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Translator: uly
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: Debut Qualification Ability Evaluation (1)
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Debut Qualification Ability Evaluation.
It was UJ Entertainment's unique method for selecting debut groups.
To become an idol under UJ Entertainment, one had to go through this evaluation without fail.
It wasn't just about singing and dancing—they comprehensively assessed personality, special talents, and more to select trainees overflowing with human charm!
CEO Oh believed that in this day and age, simply singing well and dancing well wasn't enough to appeal to the public.
Idols transcended singers; they were icons leading the culture of the era.
Even if their singing and dancing were a bit lacking, raw human appeal could captivate plenty of fans, and this had to be considered when selecting debut groups.
That was CEO Oh's idol philosophy.
Manager Hong, however, didn't look kindly on it.
'If you're an idol, just sing well and dance well. What's with all this...'
Having started as a manager from the debut of first-generation idols and rolling along to this day, he was the type who believed skill was all that mattered for idols in the end.
A solid background was even better, of course.
He knew from experience that an idol's success or failure could hinge on family support.
But CEO Oh's stubbornness was unyielding.
While he relied on Manager Hong for most company operations, this was one thing he absolutely wouldn't yield on.
A few months ago, he'd selected seven male trainees for the debut group his way.
And Manager Hong had been dissatisfied with the results ever since. Because of one guy.
'No matter how I look at him, Ha Jae just isn't it.'
His visuals were decent, his singing wasn't bad, and he could keep up with dance okay, but nothing stood out.
They had Han Tae-hee for visuals, Ko Eun-young for singing, and Teddy nailed the dancing.
His personality wasn't even particularly sweet or good at schmoozing with higher-ups, and with only a grandmother for family, no backing there either.
Plus, on stage, he seemed to tense up and couldn't even show his modest skills properly.
'With no connections or anything, why pick up and raise a nobody like that? CEO Oh. Just go with Yoo Jin-young.'
He'd been forced into it by CEO Oh's insistence on his looks and potential... but afterward, Manager Hong still couldn't stand Ha Jae.
He didn't have any real grudge against Ha Jae, but passing on other talent because of him stung too much.
Better to pick the assemblyman's son than some penniless kid—for the long-term benefits.
Giving that up left a bitter taste.
So he'd made excuses to make Ha Jae practice more than the others.
Maybe he'd crack and leave on his own.
An accident had happened instead...
'Better this way. He was a thorn in my side.'
Even CEO Oh couldn't carry an injured guy. Not with debut right around the corner.
So as soon as the accident occurred, Manager Hong pushed for a special evaluation to add to the debut group.
Pushing independently for someone else wouldn't fly with CEO Oh anyway.
This time, he'd select someone to his liking.
Ha Jae losing his memory and asking for a shot at the evaluation was unexpected, but what could a worm do by crawling?
Everything was going his way. Humming to himself as he sat in the judges' seat, a beaming smile spread across Manager Hong's face.
Soon after, the pre-invited judges arrived at the evaluation venue one by one.
Park Jin-ah, a ballad singer known to all and current professor of practical music; Han Ji-yong, famous as the dancer's dancer; and Kim Jin-tae, renowned for pop music and entertainment industry critiques.
Experts from each field who'd judged last time too.
Even with the rushed setup, they'd all graciously returned.
"Thanks for coming on such short notice."
"How could I refuse a call from you, Ung-jae oppa?"
"It's fine. I had no schedule anyway."
"Come on, hyung. Between us? Buy me a drink after."
"Yeah. This'll wrap up quick."
After light greetings, the judges took their seats and prepared.
Then, as Han Ji-yong skimmed the trainees' files, he paused with an "Eh?" and pointed at one.
"CEO Oh, wasn't this guy already in the debut group? Ha Jae."
"Yeah, that's right."
"We're redoing this to replace him?"
"Yeah, why's he back in?"
Park Jin-ah tilted her head in confusion and picked up Ha Jae's file.
Manager Hong, who'd been listening, replied with a relaxed expression.
"He lost his memory in the accident. So throwing him straight into a group debuting in two months seems tough, which is why we're reselectioning. But he still remembers his trainee days, so he didn't want to give up entirely and asked for a chance at evaluation. We allowed it out of past affection. It'll be good experience for him anyway."
"I see. Too bad. I remember his visuals were good, and especially his tone."
"Well, what can you do? He lost the last few years' memories. Probably at fresh-trainee level now."
"Yeah. Debuts need to be perfect. Guess it wasn't meant to be with UJ."
Nodding in understanding, Park Jin-ah flipped the file and asked,
"So, anyone you're especially watching this time?"
"Oh, yes. Here, this one—Jin-young. Yoo Jin-young. He's great too. Last time, he missed out for lacking that magnetic pull, but this time, worth watching."
"Got it. I'll keep an eye."
As Manager Hong practically spat while praising him, Park Jin-ah nodded and looked at Yoo Jin-young's file again.
Manager Hong smirked smugly.
'Going just as I planned.'
With Yoo Jin-young—son of a three-term assemblyman—joining the debut group, he could expect real push.
No way his dad wouldn't pull strings for his kid's debut.
Manager Hong inwardly cheered and signaled the trainees to enter.
The official Debut Qualification Ability Evaluation began.
* * *
The Debut Qualification Ability Evaluation took place in the company's choreography practice room.
At TL, they'd rent a hall for debut evals, full setup with speakers and all.
Well, maybe they're not at that level yet.
Or since it's a replacement, who knows.
"Come on in, everyone."
Receiving sharp glares from the other trainees while waiting, I hurried inside as soon as we were called.
Five judges were already seated at the table in the center of the practice room.
And one was singer Park Jin-ah.
'...That was close.'
The song I'd planned to sing before Kim Kwang-myung swapped it out was her signature ballad.
Hard not to be picky with the original singer right there.
Since I haven't fully adapted to this body yet, I couldn't show my full skill anyway...
Thanks, Kim Kwang-myung.
I mentally thanked him again.
"Okay, trainees, sit over there in the back."
Following the staff's guidance, I crammed into a corner and gauged the others.
Even the guys who'd been joking around earlier were trembling under the pressure.
Yeah, it'd be weirder not to tense up in this vibe.
"We'll proceed in alphabetical order. Comments come after all performances in individual interviews, so finish your stage, bow, and return to your seat. First up, trainee Kang In-soo. Start your song."
"Y-Yes! Got it."
But amid that intense tension, I was swept up in excitement instead.
There was a time I wanted to puke under this kind of pressure, just like them.
Even after getting cut from TL, prepping for college entrance exams, and in university... I missed even this pressure.
They couldn't know how dreamlike it was to get another shot at my dream.
No, Seo Il-hyun. Calm down. Too hyped isn't good.
I took deep breaths, steadied myself, and watched the others' stages.
Thump, thump, thump-thump. With bass vibrating the amps on either side, trainees took turns showing their prepared songs and dances.
'This one's rhythm lags when singing.'
'That guy's basics are still rough. New hire?'
'Hmm, super tense. Body's stiff.'
I evaluated them in my own way.
No comments to compare with the pros, but probably close.
"Next, trainee Yoo Jin-young."
Then, a familiar face stepped up to the judges.
Yoo Jin-young. The guy who'd picked a fight with Ha Jae—me—my first day in this practice room.
"Hello. Trainee Yoo Jin-young. I'll start with vocals."
"Yes. Don't be too nervous."
Manager Hong's voice sounded weirdly kind. Imagination?
Fine, let's see how good you are.
Arms crossed, I watched his stage.
Yoo Jin-young's vocal pick was a ballad by a chart-topping powerhouse.
- If I could hold you just one more time
I'd rise again and again, two or three times, to reach you
So if you could come to me
I'd offer myself up to you endlessly
'Clean. High notes solid, no bad habits. Good arrangement too...'
The following dance wasn't bad either.
Nothing standout, but every move showed practice.
'He's good.'
I had to admit it.
Objectively, Yoo Jin-young had debut-group caliber skills.
Maybe that's why he'd targeted me.
"Thank you."
Watching his composed face return after his stage, a complicated feeling hit me.
A few more trainees followed Yoo Jin-young.
Mostly young kids, so no real standouts.
And before I knew it,
"Last up, trainee Ha Jae."
My long-awaited turn.
Thanks to my surname starting with H, I got to close it out.
Fine by me. The finale's always the protagonist's spot.
I stood slowly and walked to the front.
Up close, new things came into view: the judges' sharp eyes, the recording camera, the trainees' jealous stares...
Subtle pressure wrapped around me.
Most annoying was Manager Hong.
'Can't he do something about those eyes?'
Staring with snake eyes even more venomous.
Might actually befriend a viper.
I exhaled deeply, gripped the mic, and bowed.
"Hello. Trainee Ha Jae. I'll start with vocals..."
"No, dance first?"
"Pardon?"
"We want to see dance first. You're an ex-debut-group pick, so this much is fine, right?"
Manager Hong smirked, curling his lip as he stared.
Ha... Stress building.
Is this him telling me to screw off?
Evaluations usually start with vocals. Intense dance first leaves you breathless for singing.
Making me do dance first was basically picking a fight.
CEO Oh seemed to think it excessive and grabbed his mic.
"No, that's..."
"Sure, got it."
"Huh?"
But the more they step on you, the more Koreans squirm,
"Sure. Dance first it is."
And the more they do, the more I burn.
I was even looking forward to that guy's face after my stage.
"Music, please."
With that, I took position.
Soon, the intro flowed from the amps on either side.