Prince From Another Dimension Becomes An Idol [EN]: Chapter 163

#163.

〈Eat, Sleep, Live: Jeju Special with MOST〉

The members couldn’t hide their excitement as they watched the program title appear in the top right corner of the TV screen.

“It’s amazing. We’re the stars of a variety show!”

Woochul was right.

In their early days, MOST was often excluded from broadcast invitations due to New Enter’s interference and the collaborative relationships between other major agencies and broadcasting stations, despite their rapidly growing popularity.

(Of course, this situation did allow them to upload content more actively on ON TV and MyTube, and cultivate a loyal fandom, but still, TV exposure was crucial.)

It was a significant handicap for rookies who needed TV exposure to become known to the public.

It was only recently that they were invited to and appeared on various TV programs.

Only after fully establishing themselves were they able to participate in the major variety shows that are considered the ‘comeback promotion route.’

It feels like only yesterday that they were nervous about appearing on those variety shows, but now the day has come when a program starring MOST is being broadcast.

Moreover, it was a weekend 10 PM show, which is considered prime time.

Of course, this was also possible because of Hong Junsoo PD’s [Production Director’s] reputation, not just MOST’s popularity.

It was a big deal that Hong Junsoo PD chose MOST as the main focus of the program.

“They said this will be broadcast for four weeks, right?”

“Yeah.”

Gyoosung answered Louis’ question.

The members were busy contacting their families and friends on their phones, telling them to tune in.

“It’s starting! It’s starting!”

Heungmin shouted loudly.

The screen changed after the commercials, and the first episode of 〈Eat, Sleep, Live: Jeju Special with MOST〉 began.

***

The show started with a scene of Jung Heeyoung Team Leader, Kim Seokcheol Team Leader, and other officials meeting at the broadcasting station to discuss how to bring MOST on board.

“It just so happened that Jooyuri’s showcase ended, and they wanted to have a surprise party for Gyoosung. In the parking lot…”

“Ah! That’s perfect!”

“We can do a double hidden camera [prank]!”

The 〈Eat, Sleep, Live〉 writing team and Hong Junsoo PD were excited by Kim Seokcheol Team Leader’s tip, and they planned to “kidnap” the MOST members to Jeju Island.

Thus, the scene of the members having Gyoosung’s birthday party in the parking lot without knowing anything, followed by them getting into the van and heading to Gimpo Airport, was shown.

From being flustered and surprised to denying reality in disbelief, to being happy about appearing on 〈Eat, Sleep, Live〉.

The members’ reactions, changing moment by moment, combined with Hong Junsoo PD’s signature subtitles, provided small moments of enjoyment.

Online communities were creating real-time threads about the 〈Eat, Sleep, Live: Jeju Special with MOST〉 broadcast, and comments were being posted rapidly.

Not only MOST fans but also fans of previous seasons of 〈Eat, Sleep, Live〉 were watching the broadcast with interest.

-Ah, the kids are so cuteㅠㅠㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-They got reverse hidden cameraed [pranked] ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-The reactions of the cast members being dragged away are always funny on Eat, Sleep, Live

-I think it’s the same every time, so 별로 (byeolro – not good)

-It’s refreshing since they’re celebrities who haven’t been on variety shows much

-I thought idols were boring, but Hong PD is using idols after all

-It’s so boring? I was expecting it after seeing the teaser

-They seem to be the only ones having fun

-Boring Boring

-It makes me yawn

-I know they’re nice, but isn’t it too much of a concept? Calling their momㅋㅋ It’s not the Joseon Dynasty [historical Korean kingdom], why the filial son conceptㅋㅋ

-It’s not a concept, it’s real

-They’ve mentioned it on the radio, and the members have confirmed it, they really contact each other every day

-If you’re a fan, you know that Dojae has a special relationship with his mom because of his family history, what concept are you talking about

-I’m not a fan, do I need to know that much?

-You said it seemed like a concept, so I said it, what’s with the attitude

-The broadcast hasn’t even been on for 10 minutes, and you’re already saying it’s boring

-They haven’t even gone to Jeju Island yetㅋㅋㅋ

-Will it get more interesting once they go to Jeju Island?

-No, they’re so cuteㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ Not being able to sleep until they go to Jeju Islandㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-The excitement of going on a school tripㅋㅋㅋ This is it

The initial reaction was mixed.

The scenes were undoubtedly fun for the fans, and some found it mildly amusing, but many said it was boring.

Of course, it was also true that some people were just trying to start fights and ruin the comment atmosphere.

In particular, there were many fans of other singers who were unhappy that MOST had become the main focus of Hong Junsoo PD’s program.

However, the reaction changed drastically after they arrived in Jeju Island.

-ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋCrazy, are they really sleeping like that?

-ㅜㅜㅜㅜㅜㅜㅜㅋㅋ

-That must hurt so muchㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

It was because comments full of ‘ㅋㅋㅋ’ [laughter] were being posted one after another, to the point where even the ‘haters’ couldn’t post negative comments.

After getting off the plane, the members seemed to have suddenly relaxed and fallen asleep as they were being transported to their destination.

A subtitle saying that the staff was taken aback by the members falling asleep without realizing they had to get footage was shown briefly.

Woochul, who had been sleeping with his head completely tilted, turned to the other side and bumped his forehead against Gijun’s, who was also sleeping, making a loud noise.

Thud! The sound of their foreheads colliding echoed loudly through the microphone.

The moment of the ‘thud’ and the collision was repeatedly edited and pieced together, making it a very comical scene.

But what was even funnier was that the two of them didn’t wake up even after hitting their foreheads so hard that it made such a loud noise.

“Mom!”

Instead, Louis, who was sitting next to them, woke up in surprise.

And so did Dojae, who was next to him.

“What’s wrong?”

“Uh… No, it’s nothing. It sounded like a rock hit something… in the car…”

Louis mumbled, half-asleep.

Dojae looked around worriedly, but the car was just quietly driving along the dark coastal road.

“It seems like nothing happened.”

“I must have been dreaming… They say Jeju Island has a lot of wind and rocks…”

Louis mumbled incoherently and fell back asleep, and Dojae closed his eyes as well.

-They don’t knowㅋㅋㅋㅋ They don’t know at allㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-It’s not a rock, it’s their heads…ㅋ ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-How can they not wake up?

-No wayㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-They’ll find out through this broadcast what that sound was back thenㅋㅋㅋ

-They must be embarrassed right now?

-Why is Dojae so sweet in the midst of all this!!!

-He’s kind to everyone but cold to me, my husband.

-ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋWhat are you talking aboutㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-He won’t meet me

-Why would he meet youㅋㅋ

-Woochul?? He’s handsome?? He looks like an actor??

After that, the members arrived at the village where they would be staying for three days without any further incidents.

After the scene of Gyoosung walking towards the stone-walled house and muttering that he smelled carrots, a screen with information that this was indeed a carrot field was added.

-Wow, how did he know?

-That’s so amazingㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-What?? It was really a carrot field??

Soon after, a scene came out where the members played the ‘Of Course’ game to decide who would change their clothes first.

Even those who didn’t know MOST well quickly became immersed in and enjoyed watching the members bickering and playing the ‘Of Course’ game like real brothers.

The editing skills of Hong Junsoo PD were also considerable.

It was because he found and edited hidden 1cm [tiny] aspects of the members that they didn’t even show to each other and put them on the broadcast.

-The more I see them, the more unpretentious and full of personality they seem

-Those who say they’re pretentious, have some conscienceㅋㅋ Other cast members have never been shown drooling and sleepingㅋㅋ

-((((Louis))))

-But that was cute tooㅋㅋㅋ How old is Louis? He looks like a baby

-The kids aren’t like kids these days, they’re nice

-They have a gentle vibe

-They have so much fun with each other

-Their bickering gives off real friend vibes ㅇㅇ [yes, yes]

-It’s nice that it’s not a tiring atmosphere where the members are keeping each other in check

-First of all, Dojae is eye candy, it’s crazy

-Kang Dojae can be boring, his face is entertaining enough

Once a good reaction came out, positive reactions burst out as if they had been waiting for it.

Everyone was holding back, but they were praising the program, which was proceeding more interestingly than they had expected, with peace of mind.

-Eat, Sleep, Live isn’t originally a very stimulating show, but it’s nice that it has fun scenes and also maintains a healing atmosphere

-ㅇㄱㄹㅇ (o geu reo yong – I agree)

-I agree, they’re younger than the cast members from the previous season, so they’re full of energy, but they’re not too loud either, so it’s nice

-I think I know why they cast them

-Which day is the scene that was in the teaser? Dojae riding a horse looked cool even in passing

Thus, the broadcast screen changed from the night when the members were all asleep to dawn, with a video of a rooster crowing.

When Dojae, who had woken up from sleep, appeared as the door opened, the comments increased exponentially once again.

His disheveled appearance, having just woken up from sleep, created a different charm than usual.

It was a face that many people had seen in their dreams, such as the face of a crush you accidentally run into the morning after an MT [Membership Training trip], or the face of a boyfriend you saw while traveling together, etc., but didn’t exist in reality.

-Doesn’t a handsome man have eye boogers?

-He’s so handsome

-My gums are drying up, I want to keep looking at that face

-How can he be handsome even like thatㅠㅠ

-He’s so handsomeㄷㄷ [shorthand for impressive]

-But why did he wake up so early

-Am I the only one having weird thoughts?

-?????

-Where are you going??? Is he going to the village hall alone????

And a moment later.

Everyone was shocked by Dojae’s appearance of borrowing a horse to go to the village hall.

The very idea of borrowing a horse was so innovative.

The reaction of Hong Junsoo PD and the staff who discovered Dojae riding a horse was no different from that of the viewers.

-He just borrowed that and got to ride it????

-ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋAh, this is hilariousㅋㅋㅋㅋ Why borrow a horseㅋㅋㅋ

-ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋSuddenly a horse??

-He’s polite in the midst of all thisㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-Doesn’t it seem like the horse owner just fell for him?ㅋㅋ

-Even the horse seems to have fallen for himㅋㅋㅋ It’s docileㅋㅋㅋ

-Was it a horse he knew?

-He knew the horse?ㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-Please refrain from spreading rumors

-What was that when he rode the horse just nowㄷㄷ

-Did he learn horseback riding????

-His posture is so good

-He’s classy

-Kang Dojae is another word for class

-If there were royalty in Korea, wouldn’t it be Kang Dojae

-Kang Dojae, why isn’t your last name Lee?ㅠㅋㅋㅋ [Lee is a common royal surname]

-Someone start the Kang Dynasty

-Even backwards, he’s a princeㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ

-Charles, come out!!! Let’s fight!!! [referencing Prince Charles]

-We have a prince now too!!!

-Can I ride behind him?

-I’m first

-Dojae Jeonha (Your Highness) moment, king god perfectㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ

-He’s fun and cool, our Jeonha

The reaction exploded when the scene of him riding a horse and returning to the stone-walled house was captured on screen.

The blue scenery of Jeju Island and Dojae harmonizing as one was truly like a movie.

And the viewers laughed along with the reactions of the staff and members that followed.

It was an impressive scene.

***

In the first episode, the scene of the members making breakfast with the ingredients they had obtained was broadcast, and the preview showed them fishing.

The viewers couldn’t hide their anticipation for the scene of the members fishing.

The reaction after the broadcast was, of course, good.

Since it was a program with high expectations from the start, negative reviews would have poured out even if it fell short of expectations by a little, but articles full of praise poured out.

It was said that Hong Junsoo PD had created a more attractive program by finding a new type of cast member.

Previously, one or two veteran cast members would lead the entire program, but this time, all six members were leading the fun continuously and subtly.

“Huh? Why does Dojae hyung [older brother/male friend] know how to ride a horse? How would I know that! Ask him yourself?!!”

Reactions came to the members immediately after the broadcast as well.

The members were amazed that friends who hadn’t contacted them even during the concert were contacting them after the broadcast.

They couldn’t help but feel the power of variety shows anew.

***

What awaited the members who returned to Seoul was practice….

Not just practice, but unexpected opportunities.

***