≫ Collected Quotes of Pro Idol Kim Iwol
I was so inspired watching my idol live life on hard mode that I compiled these “pro idol” Kim Iwol moments.
※ Major rose-tinted bias, fully subjective ※
“Cheonghyeon: No way! Am I really that good-looking? Specifically, how good?
Iwol: About 850,000 won per square centimeter.
Cheonghyeon: Why specifically 850,000?
Iwol: That’s the current price of gold.”
“What’s with the backlight? Do you want to cast a shadow over our fans’ hearts? Is the blessing of natural light a joke to you?”
“If you ate high-calorie food, you should run. Are you going to oil your mouth and smear our promotions?”
“Is that your best aegyo? Because Sparklers keep saying you’re cute, are you satisfied with phoning it in by yourself? Since when did we start working with such a lazy mindset?”
“Iwol: Things look prettier when you blur them.
Iwol: That includes you.
Jeho: Why me again.
Iwol: If you have any conscience, think—do you really think you’d look pretty to my eyes?
Jeho: You’re saying this because I posted three selfies, right?
Iwol: You’re allowed to post up to four. The moment you posted one less, you were out.”
“Giyeon: Wouldn’t Cheonghyeon stand out too much if he dyes his hair?
Iwol: What are you talking about? A handsome man must dye his hair for the nation to prosper.
Juu: Hyung, where do you even pick up lines like that...?”
To my eyes, Kim Iwol is the top idol. No rebuttals. If you disagree, write it in your diary.
└ 850k lol the first idol in Korea whose face trades at market price
└ The way he talks kills me—fancy vocabulary like a young noble, delivered like verbal smackdowns
└ He sounds vicious, but he actually lives the grind life himself so I can’t hate... lol I heard he sleeps three or four hours a day
└ Members say he practices the most and does all the work...
≫ Even the antis admit “Kim Pep’s” fan service
Plenty of idols do Bubble Pop and fan café posts, sure—but
He remembers almost every fan who comes to signings and continues the conversation
He wants to look good for fans who come for commute pics, so even for dawn prerecordings he shows up with hair and makeup already done
He re-uploads fan-favorite photos in new, perfectly cropped wallpaper sizes
He watches fans’ vlogs and mentions them regularly
There are so many stories where you can feel he puts in care for each thing
Personally, the funniest legend is he refuses to do a one-handed heart because it’s rude to fans, so he always does a two-handed heart—peak Confucian idol
└ He’s the real deal, yeah. Even if he hasn’t done many signings yet, remembering fans’ details one by one isn’t easy
└ Wait, sometimes he’s doing hair/makeup in the waiting room on the self-cam—what’s that about?
└ He said he gets the first pass at the shop and tweaks it in the waiting room to feel more “stage”
└ Two-handed heart, I can’t—lol
≫ They say row when the tide is in—what do you do when the dam bursts?
└ Breathe, then start picking up bait
└ We’re about to burst already
There were countless posts like that. Most of them were asking people to recognize how hard Kim Iwol is working.
By dawn, Spark and I had apparently climbed side by side onto real-time trends.
My face ran hot. I hadn’t felt this kind of embarrassment in ages.
“So this is what being praised feels like.”
My stomach fluttered.
It wasn’t a bad feeling. Just... awkward.
I didn’t have the courage to tap every post.
Just seeing the friendly titles was overwhelming.
My finger kept twitching. I’d go to hit Back, then hesitate, braking at the last second, my eyes circling endlessly over the little phone.
Recognition of effort—an experience no reward can replace.
It was the first “incentive” of my life.
After hours of monitoring, I wandered the empty dorm.
Not aimlessly; I did a few things.
First, so Lee Cheonghyeon wouldn’t get too easily hooked on meds, I took small amounts out of the first-aid box and stashed the rest elsewhere.
If I knew which med he’d fixate on, I’d have hidden only that. Since I couldn’t remember, I split and re-bottled everything.
With nowhere proper to put them, I hid them in my small carry-on for now. Worst case, I’ll buy a little safe.
Wanting not a speck of dust in my Spark friends’ voices, I ran the vacuum gently.
When the payouts come in, we ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ should put an air purifier in the dorm... Actually, doesn’t the company cover those? I’ll ask later.
Listening again to the album Park Juu brought, I played air bass. My hands were itching to touch the real thing at the company, but I held back—couldn’t ask the manager to drive just for that.
I was drifting around the living room when I sat on the sofa and...
“Hyung, why are you sleeping out here?”
...that familiar voice woke me. In front of me stood Kang Giyeon and Lee Cheonghyeon.
“I must’ve dozed off watching TV.”
I’d been channel-surfing when a rerun of the IAD finale came on; that’s the last thing I remember. I must have fallen asleep halfway.
No wonder, in the second act thousands of idols started an acrobatic show before three million people. All a dream.
“If you’re tired, go sleep in your room. It’s night anyway.”
Giyeon turned off the TV. Somehow it was already nine o’clock.
“I’m fine. You’re home early, though.”
Everyone had come back earlier than usual. Since they came in together, they must’ve agreed to cut it short.
As I pressed my temples to shake off the sleep, Cheonghyeon plopped down by my feet.
“It’s an emergency. If you’re not sleepy, can we hold a strategy meeting?”
“Why? What happened?”
“A huge one.”
Cheonghyeon looked uncharacteristically grave.
The last to come in, Choi Jeho, spoke while kicking off his shoes.
“Jang Junhu showed up.”
A name I hadn’t even been thinking about popped out. The question left my mouth before it hit my brain.
“Where?”
“The practice room.”
Every curse word I knew flashed through my head. Between the living room and the entryway, Jeong Seongbin wore an awkward smile.
Right. Yu Hansu isn’t the only trash in this company.
I almost sighed but swallowed it. Right now, looking after Jeong Seongbin came first.
“You okay, Seongbin? Must’ve startled you.”
“I’m okay. It did startle me... but the senior didn’t actually do anything.”
“If he does anything now, he might as well hold up a sign begging to be arrested.”
As I sniped, my eyes met Cheonghyeon’s. He seemed to be thinking the same thing I was.
“Guess the guy’s scared.”
“Seems like it, right?”
Cheonghyeon snorted.
The PD he worked with got exposed for grinding down idols, then crossed a line out of insecurity.
That made headlines, and Jang Junhu himself has a history of grinding down an idol. He did it for way longer than Yu Hansu, too.
Cops are in and out of the company; the press is loud daily.
And Idol K publicly laid out Yu Hansu’s abuses from A to Z—so he’s probably sweating, wondering when his own name will drop.
Cheonghyeon shrugged.
“He brought piles of drinks and snacks.”
“All just a stunt.”
Jeho popped a can. The hiss of carbonation filled the room.
“So? The important part is something else.”
I sat up straighter and asked,
“What did the guy say?”
At my words, Park Juu sighed and answered.
“...He wants to talk to Seongbin. Privately.”
“And? Did you tell him we move in pairs, no exceptions?”
“Not quite that far...!”
“And you, Seongbin? What do you want to do?”
When I asked, he hesitated with an uncertain look.
Last time he’d said he didn’t want to escalate things. From where I sit, this is a golden chance to get a proper apology—but for the person involved, even an apology might be uncomfortable.
“Take your time. He’s the one who’s desperate, not you. Don’t forget—what matters most is what lets you feel at ease.”
“Yes. Thank you.”
He smiled.
And first thing the next day, he came to our room.
“Um, hyung.”
“Yeah?”
“I’m thinking of meeting the senior.”
He said it with a face set like stone.
“You sure? You don’t have to force it.”
He’s not one to say empty words, but worry came first.
He’s unfailingly polite; he might feel like he can’t refuse an elder’s summons.
As if reading me, he smiled and answered,
“I thought about it a lot and decided. Don’t worry.”
“If so, that’s good.”
Not that I’m relieved. Give this kid a cup of lye and if an adult tells him to drink, he might.
I’d rather tag along as guardian for peace of mind.
If Jang Junhu starts spouting nonsense, I’ll unleash my temper on the spot.
I was biding my time for a chance to interject when Seongbin began,
“About that, um....”
He swallowed and fidgeted with his fingers.
Good, ask me. I’m ready to sit through Jang Junhu’s confessional talk with you.
“Which member do you think I should go with?”
“...What?”
Not me? Some other member?
Pick one of these: Jeho, who’d go one-on-one, get baited, and hand over a weakness; Juu, who speaks even less than you; Cheonghyeon, who’s changed a lot lately but still tiptoes around adults; or Giyeon, whose face alone announces he’s got a temper? You’re serious?
What a dazzling slate. You’d take that lot to face Jang Junhu? Veto from my side.
“Go with me.”
You want the softies to go get shredded again?
Shut up and take me!
