* * *
“We’ve just listened to a song recommended by Ms. Park Sora. Is it because Ms. Park recommended it? It seems even better.”
“Haha, it’s just a good song.”
Park Sora was appearing as a guest on the radio.
Park Sora was a singer in her 13th year, recognized as the best vocalist in South Korea.
She was known for her unwavering artistic world, which made her famous for not interacting with other singers. Nonetheless, many singers continually cited her as a respected artist.
The vocal members of MOST were no exception.
“Ms. Park Sora, do you usually like such lyrical songs? Are you not interested in other genres?”
“No, that’s a misunderstanding. I listen to a lot of upbeat songs too. I also enjoy idol performances. Oh, recently MOST? Those guys have been catching my eye.”
Yet, Park Sora was mentioning MOST.
“Huh? Us?”
“What? Did Park Sora just mention us?”
“…Amazing.”
“Oh my, MOST? Aren’t they newly debuted? We’ve been getting a lot of song requests for them on our show recently.”
“I saw their performance a few days ago. They hit number one just two weeks after their debut, right? That became a hot topic and popped up in recommended videos.”
“Ah, the internet was buzzing for a bit.”
The DJ, aware of the controversy involving Candiz, glossed over why they became a hot topic.
The controversy had indeed turned out to be a blessing in disguise.
“They were impressive. The two vocalists sing so well. Their voices are incredibly captivating. And their energy is just… I can’t compete with that.”
Dojae and Kyuseong’s pupils trembled with excitement.
“Haha, you must have watched closely. Speaking of energy, did you see the video of their number one performance? One of them did a somersault out of joy.”
“Ah, I didn’t see that. Today’s young folks are really amazing.”
Considering her status and the fact that she rarely mentioned other singers, this was a mention worthy of immediate publicity.
Even without separate promotion from Kingdom, journalists would likely write articles on their own.
“Wow, being acknowledged by Park Sora is incredible. You guys must be thrilled.”
The makeup staff also expressed surprise and admiration.
“There’s never been a time as joyful as this….”
A deep smile appeared on Dojae’s lips.
Seeing this, the makeup staff asked.
“You must be feeling good continuously. Isn’t today your first fan signing event?”
“Yes.”
Dojae nodded.
Today’s schedule was none other than a fan signing event.
Though it had been planned earlier, it conveniently became a number one celebration fan signing event.
Having the first fan signing event as a number one celebration was very meaningful.
***
‘A fan signing event… I wonder what it will be like?’
As they moved to the fan signing venue, Dojae fell into thought.
He felt a bit nervous.
Though he had seen performances from a distance, he had never experienced a fan signing event.
After the schedule was set, Dojae had looked up videos of other singers’ fan signing events.
‘It seems a bit similar to the imperial bazaar….’
There were similar events in the Korean Empire as well.
The bazaar held every spring at Deoksugung Palace (One of the 5 grand palaces of the Korean Empire) was one of them.
With a wide array of rare items from clothes and accessories to dishes, the bazaar was a much-anticipated event, providing a rare opportunity for citizens to see the royals up close.
Participants were selected through a lottery from online applications.
‘Giving out lottery tickets to those who buy albums is a similar method. Though the more albums you buy, the higher your chances, which is different….’
That’s why fan signing events were the most powerful and certain album sales strategy for companies.
When fan signing events were held, fans wanting to meet the singers in person would purchase albums in bulk.
This was one of the reasons idols could sell tens of thousands of CDs, even when CD players were rare.
With high album sales, revenue increased, and album sales, which influenced music show rankings, skyrocketed.
Thus, many singers held fan signing events continuously during their activity period to sell albums.
For singers and fans, it was a nearly unique opportunity to meet face-to-face and communicate, making it a win-win strategy.
‘Meeting one-on-one….’
This very point was what made Dojae, who rarely had one-on-one interactions even with imperial citizens, nervous.
Moreover, it seemed they had to provide more ‘services’ than he had anticipated.
The fan signing videos, so-called ‘fan signing fancams’ he found, were a spectacle of various fan services.
They had to naturally lead conversations one-on-one and constantly charm the fans.
‘I should have participated more actively in the bazaars.’
The Empress and princesses, with many items to offer, usually took charge of the bazaars.
While the actual work of pricing and selling items was done by the palace staff, they did meet and chat with the participants.
Dojae, having neither items nor enthusiasm, never participated…
If he had, it would have been good experience.
It had to be a time that would satisfy the fans who took time out to attend.
Dojae felt a bit of pressure.
Glancing sideways, he saw Kyuseong diligently moving his pen on a practice pad.
The members were expressing their tension in different ways.
“Ah… this is strange.”
The writing was shakier than usual due to being in the car.
Kyuseong grumbled with a frown.
“It’s fine.”
Dojae’s words made Kyuseong brighten up.
“Really?”
“Yeah. The waviness at the end of the strokes is the main point, right?”
“…Main point?”
“Essence?”
“Ah… no, that’s just shaky. It’s really a mess.”
Dojae, momentarily flustered, averted his gaze.
In the front seats, Woochul and Louis were also deeply immersed in practicing their signatures.
“Dojae, don’t you need to practice too? Come to think of it, I’ve never seen your signature.”
“Yeah, how does your signature look? You weren’t interested when we were making ours.”
At Kyuseong’s question, Woochul quickly turned around and asked.
“Did you also create one when you were a New Entertainment?”
Kijoon and Heungmin said they had already made their signatures before Woochul joined.
“Were you not the second-in-command of Kimchi Soup but the third?”
Woochul chuckled to himself, prompting Heungmin to retort.
“Hey, it’s not Kimchi Soup; it’s seeing the future. We’re using them now, aren’t we?!”
“You didn’t copy Song Heungmin’s signature, did you?”
“No, I didn’t.”
As the two bickered, Dojae responded to Kyuseong.
“I practiced a lot.”
“Oh, really? When did you do it? I never saw you practicing in the room.”
“…Since I was five?”
He had likely created his signature while learning to read both Korean and Chinese characters and formally studying the classics.
Woochul exclaimed, “Wow!” in admiration at Dojae’s words.
The other members were similarly impressed.
“Are you joking?”
“Did you dream of becoming a star since you were five?”
Dojae replied with an ambiguous smile.
The members seemed to think he was half-joking and resumed practicing their own signatures.
Dojae had created his signature, known as “Sugyeol,” when he was about five years old and had been using it since then.
Sugyeol is a form of transforming one character of a name into a unique signature, which, in modern terms, is essentially a signature.
When Dojae first created his Sugyeol, he spent days holding a brush and deliberating over it.
‘Even General Yi Sun-shin practiced his Sugyeol dozens of times…’
It was no wonder the members were making a fuss.
Moreover, this signature was not for document approval but to represent his autograph to fans.
‘I should practice since it’s been a while.’
Suddenly having this thought, Dojae turned around and touched the window with his finger.
Due to the temperature difference between the inside and outside of the car, the window was fogged up.
Dojae drew his Sugyeol small on the fogged-up window.
***
When they arrived at a building in Jongno, where the fan signing event was held, Manager Kim Seokchul gave the members a final reminder.
“You all know this, but remember that fans are watching every move and recording with their cameras, so be careful with your actions and words.”
“Yes.”
“Yep!”
The members nodded, their eyes shining.
“Did everyone hear about the seating order for today?”
“I heard we would stand according to the jacket photo composition today.”
Kijoon answered Manager Kim Seokchul ‘s question.
“Yes. The seating order will change continuously as more fan signings are held.”
“Okay.”
“Be kind to the fans, but don’t comply with any unreasonable requests. However, don’t ignore them either. If any issue arises, call me or Mr. Giljoo immediately.”
“Yes, understood.”
Dojae replied.
Manager Kim Seokchul looked around at the members who were eager to enter the fan signing hall.
Fan signing events were where the members’ individual personalities and speech patterns were fully exposed.
Unlike SNS posts, which the company could review, fan signing events were different.
It was a place where members showed their words and actions directly to fans.
Thus, there were many things to be mindful of.
‘They’ll do well.’
Manager Kim Seokchul thought.
Ultimately, believing in the members’ capabilities was the best approach.
Although there had been various commotions during their debut, they had managed well in the end.
In that sense, the members were reliable.
‘They’re still a bit inexperienced since it’s early in their debut, but…’
They were all good-hearted and diligent.
They were the best among the affiliated celebrities Kim Seokchul had seen so far.
“Then let’s go in.”
Manager Kim Seokchul led the way and opened the door.
As the door opened and the members entered one by one, the 70 fans gathered inside cheered loudly.
At the same time, the sound of numerous camera shutters echoed.
Click, click, click―
“Whoa…”
Even the members, who had performed on stage in front of dozens of broadcast cameras, flinched slightly.
More than twenty fans were holding DSLRs with large lenses.
Click, click, click, click, clatter.
Confused about whether to stop and pose for the continuous shutter sounds, the members quickly composed themselves and lined up, bowing in greeting.
“Hello!”
“Nice to meet you, everyone!”
“You’re so handsome!”
“We love you, MOST!”
“Louis yaaah!”
“Kang Dojae! You’re so handsome!”
As the members greeted, fans immediately shouted from all around.
Kijoon, holding a microphone, calmed the fans and thanked them for coming.
During that time, Assistant Manager Lee Jungyeon lined up the fans according to the pre-drawn number tags from 1 to 10 and checked their IDs.
Once the general organization was complete, the members took their seats.
From the left, the order was ‘Heungmin, Woochul, Dojae, Kyuseong, Louis, Kijoon.’
“Ah, hello.”
Heungmin greeted the first fan awkwardly.
She was a high school girl with short bobbed hair.
“Hello, MIN oppa!”
“Haha. Yes.”
“Can I call you by your real name?”
“Haha. Sure.”
While the other members, who had no fans in front of them yet, greeted the fans staring intently at them from the front, they also eavesdropped on Heungmin’s conversation.
“Looks like he’ll keep awkwardly smiling like that.”
Woochul whispered, making Dojae chuckle.
“Oh my gosh! Dojae oppa smiled at me!”
Even that smile caused a stir among the fans.
Dojae was undoubtedly made for the stage, or rather, for the public.
Despite feeling a bit overwhelmed, he naturally continued conversing with fans.
Second, third.
While chatting with fans and adding post-it notes as requested, it happened.
“Oppa!”
“Yes, hello.”
A college fan with dyed pink hair approached Dojae familiarly.
“Oppa! It’s me!”
“…Huh?”
“Don’t you remember me?”
For a moment, fans getting autographs from other members glared at the pink-haired fan.
* * *
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