Episode 10: Trust Me Just This Once
Countless entertainment agencies exist in South Korea.
Even I, who once ran at the forefront of this industry, couldn’t know every single one. So how could the average person?
Still, there are a few agencies even those uninterested in showbiz would recognize.
If I had to pick, maybe five?
First come the three that ushered in the idol era: Sunshine, JWY, and Overwhelm.
They might be considered old names now, but up until the 2010s, they were called the Big 3, and their influence will linger for another decade.
True idol powerhouses, they’ve shaped the public’s perception so much that “entertainment agency” instantly brings idols to mind, despite their rosters of actors, comedians, and models. That’s impressive.
Next is Starlight, led by Lee Heekyung, who wrote a legend for mid-tier agencies by launching the hit boy group Altair and girl group Pleiades.
Right now, they’re just an up-and-coming player, but their third group?
<Polaris>, Grammy Award winners in the main category.
Riding Polaris’s meteoric rise, Starlight became the first entertainment agency to list directly on KOSPI while others were sneaking onto KOSDAQ, turning the Big 3 into the Big 4. Need I say more?
But the fifth one is a bit different.
While the others bet everything on idols, this one reached out to the overlooked.
Solo balladeers, indie bands, crossover popera, even traditional Korean music.
Yet, they also dominated mainstream genres like idol music, hip-hop, and trot with unmatched versatility.
That fifth one is MyWay Music.
Seo Yoonje.
The founder of MyWay Music and the man most responsible for its reputation.
A musician active even before I was born, his producing skills are so formidable even I wouldn’t dare hand him my card.
‘Even I’d struggle with AZ.’
He turned a middle schooler singing at karaoke, Lee Ahjeong, into the nation’s top diva, using her as a cash cow to wield positive influence across the industry. That’s Seo Yoonje.
And now, that man is sitting across from me at a table.
“Not sure if I should call this good luck or bad.”
Sipping a calorie-bomb frappé I wouldn’t dream of touching after vowing to rebuild my body, Seo Yoonje muttered.
‘Bad luck?’
Knowing the significance of this meeting, I couldn’t understand his words.
One of Seo Yoonje’s nicknames is “serial kidnapper.”
He’s known for “kidnapping” (signing) any singer who catches his eye to MyWay, so him meeting me one-on-one can only mean one thing.
‘It’s obviously good luck.’
Even as someone who respects Seo Yoonje as a musician, I can’t concede on this.
No matter what anyone says, this moment is my lowest point, right?
But Seo Yoonje didn’t leave my doubts lingering long.
“Sorry, that could’ve been misunderstood.”
With an apology and a smack of his lips, he continued with a wistful look.
“I debuted in ’96. Started music way before that. For nearly 30 years, I’ve been running nonstop—my songs, company work, broadcasts. I don’t even know how my kids grew up. So I planned to take this year off, maybe get an award or two.”
Calling it a “sabbatical,” Seo Yoonje paused to sip his frappé, catching his breath.
Then, with a deep sigh, he went on.
“I was gonna drop everything, go somewhere with nice water and sun, and just rest. Come back, step down as CEO, quit broadcasts, and take it easy making music. But… Yo-han, that guy, threw a wrench in it…”
Knowing the future, I couldn’t help but sigh too.
‘Sorry, sunbaenim, but you won’t get that rest.’
He’ll step down as CEO soon enough, but MyWay’s symbolic weight means he’ll never let go of his role as lead producer. A quiet retirement? A pipe dream.
“When I see a junior like you, Yujin-ssi, I can’t just sit still.”
His words made me smile.
‘See? He knows it himself.’
There may not be another like me, but countless singers will move Seo Yoonje’s heart in the future.
Taking it easy? Not a chance.
“You’re funny.”
Unaware of the meaning behind my smile, Seo Yoonje tossed out a playful jab, tilted his head back, and covered his eyes with his hand.
“A sabbatical? They say doing something out of character kills you. Guess I’ll just keep living as I always have.”
Letting out a heavy lament to the air, he lowered his hand and straightened up.
His gentle eyes had sharpened in that brief moment, the predatory gaze that earned him another nickname alongside “serial kidnapper”—“music freak.”
“I was thinking on my way here, and there’s something I don’t get.”
“What’s that?”
“With your skills and looks, agencies would be fighting over you. But you’re still unknown? That’s weird.”
His words stopped there, but it wasn’t hard to guess what came next.
‘He’s wondering if there’s something seriously wrong with me, right?’
He has no way of knowing I only gained these skills recently.
In today’s world, it’s natural to worry about things like school bullying or a messy personal life.
Luckily, there’s an easy way to clear that up.
“I’ve actually had an offer.”
“From where?”
“Starlight.”
“Starlight? Lee Heekyung’s agency?”
“Yes. Directly from her.”
Seo Yoonje leaned toward me.
As someone in the industry, Seo Yoonje knows full well.
He knows how ruthlessly Lee Heekyung eliminates risk.
‘That woman’s brutal.’
She’s the type to demand you ditch a live-in girlfriend before signing.
School bullying? Womanizing?
Getting a direct offer from Lee Heekyung means those concerns are off the table.
“Huh. Why didn’t you take it? Starlight’s on fire right now.”
“There were some differences in perspective.”
“Perspective?”
“Yeah. I mean, I’m not exactly in a position to be picky, but…”
“What, you got some principle against being an idol?”
I gave a small laugh and shook my head at Seo Yoonje’s question.
“My playlist’s got a ton of Altair, Pleiades, and Hylliy songs. It’s not that.”
Mentioning MyWay’s girl group Hylliy brought a faint smile to Seo Yoonje’s lips.
“But I turned down Lee Heekyung’s offer with that excuse. I told her being an idol isn’t the music I’m after.”
“What? Am I the only one not getting this?”
Seo Yoonje tilted his head, puzzled.
It was my turn to clear things up.
“There’s someone who supports my singing.”
“Family?”
“No, my girlfriend.”
“Oh.”
“Lee Heekyung said some harsh things about her. I know I’m not in a position to be choosy, but that crossed a line. My girlfriend loves my singing—it’s the biggest reason I keep going. For her sake, I have to keep singing, so I couldn’t just go along with someone like that. I used that as my excuse.”
Seo Yoonje, who’d let out a small sound of understanding at “girlfriend,” bit his lip slightly before responding.
“Lee Heekyung crossed a line… a big one. But I get her too. If I were in her shoes and saw you, I’d be greedy too, Yujin-ssi.”
“Thank you.”
If Lee Heekyung saw me now, she probably wouldn’t have given up so easily.
But that’s irrelevant now.
“But that makes me like you even more, Yujin-ssi. I’m a sucker for romantics. I’ve lived chasing that kind of dream myself. So… let’s see… a boy group’s out of the question, right?”
Before I could answer, Seo Yoonje grinned and decided for himself.
“We don’t actually tell our artists to make money. Know why?”
“Is that even okay?”
I know the reason but played dumb.
Gotta let him have his moment.
“We’ve got Hylliy and guys like Yo-han. Our philosophy is my way. Even with Ajeong—well, AZ—the money she brings in, she can’t even spend it all. Our role is to support them so they can make the kind of music they want. But… for you, Yujin-ssi, that might not cut it. You need to make a lot of money to repay your girlfriend for her support, right? Oh, how old is she?”
“Same age. Twenty-three.”
“Man, that’s young to be working so hard. You have to succeed, Yujin-ssi. A boy group would be the fastest way to cash, but that’s off the table… sigh…”
I couldn’t help but laugh at Seo Yoonje, worrying about me like I’m already part of his family when we haven’t even signed a contract.
Bang bang!
“You’re laughing? You think this is funny? Think about your girlfriend!”
Seo Yoonje slammed the table, half-joking, half-scolding.
I’d thought about it before.
If I had to join an agency, MyWay would be the best choice.
And now, seeing Seo Yoonje get worked up over Zia, not me, only solidified that belief.
“Tch.”
Unaware of my thoughts, Seo Yoonje took another sip of his melting frappé.
Then—
“Oh. If that’s the case…”
He mumbled, pulling his chair closer to the table.
“Yujin-ssi, you know I’ve decided to sign you, right?”
“Yes. That’s why you’re worrying like this.”
“I’ve got a great idea…”
His voice trailed off, at odds with the weight of his words.
After a brief pause, he looked at me with determination.
“Yujin-ssi, I’ll take responsibility and make you a superstar. Can you trust me and follow my lead just this once?”
In this industry, that’s the number one promise you shouldn’t trust.
But coming from Seo Yoonje, it sparked my curiosity.
‘He doesn’t know the future like I do.’
What could he possibly have in mind to be so confident?
‘Is there really an opportunity bigger than Blind Singer?’
In today’s pop scene, outside of auditions, it’s all about idols, but didn’t he already rule that out?
Completely clueless, I waited for his next words.
“But let’s hold off on the contract for now.”
His follow-up only confused me more.
‘Delay the contract? What’s he planning?’
Then, he said something I never could’ve imagined.
“Yujin-ssi, ever heard of ‘Blind Singer’?”
Why’s that coming up now?