Episode 4: There’s Potential
“What… what was that? Did you see the truck coming?” Team Leader Jeon Min-yong asked.
I saw it—in the YouTube video I watched last night.
It was the exact same location and situation from the dashcam footage, even down to the model of the truck coming from the opposite direction.
But with no way to explain this to him, I had to resort to a white lie.
“Uh… I caught a glimpse of it while turning the corner, and something felt off…”
“Phew, good call. That could’ve been a disaster.”
A disaster, indeed.
If I hadn’t stopped, we’d have been headline news on tonight’s broadcast.
Jeon patted my shoulder encouragingly before turning to the stylist, who was still collecting herself.
“Yeon-jeong, can you record some footage? Focus on the girls first, then get shots of the wrecked guardrail.”
“Yes, oppa,” she replied, starting to film with ease.
Only then did Jeon check on the Free Sense members.
“Everyone okay? No injuries? Ah-hyun, you hit your head on the seat, didn’t you?”
“I’m fine,” Ah-hyun answered.
“What about Seung-ah and Jin-ah?”
“We’re okay too,” they replied.
“Man, that was insane. Who could’ve predicted a truck would come barreling out like that?”
Jeon’s energy spiked noticeably once the stylist began recording.
His tone became theatrical, almost like he was acting, and he spoke to me more warmly.
“Hyun-jong-ssi, can you turn on the hazard lights and pull over for a bit? I’ll call 119 first.”
“Yes, sir.”
“There’s a warning triangle and a light stick in the trunk. Set up the triangle first, and if you see any cars coming from behind, guide them safely.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Girls, stay in the van for safety.”
After giving instructions to the members, Jeon stepped out to make the emergency call.
I parked the van at a less curvy section of the road and followed his orders.
My heart was still pounding, and I was sweating profusely.
What the hell?
The video I saw last night played out exactly as it had…
If I hadn’t slammed on the brakes, we would’ve gone tumbling down the cliff with the truck. And all of us in critical condition…
The thought that I could’ve been among them sent a fresh wave of sweat down my scalp and back, despite the cool mountain breeze.
Soon, an ambulance and police car arrived.
We were in a rush to get to our destination, but Jeon acted as if we were the ones in the accident, explaining the situation to the police in almost excessive detail and expressing concern for the truck driver’s safety.
He even showed them the dashcam footage.
While keeping an eye out for approaching cars, I checked the SemoGirl channel again and searched YouTube.
As expected, the video was nowhere to be found.
It took a while to rescue the truck driver, who had fallen down the cliff.
From the urgent chatter of the rescue team, it sounded like his life might be in danger.
Jeon gave the police his contact info, asking to be updated on the driver’s condition later, even expressing a desire to reach out personally if possible.
If it were me, I’d have left once the ambulance arrived, but Jeon seemed driven by a strong sense of justice.
Or so I thought.
While he was undoubtedly compassionate, his proactive involvement wasn’t just about kindness.
The real reason became clear when we reached the event venue.
***
After handling the accident scene, we arrived at the military base hosting the morale-boosting event.
We greeted the production staff and two MCs before being assigned a tent as a waiting area.
Jeon turned to me.
“Hyun-jong-ssi, do you smoke?”
“Yes.”
“Let’s grab a smoke.”
Since we avoided the truck accident, his demeanor had softened, moving beyond performative actions to genuine warmth.
After sending the members and stylist to the waiting area, we headed to the smoking area.
Jeon called the company’s PR team, explaining the incident and adding,
“The police said this will likely make the news. I’ll send the footage we recorded, so edit it quickly and upload it to SNS and YouTube in sync with the news coverage. Yes, give the exclusive to ‘EnterN’. Frame it as us acting swiftly to avoid any loss of life. Yes, make sure Free Sense’s name is in the article title. It’s fine to spin it like Free Sense saved the day. Yes, inform the viral marketing team too.”
So that’s why he was so dramatic and hands-on with the accident response.
It was for Free Sense’s publicity.
“Bama” likely referred to a viral marketing agency.
Once the article and accident footage were uploaded, the agency would probably post about it on online communities and boost views to spread it far and wide.
While we were involved in the accident and nothing was exaggerated or false, using someone else’s misfortune to boost the group’s visibility felt a bit unsettling.
Clever, though.
At the same time, I could sense Jeon’s genuine care for Free Sense.
Just this morning, Team Leader Jeon Min-yong gave off the vibe of a jaded, perpetual assistant manager going through the motions. But seeing him hustle for the sake of Free Sense’s publicity made him seem a bit more reliable.
“Yes, please take care of it.”
He said, wrapping up his call before explaining to me.
“Traffic accidents drive a ton of search traffic. Popular groups get articles written about them automatically, but for our kids, we have to push out press releases ourselves. I feel a bit bad for the truck driver…”
“You handled the situation so proactively, though. I probably would’ve just called 119 and left. You really went above and beyond.”
I was sincere, but maybe he took it as flattery.
With a slightly amused yet bittersweet smile, as if he didn’t need praise from a newbie for something so trivial, he stubbed out his cigarette.
His lukewarm reaction to my compliment made me shrink a little.
Not quite a mistake, but I guess I shouldn’t throw around praise so casually.
“Let’s head in,” he said.
“Yes, sir.”
The entrance to the three-part tent had the performers’ names listed.
As expected for a military event, it was mostly girl groups and female artists, with only one male idol, currently serving in the military.
We were sharing the waiting area with another girl group, ‘ChanceMaker’.
They’re a group starting to gain traction with their recent album, still considered rookies. They debuted about two years ago, right?
From the same company as ‘WhyNot’, a group that peaked around the time I was in the military but is now slowly losing steam, ‘ChanceMaker’ definitely benefited from their senior group’s fame.
Being labeled as “so-and-so’s little sister group” gives a huge boost to early recognition.
The waiting area was empty except for our members.
ChanceMaker, being in their busy promotion period, would likely show up just in time for their rehearsal.
“Do you know what this is?”
Jeon asked, pointing to a sheet of paper posted on the tent.
I knew this one.
It was a cue sheet, detailing the performance order, timing, and stage directions.
“Cue sheet.”
“Exactly. When you arrive at an event or broadcast, always check the cue sheet first. It’s usually posted in the waiting area, but if it’s not, ask a staff member for it.”
The main lineup on the cue sheet was surprisingly impressive.
No top-tier girl groups, but there was a solo artist that made me think, “Oh, she’s performing?”
A female rapper, ‘Leopard’, who dominates the charts.
The next-generation trot goddess, Yeon-young.
And ChanceMaker, plus a rookie girl group, SNS’, so obscure even I, a dedicated fan, hadn’t heard of them.
In terms of recognition, Free Sense was probably just above SNS.
The Free Sense members were chatting while getting their makeup touched up, visibly excited about their first external event in a while.
“It’s been forever since we did a morale-boosting event.”
“When was the last one?”
“October. Last year.”
This was my first morale-boosting event.
Back in the military, my unit never had one, so I’d always had a bit of a romanticized view of them. Who’d have thought I’d experience one after discharge?
“Free Sense, please prepare for rehearsal!”
The members, done with hair and makeup touch-ups, pinned on their name tags and headed out of the waiting area.
Jeon and I followed.
He handed me a new phone and gave me the password.
“This is for filming. Record the girls’ rehearsal. Get full shots that capture all their stage movements. You know what I mean, right?”
“Yes, sir.”
“There’s a tripod in the van; it’ll make things easier. Later, when we’re back at the company with Wi-Fi, send the videos and photos to the PR team via KakaoTalk.”
He warned me not to take photos or videos with my personal phone during the probation period.
Apparently, a past newbie manager got in trouble for taking and sharing celebrity photos with friends.
I was this close to bragging to my friends about being a girl group manager, but I guess I can’t.
As if reading my mind, Jeon added,
“You don’t seem like the type, but don’t act too friendly with other artists either. Some people take photos with celebrities to show off on SNS, and it doesn’t look good.”
“Yes, understood.”
“You’ll have plenty of chances to take photos later, so just hold off during probation.”
“Yes, sir.”
It felt like nagging, but it was all valuable advice.
He’s probably saying this because he’s starting to care about me, even just a little.
This morning, he seemed indifferent, so I was grateful for his attention now.
Mulling over his advice, I filmed Free Sense’s rehearsal.
The first song was the title track from their last broadcasted album, their second mini-album, ‘How Do I Look Today?’
It was performed as a four-member group and was arguably their most well-known song.
(Seung-ah) “Don’t I look different today? I know guys hate this question, but I only want to ask you.”
*(Jin-ah) “It’s not your bangs, your tint’s the same. Even your shoes are the ones you wore before, dummy.”
(Ah-hyun) “It’s the biggest change, and you didn’t notice. The way I look at you has changed.”
The lyrics are a bit cheesy, sure.
But they’re cute and playful, the kind of concept only fresh rookies can pull off. There’s no standout killing part that grabs you instantly, but the safe, mainstream melody makes it easy to listen to.
If they had debuted with this song, it might’ve done well.
The problem is, Free Sense’s earlier “concept-heavy” image was too strong to pivot to this light, lovely vibe.
For boy groups, it might be different, but a girl group’s image transformation is a double-edged sword. A misstep could disappoint and alienate the fans who’ve stuck with them so far.
That’s why the team’s core identity, built from debut, matters so much.
Girl groups with quirky concepts tend to attract more female fans than male ones, but Free Sense’s fandom is so small it’s hard to even break down the gender ratio.
After over two years and four albums, their official fan café has barely over 1,000 members—a number so low that the company promising another album is something to be grateful for.
I only knew about them because I watched music shows religiously during my military service, and they’re under the same agency as GraceOne.
If you surveyed 10,000 people in their teens and twenties, there’s a good chance not a single one would’ve heard of them.
(All) “How do I look today? Do I seem a bit different? My feelings for you are deeper than yesterday.
So how about you? Still the same as always? Unlike my heart, your gaze is so indifferent.”
Look, I’m telling you, they pull off the lovely concept pretty well.
Especially the youngest, Baek Jin-ah, who shines in this vibe.
Being the last to join, she hasn’t had as much “image burn” as Seung-ah or Ah-hyun, which probably helps.
Plus, Jin-ah’s quirky, 4D personality and expressions translate on stage into a charmingly unhinged vibe that suits her perfectly.
Watching their rehearsal only makes me feel more wistful.
If they had switched to this direction sooner, things might’ve turned out better…
If I were producing, I’d steer clear of polarizing “concept-heavy” stuff.
Go for mainstream songs and a lovable concept, no question.
But, well, I’m just a fan. The company probably already knows the reasons for failure or the conditions for success.
It’s not like they’re throwing pocket change at this—producing an idol group costs billions of won. No one sets out to make a group flop.
The company must’ve held meetings and decided Free Sense had market potential to craft them this way.
As a girl group fan, I respect VIP Entertainment’s bold spirit in pursuing unique concepts.
Lately, idol concepts and planning have felt increasingly cookie-cutter.
When sexy concepts trend, a flood of sexy girl groups appears. When school uniforms are in, nine out of ten groups wear them. When pure and youthful vibes are hot, everyone jumps on that bandwagon.
Knowing the risks, VIP Entertainment and Free Sense deserve praise for trying to carve out a blue ocean.
Someone has to drive change and set new trends.
It’s like how fried and yangnyeom chicken dominated the market until soy sauce or green onion chicken brought variety.
And honestly, Free Sense isn’t the only group walking this path.
Plenty of pretty, talented trainees debut, but only a handful make it big.
It’s not just the music industry—any creative or athletic field is the same.
To borrow from the opening line of ‘Anna Karenina’, which I read for a school assignment: all successful girl groups are alike, but every failed girl group fails in its own way.
Even if Free Sense had gone with a lovely concept from the start, there’s no guarantee they would’ve succeeded.
Ding
A YouTube notification popped up after the rehearsal while we were waiting.
The waiting area got crowded when the six-member ChanceMaker arrived, so I stepped out to smoke, and that’s when the alert went off.
Wait a second.
I don’t have notifications set for any channels.
Could this be…?
I checked the time—it was exactly 5:00 p.m., the same time the truck accident premonition video appeared yesterday.
With my heart fluttering in sweet anticipation, I tapped the play button.
“Holy crap…”