a stroll. “Won’t there be a lot of people because of the flower festival? What if fans swarm us?” Jang-Woo asked worriedly in the car as we moved. Eun-Bit confidently responded. “We can just have fun with the fans!” “Yoo Eun-Bit, you definitely love attention.” “What’s the point of becoming a celebrity if you’re afraid of fans gathering? Seo-Won unnie, you forgot your tadpole days! Perhaps getting ignored will bring you back to reality!” “Who said I minded? I’m just saying it’s alright to enjoy some quiet time with ourselves since we don’t often get a chance like this.” Hong agreed with Seo-Won. She looked out the window and mumbled, almost like a condemned prisoner longing for freedom. “Well… Who knows when we’ll get another chance like this? I’d love to sit on a park bench, drink leisure, maybe nibble on some cheesecake and brownies…” The car stopped briefly at a red light. “Isn’t that so cute?” When Yo-Na pointed to a young couple holding hands on the sidewalk, everyone leaned towards the window with envious gazes. “When will I ever experience that?” “You can see on their faces they really like each other, right?” “That’s what happiness is.” “Doesn’t it look like the guy likes her more?” “What do you know about that, Piggy?” “I was just saying because I don’t know…” “Neither do I…” “Sigh, we can’t do things like that anymore, can we?” “No, we can’t. Maybe we could overseas, but here, we’d have to bundle up with masks and hats to date like that.” “Still, wouldn’t you love to try dating? Right?” “Yeah… What would it feel like to date by the Han River? Piggy, have you ever been to the Han River?” “No, I haven’t.” “Me neither.” “But you lived in Seoul, didn’t you?” “No, I didn’t. I’m from Gyeonggi Province, Jangwon.” "Ah..." They say men are like autumn and women are like spring. With the gentle spring breeze, it seems that everyone is catching the spring fever. Every time the kids spotted a couple, they stuck to the window, casting envious glances. In time, it inevitably spiraled into a session of resentment and jealousy from three dating novices who didn't even know the 'A' of attraction, ending in humorous reassurance among themselves. "That couple won't last long. The woman looks suspicious by nature." "As expected, Seo-Won unnie is an obsession expert. I can't see that as clearly with my untrained eyes." "Over there, the guy looks like a playboy." "Why?" "He's got a double eyelid on just one eye." "Hong-Hong unnie, your observation skills are amazing. If you set your mind to it, you'd be great at dating." "Hehe… Eun-Bit, even your basic cute acts would have guys hanging onto you endlessly." "Pant, pant… But guys seem to like Seo-Won unnie’s ice queen type too." "You're not entirely wrong. Although not mainstream, my style has a dedicated fan base." Is this what they call the synergy of love novices? It's both adorable and pitiful. Meanwhile, the two who are genuine experts didn’t bother engaging in this conversation. Eventually, the car reached the park’s parking lot. Since it was the parking lot area, there were fewer people than expected. "Phew, thank goodness. I really need the bathroom. Anyone coming?" "I'll join. The bathroom looks clean." "I'll come too." Eun-Bit, Yo-Na, and Hong got off to use a nearby public restroom, while the rest of us waited in the car. About five minutes later… Everyone was busy with their phones, unaware of the surroundings, but suddenly there were more people outside. A group of six or seven high schoolers pointed towards our van. Judging by their whispers and expressions, they seemed to be contemplating if a celebrity was inside. "Why haven't they returned yet?" I muttered worriedly when I noticed Eun-Bit and Hong rushing out, heads bowed low. The nearby high school group recognized them and pointed, whispering excitedly, though they didn’t approach. But where is Yo-Na? Their expressions seemed unusual. I stepped out to meet the kids. "Where’s Yo-Na?" With a flushed face, Siba spilled the beans. "Yon-Li-Da’s in big trouble..." "Why?" "She’s stuck in the restroom; the toilet is clogged, and she can't come out." "Ah…" Siba showed me the messages exchanged with Yo-Na within the restroom. Yon-Li-Da: [Bit-Bit, what do I doㅠ] Me: [What's wrong] Yon-Li-Da: [I flushed, and water's coming up] Me: [Haha, was it a big one?] Yon-Li-Da: [Yeahㅠㅠ] Me: [Why is someone who never does number two outside doing it now!!!!] Yon-Li-Da: [I don’t know. It was urgentㅠㅠㅠ But it’s not the big one’s fault; it’s clogged because of tissue.] Me: [Oh, what luck… There are already two people waiting outside your stall...] Yon-Li-Da: [What do I doㅠㅠ] Me: [Just cover your face and make a run for it] Yon-Li-Da: [No way haha] Me: [Should I bring Manager Yoon-Ho over?] Yon-Li-Da: [Are you crazy haha what's he going to do in the women's restroom] Me: [People recognized Hong-Hong unnie and me.] Yon-Li-Da: [Yeah, I hear it all] Me: [This won't do. Hang tight for a second] Yon-Li-Da: [Why? What are you going to do?] Yon-Li-Da: [Hey! Where are you going!] Yon-Li-Da: [Please don’t leave me aloneㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ] "Sigh... Let's regroup." Back in the car, I briefed the other members. "Listen up, everyone. Here's our current situation: Yo-Na took a massive one, and it resulted in a blocked toilet overflowing. She's now stuck in the stall, with people waiting outside. Meanwhile, we've been surrounded by fans who have figured out who we are. What’s our plan?" The leader of a trending girl group with over 42,000 fan café members is now caught in a major crisis. < End of Yon's Crisis >