Prince From Another Dimension Becomes An Idol [EN]: Chapter 22

#22.

The day arrived for the meeting to decide MOST’s title track.

The same people from the last title track meeting gathered in the conference room.

“Hello, Team Leader.”

“Director. You’re here early?”

The atmosphere in the conference room was buzzing as they sat down and greeted each other.

The faces of the members who arrived first even showed a sense of determination.

It was because they believed that today, the debut title would finally be decided.

Creak. The last one to open the door and enter the conference room was Oh Jung-ho, the founder and president of Kingdom Entertainment.

“Hello, President!”

“President. It’s been a while.”

“President!”

After Big Boys had somewhat established themselves, he delegated the practical work to Vice President Jung Hyung-seok, and it had been a long time since he, who had been reclusive, had come to the company.

Without exception, the employees and members jumped up from their seats and greeted him happily.

“Hahaha! Yes, yes. It’s good to see you all. It’s been a while! Why are you all standing up like that, making me feel awkward. Sit down first.”

With a hearty laugh, President Oh Jung-ho acknowledged the greetings.

‘He’s different from what I imagined. When I saw him in the newspaper… he looked a bit younger.’

Do-jae recalled the time when he investigated Kingdom after joining New.

Unlike the image of him wearing a suit in the internet article photos, his current appearance in a modified hanbok [traditional Korean clothing] felt more like a rural grandfather who had tanned his face working in the hot sun than the head of an entertainment agency.

‘That doesn’t change the fact that he discovered composers like Lee Jung-yeop and produced ballad singers like Baek Jo-hee dozens of times over, though.’

President Oh Jung-ho’s track record was one of the reasons why Do-jae decided to join Kingdom.

Vice President Jung Hyung-seok guided President Oh Jung-ho towards the members.

Starting with Ki-joon, the members who knew President Oh Jung-ho greeted him first.

“Hello, President.”

And then it was Heung-min’s turn to greet him.

“Oh! Heung-min! How have you been?”

“Yes. Thanks to you…….”

“I’ve been losing sleep for days trying to come up with a stage name for Heung-min.”

Heung-min’s body flinched for a moment and froze.

Other members also perked up their ears and focused on President Oh Jung-ho’s words.

“…….”

“How about Lee Sang-bak?”

“……Pardon?”

Heung-min asked, unable to hide his surprise.

Woo-cheol and Kyu-sung next to him bit their lips, trying not to laugh.

“Or…. How about Dragon Lee?! Isn’t it cool?! I actually like this one better.”

“Dragon Lee…….”

Heung-min repeated the name that might become his stage name, his face stiff.

‘He’s fixated on the dragon-tiger match [a traditional Korean concept of opposing forces].’

Do-jae immediately understood President Oh Jung-ho’s intentions.

He was clearly still obsessed with dragons and tigers, just like with D&T.

‘Once he’s fixated on something, he tries to achieve it no matter what…….’

That was President Oh Jung-ho’s secret to success.

There was no exaggeration in the newspaper article.

By sheer luck, most of the things he had pushed for had been successful.

Even with the idol business, everyone said it would fail, but he eventually made it happen.

‘I just hope he doesn’t push that stage name…….’

Lee Sang-bak was strange, and Dragon Lee might be ridiculed as a copycat of the famous singer H. Dragon.

“President.”

“Yes, tell me! Which one do you like better? Huh?!”

“I was thinking of just going with Min (MIN) for my stage name…….”

“Min?”

The cheerful energy from a moment ago disappeared, and a look of disappointment appeared on President Oh Jung-ho’s face.

“Yes. I want to keep my parents’ name as much as possible, if possible.”

Heung-min had been agonizing for days about what excuse he could use to avoid the name President Oh Jung-ho was suggesting.

Heung-min waited for an answer, watching President Oh Jung-ho’s reaction.

President Oh Jung-ho’s 고민 [worry/trouble] didn’t last long.

“Hmm…. Well, it’s the name your parents gave you…. Then I guess we can’t help it! Let’s go with MIN!”

“Yes! Thank you!”

It was a stroke of luck.

Heung-min, who had been nervous about being called ‘Lee Sang-bak’ or ‘Dragon Lee,’ finally smiled.

‘As expected, there’s nothing better than using my parents as an excuse. This Confucian society…….’

Heung-min thought, sending a grateful look towards Do-jae, as it was Do-jae who had suggested the reason.

Shortly after, President Oh Jung-ho, who had greeted all the members, sat in the seat of honor.

“Then shall we get down to business now?”

With President Oh Jung-ho’s words, the meeting began in earnest.

Tension and anticipation filled the conference room.

“Deciding on the debut title track…. I want to hear the members’ opinions first. After all, it’s going to be their song, the one they’ll be performing on stage.”

At President Oh Jung-ho’s words, the members sitting across from him exchanged glances.

***

In fact, the members’ opinions were still divided until dawn that day.

As it was an important decision, no one wanted to back down or push too hard, making it difficult to reach a consensus.

Thinking that they should at least align their opinions, the members 토론ed [debated] all night with their tired bodies after practice.

At least Ki-joon, as the leader, had a firm idea.

“I still think we should go with as the title, as I said at the last meeting. is not enough to showcase our ‘team’.”

“Aren’t you underestimating it just because it’s your song? I think is the one that can show us the best. The one who knows us best is not any other composer, but you, hyung [older brother/male friend]. Of course, considering the rap part, is good, but.”

While Ki-joon had solidified his 마음 [mind/heart] for , Heung-min was gradually leaning towards as time went on.

While Ki-joon and Heung-min were fiercely 토론ing [debating] about each song, Kyu-sung carefully expressed his opinion.

“…No matter how I think about it, both songs are too good…. As Do-jae said, I think it would be good to release both songs.”

” can be used for the next album. It can be included as a B-side.”

Ki-joon was against that.

He was of the opinion that there was no reason to force as the title.

“That’s different. The debut title is the first and only time!”

Woo-cheol 반박ed [rebutted].

At the same time, he expressed concern.

“But if we do both songs… will our practice time increase even more? We’re already doing twelve hours a day.”

Heung-min, who would have scolded Woo-cheol for worrying about practice, half-agreed with Woo-cheol’s opinion this time.

It wasn’t just a matter of increasing practice time.

“Practice time is one thing, but can we handle both songs?…. That’s also a problem.”

It was good to grow after debut, but first, they had to show a stage that was somewhat polished from the time of their debut.

Heung-min was worried about whether they could practice both songs to near perfection.

“Why not? We can do it!”

Louis, who had been silent, suddenly shouted.

In fact, Louis had been in the position of unconditionally following Do-jae’s opinion from the beginning.

Heung-min 풀고ed [loosened] his serious expression and 실소ed [let out a small laugh] at Louis’s energetic behavior, befitting the youngest member.

“Going with two titles is just one opinion. Both are good songs…….”

Do-jae also had the same worries as Heung-min, so he said, hoping that the members wouldn’t feel burdened.

“No…. Actually, I’m worried, but if the company says it’s okay, I want to try two titles…. It would be sensational. Very.”

“Ah, really. Do you want to become sensational like Song Heung-min?”

“Do you want to joke around even at times like this?”

“Ah, I don’t know. I feel like I want to run away if practice time increases. But…. I want to try it too. It’s the first time a rookie has two titles on their debut album anyway.”

Woo-cheol said, grumbling.

It was true that Do-jae’s opinion aroused a spirit of challenge in the members.

The members’ opinions were gradually leaning towards two titles.

“It’s so lucky that we have two good songs like this. Let’s not miss this opportunity.”

Louis said, as if driving a wedge.

Ki-joon, who had been silent, opened his mouth after a while.

That’s how the members’ opinions came together around dawn.

***

“…So, if possible, we want to do both songs.”

Ki-joon conveyed the opinion on behalf of the members.

Team Leader Jung Hee-young and the Planning 2 Team employees nodded with firm expressions.

In fact, the employees’ opinions were similar.

Everything from planning would take twice as much effort and time, or even more.

It was clear that it wouldn’t be easy, but they also had a desire to try new planning without being trapped in a conventional frame.

“…Actually, our Planning 2 Team has the same opinion. It’s rare to have a case where it’s a waste to throw away any one song, and two titles are good as a new strategy.”

If the opinions of the members and the working-level staff were the same, now it was a matter of the money to realize it.

It was as if the ball had been passed to the decision-makers.

“A two-track strategy…. As I said, the company is thinking of making the best investment in MOST. We also have some spare funds.”

Vice President Jung Hyung-seok immediately started calculating after hearing Do-jae’s idea.

He paused for a moment and continued.

“But…. It’s also true that the risk is high. It’s a newly established strategy, so I’m worried that the preparation period might be tight. What do you think, President?”

President Oh Jung-ho, who was sitting with his arms crossed and a mysterious smile on his face, instead asked Do-jae.

“Haha. I’m curious to know what the person who first came up with this idea is thinking.”

In an instant, the eyes of the conference room turned to Do-jae.

“I…….”

It would be nerve-wracking to have the attention focused on him just before a major decision, but Do-jae remained calm.

“I believed in everything. I believed my ears that recognize good songs.”

“Oh ho…. You have good confidence.”

“I also believed that the members would be able to do it no matter what if they just had the will to challenge themselves.”

The members, who had been through thick and thin together for over half a year, were people who had not only ability but also a spirit of challenge and perseverance.

“And lastly, I believed in Kingdom, thinking that they would not hesitate to invest after seeing this possibility.”

“Haha!”

President Oh Jung-ho burst into a hearty laugh at the words that he believed in his company.

“Actually, you know what? As soon as I heard the words ‘two titles,’ I thought we should push this, no matter what everyone else thinks. Do you know why?”

“…What is it?”

“The day I decided to create the next group, I had a dream, and a dragon and a tiger appeared!”

A moment of silence flowed through the conference room.

It was clear that he had ability, but he often followed his instincts or senses (even superstitions) too much.

Of course, he also knew his shortcomings and thought that the idol industry was too young to just follow his senses, so he stepped down himself.

However, it could not be denied that it was one of the ways he had survived in the entertainment industry, where no one could see an inch ahead.

“Is there a more auspicious dream than this?! I thought it was a revelation, so I tried to put a dragon and a tiger in the group somehow, but it didn’t work out, which was a shame. But…. Two titles! Isn’t that completely the meaning of letting out the dragon and the tiger!”

“…….”

“But after listening, I think it’s right to challenge as you want if you have this much boldness, not that the dream is the problem! Let’s fail big even if we fail!”

The employees flinched at the last words, but it was still an answer worthy of a president who would go to Seoul even if he had to go to Moro [a Korean idiom meaning someone who is determined to achieve their goal no matter what].

“The members and employees are all very well-chosen and full of spirit. I can retire completely.”

President Oh Jung-ho gave Vice President Jung Hyung-seok a proud smile.

Vice President Jung Hyung-seok smiled awkwardly.

There was no need to talk any longer.

The situation allowed it, and there was a bulldozer-like president as always.

***

Once the decision was made, the progress was rapid.

In many ways, it was the beginning of a truly hellish schedule.

This was because it was the same as proceeding with two albums at the same time.

However, everyone was looking forward to the result of this work.

The members also did their best to prove that their choice was not wrong.

Of course, there were also things that couldn’t be done with the members’ efforts alone.