I’ve seen that scene in comics.

The hero fires a do-or-die rocket with everything he’s got, the enemy is swallowed in smoke—

“Did we get him?!”

...and then, out of the haze, the enemy steps out, and the teammate yells, annoyingly, “It didn’t do anything!”

I felt like the enemy in that scene.

“How is it? This is the track we poured our souls into.”

“As agreed before the meeting: nothing you hear today leaves this room. If anything remotely similar leaks, we reserve the right to sue, got it?”

At the duo laying out the “leak it and we’ll sue” vibes, we gave tight smiles.

“Take it.”

“Take it all...”

It was clearly their personal ultimate move, but it didn’t move me at all.

Maybe album-filler tier, not title-track material.

“It’s memorable.”

At the polite compliment, Steve and Garrett replied:

“Of course it is. We’re prepping this one for another big artist.”

“It’s only to demonstrate our skill. Unfortunately, it’s not available to you.”

At first I thought they were just posturing, but... the self-congratulation was a bit much.

Ri Hyuk asked:

“We’re aiming this single at the U.S. market. Which direction do you think our title should go?”

“Well...”

“You’re a boy group, so bright and bouncy. Safer to follow the standard boy-group success formula.”

Didn’t feel like they’d thought about it at all.

I figured before the call they’d at least come in with “The path NewBlack should take is...” and lay out an opinion.

Instead, it was “we’ll think on it later” energy. I smiled.

Steve+Garrett.

Hot names on the U.S. label’s recommendation list.

And the duo I’d felt might match our color.

Honestly, that hasn’t changed; the track they played just didn’t meet my bar, but I still had a sense we could get synergy working together.

But attitude matters.

“Have you heard anything about us?”

“No. First time today.”

“We heard you won Collaboration at the Billboard Music Awards. You worked with Hailey Blue?”

Jiho slid in:

“Hailey Blue and Wooju hyung co-wrote.”

“We heard.”

“Sounds like he’s very capable.”

They said the words, but there wasn’t any real impression taken from “co-composer of ‘Blue Moon.’” If anything, their eyes lit up at Hailey—more interest in her than in us.

“There’s one thing we should be clear on.”

Steve stroked his beard.

“Frankly, we believe ‘Blue Moon’ succeeded largely thanks to Hailey Blue. She’s a top-tier singer-songwriter with massive name value.”

Garrett added:

“We get that ‘Blue Moon’ can cause... misunderstandings. But it’d be best to lower expectations that the next single will succeed like that.”

“That’s what everyone thinks at first. First hit lands, so the next will be just as big—that thought. Seventy percent of artists vanish after that.”

“A ‘Blue Moon’ doesn’t come around twice.”

Summed up:

“Mm-hmm. So you ‘wrote’ ‘Blue Moon’? Very impressive. But wasn’t that thanks to Hailey Blue?”

“Expecting us to deliver another ‘Blue Moon’ for you is unrealistic, no?”

As my practiced “I’m-not-annoyed” smile auto-popped—

Steve, still beard-stroking, softened his tone after landing those jabs.

“Of course, that’s just the realistic part.”

“With an expert who truly understands the U.S. market and the right song, you could get a big boost.”

“Obviously, you’d have to follow that expert’s direction.”

In short: “You’re lacking; let us, the experts, lead you.”

A beat of silence.

While they waited for our answer through the screen, the boys and I turned our eyes to Her Highness.

Go, Young-ae-mon.

Biju gave them a sunny smile—Young-ae style.

“Thank you for the eye-opening advice. We’ll think it over. Sadly we’re out of time, so let’s end here... may we reach out later?”

Translation: Not with us.

He smiled and ended the call.

For a moment the room was quiet; then the producers burst into disbelieving laughter.

“They really picked the wrong folks to condescend to. Our composition monster that even Hailey Blue adores...”

“Guess the intel hasn’t traveled across the ocean.”

“Even if they’ve got skill, they’re done. D-o-n-e. How dare they...”

With the producers blazing, the boys, who’d been ready to blow up, just nodded.

“Maybe because we’re still rookies in the States.”

“Full-on hatchling treatment.”

From what those writers said, it was clear enough.

You won thanks to Hailey Blue; what guarantees a second success?

Some foreign boy band dropping an English single—why would that break in the U.S.?

Not exactly wrong.

A foreign singer loved by Korean fans can release a Korean song here and still not be guaranteed success.

If anything, I’d rate that chance low, too.

“Hmm...”

I looked over at Ri Hyuk, who was gripping a felt-tip like it was a brand.

Why’s he this mad?

I smiled.

“Cross them off.”

“I’ll fill the whole box black.”

Junhyun stopped him mid-swipe and handed over a thick permanent marker instead.

As “Steve Garrett” went jet-black on the list—

I told the trembling producers, smiling:

“This was roughly expected.”

“You’re not even angry?”

Team Lead Na asked. I kept smiling.

“I’ve met a lot like that. They usually don’t last. Time passes, and they’re gone.”

“...”

“What’s there to be mad about.”

At that, our producers straightened up from their slouches.

One long deep breath, then I ran my eyes down the list.

“The first batter was pretty bad... but shall we just go down the line? We should try everything we can.”

After Steve+Garrett, we spent a few days meeting the other big names on the list.

The vibe was broadly similar.

Fewer outright arrogant types than Steve+Garrett—most were polite—but the nuance lined up.

— We know you’ve got a big fandom... but there’s no guarantee you’ll do well in the U.S. market. If you’ve only done K-pop, doing domestic pop might clash and hurt you.

— More realistic to find a feature and drop another collab.

— Pay us and we’ll work, sure. But no guarantees you’ll get a ‘Blue Moon’ result.

— Without Hailey Blue, you’re a bit...

— Honestly, I’m not convinced you’ll hit with an English single... if I give you a track and it flops, that hurts my resume.

Overall, skeptical.

They’d do their best for the money—but no promises.

“Man, it’s oddly deflating,” Ri Hyuk said.

“This is where you ‘rah-rah let’s give it our all,’ and instead they start by draining you.”

“That’s how much pressure they feel too.”

“I’d be the same, tbh. You’re handing a track to a group with a massive fandom. If it underperforms, that’s a dent in your career.”

The problem was: they were all doing great.

Most names the label sent had been on a five-year win streak.

They didn’t need us—they could stick to Mandy Spice or Logan Smith and coast their careers.

Junhyun said:

“They still said they’d do it for money, right?”

“True.”

As I nodded, Ri Hyuk added:

“But the rates are too high. They’re asking double their usual, compared to what they charge U.S. acts.”

Forget a ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) song camp; the budget might get tight.

Biju made a thoughtful noise.

“It’s awkward. At those prices, we’d have to pick one composer from the list and just do a one-on-one... and none of them really meet our bar.”

“Enthusiasm matters too. We need people who genuinely want to work with us.”

We all nodded at Jiho.

To be fair, a few did try to sell hard.

—I’m a fan! Let’s work, please!

—We’re officially day one, okay?

—It’s an honor to meet Asia’s greatest stars, NewBlack. Debuted June 19, 2014, the greatest stars NewBlack are...

But they didn’t meet our bar. It felt like they wanted to ride us to get ahead.

“Hrrrrm...”

We squirmed on the studio couch.

“Hrrrrmmm.”

Money’s not the issue.

It’s how to spend it most efficiently.

“How do we make this ‘money well spent’—”

“Stop talking like a grandpa.”

“La la la~ heave-ho~”

I ignored the main vocal and hummed. The maknae lifted his phone.

“Ugh, hungry. Eat first, think later?”

“Let’s.”

I leaned in over his shoulder. Restaurants scrolled by on the delivery app.

“Pig’s feet? Pig’s feet?”

“Approved.”

“Hmm... what to get. Front leg... there’s a new garlic pig’s-feet—try it?”

Biju shook his head.

“Let’s stick to the usual. Last time the new thing was meh.”

“True. And for Wooju hyung’s stomach... I’ll order the usual.”

As the maknae paid and the “Order received” alert popped—

Something brushed my mind.

“Hm...?”

Do we really need a brand-new way to work?

It’s an English track, sure, but it’s still our song—just with English lyrics. It’s not like a Korean singer releasing a Japanese single must work with Japanese writers.

The U.S. market is unfamiliar... but checking domestic and overseas charts daily and tracking trends is already my routine.

Yeah, I fell behind a month on new releases because of the tour and awards, but I’ve got the data I need.

And—

If I lead the process, it might be easier to work with people who already sync with me than foreign writers.

So the song camp...

“Oh.”

A good idea hit immediately.

Keep the song camp—but change who’s in it.

Not unfamiliar foreign writers—bring in Korea’s top producers with sterling names.

“Guys.”

I beamed at the boys as they turned my way.

“I’ve got a good idea.”

From the NetPlus launch documentary, “The New Black: Making Waves”

NewBlack sits in the interview room.

While the members stare into the distance with faint secondhand embarrassment, the leader lights up, explaining.

Wooju: Jiho was ordering pig’s feet and goes, “Hyung, want to try the new menu?” And it just flashed across my mind. We’re taking on a new challenge—does the method itself have to be new?

Cut.

Wooju, cackling as he clacks away, building a doc titled “Song Camp Plan.”

On the sofa behind him, Ri Hyuk holds up a scoreboard app reading [You look insane].

Biju, glued to the leader like a shadow-handler, keeps adding items to the plan; the other two look delightfully empty-headed.

Wooju: It’s done...!

Glowing, Wooju pulls up his address book.

Wooju: This is a list of composers we have ties with. The one we use to send holiday gifts. Let’s see... who should we invite...

He eyes a document titled [Invitation] and calls the minions over.

They study the list with care.

As names start to get selected, a warm narration slides in.

Narration: In Korea’s live-entertainment scene, there’s a tendency to consider being “captured by NewBlack” an honor.

A cheerful chuckle in the VO.

Narration: Shall we see what that yields?

Not long after—

Korea’s hottest, most famous composers tilted their heads at a text.

[Web message]

Hello, customer.

Your valuable shipment is scheduled for delivery.

A package they hadn’t ordered was on its way.

The item read “beef.” What on earth? No idea what was going on.

That evening, the package arrived.

“Honey, what’s this?”

“NewBlack said they were sending something.”

“Really? Oh wow... they sent cake last time, too.”

Composers shrugged proudly in front of spouses or family.

“See? I’m someone who gets gifts from NewBlack~”

“Uh-huh, open it first.”

“Okay...”

[rip]

They slit the tape on the styrofoam box; inside, nested with ice packs, was a premium hanwoo set.

In homes with kids, cheers rang out.

“Dad! Dad! Beef!”

“Jackpot!”

“Whoa... how much is this? A million won easy.”

Staring, half-dazed, at the insanely high-grade beef while their families rejoiced, the composers thought:

“Thanks, but... what is this?”

As they puzzled, someone pulled an insert from the box.

“There’s a letter.”

“Hand it here.”

They opened the card—and music played, like a singing Christmas card.

“That’s their track.”

“Yup—‘Dokkaebi.’”

While the “Dokkaebi” hook chimed, the message came into focus.

It was printed in a font that looked like Ri Hyuk’s handwriting.

“What was this font called... Thin Minnow?”

“Maybe the Axolotl one?”

A line below answered:

Lots of folks ask about the font, so here you go: this card uses the Thin Pirarucu font.

People went “ah,” and then the cleanly penned letter continued.

Hello, Composer Yoo Ung.

Hope you had a peaceful night. It’s already June, and half the year has slipped by.

NewBlack recalled specifics from the last time you worked together and offered thanks—then asked your intent.

A dreamlike, fantastical song camp with lavish gifts waiting.

This summer, would you like to join NewBlack’s song camp and make wonderful memories?

Composers swallowed.

“This is the devil’s temptation...”

They knew it would help their career.

They also knew, if they went, those vicious goblins would run them ragged. They’d go and have their life-force slurped dry.

Weighing pain against career, they soon realized how devilish the temptation was.

“Honey. It says... more gifts.”

“Dad, there’s more beef?”

“Hey, it says there are more presents.”

The family’s eyes turned feral at the beautiful gift set.

If the composer said no, their family looked ready to tie them up and ship them freight collect to NewBlack.

Tears streamed down famous composers’ cheeks.

“I have to go. Yeah... I have to.”

And so, all across the country, top composers quietly wept as they voluntarily allowed themselves to be kidnapped.

There were others who could only envy even having a choice.

They, too, got a gift set... but had no choice at all.

[Web message]

[Workshop Attendance Notice]

Dear Lemon Entertainment A&R and Producing Team family, this is Sun Wooju.

“I thought we might escape this time...”

“He says ‘dear family.’ Starting with a lie.”

“Where are we being dragged now...”

Lemon Entertainment staff let the tears flow.