K-Net headquarters.
The eyes of the employees working on their laptops turned toward the inner office.
“What day is it today?”
Director Ham Pilsu seed unusually cheerful.
“You all have worked hard today. Ha ha.”
He even offered praise he never normally did, and whistled a cheerful tune on his way to brush his teeth.
Ever since he brought in that New Black signage,
“Director Ham must be a New Black fan, then?”
just as that thought crossed their minds, a raucous scream sounded from outside.
“Oh.”
Soone stretched and said,
“Looks like the New Black showcase just ended.”
“It was about ti.”
Judging by the wild noises drifting in, there must have been an extraordinary crowd outside.
Well, it was New Black’s coback, not just any other group, so it was only natural.
“Did you hear the new song, Empire? It’s insane.”
“It’s good. They really know how to write songs.”
As industry insiders, the K-Net staff had all listened as soon as the track dropped.
The powerful, addictive sound of Empire still echoed faintly in their ears.
A song that felt like, “Forget everything else—we’re forging our own path.”
The mont you heard the intro or the chorus, you’d rewind ten seconds and listen again.
Perhaps for that reason, even at 10 p.m., the top ten spots on the music charts were almost entirely filled by tracks from New Black’s full album.
It was well deserved.
“Amazing. Not a single throwaway track.”
Usually only the title track shines, while the album cuts are so-so.
But every song here lodged itself in your head.
“You know that minor-key yet major-key vibe? At first you go ‘Huh...?’ thinking, Is this my taste? but then everyone’s hooked.”
“Maybe. I never knew what that ant, but it just sticks in your ears.”
“At least look at the reaction—it blew up.”
On the streaming sites, New Black’s Empire only grew more explosive as each hour passed.
They may not have seen the stage, but with a group fad for their performance skills and a killer song, the album’s success was assured.
“How big it’ll get is the real question...”
The staff in charge of the K-Net Music Awards watched keenly, curious how New Black would rank this year.
Soone said,
“It’s impossible to gauge New Black. They’re neither comparable to boy groups nor to girl groups.”
“True enough.”
Against boy groups they have too much fandom; against girl groups they have unrivaled mass appeal.
“Feels like they’re outselling Teen Spirit these days...”
Aside from fandom size, New Black had led every chart tric overwhelmingly.
To the general public, “idol” equaled New Black.
Within the industry, though, fandom spending power is the key tric, and Teen Spirit’s dostic fandom still rivaled theirs.
But after this album’s surge, sothing had shifted.
“Is that many views even possible?”
Even with their own New Black TV channel rivaling terrestrial networks, the MV’s view count exploded at an unprecedented rate.
Their May single Falling Flowers hit five million views in 24 hours—a record—so this might surpass ten million in a day.
“Their overseas fans are huge, but still...”
Even groups fad for big international followings hadn’t shown this kind of power.
A K-Net staff mber narrowed her eyes, reading English comnts.
They’d heard New Black’s K-pop concerts in New York and LA this sumr drew insane crowds; now they understood what that ant.
“Will they climb even higher this ti?”
As those planning the awards’ running order and production, they watched every detail.
About a month and a half before the awards, while they worked late nights preparing,
“...?”
a sound made them look around.
Soone had said “Yes?” loudly.
Outside the glass window, they saw Director Ham Pilsu on the phone, eyes wide as if he’d misheard sothing.
Soon his face turned ashen. He looked like he was groveling, explaining sothing to soone.
“Oh, how pathetic.”
Clutching the receiver, he groaned and seed to plead.
He looked thoroughly compromised.
Watching Director Ham—always quick to delegate work and slip away from bla—finally on the receiving end felt strangely satisfying.
“Oh dear.”
They wondered what shocking words were coming down the line, as he stared blankly at the handset.
When the call ended, the staff feigned focus on their work.
One minute later:
Screeeeeech.
With the glass door opening mournfully, a decade older-looking Director Ham Pilsu appeared.
“That... about Haley Blue.”
“Yes, Director.”
“She said she’ll appear at KMA. She contacted us directly.”
Everyone’s eyes widened.
“Really? Haley Blue?”
“Not live on stage... but she’ll send a video ssage.”
“Oh...”
Even so, the staff brightened.
After all, Haley Blue had nearly 80 million social followers and won Album of the Year at the Grammys.
“But why does he look so sad?”
They noticed Director Ham’s eyes were moist as he asked,
“And New Black’s company—what was it called again? That... that.”
He looked so flustered he couldn’t recall “Lemon.”
“It’s Lemon, Director.”
“Right. Lemon... Anyone with their contact info, send it to . I need to call them now.”
The staff tilted their heads.
‘Earlier they asked Lemon if they’d reached out to Haley Blue... so that’s why?’
They still didn’t know the full story. Only that Director Ham trudged back to his office looking mournfully defeated.
The next morning.
After seven hours of sleep and fully recharged, we received astonishing news.
“Huh?”
“Sorry about that.”
At Seokhwan hyung’s words through the receiver, our eyes went wide.
The maknae asked to confirm,
“What did he say, Sir? Who said sorry...?”
“Director Ham Pilsu, in charge of the K-Net Music Awards, officially apologized.”
“...?”
“I was baffled too, but you must’ve been more so.”
And rightfully so...
Junhyun, flustered, asked,
“Did you know a network could even apologize?”
“Exactly.”
In showbiz, the broadcaster is the ultimate power. No matter how big a star you are, if you can’t appear on TV, you’re finished. Film stars avoid that dependency, which is why they wield high leverage. Still, even major agencies swallow controversies and keep operating. Viewers might demand apologies, but the network need never comply—unless, apparently, they choose to.
For K-Net to say not just regret but sorry—it was unheard of.
“What on earth did they say?”
At Bijoo’s question, we all clicked our tongues, imagining the network’s severe reprimand.
“Unbelievable...”
“Seriously.”
Shortly after Seokhwan hyung relayed the news,
“Yo, my friends.”
Haley called us.
“Haley! What on earth happened?”
“Oh, that.”
She swept her blue hair back and replied casually.
“Well, I agreed to drop by that KMA thing. Not thrilled, but business is business. I have tons of fans in Asia...”
“No, not that.”
“What?”
“K-Net suddenly apologized. What did they say?”
Haley grinned.
“That’s business secret, kiddos.”
“...Wait.”
“Nope, I didn’t curse.”
She giggled at our wild guesses.
“After ten years in showbiz, you pick up tricks. Handling a network is easy.”
“Oooooh...!”
We clapped like penguins, and Haley preened like a polar bear.
Then Rihyuk asked,
“I don’t think that’s why you called us. What’s up?”
“Oh.”
Haley said, “You free mid-November?”
“Uh...”
I checked the calendar, sensing sothing amiss.
It was still on March. In the rush of everything, we hadn’t flipped it past spring. Junhyun flipped the pages forward.
I said, “Around the fourth week should work. In the third week we have an awards show on Mango.”
“Perfect. I’ll be busy at the AMAs then too.”
The Arican Music Awards—she’d been nominated Artist of the Year, which left us speechless.
“Well, that week I’ve got a talk show appearance. Want to sing together on stage?”
“On stage?”
“Yeah. It’s a huge venue.”
She ant at the finale, appearing together to sing.
At the ntion of the talk show’s na, Rihyuk gave a look that said, “We have to do this.”
“I’ll discuss with the company, but we’re OK.”
“Great!”
A foreign talk show felt daunting, but just singing there was low-pressure—and with many supples in the U.S. and Canada, all the better.
After finalizing plans with Haley,
“Whew...”
“What’s up, Jiho?”
“The college entrance exam is less than a month away.”
“You’re taking the college exam?”
“Of course...? I’m a senior.”
We’d been so carefree at school with empty backpacks, I’d forgotten entirely.
I glanced at Rihyuk, then back at the maknae.
“At least Rihyuk studied...”
“He’s just smart. I’m not.”
“I see.”
Bijoo and Junhyun murmured, “As long as you’re healthy,” and patted his head. The maknae let out a sheepish laugh.
“But if I lift you up, all the test-takers nationwide will feel happy—‘Soone’s below in the world!’”
“Huh, like a basent level.”
Junhyun stroked his chin, amused by the maknae’s story of classmates begging him to be below them in rank.
I picked up my phone to check online.
The morning after our coback, our album still painted the charts black.
“Screenshot!”
Our tech-illiterate second brother demanded a screenshot, and I laughed,
“Bijoo, screenshots don’t happen that way—”
Click.
“It worked.”
“It’s a new feature, hyung.”
“....”
I probably was the old one here.
The three of them whispered and giggled as I ignored them and studied the charts.
Office workers and students during the commute hours were streaming our music heavily.
In the album review section, countless likes and comnts poured in:
“How is every track like a title track?”
“I’ve arrived at Japlle! Our Black uncles buying streams—buy snacks with that money!”
┕ “Artists get almost none of it!”
┕ “There really are so many thieves in the world.”
“In this album every mber shines, but Bijoo’s vocals stand out. The Empire chorus is amazing.”
“You’re watching a boy group slotted by the muggles.”
“Muggles’ stream power is insane ♥”
“Each coback is epic ㅠㅠㅠ”
We skimd the “recomnded” reviews, avoiding the bitter comnts we’d find under “most recent.”
Over nearly three years, we’d learned ntal energy is finite and should be conserved.
With fan and public reaction so strong, Empire would likely hold #1 for a while.
Then:
“Hyung, look at this.”
Junhyun showed critic reviews on his screen.
A famous idol webzine’s review, and a five-star review by critic Hwang Ho-cheol:
『 Deep Black (2016) 』
– New Black
– [★★★★☆]
The quality of “Empire” as a title track is truly astonishing. Using the chess taphor for human conflict, it carries you through a musical empire with its intense trap beat and powerful # Nоvеlight # vocals.
The album tracks, like cogwheels in that empire’s machinery, all have their charms...
In this respect, Wooju and the Lemon Entertainnt team are arguably the country’s top-tier producers. The only reason not to award five stars is to reserve it for their next, even more developed album.
– Critic Yoo Jin-cheol
Junhyun said,
“He gave three stars to my mixtape. He’s famous for stingy ratings.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. The joke is that four stars from him ans ‘no flaws.’”
We laughed, pleased by the praise. Seeing such glowing reviews lifted our spirits.
All the worries we’d carried while preparing the album now seed free to fly away.
“All right, let’s eat and get ready for work.”
As Rihyuk switched the TV to CNN News, we gathered around the table, smiling contentedly.
The packs of pork belly sat beside the grill.
On the plastic wrap read [Thank You] in the association head’s handwriting, and we smiled gratefully.
“Now we’re the ones saying thanks. Hee hee hee!”
“Kyaa!”
We enjoyed our breakfast with happy smiles.
Of course, though my diet was over, eating at first thing in the morning had a purpose...
“We already ate our at, rember.”
“That’s right.”
We laughed as the maknae and I mixed the ssamjang vigorously.
The reason for breakfast barbecue? Because of tonight’s schedule.
“Let’s practice eating well.”
“That’s right. This is practice, not a al~”
If fans had waited for our full album, today the public’s greatest anticipation would be fulfilled.
That evening.
There was a channel whose ratings outshone every cable and terrestrial network:
KG Ho Shopping.
– New Black to appear on ho shopping on the 17th: “The New Bulgback Are Coming”
– “New Black to appear on KG Ho Shopping... KG to schedule a special program, treat them as top guests”
– “‘New Black’s food becos reality’... after Supple Bread cos ‘New Bulgback’”
Before convenience-store lunchboxes hit shelves, word spread that marinated pork belly would be sold on ho shopping.
– OMG amazing ㅠㅠㅠ
– Why am I working late tonight
– Telling all my relatives, mobilize every ho phone
– Knew this would launch
Koreans’ obsession with food was blazing.
And fans were equally fired up.
“It’s rch!”
My faves are selling sothing—that’s rch for sure.
“I need that container.”
Supples clamored for the New Black–branded pork belly tubs.
Idol fans joked nonstop about New Bulgback.
– “What will first-week sales be?”
– “How many versions?”
– “That tub’ll be pricier on resale, right?”
– “Supple Bread vs. New Bulgback... new rookies vs. huge newcor; which has more global recognition?”
– “New Bulgback won’t be on Happy Together”
– “What tone will New Bulgback be... with green scallions it’s spring warm, right?”
– “My head’s spinning lololol”
– “What kind of fandom is this?”
– “I’m already getting sick of New Bulgback”
While the nation buzzed for Tuesday evening,
7 p.m.
KG Ho Shopping’s screen changed, revealing a majestic palace set in Empire style—like a solemn cookie kingdom.
“It begins...!”
Across the country, viewers gripped their phones as a narrator’s grand voice bood.
[Idols’ first ho shopping appearance!]
[New Black’s epic coback returns as Bulgback!]
With dramatic BGM playing, people watching burst into laughter.
[Finally, the reveal!]
A logo showed a character presud to be Wooju’s grandmother raising her hands like a demon lord, with puppet-like New Black giggling below.
“Ho ho ho ho!”
Screeeech!
The grandma figure’s mouth opened like double doors, and New Black began to erge.
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