Episode 65: Han Yujin User Manual
Lee Ahjeong is, no matter what anyone says, the greatest female solo singer of the era.
Even I have to admit she’s an incredible artist who has it all, and her Christmas gift lived up to her name—it didn’t stop at just one.
After her concert ended.
Around the time I was walking with Zia through the dazzling, bustling streets of Seoul on Christmas Eve, a video was uploaded to Lee Ahjeong’s official YouTube channel.
[AZ ‘Shooting star’ Live Clip(2024 AZ With Christmas)]
[NEW AZ(AZ Official Channel)]
The unusual decision to release footage from that day’s concert right after it ended.
Her fans who hadn’t been among the 15,000 chosen audience members couldn’t help but cheer, but soon they had questions.
The title of the song she sang wasn’t among the tracks released under AZ’s name.
The video cleared up any confusion for those who might think ‘AZ must have debuted a new song at the concert’ by including the tag ‘#ThanksYujin’ and linking the original music video for Shooting star in the cards. As a result.
[What kind of amazing singer is this that AZ is promoting at her concert… He doesn’t fall short of AZ at all, who is he?]
[Shocked that Yujin is there, shocked again that AZ unnie sang Yujin’s song, shocked once more at Yujin’s cute surprised face when AZ unnie descends from the sky, and keeps getting shocked at how insane their harmony is... I hate my hands for failing the ticketing…]
The two most concise reactions—one from someone who doesn’t know me and one from someone who does—took the top spots in the comments section.
And then the floodgates opened.
No, at this level, it’s not just opening the floodgates—it’s like fully releasing all the sluice gates on a dam.
The views accumulated over four weeks doubled in just two days.
As the days after Christmas headed toward the new year, AI cover versions of Shooting star started appearing one by one in the YouTube algorithm, and among them, real covers by YouTubers and a few singers began to pop up as well.
One natural phenomenon that followed as a result.
Lee Ahjeong’s gift, which doubled as a Christmas and New Year’s celebration, was just getting started from here.
***
“Hmm-hmm~”
A humming tune leaks out from Suhyuk, who’s gripping the steering wheel, with not a single sign of him trying to hide it.
The snowfall Is heavier than last week, so it should be nerve-wracking, but Suhyuk’s energy shows no sign of coming down.
Amid that humming, a quite familiar voice comes through.
“Yes. This is Quiet 10 PM Music Road. We just played Han Yujin’s ‘Shooting star’ as our first song today. It’s a really hot track these days, right? The more I listen, the sweeter it gets—it makes the falling snow feel like sugar.”
As soon as Ko Yo-han’s comment ends, Suhyuk turns off the radio and turns up the volume on the playlist again.
It would’ve been fine to listen a bit more and boost the ratings, but Suhyuk’s hand is resolute. I chuckle at that, and our eyes meet.
“Cheol-jin sunbaenim told me. He said Yo-han sunbaenim would play hyung’s song as the first track today… So I turned it on for a bit.”
I figured it was odd that he turned on a radio other than the traffic info one, which he never listens to otherwise—he must have gotten some tip from the manager chief.
Feeling a bit guilty perhaps, Suhyuk rattles off his excuse on his own, and I laugh again before saying.
“Let’s listen a bit more.”
“Yep.”
Even so, just listening to my song and turning it off right away would be too heartless, right?
Anyway, the playlist is on streaming loop constantly, so I’m kind of getting tired of it, which plays a part too.
From the radio turned back on, the conversation between Ko Yo-han and another panelist comes through.
“I’ve been a guest at AZ sunbae’s concert too. To begin with, it’s really rare for AZ sunbae to sing another singer’s song at her concert.”
“Right. She’s a singer who can fill the entire concert with her own songs alone.”
“In that sense, I’m envious of our junior Yujin, a bit jealous… But on the other hand, it feels rewarding that a good song is finally getting the recognition it deserves, so it's a mix of complicated emotions.”
“Yes. I listened to it recently too, and it really feels like a song that could’ve gone viral anytime.”
“Anyway, hoping our Han Yujin junior continues to deliver great songs. Let’s take a look at today’s first story.”
“Heung heuheung~ Heuheung~”
In that short conversation, the energy in Suhyuk’s humming rises even higher.
The topic that lifts Suhyuk’s mood higher than the fluttering snow right now, ‘chart reversal,’ came up in their talk.
Riding the opportunity that came like a star, like snow, like a gift, Shooting star slowly climbed the ranks in reverse,
[9. Shooting star – Han Yujin]
On the first day of the pure white 2025, starting with snow falling again after a week, it successfully entered the single-digit rankings.
“How does it feel to experience your first chart reversal in life, singer Han Yujin?”
A question full of playful mischief, with energy raised as much as the climbed ranking, flies in from Suhyuk.
Does Suhyuk even know that this question pierces a truth that could never be known?
Even including my life before regression, this is the first time I’ve been the subject of a chart reversal.
Of course, there were times when songs that had dropped on the charts climbed back up.
But that was only because when Polaris released a new song, fans would stream to fill the 1-hour playtime, including past title tracks.
A song pushed out of interest climbing back up the ranks—a true chart reversal in the genuine sense—is really a first for me this time.
‘Whether single or album, as soon as it’s released, it lines up in the upper ranks— what chart reversal.’
For Polaris, who set an unbroken record in K-POP idol history by taking first place on music shows just 5 days after debut and walked a literal royal road, chart reversal was something that couldn’t exist from the start.
“Good, of course.”
I thought I’d experience it sometime in this life, but I didn’t expect the opportunity to come this quickly.
I’m surprised, but naturally, it feels good.
“I told you, right? Shooting star deserves to climb higher. You’re pulling off this tough feat. I believed in it.”
“Thanks. It’s thanks to you streaming till the end.”
As Suhyuk gives that shy laugh at my words.
Amid the barrage of messages congratulating the single-digit entry, another person’s message arrives.
[Lee Ahjeong : Congrats on entering 9th place]
[Lee Ahjeong : At this level, you should buy me a meal, right?]
The top contributor to the current situation is, no matter what, this person.
A meal is no problem.
[Tell me if there’s anything you want to eat]
[I’ll treat you to whatever]
As I send the reply, the number 1 disappears immediately.
And then,
[Lee Ahjeong : No thanks]
[Lee Ahjeong : I wouldn’t pick at a flea’s liver]
[Lee Ahjeong : Eat delicious things with Zia-ssi]
[Lee Ahjeong : If you’re really grateful, just grant me one favor later]
[Lee Ahjeong : Not now, after you hit 1st place]
My shoulders naturally shrug at the barrage of messages coming back.
[Yes, understood]
[Any favor, just say the word]
[Lee Ahjeong : Is it okay to say that so casually?]
As her immediate reply suggests, it’s not words to be said lightly, but it’s not particularly frightening.
‘She doesn’t have any particular hobbies besides singing and acting.’
It’s obvious it’ll be one of the two anyway.
I’ve collaborated with Lee Ahjeong on plenty of songs, so I could give her one right now.
If it’s acting, she’ll see how I do and drop it on her own.
[You’re not going to make unreasonable demands, right?]
When I send that reply,
‘Hmm?’
The number disappears, but this time, the message that used to come back almost at a spinal reflex level is silent.
She probably just tossed it out there casually, and is flustered that I caught it straight away.
While having such thoughts, the surroundings grow dark, and I feel a sensation like my body is lurching forward.
It means we’ve arrived at our destination, the underground parking lot of MyWay’s company building.
Soon, Suhyuk stops the car in front of the door leading to the elevator,
“I’ll wait in the car.”
“No. The conversation might drag on, so park the car and rest inside. I’ll contact you when it’s over.”
I make sure to tell Suhyuk, who would definitely wait in the car if I didn’t say this, and move my steps toward the elevator.
And shortly after.
Bang! Pabang! Bang!
“Yujin-ssi! Congratulations on 7th place on the Cocoa Chart!”
“Isn’t it 9th?”
“No, it’s 7th. It just went up again.”
The sound of firecrackers and cheers that greet me as soon as I arrive at the A&R team, our destination.
Ailee, welcoming me with a face even brighter than at the 14th place celebration party, corrects the fact I had wrong.
“Ailee. I have something to tell you briefly.”
Of course, I didn’t come here today just to receive congratulations like this.
When I subtly point toward the conference room, Ailee nods lightly and sends the A&R team members who came out to congratulate me back to their seats.
In the conference room, alone with Ailee like that.
“Actually, I have something to tell you too, Yujin-ssi… May I go first?”
“Yes. Go ahead.”
I can see right through what she’s going to say, but just in case, I listen, and the story is,
“Um… There have been a few offers for you this time…”
Exactly as I blatantly expected.
“As I mentioned before, music shows don’t really appeal to me.”
Ailee gives an awkward smile at my immediate reply.
Honestly speaking, I wouldn’t mind appearing on music shows, but
‘Music shows have too low a return compared to the cost.’
It might have been different during Polaris days when I had relatively free access.
But for me now, I’d definitely be stuck there all day.
‘Waking up at 3 or 4 AM and being held until 7 or 8 PM, week after week?’
I need to see Zia’s face too.
Absolutely refuse.
If I have to find the only merit, it’s the opportunity to communicate up close with fans.
‘If that’s the goal, I’d rather start a YouTube or SNS live.’
Looking at the atmosphere in my fan café, starting an actual YouTube channel might get better reactions than appearing on music shows.
“Yes. Understood.”
But Ailee raises the white flag more easily than I thought.
I know well that it’s hard to easily refuse offers that come from the other side, not initiated by MyWay.
‘There’s Hylliy too…’
There are also the kids who might debut under a different name, not ‘Oberon,’ now with Taeoh joining.
There’s nothing good about straining relations with them, so I didn’t expect her to give up this easily.
‘Well, MyWay has AZ after all.’
MyWay has the unparalleled background of Lee Ahjeong, so probably being bold about someone like me won’t be a big blow.
“Then… Now it’s my turn to speak, right?”
It feels a bit awkward to bring it up after outright rejecting Ailee’s request.
But no matter how upset Ailee might be, there’s no way she won’t cheer up after seeing what I’m bringing out.
“I tried recording this one while taking a bit of a break in December.”
With that preface, I play 1.5 step from the laptop, the one I prepared to slot between Shooting star and ‘Blue poem.’
Naturally, Ailee’s eyes were sparkling like a child who had discovered a new toy.
***
That afternoon.
While back home, staring at Zia’s face to my heart’s content.
“Yujin-ah. You don’t appear on music shows or anything?”
At those words suddenly brought up by Zia.
Only then did I realize why Ailee could give up so easily.
It seems the Han Yujin usage instructions have spread around MyWay.