The idol community green room.

Around dawn, the best board was flooded with posts about a rookie idol member.

– The idol member featured as a hero on today’s PBS documentary

– A rookie male idol with a strangely mysterious background

– NewBlack Woo-joo summary.txt

It all started with the article on the portal main page.

The bizarre trajectory of one idol member was the hot topic burning up late-night weekends.

– Wait... so the guy who was famous last year for being the Suneung hero is now an idol... how does the timeline even work?? He finished the Suneung, joined an agency right after, and three months later Something came out?

– Yeah that’s right

– According to Jang So-won it was co-written

– And they debuted in June? Just seven months later...??

– What the... am I the only one who can’t piece this together

There wasn’t a single idol fan who didn’t know NewBlack.

They’d achieved the most notable results among this year’s rookies.

Their spring hit Something.

Their debut title Fireworks ranked 54th on July’s monthly chart.

Their music video hit 1.5 million views.

They’d appeared on a national variety show and shot a school uniform commercial.

Beyond their mainstream recognition, these were impressive achievements among idol fandom.

Some were already predicting NewBlack would win this year’s rookie boy-group award.

But despite the group’s fame, very little was known about the individual members.

Honestly, no one cared.

They were just “pretty faces.”

But today felt different.

– Something’s off...

– Seriously weird

– All that happened in such a short time? lol

He was a student until last year’s exam, yet by February he’d released Something.

Then he appeared on Music Café and announced his father was a world-famous pianist.

On top of that, he had the self-composed lineup Something, Fireworks, and Night Sea in quick succession.

Each track alone had been “oh, that’s interesting,” but together it felt strange.

Like assembling a puzzle.

You fit each piece and complete the picture, then stare at it, bewildered.

That was why the post one Soufflé wrote racked up views instantly.

[NewBlack Woo-joo summary.txt]

I know a lot of our roomies are curious so I organized all the NewBlack tea!

He trained six years at TJ. He says the agency dropped him but won’t talk details.

After being dropped he did his military service then on Suneung day missed the test saving that old man.

On Suneung day a manager he knew offered him to join Lemon Entertainment.

At the month-end evaluation Jang So-won, on the judging panel, noticed his arranging skills and picked him up (official Music Café info).

That led to Something, co-written with Jang So-won in no time.

Something did well so the company gave him a studio to make more tracks... but the song turned out so good it became the title track Fireworks.

He got a radio slot and had to whip up a song fast, took a demo live and the response was great—that’s Night Sea on the charts now.

After that I figure everyone knows about Joo Se-han, the commercial, the doc, so I skipped them...!

There’s so much more—live-stream pranks, reality clips, event fill-in stories, penguin pledges...

Anyway it’s a lot

Sorry for the ramble, I’ll end with pics of the members!! Hope you all love NewBlack ^_^

After the pics, the comments were a riot.

– lol what

– So all this happened in six months?

– Is this real?? for real?

– Yeah it’s real..

– I was doubting it the whole time

– Feels like reading Dictator’s Chronicle omg did he make grenades from pine cones

– It’s all written dryly as facts but why is it unbelievable

– What have they been doing so much?

– Busiest debut male group this year. I saw them at a local event lol they look way better in person

– First off, none of them have humiliating debut pictures which is wild

– So he’s a TJ trainee... makes sense. No wonder the choreography was on point 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

– Yeah you can’t get that good in six months, crazy

– But why would they drop him...?

– If Gyu-ho has any conscience he should worship him three times a day

– Academic consensus is Gyu-ho’s conscience left with his hair

Comments shot past two hundred in no time.

It was the first promotional post about NewBlack to go that crazy.

Waking up didn’t change the world.

The world stayed the same.

The only difference was my recognition among idol fans shot up.

I was shocked when I saw the links from the company PR team.

There were posts about me across idol forums.

It was my first time receiving that kind of focused attention.

I’m not very resistant to hate comments so my hands shook checking them, but most were curious or positive, which felt good.

Yet I wasn’t thrilled.

What I wanted was fame for NewBlack, not just Sun Woo-joo.

Idols are a group effort.

I was already uneasy about Night Sea being just Ri-hyuk and me, and now all this attention was on me after the commercial, doc, and Joo Se-han feature.

I hoped the Joo Se-han special would spread the interest evenly...

Packing my bag, I thought about that.

4:30 a.m.

I sat in the living room framed by the deep blue dawn sky, suitcase open.

Toiletries, underwear, a change of clothes.

“Put this in too, hyung.”

The maknae, his socks piled to his chin, looked at me.

“What do you want me to put in?”

“My socks.”

“Why are you traveling as if selling socks?”

“So will you put them in or not?”

“Do you see the initials SWJ here?”

“Sun Woo-joo Wang Cheese-Hey?”

“I’m never putting yours in.”

I did.

He had so much stuff he was offloading whatever didn’t fit into the big brothers’ bags.

“I’m so nervous.”

Joong-hyun said as he packed clothes into his duffel. I asked,

“You nervous too?”

“Yes. I’m excited to go to the countryside again. The smell of wood, that earthy aroma... I love it.”

I ignored him.

After packing, I checked the list Ri-hyuk made yesterday.

Toothbrush, tissue, plastic bags, and what’s this? Gochujang... does he think we’re going overseas?

Well, it was a trip.

We were packing for the Chuseok special shoot.

Meeting at Sanggam TBC, then heading to some village in Gyeonggi for a one-night filming.

No wonder we had so much luggage.

I locked the suitcase and approached Bi-ju making breakfast.

Her dark circles were deep. I laughed.

“Couldn’t sleep?”

“I’m too excited. It’s my first variety show, I’m worried.”

“Well. It’s intense for a first time. Filming one night with strangers.”

“Yes, so I decided...”

She looked at me seriously.

“I’ll stick close to you today, hyung.”

“That conclusion seems oddly random.”

I pointed at the maknae dancing a morning shoulder dance with EDM in the background.

“But Ji-ho saved his spot last night.”

“Can I get on the waiting list then?”

“Number one is Ri-hyuk.”

“...Nothing’s easy, is it?”

I exchanged playful frowns with him.

Bi-ju deftly fried an egg onto a plate, then cracked another and asked,

“Do you want it fully cooked?”

“No, half-boiled please.”

“Yes. ... Oh!”

“Oho.”

The last egg was double-yolked. We looked at each other, exhilarated.

“A double yolk, that’s a sign of luck.”

“Exactly. Today our variety show will be a hit.”

“That’s not it.”

Ri-hyuk, drying his hair with a towel, poured cold water on us.

“Double yolks happen when a hen’s stressed or has a hormonal issue. The idea that they bring luck is a superstition—like blood type personality theories. Why are you all staring so creepily? I’m just informing you.”

At the TBC building in Sangam-dong.

The meeting point was the statue called Mirror Man.

It looked odd at first, but that was the spot.

A red square frame and two blue giants touching index fingers.

6 a.m.

When we arrived, the area teemed with staff rushing about.

Jibimi jib cameras and various equipment were ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) set up, writers with scripts, lighting and sound crews, guests, managers—it was pure chaos.

“Hello, we’re NewBlack!”

We greeted everyone with smiles but got no response.

Everyone looked so exhausted they might collapse at any moment.

We awkwardly greeted the guests who’d arrived first.

A woman in a pink tee and a man in a green polo.

Rookie actress Han Yeoreum, who’d played a chaebol daughter in a weekend drama, and former pro gamer turned broadcaster Bae Yeong-hun.

Like us, the least known in their teams.

They stood blankly at first, then seeing their managers greeting each other, the celebrities began talking too.

After a few small talk pleasantries, the seven of us bonded quickly.

There was a strange camaraderie.

Han Yeoreum carefully swept back her styled hair and said,

“My manager won’t stop nagging me to promote the new drama properly. See that manager over there? He’s been on me since morning to stay well....”

“Same here,” added Bae Yeong-hun, adjusting his glasses.

“They’re rubbing me raw about this variety show... I dreamt I turned into fried rice last night.”

We all burst out laughing.

He wasn’t trying to be funny but his tone was hilarious.

“They even sent me to a sketch-comedy academy after my two-minute intro video got cut. A retired comedian runs it, 300 K₩ per session.”

“Is there such an academy?”

“It’s in Songpa. Luckily I pay in five-month installments.”

His deadpan comment about being glad for installments made us laugh again.

Han Yeoreum handed out throat lozenges.

“Anyway, being among fellow rookies makes me feel a bit more at ease. Later will be mortifying though....”

“Later?”

“When people really start gathering.”

“...just imagining it makes me cringe.”

Watching the two shudder, we tilted our heads.

They asked,

“Is this your first variety show, NewBlack?”

“Yes.”

“Oh, that makes sense.”

The ex-gamer-turned-broadcaster spoke in a gloomy tone.

“You’ll find out soon enough.”

As the opener approached, more guests arrived one by one.

Each new arrival brought boisterous welcomes and chit-chat.

It was warm.

TBC staff walking in sometimes paused to peek—probably seeing celebrities laughing, patting each other’s arms, that sort of wholesome scene.

Yet the reality was different.

A fierce game of one-upmanship.

Scanning people, marking those doing well, then rushing over to make a connection.

It’s the same in any field where networking wields immense power.

It was intense.

Watching in real time, you’d think, wow, that’s how you survive in showbiz.

They even casually set up drinking plans.

Meanwhile, we made blank greetings.

“Hello, we’re NewBlack!”

People merely nodded or half-responded, so it felt like we were greeting empty air.

Ri-hyuk joked that we were greeting 78 percent nitrogen and 21 percent oxygen, and Bi-ju and I whispered we hoped the science kids had failed.

All the while the impromptu socializing went on.

“Didn’t we meet Director Yoon at that drinking party? Seeing you again here.”

“I had a cameo in Million Candles, that cat-ghost’s voice saying ‘Give me churu...’ Oh you know it?”

“I come to that salon too, which stylist do you see?”

I don’t know whether to admire how small the Korean entertainment world is or the brains of the seniors connecting all these dots.

Ji-ho whispered,

“I went to a corporate family luncheon with my dad once; it was exactly like this.”

“That’s just how life is everywhere.”

“Should we try talking to others?”

“Let’s save it. It won’t be too late once filming starts.”

There was no room for rookie idols to butt in.

If we tried, we’d get the same glare as comedian Seo Ji-hyung over there—left to wander thinking “Can’t you read the room?”

Meanwhile, some celebrities held a mini fan meeting.

“Look over at Lee Gyeon-u sunbaenim’s side. It’s like a fan sign.”

Lee Gyeon-u, the Hallyu star we’d met at TJ Entertainment, stood like a star among them.

His unreal looks and the polite way he entertained every approach made him the princely host of any gathering.

And in such circles, annoying villain types appear one by one—and sure enough they did.

“Hello, we’re Girls On Top!”

The six-member girl group in chic casual wear.

When Oh Hyung-seok, the grandpa role from Joo Se-han’s team, said “The vibe’s up now that a girl group’s here,” everyone laughed.

Girls On Top walked past us.

“Hello, NewBl....”

They strode by.

Especially the maknae Gil Chaekyung shot Ji-ho a sly smile as she passed.

“I’m getting revenge on you later.”

“How?”

“You figure that out, hyungs. I’ll just get my revenge.”

We laughed at the maknae’s fighting spirit.

But inside I was burning too.

...What is that, ignoring our member?

Ri-hyuk’s eyes sharpened.

Girls On Top immediately turned to Joo Se-han’s members, chatting friendly.

We needed to network like that too, but our team leaders were nowhere to be seen.

They really lived up to being called the tardy siblings on the show.

Looking around, we decided to have our own low-key talk.

“One, two, three, four, five—ah, Joong-hyun hyung. It’s sa not net. It twists the count.”

“Six.”

“......”

“......”

“Woo-joo hyung. The fans might not catch on, but we won’t be fooled by that smile. Not allowed. Smiling like that is not allowed.”

We were playing a counting-out game with our mouths because we were so idle.

We wanted to network, but nobody responded well.

When we spoke, they’d brush us off, scanning around with “Hmm...” and clearly not wanting us there.

It was understandable.

Networking needs “If I get close to this person, maybe I’ll get some crumbs,” but we had nothing to offer.

Although we’d charted a few times recently, anyone here would’ve been chart-topping at least once.

Honestly, just being here felt surreal.

And it felt odd.

Not outright looked down on, but drifting too naturally, I felt.

I exchanged smiles with Han Yeoreum and Bae Yeong-hun across the room.

Like three balloons drifting apart as they fill with air.

Determined I needed to secure good screen time today, the main PD Koo Jae-young grabbed a megaphone.

– Alright, let’s gather for the opening formation! Please arrange yourselves!

People began to cluster around the five Joo Se-han members at the center.

I heard staff asking,

“Where are Hi-yeon and Hi-chan?”

“They got a flat tire on the way and took a taxi. Should be here in five minutes.”

“Sure... tell them to hurry!”

“Hi-chan just texted. He says ‘Tae-jun hyung will call it a lie,’ sending a proof pic.”

“...Why is he making a V-sign in front of the flat tire?”

“He got smacked by Hi-yeon right away.”

Listening to that, I located our spot.

Like a wedge formation, we were in the middle of the right line.

Not bad.

But someone was standing in our spot.

Comedian Seo Ji-hyung, sturdy build and flaming red hair, stood there as if it were his seat.

Had he gotten the wrong idea?

I whispered tentatively,

“Sunbaenim, our spot....”

Seo Ji-hyung turned his head, glared at me in angles unseen by others, and signaled me to scram.

...He knew.

I stared in disbelief; he mouthed “Go.”

What was that?

Pushing us aside to nail the opening?

Actually, the spot next to us was better, but there’s a scary rapper with dreadlocks there so he picked on us.

The brothers looked at me, astonished by this odd character.

Stunned for a moment, then I thought fast.

I spoke politely but loud enough for others to hear.

“Oh... sorry, sunbaenim. We must have mistaken our spot. We’ll check with the writers again.”

Hearing that, the people beside us glanced at Seo Ji-hyung and us. He sensed the shift, then broke into a hearty laugh.

“This was your spot? Why didn’t you just tell me? I forgot my seat....”

“Didn’t they stand here the whole time?” asked Maxi, a celebrity guest next to the formation. Seo Ji-hyung feigned ignorance with a laugh, then dashed off to his correct place.

He shot me a side-eye as he passed, and I just smiled politely.

What a strange guy.

Well.

It was absurd, but on the other hand I felt I’d learned what the variety show world was like.

A place where you guard your own plate.

That was my first impression of variety.