-What? Why is KK there?”
-Kang Do Wook??? Suk Ji Hoon???
-What am I looking at???
-T.T T.T T.T I thought it might be when I was listening to the song. It really was them!!
-Wow this kind of song is really amazing
-The way the sing is different so I had no idea
-It’s a completely different vibe than KK…wow…
-I thought it might be a rookie like Hye Sung, but in the end it was an established singer…how disappointing. In the end the Korean music industry…I think it’s the same old rice with vegetables*
(TL Note: It’s an idiom to express that it’s the same old same old, nothing has changed)
-Why in the world are you disappointed lol
-I guess you don’t like mixed vegetable rice*. Ahhh~ I want to eat some~
(TL Note: Not to be confused with vegetable fried rice. You just mix rice with vegetables and sauce, no fire/pan involved)
-??? lol
-Crazy lolol
-Suk Ji Hoon even knows how to play the guitar well?
-He said in a past fan meeting that he’s learning it…that he’s studying it at the same time he’s studying composition T.T
-It’s so touching T.T I feel like I received a completely unexpected surprise gift ♡♡♡
-People who went to Life Song today lucked out lolol
-What happened to the information gathering power of Do Wook’s Rolled Tissues. Get your tissues ready
-I seriously had no idea
-Just crying T.T. T.T T.T T.T T.T
-KK in a class of their own, sweeping the music charts even if they release a song with their identity hidden!
-Where are the people who were saying that Bunker21 means they’re people singing in a bunker because they’re ugly? lol
-Everyone was saying that Bunker21’s face would be super ugly lol
-The standard for ‘super ugly’ needs to change…
-Om Mani Padme Hum* ㅇ_x I knew that it’d be Kang Do Wook
(TL Note: A Buddhist chant when trying to calm down or exercise extreme patience)
-Next week’s 1st place as Bunker21’s name on it
-True. The reason Bunker didn’t get first place on the broadcast is because it didn’t have album sale scores and didn’t get fan votes either. Now that’s it’s known it’s KK, it’ll get a perfect score on the votes next week
-If they release an album it’ll be an even bigger hit
-It’s already amazing that they’re 3rd place even though only their music score is reflected lol
-It’s showing no signs of going down on the music chart lol. They’re really incredible
-It’s on the level of Red Eyes’ One Year Now lol
-I was getting tired of it because every store was playing it but if it’s Do Wook singing it, that’s ok ~^^~
-Not being able to go to today’s broadcast is truly the biggest regret of my life…Will they be on other broadcasts too? T.T
-I’m a Key Ring who just checked Bunker21’s schedule. No word…T.T
-If you go to a KK concert, it’s also a Bunker21 concert. Lucky
-They said there will be a Fan Meeting soon, right?”
All the viewers who were watching ‘Life Song’ were surprised by Bunker21’s identity.
Bunker21’s vocals were similar to Do Wook’s music color, so there was a lot of speculation that it might be KK’s Kang Do Wook.
However, nobody was certain because the singing style was so different from how Do Wook’s typically is.
Furthermore, if Do Wook was Bunker21, he would have been involved in making ‘Please Take a Listen,’ but it was difficult to say that the song seemed like Do Wook had a part in it.
No matter how different the genre is, if the same person composes or arranges it, their unique color will show. However, every part of the song, from chord progression to instruments used, was very different from Do Wook’s previous works.
That was a given.
The composer and arranger for ‘Please Take a Listen’ was Suk Ji Hoon.
Since the early days of their debut, the KK members, influenced by Do Wook, had been very interested in participating in the album directly.
That went for Suk Ji Hoon too. Day after day he saw not only Do Wook but also Jung Yoon Ki and Kim Won writing lyrics and fervently working on songs. Everything he learned was from watching them.
He gained basic knowledge about making songs from doing KK activities, and, in Suk Ji Hoon’s case, he thought that he should try playing guitar, which he had started as a hobby a little more earnestly.
He didn’t say anything, but he was especially spurred on when the song that Jung Yoon Ki had composed made it as one of the tracks on KK’s album.
He had been getting his name known through ‘Camping 48 Hours’ for a long time. He was very grateful for it, but he wanted to progress more in music since music was his main job.
After leaving ‘Camping 48 Hours’, Suk Ji Hoon studied endlessly even while touring and doing various performances.
He already had basic skills as a foundation, and everyone around him helped him out. To start, the members were all good teachers with a good sense of music.
Other than not having enough time, the equipment was completely set up and it was the best situation to study things like composition. Album Production Team Leader Shim Joon was also touched to see Suk Ji Hoon, who was like a nephew to him, study music without getting arrogant over his popularity and helped him a lot with studying composition theory.
The person who helped Suk Ji Hoon more than anyone else was Do Wook. Not only did Do Wook provide him emotional support with various advice every time he put himself down saying that he didn’t have talent, he attentively looked after him and made it possible for him to get all the equipment he needed.
And so, with Suk Ji Hoon’s own efforts and help from many people, the song that was born during their performances in America was ‘Please Take a Listen’.
Of course it wasn’t the first song Suk Ji Hoon had composed.
The file name for ‘Please Take a Listen’ was first titled ‘Suk Ji Hoon ver.21’.
“This is it!”
“This is~”
“Wow…did you really write this, Ji hoon?”
It was the 21st song that Suk Ji Hoon had written. It wasn’t until the 21st version that Suk JI Hoon was able to write a song that the KK members would be satisfied with.
Honestly, the 21st song wasn’t just satisfactory. It was to the point that Team leader Shim Joon was making a fuss that they should immediately release an album and that that was what his gut was telling him.
However, it was too different from KK’s music to put it in a KK album.
‘Please Take a Listen’ was a song that makes you melt starting from the prelude that kicked off with an acoustic guitar.
It was surprising that Suk Ji Hoon, who was always polite to the point that he seemed rigid, composed the song. Additionally, the chord progression and the way of using musical instruments were subtly different from existing songs, perhaps because he studied not by attending an academy but by experiencing it first.
That was also the reason why the public had gone crazy over Suk JI Hoon’s song ‘Please Take a Listen’.
It was so comfortable yet novel to listen to.
Along with the OKAY unit album, there was talk about Suk Ji Hoon’s solo album. However, Suk Ji Hoon decided as the composer that a duet would be a better fit than a solo.
At that time, Do Wook was also dealing with many thoughts in his head.
KK was already at the top, and there was nobody in the nation that didn’t know Do Wook. Of course, he would always have to give it his all, but it was clear that success was guaranteed to a certain degree as long as he had the name KK.
However, as always, Do Wook wanted to grow more. He wanted a challenge.
Do Wook was afraid that he would lose that mentality.
Also, one day, KK’s popularity will disappear, and he was scared that when KK’s name disappeared, he wouldn’t be able to do anything after that. It was a fear that he, as a human, felt because nothing is forever.
Therefore, what he had been thinking about was releasing a song under a different name than his own.
It could be considered an arrogant challenge, but he wanted to know if he could get recognition not as ‘KK member Kang Do Wook’, the ‘Kang Do Wook’ who had already become a star, but just as Kang Do Wook who sings.
It was ‘perfect timing’.
Do Wook suggested releasing a song while keeping their KK identity hidden.
From Suk Ji Hoon’s perspective, there definitely would have been a substantial amount of interest if it was known that KK’s Suk JI Hoon had released the song, so it was honestly a lot of pressure on him.
That was how the two of them formed ‘Bunker21’.
Do Wook changed his singing style to match the song ‘Please Take a Listen’, and Suk Ji Hoon used a falsetto he didn’t usually use on KK albums.
You could tell it was the two of them if you listened very carefully, but unless it was someone on Team Leader Shim Joon’s level, it was hard to tell.
During that process, Park Tae Hyung recommended the song during a meeting for the program ‘Dancing Dancing’.
It could only be called ‘unbelievable timing’ that Bunker21 got in the way of Chae Eun Ho’s solo album, which was one of Director Seo Joong Won’s ace cards.
Bunker21’s ‘Please Take a Listen’ that was released proudly topped the music chart.
***
Time for ‘Life Song’’s first place to be announced.
Today’s cast was all on stage. Do Wook and Suk Ji Hoon were also up there. The camera continued to focus on them two, who were not even candidates for first place. Oh Bin, the MC, also seemed to want to talk to Do Woo rather than worrying about the broadcast.
PD Hyeon Joo Hyuk, who was below the stage, was grinning from ear to ear. It was because he was told that Bunker 21’s performance recorded the highest real-time viewership of ‘Life Song’ ever.
He wouldn’t know until the ratings data were posted tomorrow, but it was enough viewership rating for him to get a bonus from SVS.
“Today’s first place is…”
Da Hye, who was holding the cue card, said with a quivering voice as she looked at the VCR screen. The VCR screen was showing Chae Eun Ho and Young Women side by side.
The album score and music score was revealed.
Chae Eun Ho had a higher album score but Young Women had a higher music score. Neither of it had a big difference in score and was neck and neck so the final, voter score, would decide the 1st place winner.
The moment was full of tension.
“First place goes to…”
Oh Bin said, adding to the tension again.
Oh Bin was cheering for Chae Eun Ho and Da Hye was cheering for her team, Young Women, as they waited for the first place to be decided. Even Suk Ji Hoon, who knew that Do Wook had invested in Young Women, was cheering for Young Women in his heart, but Do Wook felt a little differently.
‘Chae Eun Ho is also a good enough singer to get first place…’
As a soloist, Chae Eun Ho’s skills were astounding. After seeing him perform in person just a moment ago, Do Wook had become enlivened in his own way.
“First place is…Chae Eun Ho! Congratulations!”
Da Hye’s cheerful voice rang throughout the venue.
When the first place was announced, Chae Eun Ho, who had been looking at the screen, burst into tears.
Oh Bin, who had the role of MC, also had tears in his eyes. He didn’t cry even when M2M got first place.
It was Chae Eun Ho’s first number 1 place as a soloist. Chae Eun Ho had already been a first place candidate many times before, but had always fallen behind other singers and lost the 1st place spot. He finally got 1st place today.
Each time he lost, he walked on eggshells around not only Director Seo Joong Won but also the Head of Strategic Planning Department. The blame for the results fell all on Chae Eun Ho. Furthermore, in the meantime, Director Seo Joong Won was arrested, and the vibe within Ara Entertainment continued to be bad.
Not just Chae Eun Ho but even the M2M members were continuing to go through a hard time.
That was why he couldn’t help but cry over the winning first place. As he received the trophy and the flower bouquet, Chae Eun Ho expressed his sincere gratitude.
Young Women’s song wasn’t even ‘Our Time’ but a follow-up song. If he hadn’t been able to get 1st place today either and lost out to others again, it definitely would have left a big scar on the M2M fans’ pride.
In comparison, Young Women showed off their potential by getting even a follow-up song of their debut album to the top spot. It was a bit unfortunate, but it was enough. Anybody could see that Young Women’s future was shining.
As the time for the first place announcement wrapped up, the prelude for Chae Eun Ho’s song ‘L.U.V.’ started to play.
Do Wook genuinely congratulated Chae Eun Ho’s first place as he went off the stage. Chae Eun Ho wiped his tears, smiled brightly, and bowed his head towards Do Wook.
***
Do Wook and Suk Ji Hoon returned to the waiting room.
In the waiting room, the members and Department Manager Oh Baek Ho were there to celebrate the two of their, that is Bunker21’s, debut performance.
When they entered the waiting room, the members set off paper confetti and brought forth a cake.
“You didn’t have to do this. You’re all busy.”
That was what Suk Ji Hoon said, but he couldn’t hide his happiness as he cut the cake.
They were all enjoying the cake together and in a good mood. Then Department Manager Oh Baek Ho, who was just staring at the clock like he alone had some urgent business, said with a serious expression.
“It’s over now.”
“What?”
“What, what’s over?”
Kim Won and Ahn Hyung Seo, who had been eating cake, asked back. Do Wook seemed to have been concerned about Department Manager Oh Back Ho, who had been showing signs of nervousness for a while.
“Do Wook, it’s time for you to go now.”
“Where…am I going?”
“Indeed. You have to go to the dormitory and pack. You have to pack and leave for America…”
Department Manager Oh Baek Ho kept trying to hold back his smile.
“Man, Do Wook is going to America alone again?”
Department manager Oh Baek Ho nodded his head to Jung Yoon Ki’s question.
“He got a casting offer from Heroes.”
Everyone had a dumbfounded expression, trying to think what ‘Heroes’ is. Then their thinking suddenly stopped.
“No way…”
Do Wook started speaking first. It was what he thought. The General Comics movie ‘Heroes’. An offer had come in for Do Wook to appear as one of the heroes.
Next chapter: We get more details about Do Wook’s next project