When the name of “KOK”—one of the top idol groups—came up, it felt as though his train of thought briefly came to a halt.
“Weren’t they promoting in Japan right now?”
“Apparently, they finished preparing the album over there.”
A few past memories flashed through Manager Kim’s mind.
Ha, so that’s what was going on…
For the past few months, staff from the A&R team and the sound engineers had been traveling frequently to Japan. Manager Kim had assumed they were busy taking care of outsourced mixing and mastering via the overseas branch, but apparently, they had been secretly working on KOK’s album, taking turns to ensure no one else would know.
I should’ve caught on sooner.
As that thought surfaced, a question hit him:
“Did they really have to prepare everything so secretly?”
“Who knows…?”
“The group extended their stay in Japan, and the domestic fandom wasn’t happy about it.”
It was the tenth anniversary of KOK’s debut, and with their prolonged Japanese activities, the dissatisfaction from their Korean fanbase had only grown. Under those circumstances, releasing just a single news article about a new album could have helped appease the fans…
“Ah.”
Manager Kim murmured “No way…” and asked:
“Executive Director Park, right?”
“…”
“So it’s Executive Director Park?”
Team Leader Gwak slowly nodded.
“Yes, apparently Executive Director Park has been secretly organizing KOK’s 10th-anniversary album project. He’s pulled together dozens of well-known composers, directors, producers, and engineers—both in our company and in Japan—to work on it.”
He tapped off the ash from his cigarette.
“He’s got real skill for managing a huge project like this so discreetly. That’s probably how he climbed all the way to the executive level… Anyway…”
Park and Director Choi had a well-known rivalry—anyone at a certain level in the company was aware of it. While Park had been promoted to an executive position earlier, Director Choi seemed to hold greater sway, reputed to be the CEO’s right-hand man.
It wasn’t hard to guess: Executive Director Park wanted a record-breaking success to overpower his only real competitor, Director Choi.
“Ugh, what a nasty situation.”
“I’m sorry.”
“You don’t have anything to apologize for, Team Leader Gwak.”
Manager Kim’s frustration stemmed from Hyunseung and Jung Arin. Neither of them had done anything wrong; they’d just thrown themselves into the work. Yet here they were, caught in a “whales fighting” scenario and about to be collateral damage.
“We’ve still got a couple of weeks before it all goes down, right?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“All right, it’s busy enough already. Go on back.”
The only silver lining was that KOK’s comeback and Jung Arin’s debut would have some space between them. True, they couldn’t expect the company’s full support under the circumstances. But it was still better than having her debut coincide with KOK’s comeback, which would have swallowed her whole like a tidal wave.
It wouldn’t be easy, but if she could achieve some kind of result in the meantime, it would be possible to save face.
“I’ll be heading in, then.”
After a 90-degree bow, Team Leader Gwak left the rooftop.
“Thanks for telling me.”
He paused at the door to bow once more before disappearing.
“Phew…”
Unable to quell his frustration, Manager Kim loosened his tie. No matter how he tried to think positively, the reality remained grim. Comparing KOK—who had been actively promoting worldwide for a decade—to Jung Arin was absurd. It was like going up against someone wielding a legendary sword with nothing but a thin branch in your hand.
At this rate…
Hyunseung would likely be dismissed as a “flash-in-the-pan” composer who got lucky with Seo Jini. And Jung Arin? Almost certainly sidelined until her contract expired, then kicked out unceremoniously.
“Damn it…”
The night view of Seoul sparkled as brilliantly as ever beyond the rooftop railing, oblivious to the turmoil in Manager Kim’s heart.
After Manager Kim explained the whole story, Hyunseung brushed it off as if it were no big deal.
“Doesn’t matter.”
“What?”
“Why worry about it?”
Hyunseung took a sip of coffee and continued, “Me stressing out won’t delay their comeback.”
“Man, are you always this indifferent?”
“It’s not indifference; if the song is good, it’ll take off, and if it’s not, it’ll sink.”
He added, “Actually, I kind of like it this way.”
“You ‘like it’? What do you mean?”
“The whole situation is interesting, isn’t it?”
“Interesting? Really?” Manager Kim repeated incredulously.
He couldn’t fathom how Hyunseung could call it ‘interesting’ when their whole future was at stake.
“You’re unbelievable…”
Meanwhile, Hyunseung remained utterly unruffled.
KOK…
Supposedly, the name derived from “KING OF KPOP.” Despite what he considered a childish name, the group had enjoyed explosive popularity from their debut and become one of Korea’s premier long-running idol groups.
Moreover, the upcoming album was their 10th-anniversary release—so top-tier in quality that even industry veterans were floored. As a result, it had been one of those legendary albums that, in the end, occupied chart positions #1 through #5 for the year and earned the highest praise, reigning in popularity for a long time.
Simply put, it was a record-breaking, historic album.
In his previous life, Hyunseung had started composing in earnest much later, so he never had a chance to go head-to-head with KOK. But he had often wondered:
If my songs had competed against the great hits from previous eras, who would’ve come out on top?
A matchup he thought impossible was now, thanks to this “time rewind,” becoming reality. The idea of competing head-on with not just KOK’s upcoming 10th-anniversary album but every classic from Korea’s music chart history made his heart burn with excitement.
“Sigh.”
Manager Kim let out a deep breath and spoke again:
“Anyway, even if this track doesn’t do so well, it won’t be your fault.”
“I know. Once I hand it over, it’s the company’s responsibility.”
Manager Kim paused, then sighed again.
“Right, the company’s fault…”
If you looked at it objectively, it was the company’s doing that Hyunseung and Arin were being dragged into these internal power games as scapegoats. Still, there was a glimmer of hope.
KOK hadn’t released even a short teaser video yet, nor had they put out any official news on the album. Meanwhile, Arin was a rookie, and because Hyunseung had handled the production personally, the break-even point for her project wasn’t set too high.
If they can just pass the break-even point before KOK’s comeback…
They’d at least have some cover with the higher-ups. The moment any news about KOK’s return broke, Arin would inevitably be shoved offstage. All they could do was release her single, pray that KOK’s comeback got delayed, and hope for the best.
Tap, tap.
By then, they were already inside the building, heading for the elevators.
“Hyunseung, I have a meeting, so I’ve got to head straight to the underground parking lot.”
“Sure, no problem.”
“Maybe we can grab dinner near the office later.”
They were just chatting when—
“Hey, Manager Kim?”
Leaning against the elevator doors with his hands behind his back was Executive Director Park—the main instigator of this entire situation.
“Executive Director Park…”
Manager Kim had every reason to be upset with him, but there was no sign of anger on his face. After all, Park was simply doing his job. It wasn’t just because he was an executive; if Director Choi had been the one behind this “secret project,” Manager Kim would have applauded instead. The fact was, the company stood to profit from Park’s plan.
So, Manager Kim bowed politely and asked, “Hello, sir. Have you had lunch yet?”
“Come on, enough with the pleasantries.” Executive Director Park waved him off, as if he couldn’t be bothered.
At that, Manager Kim turned to Hyunseung, “This is Executive Director Park Jun-cheol. Greet him properly.”
Under the manager’s prodding, Hyunseung bowed slightly.
“Hello, I’m Min Hyunseung.”
Park eyed him up and down with a blank expression, guessing from his appearance that he was some new rookie the Manager had just signed.
Bzzz, bzzz.
Right then, the phone in Manager Kim’s pocket vibrated.
[Sir, I’m waiting for you in the parking lot.]
Manager Kim glanced at the message and spoke to Executive Director Park. “I’m sorry, sir. I have to rush out to an external meeting. I’ll give you a proper greeting another time.”
“Sure.”
Park turned back to watch the elevator’s overhead display count the floors.
“Hyunseung.”
Manager Kim spoke in a low, urgent voice. “Go quietly up to the studio.”
“Yes.”
“I mean it—quietly. You know what I’m saying, right?”
“Yes, yes.”
“Quit messing around and answer me properly.”
Hyunseung frowned a little.
“All right already—I understand.”
Park watched the two of them out of the corner of his eye:
So he’s not a trainee?
Given that he and Manager Kim seemed close and informal with each other, another thought popped into Park’s mind:
Wait…
He remembered the name mentioned in a recent meeting: Min Hyunseung. The same composer who resurrected Seo Jini’s career when she was on the brink of retirement. A man who, aside from executive-level staff, was said to have CEO Jeon Jun-il’s personal number.
So that’s HS.
Indeed, Executive Director Park had already been thinking about getting in touch with Hyunseung. He found it unsettling that the CEO held him in such high regard, but in showbiz—this “jungle”—the basic survival rule was:
- If you meet someone talented, bring them to your side.
- If you can’t, you cut them off at the root.
Since the CEO himself called him “the goose that might lay golden eggs,” he must be the real deal. If I can bring him into my camp, he’ll be a strong ally.
Yes. Letting someone so skilled stay under Director Choi’s influence would be hugely inefficient.
Ding—
An elevator arrived and the doors opened.
“So you’re the composer who worked on Seo Jini’s album?”
However—
Step, step.
Hyunseung just walked into the elevator without responding. Then he pulled out one of his earbuds and asked nonchalantly, “Aren’t you getting on?”
It seemed he hadn’t heard Park’s earlier question, presumably because he’d been listening to music.
“Ha-ha, this guy…”
Executive Director Park forced an exaggerated laugh and stepped into the elevator. Just as Hyunseung was about to replace the earbud in his ear—
“Let’s chat a bit,” Park said.
Hyunseung stared at him.
“I’ve heard a lot about your achievements.”
“Oh, thank you.”
“I have high hopes for your future as well.”
Park bared his teeth in a smile.
“I’d like to have tea with you one of these days.”
It was a blatant attempt to lure Hyunseung over to his side.
“Yes, if the opportunity comes up, sure.”
“If the opportunity comes up?”
“Yes. We’re both busy, you know?”
Hyunseung knew exactly what Park meant by “Let’s have tea.” He wanted to gauge whether Hyunseung was worth recruiting. But Hyunseung disliked office politics. Even if there were no factions in the company, he would avoid meeting even with the CEO—much less an executive—unless he had a real reason.
“Well then, I’ll be on my way.”
Just then, the elevator came to a stop.
Ding—
The doors opened, and Hyunseung stepped out right away.
“Hmm.”
As the doors closed again, Executive Director Park stood there wearing a subtle smile.
“Well, now. That’s an interesting fellow…”
But the corners of his mouth twitched.
From the moment Hyunseung’s name first popped up in the CEO’s office, Park had felt oddly put off. After exchanging just a few words with him, he was now certain: they didn’t mesh at all.
Park, who had methodically risen through the elite ranks, and Hyunseung, whose confidence was rooted solely in his own talent, were never going to be compatible.
Park exhaled a long breath and muttered, “There’s an old saying: cut the weeds at the roots…”
Much as he hated to admit it, Hyunseung was undeniably capable. Yet at the same time:
He was someone Park could never keep on his side.
“I’ll have to root him out completely…”
Before Hyunseung could become Director Choi’s lackey and cause trouble down the road, Park realized he’d need to nip him in the bud—once and for all.
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