When I Opened My Eyes I Was a Superstar - Chapter 79
# 79
Onslaught (4)
Director Kwon thought there was no need to rush into China, although it should not be too late.
The marketability was sufficient, but unlike Japan, there was no clear case yet. The situation was such that it was impossible to blindly jump into the Chinese market. It was a time when thorough market research on the mainland was needed.
“Since Taehwa Group has invested money, won’t they help us break into a distribution network?”
“Hmm….”
“Of course, I’m not suggesting that we produce an album just to enter the Chinese market based on those expectations alone.”
“then?”
Director Kwon asked, his eyes shining. Dowook’s insight always exceeded Director Kwon’s expectations. It wasn’t that expectations were low.
“Once you record a song and produce a music video in your own language, Chinese K-pop fans will find it and listen to it.”
This was a time when there was a distribution network called the Internet.
It was faster than any other distribution network and was open to anyone. Even if it does not immediately lead to profits, the response and popularity on the Internet directly leads to profits in the near future.
Dowook was clearly aware of that.
“Well, even if it’s just in Korean, people will listen to it on their own…”
Team leader Sim Jun nodded, agreeing with Do-wook’s words.
“is that so?”
Director Kwon Heung-jo asked again.
“yes. As the director knows, a portion, or even a significant portion, of KK’s album sales come from overseas.”
“yes. “Bundle merchants buy them in China, and fans also buy them in groups.”
Dowook added to Team Leader Sim Jun’s words.
“But if it’s a Chinese version, it will appeal to more Chinese people…”
“In a way, it’s only natural.”
Director Kwon continued Do-wook’s words.
Director Kwon also knew how strong the fan base of Chinese fans who like K-POP was. It was just difficult to advance into the continent.
“Then let’s consider this as the first step and analyze the profit and loss. “I will also instruct the planning team to come up with a strategy.”
Do-wook nodded at Director Kwon’s words. Team Leader Shim Jun, who was about to pick up the sliced steak and pick up the fork he had put down for a moment, smiled hollowly.
“The food is all cold.”
While they were having a heated discussion, the steak on the three people’s plates had already become cold.
***
On the music charts, the OST of “Lovers of the Sun and the Moon” and the soundtrack of Show Me the Honey were competing. Jung Yoon-ki’s song ranked very high among the music sources released by Show Me the Honey.
Jung Yoon-gi’s popularity has also increased significantly.
While being recognized for his rap skills, there were also many female fans who said they were addicted to Jung Yoon-gi’s dialect and calm personality.
Unlike when she was a student rapper whose cheeks were chubby due to a little bit of breast fat, she lost weight for KK activities and her slimmer face had a big impact on her popularity.
Moreover, those who were originally fans of KK’s Jung Yoon-ki thought that this was the time to excitedly conduct ‘Jung Yoon-ki sales’ on the Internet.
Every day, a ‘sales post’ reciting Jeong Yoon-ki’s life story and growth process was posted on each community site.
There were often comments saying that it was boring, but even if I posted the same thing, the response continued to be good.
As he was at the forefront of Show Me the Honey’s popularity, Jung Yoon-gi was in the ranks of the mainstream.
“Even Hip Hop People said it was a shame that they couldn’t make it to the Yoongi Brother finals!”
Kim Won said while looking at a post on ‘Hip Hop People’.
‘Hip Hop People’ was a site where people who listened to hip hop as their main genre gathered together. Perhaps because it was a gathering of people who were semi-experts, it was also a place where rap was evaluated and criticized without hesitation.
In particular, it was a place where rappers from idol groups were not treated as rappers or even discussed.
When the news of Jung Yoon-gi’s appearance on Show Me the Honey first came out, people predicted that even though he was a student rapper, an idol is just an idol and that Jung Yoon-gi would do a bad rap.
But the results were different.
“A rapper recognized even by hip-hop people. “Isn’t it amazing?”
“Stop letting me fly!”
When Ahn Hyeong-seo said in an exaggerated tone that he was great, Jeong Yoon-gi waved his hand.
Still, he didn’t seem to be in a bad mood.
The goal from the beginning was a live broadcast stage. As he not only advanced to the live broadcast stage but also advanced to the semifinals, Jung Yoon-gi achieved his goal.
Jeong Yoon-gi spoke in a rather humble tone.
“I was in 4th place before, but this time I was in 3rd place. “I guess it’s gotten better.”
“I heard there’s a season 2 too! Let’s go out there and come in second!”
“So, if Season 3 goes out, you’ll be in first place, right?”
As Ahn Hyeong-seo and Seok Ji-hoon scolded each other in turn, Jeong Yoon-gi struck a pose as if his fist was clenching.
In any case, it was clear that Jung Yoon-gi’s appearance on Show Me the Honey had a positive impact both personally and on the team.
Dowook laughed as he looked at the members talking to each other. However, unlike Douk, his smile was a little stiff.
“Is Dowook leaving now?”
“yes.”
“It would be nice to see it with us.”
Ahn Hyeong-seo felt disappointed when he answered Jeong Yoon-gi’s words.
“So…”
Park Taehyung also expressed regret. Just then, Dowook’s cell phone rang. It was Director Oh Baek-ho who came to pick up Do-wook.
“I’ll come down right now.”
Dowook hung up the phone and greeted the members. The members gathered in the living room waved their hands and saw Dowook off.
Today was none other than the first broadcast day of ‘Get Ready 1999’.
That’s why the members postponed practice and gathered together to watch Dowook’s first drama together.
Of course, these were the members who were there when Jung Yoon-gi broadcast Show Me the Honey, but Do-wook was thankful for the members who rolled up their sleeves and offered to monitor and support him.
I was disappointed as I walked towards the broadcasting station building without being able to watch the first broadcast with those members.
The reason Do-wook headed to the TBN broadcasting station with Director Oh Baek-ho was because the directors and cast members, who had become close friends during pre-production, gathered together to monitor the first broadcast.
“Are you very nervous?”
“Ha…yes.”
“Oh, are you really nervous? “It’s been a while since I’ve seen you shiver.”
Director Oh Baek-ho said while looking at Do-wook sitting in the passenger seat. Dowook placed his fist on his knee and was repeatedly clenching and opening it.
It was true that Director Oh Baek-ho said that it had been a while since he had been seen shaking.
Of course, Do-wook was also nervous and always trembled every time he went on stage. However, he was quite adept at maintaining a certain level of composure through the debut and comeback stages.
However, acting was not my original dream and it was truly a challenge.
“I heard you did well. “Producer Shin was drooling over your praise.”
Oh Baek-ho said to ease Do-wook’s tension.
In fact, if it was PD Shin’s praise, Do-wook also heard it this morning.
The recording of ‘Get Ready 1999’, which was pre-produced, finished a few weeks ago. While filming was over and the broadcast date was approaching, Dowook steadily prepared his second full-length album with the KK members.
During the post-editing period, PD Shin often contacted us and said, ‘Our lead actor’s acting is the best, so he doesn’t get tired even watching the editing.’
It was the same this morning. The recording was over, but the drama was just starting, so let’s do our best.
Of course, PD Shin’s continued offensive was part of his recruitment efforts to once again cast Do-wook in the next program he was directing.
***
TBN broadcasting station underground parking lot.
“Go up first. “I’ll park the car and go.”
“yes. “I’ll be up there.”
Dowook, who decided to go up first, got off the minivan and headed toward the parking lot passageway connected to the lobby.
In front of the elevator, another performer and his manager were already waiting for the elevator. The performer who discovered Do-wook first greeted him in a cheerful voice.
“Oh Mr. Dowook!”
It was Joo Min-ah, a celebrity from Ara Entertainment.
All cast members were part of the ‘Get Ready 1999’ team, with a family-like atmosphere. There was already a rumor going around the broadcasting world that the atmosphere was good.
However, while filming, Do-wook found it difficult to open his heart to Joo Min-ah. This was despite the fact that he had a moderately lively personality and took good care of his staff and fellow actors. I didn’t even know if it was my first impression of him being with Director Seo Jung-won.
‘… You shouldn’t be too prejudiced.’
Dowook greeted Joo Joo-ah with a smiling smile, just like he did to everyone else.
“hello. How you doing?”
“yes. I’m really looking forward to today! “I don’t have a lot of screen time in episode 1, but~!”
“haha.”
Dowook avoided answering and smiled awkwardly on purpose. It seemed like this kind of conversation would continue if I didn’t show that I was uncomfortable.
These feelings of discomfort that he occasionally felt may have been the reason why Do-wook felt distant from Joo Min-ah.
“Mr. Do-wook, PD Shin is also pretty and I’m jealous~!”
I didn’t know because I hadn’t talked to him one-on-one, but after talking to him, it became even clearer.
Do-wook continued the conversation by asking if everyone liked Mina too. At that moment, manager Juminah’s cell phone rang. The manager confirmed the name and handed it over to Joo Joo-ah.
Even on set, Joo Joo-ah was seen talking on her cell phone more frequently than other cast members. Do-wook had thought indifferently that Joo-min Ah had a lover.
Juminah answered the phone with a tickling voice.
“Director?! Yes, it’s Min. Your broadcasting station has arrived now~!”
Do-wook’s eyes sharpened at the mention of the head of the headquarters.
‘Are you Seo Joong-won, head of headquarters?’
On a day like this, it wasn’t strange for me to call my celebrity, Joo Joo-ah.
The elevator arrived with a ding sound. Juminah seemed busy talking on the phone. Instead, the manager winked and said.
“We’ll take the next elevator up. “Let’s go up first.”
“Okay then.”
Through the closing elevator doors, I could see Joo Joo-ah smiling and smiling. At that moment, Dowook felt a strange feeling.
‘No, now is the time to waste time with uncertain feelings…’
Do-wook thought as he checked his appearance in the elevator mirror once again.
At ten o’clock sharp in the TBN video room where the main cast and directors gathered, the first episode of ‘Get Ready 1999’ began.
Dowook’s eyes were shining brightly in the dark space. Dowook swallowed his saliva once out of tension.
The surroundings, which were a bit busy, quickly became more focused once the first scene started. The surroundings were quiet.
Mingi: (as if waking up) Why? What’s going on?
Dong-Hwan: (Urgently) Is it time for you to sleep now? The next class was in chaos!
Mingi: (indifferent) Why are you in the class next to me?
Dong-hwan: Yeon-joo, your ball friend.
Min-gi: Why did you climb over the wall to follow someone else’s brother?
.
.
.
Mingi: It’s me playing.
Yeongyeon: What! Do I really have to say it now? I’m in a hurry!
Mingi: What’s so urgent?
Yeonjoo: What should you say today?
Min-gi: I am you…
Ending with Yeon-joo, who was tying her shoelaces, lifting her head and making eye contact with Min-gi!
.
.
The long 60 minutes from the first scene to the last scene felt like 6 minutes.
The lines in the script were vivid and the characters were vivid. The stories were rich enough to encompass both the young and middle-aged generations.
The songs from the 90s that were appropriately included in the middle also fit the scene amazingly.
Even though it was a drama they were acting in, the actors were immersed in it and had fun watching it, just like viewers.
Dowook’s acting melted perfectly into it. It was Kim Min-gi himself.
“This… is going to be a big hit?”
In the quiet video room where the ending song was playing, the mutterings of one of the staff members caught everyone’s ears. It was a fact that I had no choice but to agree with.
***
After the first episode came out, the response to ‘Get Ready 1999’ was absolutely explosive.
The viewership ratings for episode 1 were excellent for a TBN broadcaster. However, as viewers who missed episode 1 spread word of mouth, episode 2 really had a ‘big’ viewership rating. As each episode went on, it was a new record.
Articles praising Dowook for creating the perfect character poured in.
‘I want to be a younger brother, I want to be a brother, I want to be a son.’
As it has become a drama watched by a variety of age groups, the praise for Do-wook has also been diverse. Regardless of age, it was clear that Do-wook was captivated by the charm of Kim Min-ki, played by him.
The OST released quickly by TBN was also a huge hit. The ‘Sun and Moon Lovers’ OST, which had been on a downward trend since the end of the show, disappeared from the music charts and its place was taken by ‘Get Ready 1999’, a remake of an old classic.
In addition, KK’s ‘To a Friend’, which was a remake of Seo Tae-jun’s song, was also popular.
Jung Yoon-gi’s song released by Showminer Honey also maintained good performance without going out of the charts, so it is no exaggeration to say that the music charts are KK fields.
〈Kang Do-wook’s endless success, KK’s comeback at the end of this month!〉
〈KK’s 2nd full-length album is about to be released! Will the trend continue? 〉
〈Get ready, KK! This time, singer Kang Do-wook again!
It was an album release planned with the intention of continuing that momentum. The release of KK’s second full-length album ‘Howl’ was just three days away.