Chapter 826: Is This the Land of the New Black? (2)

Incheon Airport, getting hectic as the Pyeongchang Olympics approaches!

As the number of national team athletes and tourists entering Korea skyrocketed—

their impressions were similar to the British team’s.

"That...."

Billboards filling the entire airport.

Tourists blinked at the sight of an idol grinning wide with teeth showing on them.

"That’s them, right? Did I see wrong? I swear I saw them in the Pyeongchang dance video."

"Probably...?"

"Weren’t they Americans? I heard they were an American boy band."

Even if they didn’t know NewBlack, these foreigners definitely knew the Pyeongchang dance video that had broken 100 million views.

They’d just assumed, oh, they must be some famous celebrities—

but once they actually came to Korea, it wasn’t just “famous.”

'Why are there so many ads...?'

As people stared with dazed faces, the guide who’d been with them from their home country explained.

"That NewBlack you see there are Korea’s most popular stars. Barbecue dishes named after them sell like crazy, and people line up at convenience stores just to buy bread with their stickers on it."

"Whoaa...."

"They even have a street named after them that’s considered a tourist attraction. So in front of Koreans, it’s best not to talk carelessly about NewBlack."

The guide spoke in an eerie tone, like he was warning them about a taboo in the Arab world, and the tourists swallowed hard.

'Just how popular are they....'

Soon, the tourists boarded a bus.

As the bus left Incheon Airport and headed toward Gangwon Province, the tourists’ eyes went wide.

"Huh? Isn’t that NewBlack from earlier?"

"That’s them."

On a huge building’s LED screen, a pictorial of NewBlack’s main vocalist holding a foundation cosmetic product played.

"What’s good at Korean highway rest stops... huh? That’s NewBlack, right?"

"I, I think so?"

At the highway rest stop, there was a photo of the main dancer and the rapper holding tornado potatoes, labeled as food NewBlack had eaten.

Below it, another photo.

[NewBlack Biju’s Tasting Review]

Taste: ☆☆☆☆☆

(※ He expressed the taste through dance.)

A photo of someone spinning rapidly in place like a ballerino, “expressing” tornado potatoes.

Even though it was a still photo, you could feel how dynamic the dance was.

'How popular are they, seriously...?'

It was when the tourists—still marveling—went into the rest stop restroom.

This time, a photo of five members on the wall greeted them.

[2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics]

[Warm public culture, let’s create it together.]

"......"

"......"

At this point, even tourists and national team athletes who hadn’t known much about NewBlack had their faces burned clearly into their minds.

When I get home, I have to tell my friends.

What do you remember most about Korea?

NewBlack.

NewBlack?

There were a fuckton of NewBlack....

If nothing else, this would stick.

So when Korean reporters threw this question at tourists and national teams who’d arrived in Pyeongchang—

[Q. Your first impression of Korea?]

One person’s answer spoke for everyone.

[A. So Many NewBlack.]

The impressions foreigners left spread to Korean online spaces immediately.

[???: Is this the country of NewBlack?]

(A UK cross-country skier being interviewed with an excited face.jpg)

-lolololololololol

-A successful Souffle

-That expression is killing me

-I want NewBlack to see this and send her a video message or something, lol

-I’m seeing a Korean expression on a foreign British person....

-You’re so cute, unni

-Not unni, lol, she’s the same age as Ri Hyuk

-Still unni to me

-So that’s how it is. Heh. My auntie tone isn’t weird, right..? I’m blending in, right???

Comments from athletes—starting with the British athlete—who called themselves Souffle were spotlighted by idol fans.

And the keyword “So Many NewBlack,” left by an ordinary tourist, started getting treated as a hot topic on social media and communities.

For some reason it felt like, “People in this country are obsessed with idols,” and Koreans got weirdly prickly about it.

@djamm

I think the phrase “So Many NewBlack” is a biased statement about Korea.

But my fridge has Newbulbaek in it.

@Auri_Joomuluck

(Junhyun sticker riding a black goat.jpg)

The moment I tried to refute “So Many NewBlack,” I made eye contact with the NewBlack sticker stuck on my phone case, lol

@Mumu_holic

(Photo of CEO Park Gyuho.jpg)

Koreans aren’t deadly serious about NewBlack. But there are people here who stan NewBlack’s CEO.

#PleaseRespectPreferences

#BaldMaleCharactersAreTheTruth

Koreans who’d tried to deny that NewBlack was “everywhere” in Korea were now each offering testimony.

And a discussion topic started popping up.

[Is there anyone who has literally zero contact points with NewBlack in real life?]

I honestly thought there were none, but everyone has at least one.

It was interesting, so I’m posting, haha.

A meme image—neatly organized into a chart like a bingo card—went up almost immediately.

Apparently, you had to have none of the items apply to you to have zero connection to NewBlack, but Koreans were getting hit by at least three or four.

-They really did a lot... ads... campaigns...

-Unless you live like a hermit in the mountains, it’s impossible, lol

-Doesn’t everyone get eliminated at number one? If you listen to Korean music, fold

-I only listen to pop, but I’m listening to METRO this time, damn it

-So to sum it up, you can’t listen to music + you can’t live in a city + you can’t use a phone

-From a foreigner’s perspective, it would seem weird, lol. Imagine Americans clogging highways to eat “Bluecake” named after Hailey Blue, and then selling it at supermarkets too, lol

-It is kind of weird

-Honestly, foreigners need to try Newbulbaek too... it’s not that we’re weird, okay

Those conversations happened in everyday life too.

"Foreigners say there’s this much NewBlack in Korea?"

"What are they talking about? How much could you possibly se—oh? That billboard over there is NewBlack."

"Huh?"

"Uh... it is."

Conversations between office workers, getting on elevators with coffee after lunch in the company cafeteria, or making coffee in the pantry.

-Does NewBlack really affect everyday life that much?

Honestly, it’s not like NewBlack affects daily life to the extent you’d call it “NewBlack’s country.”

Unless you’re a fan, who spends the entire day thinking about NewBlack?

But in terms of broad public recognition, NewBlack had seeped deep into the hearts of most Koreans.

"It’s a test that’s going around online. They say to try it once. Say NewBlack’s names in age order."

"Wooju, Biju, Junhyun, Ri Hyuk, Jiho."

"...It works?"

"Is there anyone who can’t do this?"

Koreans who had NewBlack memorized like they were the personal profiles of the five brothers next door.

And soon, Koreans came to a conclusion.

'I don’t know. Let’s just call it NewBlack’s country.'

Every time they tried to argue back, their words somehow sounded pathetic, so they gave up.

While conversations about NewBlack’s recognition and influence were flowing through daily life—

the Olympics atmosphere closing in also brought the news everyone was curious about.

-Performers to decorate the Winter Olympics closing ceremony.. “NewBlack, TNT, Daylight” confirmed

News about the performers who would close out the Olympics.

Reading the article, the public nodded and tapped their fingers.

-That’s fair

-Knew NewBlack would show up, congrats

-Cheering for you

-I’m cheering for you

-NewBlack could probably be in the opening ceremony too... well, anyway, nice, haha

-Only the representative K-pop idol teams are gathered, it looks good

Usually, when idols show up, there’s a lot of “Again?” negativity—

but with a lineup of three teams with extremely high public name value, positive reactions dominated.

Before NewBlack, if you asked the public, “Do you know any boy groups?” the name that came up was TNT.

And even earlier than that, the second-generation idol group that had been a “national girl group” was Daylight.

But that positivity was only the general public’s reaction.

'Oh man. The internet is on fire.'

Idol fans’ reactions weren’t so nice.

Because a single captured comment from a portal news comment section had set them off.

-Only the representative K-pop idol teams are gathered, it looks good

A comment left by a muggle with no malice.

But boy group fans latched onto the keyword “representative K-pop idols” and their tempers shot up.

-What era is TNT from, lol

-Hasn’t TNT been inactive for over a year??? They’re basically on the road to disbandment, why are you calling them

-How much did you get paid by Taejun

-Why are they inviting a group that isn’t even active? Why? No, seriously, I’m curious about the reason

-If you’re inviting one boy group, shouldn’t it be Sbo or Teen Spirit?

-Daylight, fine, they still put out albums... but TNT, Jang Hanbyeol and Seok Jihoon ran off and are on hiatus

-(A ruin with a banner that says “Open for business”.jpg) TNT: We are open for business, haha

-Why TNT when Sbo and Teen Spirit are actively promoting just fine??

-Calling TNT a representative idol group right now is a stretch

-They probably forgot all the choreography, lol

TNT fans—excited by the idea of a full-group stage—tried to defend them, but it wasn’t enough.

Because with individual activities, the fandom had splintered, and their full-group firepower had dropped.

Starting from “Is TNT really a representative K-pop idol?” and moving into “Who’s the top for each generation?” and so on—there were attacks from everywhere, to the point that even a national petition went up demanding an investigation into why TNT had been selected.

'Like we picked them!'

While TNT’s fandom defended themselves with the feeling of going insane—

Souffle watched those trends closely too.

'What if it comes for us too....'

They were nervous, hearts thumping, in case the fandom war’s stray sparks hit them.

'It’s about time to warm up.'

'Please. Pick a fight with us.'

But no shrapnel flew toward Souffle.

It felt like watching wrestling.

Whenever Souffle got their hopes up, seeing them brawling among themselves and approaching this way....

'Huh?'

Whoosh—

they started waltzing among themselves and forcefully drifting away from where Souffle stood.

Even if you tried to make eye contact, it felt like they were desperately avoiding it.

Because other idol fans—deciding there was no justification and no chance of winning—were strategically focusing their attacks on TNT alone.

'Come on. That’s boring.'

Just when Souffle—excited to throw down for the first time in a while—started feeling sulky,

amid all the fighting between idol fans, news about the opening ceremony dropped too.

-A preview of the Pyeongchang Olympics opening ceremony.. from drones to Seon Myeongju

Along with talk that various advanced technologies would harmonize with traditional culture, there was news that Seon Myeongju’s music would be used.

A jazz pianist who had become the talk of the entire nation not long ago with a legendary performance.

In a way, it was only natural that the Olympics opening ceremony would feature music from someone whose work could be called a global point of pride.

"They say Seon Myeongju’s music is in the opening ceremony."

"Oh, really?"

"Which music is it? Isn’t it that one? The one that throws a question at our generation, you know."

The song most people expected was Question.

That piece performed alongside the question of what Korea would be like twenty years later.

It had symbolism and exceptional artistry.

And it was still so popular it sat at the very top of the charts.

'Question will play.'

And if there’s a question, there’s naturally an answer.

Everyone’s thoughts flowed straight into a song called Answer.

"Then does Wooju show up?"

"Doesn’t it feel like Wooju would show up?"

"It feels like he’d pop out with his father, like ta da...."

A scene that would explode with emotion just imagining it.

'That picture is pretty good.'

The father was a musician who’d made a name for himself worldwide.

The son was a global K-pop star.

With the media recently calling them the “nation’s father and son,” it felt like a plausible moment.

So people’s eyes turned to Lemon Entertainment.

-Lemon. Lemon. Is Wooju going to be in the opening ceremony?

And the answer that came back.

-Uh... no?

The company that was usually lightning-fast started hedging.

'Oh?'

People’s eyes began to narrow.

"So you absolutely have to keep security."

The face on the other side of the video call spoke as if underlining each word.

It was the director in charge of staging this opening ceremony.

"If people find out Wooju is participating in this opening ceremony, that’s a huge spoiler."

"Mm."

I scratched my cheek.

"But calling it a spoiler... it feels like a lot of people already figured it out. Everyone around me keeps asking."

My chats and messages were flooding in.

Even now, Lee Hyeonjo and Han Taehyeon were tag-teaming me, saying, “You can tell your best friends, at least.”

"It’s true. But it’ll be better for the hype if Wooju keeps it secret."

"That’s true."

Rather than making it official—He’s in it! Confirmed!—

it draws more attention if people are left wondering whether he’ll appear or not.

As someone involved in performances, I agreed with the director.

"I’ll try to keep it as secret as possible."

"Yes. Just for a few days."

I peeked my head out and looked outside the company.

Ever since news about the Pyeongchang opening ceremony came out, paparazzi and reporters had been stationed around Newridan Street.

Like half-and-half fried chicken—half stalker fans, half reporters.

Turning my gaze back to the video call, I said,

"The opening ceremony is only a few days away now."

"Yes. It’s right in front of us."

"Is preparation going well?"

"I’m completely out of my mind. I’m so worried about the weather... there’s been constant snow squalls. And besides that, we’re so busy I can’t even tell if things are going well or not. Haha."

Smiling at the opening ceremony director, who looked utterly exhausted, I asked,

"When should I go? I’ll need to attend rehearsals."

"Come the day before. In Wooju’s case, you’re literally appearing like a cameo."

"Okay."

"You’ll rehearse the evening before, and then do one more rehearsal on the day."

They said rehearsals were happening every day in Pyeongchang, where opening ceremony prep was in full swing.

The director sneezed.

-Achoo!

Rubbing his red nose, the director advised,

"It’s really, really cold here. Wooju, make sure you come bundled up. On bad days, you actually get ice on your face."

"I’ll make sure I’m dressed properly."

"And as for transportation, if possible...."

Just as he was about to say that, since it was a surprise cameo, it would be best if I came in secret—

he went, ah, and said,

"Coming secretly is basically impossible, isn’t it. Because it’s NewBlack."

"Yeah, well... there are a lot of people who tail us."

I laughed.

"But you don’t have to worry too much. To appear secretly in the opening ceremony, we prepared a smokescreen operation."

"A smokescreen... operation?"

"Yes."

The moment I finished speaking, the lackeys—who’d been measuring their timing from both sides—appeared.

"Ta da."

"Hello!"

As the director burst out laughing for a moment, the younger guys explained.

"It’s basically a given that stalker fans or reporters will tail us. The moment we start moving, the news will spread online right away. That NewBlack is going to Pyeongchang."

"Right."

"So we’re going to disguise it."

"Like filming a NewBlack TV Pyeongchang special?"

"No."

We shook our heads.

"Even if it’s NewBlack TV, if we suddenly go to Pyeongchang, it’s unnatural. It’s too obvious."

"Mm... right. It would be weird."

"So even if we visit Pyeongchang, we’re going to disguise it with a purpose that isn’t weird... like that."

The director stared with curious eyes.

And when we told him what it was, the director burst out laughing.

A few days later.

Pyeongchang County, buzzing with energy one day before the Olympics opening.

Tourists from all kinds of countries wandered around taking photos, and reporters moved frantically.

"Mm...?"

Cars lined up and stopped on the buckwheat street famous for buckwheat dishes, drawing people’s attention.

"What is it?"

"Looks like some broadcast filming. The cars have PBS on them."

"Maybe they’re filming a documentary—oh, it says My Hometown Now."

People glanced at the cameras with the logo and turned away with indifferent expressions—

and then cheering erupted.

'W, what is it?'

When they turned back, they were stunned.

"It’s NewBlack!"

"NewBlack?"

"The New Black? Again...?"

As NewBlack members filed out of a large vehicle, people started running.

They didn’t even know why, but it felt like they had to run.

In no time, passersby formed a semicircle around NewBlack and the street became instantly chaotic.

NewBlack smiled and waved.

"Hello! We’re NewBlack!"

"Did you all eat? We’re so hungry."

NewBlack casually chatted with citizens like they were used to it.

Someone shouted at NewBlack, standing in front of the PBS cameras.

"Why did you come to Pyeongchang?!"

"Ah, us?"

The moment that question landed, 4Black looked toward someone.

NewBlack’s maknae in charge of acting smiled and said,

"We came to film PBS My Hometown Now for a Pyeongchang Olympics special! Today, we’re going to introduce Pyeongchang’s famous specialties all day!"

"Oh...."

At the nation’s maknae’s flawless acting, people nodded.

'So they came because of the opening ceremony.'

Unfortunately, no one fell for it.