After KK’s performance was over, the Male Group award was announced. The winner was Sa Bang Shin Hwa. It was the first award Sa Bang Shin Hwa received that evening.
The Popularity award and Performance award, even the Solo and Unit Activity awards, etc. Considering the awards KK won, KK was ahead in total number of awards received.
The Male Group award and Female Group award could be considered the next highest award after the grand prize. Sa Bang Shin Hwa was given the Male Group award so, from TBN’s perspective, they balanced things out between KK and Sa Bang Shin Hwa for the most part.
After they received their award, Sa Bang Shin Hwa’s performance started.
Sa Bang Shin Hwa’s performance was grand, down to their set list. You could tell Ara Entertainment had put in a lot of effort in the stage set to give a performance worthy of the ending position.
Over 30 backup dancers rushing onto the stage and dancing in sync was a sight to behold.
However, it was a performance that fans had already seen several times at Sa Bang Shin Hwa’s concert. They had done a remix version of the same composition at their concert.
Additionally, it felt like the backup dancers were working hard rather than Sa Bang Shin Hwa itself.
Of course, the Sa Bang Shin Hwa members’ performance was experienced and well-organized. It was a performance that showed their expertise.
However, it was not new or shocking. Except for Sa Bang Shin Hwa fans, the impression it left on the audience was simply, ‘Ah, it’s Sa Bang Shin Hwa…’
Rather, the ones whom it was unfortunate for were Sa Bang Shin Hwa’s fans. When they were watching KK’s performance right before, there was a hard to ignore passion that could be felt in your whole body.
Even by just looking at their gaze, you could feel their passion saying, ‘I will dominate this stage’. The members, who normally seemed shy and a little awkward, had a different look in their eyes when they were on stage.
At the same time, they were enjoying performing. The KK members, who were looking at the cheering audience, were radiant. They looked like they were going to shout ‘Thank you’ and ‘we love you’ to the people cheering for them at any moment.
However, that wasn’t the case for Sa Bang Shin Hwa.
There must have been a time where Sa Bang Shin Hwa was like that too. However, it wasn’t like that now. You could feel just as much discontent as you could feel their mastery in Sa Bang Shin Hwa’s movement.
Of course, it was something only fans who had been watching and pursuing the Sa Bang Shin Hwa members for a long time could feel, but to the fans it was fatal.
Their heartfelt cheering had been for naught.
‘Mannerism…*’
(TL Note: He says the English word here. It refers to feeling unmotivated and just going through the motions.)
Do Wook thought as he watched the very well put together but uninspired performance.
‘One day I might fall into mannerisms too.’
After they finished wiping off the sweat they shed while performing and getting their makeup fixed, the KK members were watching the Sa Bang Shin Hwa performance from the singers’ waiting area.
Because he first had a solo performance under the hot lighting, Do Wook shed a lot more sweat, so he had a water bottle and a crumpled up kitchen towel in his hands.
A kitchen towel was faster and more effective than a regular tissue when wiping a lot of sweat, so KK’s coordinator used kitchen towels. The coordinator had been wiping the sweat for Do Wook but had handed him the towel. Do Wook had entered the waiting area without realizing he was still holding on to it.
Do Wook took the towel that was in his hand and wiped off the sweat on his neck that he hadn’t finished wiping off.
Rather than being uncomfortable, the sweat he spilled from performing made him feel more fulfilled. He was happy about the fact that he could be so focused on performing that he sweated.
‘Not yet. And still not for a long while…’
He was sure he wasn’t*.
(TL Note: He’s saying that he is sure he won’t fall into the feeling of ‘mannerism’ anytime soon.)
There were still many paths he still had to travel, and the kinds of music he wanted to do or acting roles he wanted to try was growing more and more.
Looking at the members’ expressions after sweating, he felt he had nothing to worry about. The members’ expressions were very bright, to the point that people around them thought it odd.
As flames soared above the stage, Sa Bang Shin Hwa’s performance reached its climax.
Sa Bang Shin Hwa finished the performance without making any mistake. They had saved face to a certain degree. However, it was an undeniable fact that KK’s performance was more like the real ‘ending’ performance.
With that, it became time to announce the grand prize winner. It was the long-awaited grand prize announcement.
Along with the introduction from the MC, the presenter of the grand prize came out. She came to the stage wearing a fancy dress. The presenter was Kim Ah Young, who is called the queen of figure skating in Korea.
Kim Ah Young, who won a gold medal at the last Winter Olympics and is loved by the whole nation, was someone who was worthy of being the grand prize presenter.
The audience was buzzing when Kim Ah Young appeared.
Although they were famous, singers didn’t have many opportunities to meet national level athletes. There were people in the singers’ waiting area too who were surprised and had an ecstatic expression.
Her slim and solid body, which she had been training since she was young to be a figure skater, fit the inside and outside of the dress well. Kim Ah Young coming onto the stage wearing the sky blue dress was the vision of a winter goddess.
“Pretty…”
“Is it ok if I get her autograph later in the waiting area?”
Kim Won and Ahn Hyung Seo muttered.
“Man, you’re impossible.”
Jung Yoon Ki, sitting next to the two of them, scolded them. Actually, if it wasn’t for Jung Yoon Ki’s scolding, even Suk Ji Hoon and Park Tae Hyung would be thinking about getting an autograph from Kim Ah Young.
“Is it a bit much?”
Ahn Hyung Seo said, disappointed. Kim Won shrugged his shoulders and reacted and applauded whenever Kim Ah Young said something. His reaction would make you think he was an audience member who won tickets to the award show through a raffle.
Kim Won and Ahn Hyung Seo were the two members who weren’t thinking about the grand prize at all. Therefore, when they saw the grand prize presenter, they were more focused on watching the presenter Kim Ah Young rather than wondering who would receive the award.
Honestly, none of the KK members thought they would get the grand prize.
Do Wook was still holding on to hope, but even he thought it’d be difficult.
Even looking at the initial cue sheet TBN had sent, you could see TBN was prioritizing Ara Entertainment. The grand prize winner was more or less already decided.
Even arranging the special performance wasn’t for them to receive the grand prize, but rather so that they could shine more and be the main focus at the award ceremony even if they didn’t win the grand prize.
‘The performance definitely worked. When the video is posted, it’s going to be more viral than Sa Bang Shin Hwa’s performance and be a bigger topic…’
Do Wook thought as he clenched his fist.
It was just that he felt a little sorry to the fans who were enthusiastic about voting, streamed music, and bought the album, hoping that KK would receive the grand prize.
“If we try even harder next year…”
It was Suk Ji Hoon who was muttering next to Do Wook. Suk Ji Hoon shook his head when Do Wook looked at him.
“It’s just a bit of a pity. This would have been a good chance.”
His words conveyed a deep regret. However, KK definitely had next year. Do Wook patted Suk Ji Hoon on the shoulder.
Kim Ah Young finally finished introducing the candidates and was opening the card that had the winner’s name.
The candidates were, as previously revealed, KK and Sa Bang Shin Hwa, and Heo Geon.
Heo Gun was a balladeer who made his entrance through an audition program and consistently sang masterpieces that topped the music charts and karaoke charts.
Considered as the best singer when it comes to singing ballads that suits Korean tastes, he won the Ballad Singer award today too.
His singing abilities were outstanding and his music chart rating was good, but he didn’t have his own fandom or have good album sales, so in reality it was only between KK and Sa Bang Shin Hwa.
“….Today’s grand prize winner is!”
There was a majestic sound effect and tension fell on the concert hall.
Kim Ah Young, who was pausing while staring at the card, swallowed once and started to talk.
“Sa Bang Shin Hwa…!”
There was an explosion of cheers from the audience.
“possibly, or KK….or will it be Heo Geon?!”
Kim Ah Young’s words were greeted with sighs. Those in the audience felt like their hearts dropped.
Sa Bang Shin Hwa fans were riled up, unable to hide their joy of winning the grand prize for several years in a row. KK fans were on the brink of tears from disappointment.
It was the same for the members too, who were sitting in the singer waiting area.
Although it was almost guaranteed that such playful remarks would be included in the grand prize announcement, and as such less people were tricked than usual, the KK members were on an emotional roller coaster.
It was because they were so anxious.
At the same time, despite not having any expectations, the members felt bitter when Sa Bang Shin Hwa’s name was called.
They weren’t expecting it, but they desperately wanted to enjoy the honor of winning the grand prize.
***
TBN headquarters building, video room. TBN Executives, including the President and Vice President, and the Head of Entertainment and Music Channel were watching the TBN Music Awards performances which were being broadcast live.
During today’s live broadcast, there were a total of two minor broadcast accidents. The MC’s microphone did not make sound for about 3 seconds, and the VCR image was delayed for about 2 seconds.
It was nothing compared to the previous broadcasting accident during a live broadcast, but it was nerve wracking for the person who was watching it with the President.
The CP was out on the set, and the Head of Entertainment and Music Channel, who was in charge of the awards ceremony, sat next to the President while they were discussing the recent channel trends and the awards ceremony.
“How are the ratings?”
When the President asked, the manager who directly assisted the President checked the ratings and answered,
“After the performance just now it went up to 4.2%.”
“KK?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
4% was an incredible rating considering the TBN Broadcast station was on cable.
The president nodded his head and asked the Head of Entertainment and Music Channel who was sitting next to him,
“Next year I’d like to be able to watch the award show performances from Hong Kong…Is the investment situation perfectly taken care of?”
Currently, the TBN President’s biggest goal was to enter Asia using the Korean Wave.
The Head of Entertainment and Music Channel replied delightedly,
“As I’ve reported to you, they happily said they’d invest. The contract documents will be put together and sent tomorrow and we plan to meet with the Hong Kong branch soon.”
“Good, good.”
The president of TBN had a satisfied smile.
The person the Head of Entertainment/Music Channel recently met with regarding investing was Tae Hwa Group’s Branch Manager Hong Un Yeong.
Tae Hwa Group had a very positive attitude toward expanding investment in the Korean music market because of their investment in HIT Entertainment.
Branch Manager Hong Un Yeong didn’t say anything in particular about KK’s award. He simply praised HIT Entertainment and KK, which were showing good investment recovery rates from an investor’s point of view.
However, listening to him talk, the Head of Entertainment/Music Channel had already made a decision in his heart.
***
“Ho ho, I’m sorry.”
Kim Ah Young apologized to the audience as she laughed. Kim Ah Young was just reading what was written on the card anyway.
“I’ll announce it for real. This year’s grand prize winner is…!”
The venue was filled with tension once again.
“The grand prize winner is…KK!”
The second KK’s name was called, incredible cheering poured out.
At the same time, the camera showed the KK members.
—
Translaters comments: HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONEEE~ Thank you for your patience over the holidays, and thank you for your continued support of Superstar. We hope you will continue to join us on this advenure througout this year as well. There’s still plenty of story left!
Next chapter: Each of the members get a turn to give an acceptance speech.