In truth, it’s natural for members of a veteran idol group to pursue solo activities.
Once a group’s heyday passes, profitability drops. Each member needs to explore ways to support themselves.
Of course, there are many exceptions these days—TeSTAR is one of them.
“We’ve hardly done any solo activities so far.”
“That’s true.”
The group had been so successful...
“Even if solo activities, it was just variety shows or photo shoots.”
Plus, coming from a survival program, they’d held back on solo work for years to preserve fandom unity—and here they were.
I spoke up.
“But isn’t it okay to start now?”
“Hmm.”
Bae Sejin twitched his shoulder. All eyes reflexively turned to him.
Cha Yoo jin raised his hand.
“So is this a meeting to decide whether Sejin hyung acts?”
A perceptive one.
“...I did get an offer.”
“...! So that’s it!”
Amid the well-meaning but oblivious congratulations, Bae Sejin’s face flushed.
“I’m not doing it—!”
”...!?”
“I told Mundae earlier, too... We just made our comeback. If I drop out to act now, that can’t happen!”
“Ah...!”
Exclamation marks appeared on Seon Ah hyun’s and Kim Rae bin’s faces. But then Kim Rae bin asked cautiously.
“Is it structurally impossible schedule-wise to do both?”
Of course! Then you’d do both!
A question fitting someone whose composing speed doubles under pressure.
But Bae Sejin clenched both fists.
“...What if I make a mistake?”
“Excuse me?”
“Honestly, I’m the slowest learner on stage here. I started late, and talent... might be an issue.”
“...Well, judging by your standards is subjective...”
“But do you think I can handle a completely different acting role at the same time and never slip up on stage...?”
“...!!”
Bae Sejin lifted his head, pale.
“If that happens, what will people think?”
He’d be the one blamed in a hail of criticism for messing up his first solo project.
But surprisingly, he wasn’t referring to that point.
“They’ll think, ‘Something’s wrong. Why would Bae Sejin suddenly overextend himself by juggling group activities and acting? Something must’ve happened within the group.’ That’s what they’ll think!”
“.......”
“I’m not ignorant about idol life anymore. I know the landscape.”
Right. He watches those jingoistic reaction videos.
‘Then you see K-POP reactions, public response videos, even wrecking-crew clips.’
He’d learn that much just from titles.
How rumors spawn secondary rumors.
Which rumors make waves.
“Right after we switched companies and just had our comeback... it can’t happen.”
Bae Sejin finished with a resolute expression.
“That’s my judgment.”
“.......”
Oh.
I tapped my chin.
Putting aside whether his conclusion was valid...
‘He drew a logical, in-depth process to reach it.’
Not avoidance, but a direct, thorough analysis.
‘He’s grown.’
That attitude deserved respect, so I intended to start with partial agreement... but—
“Why?”
“...?!”
He fired a question first?
Among the wide-eyed members, Ryu Geon woo met Bae Sejin’s gaze calmly.
“Sejin, why do you assume your acting will inevitably harm your stage activities?”
“Who said inevitably?”
Bae Sejin looked on the verge of tears, then composed himself.
“...It’s just a high possibility. You can imagine it right now—!”
“An imagination doesn’t always become reality.”
“...!”
“Sejin.”
Ryu Geon woo spoke gently, though with a hint of sternness.
“I’ve told you before... When you imagine the future, you seem to weigh the negative possibilities more heavily than the positive.”
“.......”
“That doesn’t have to be the case.”
Bae Sejin stared blankly.
“Last time we talked about this, things didn’t go as you feared. Remember?”
“.......”
A silent nod.
Ryu Geon woo’s vague reference clicked in my mind.
Bae Sejin had looked at Big Sejin in that moment.
‘They’d had a brutal fight.’
At that time, I mediated with Big Sejin while Ryu Geon woo spoke to Bae Sejin.
Clearly they’d had that conversation.
‘Bae Sejin probably thought Big Sejin hated him and would never forgive an apology.’
Ryu Geon woo must’ve soothed him.
And now they’d patched things up and were getting along, albeit shakily.
In short, Bae Sejin had been overly negative then.
But I understood why he thought that way.
Their clash and pent-up resentment explained some of it—but also his past experiences.
‘Since childhood roles.’
He’d suffered through a lousy agency once. And his real father’s scandal was public. He instinctively plans for the worst.
The problem is...
‘...so do I.’
I could empathize. I, too, have worst-case fears from youth.
Experiencing the unthinkable worst-case makes you incorporate it into future plans.
‘You prepare for it.’
I’ve never regretted that mindset. But Ryu Geon woo looked pitying.
“You’ve barely ever slipped on stage, even when you hardly slept. Why think you’ll suddenly make mistakes this time?”
“.......”
“I don’t think so. And even if you did, it could pass without issue. Setting that aside for that reason would be such a shame.”
Bae Sejin’s eyes went cloudy.
I felt astonished admiration for Ryu Geon woo.
‘How can he be like that?’
A former national athlete forced to retire at his peak, how can he live so optimistically?
Having lived with him for years and knowing his struggles—no, that makes it harder to understand.
‘People are different.’
Diversity keeps a team running.
As proof, Bae Sejin’s resolve wavered.
Riding that momentum, Ryu Geon woo turned to me.
“What do you think?”
“.......”
Really?
‘He called this meeting expecting backup.’
I answered reluctantly.
“Well... what Geon woo said is valid. Sejin hyung’s point is also valid. There is a possibility.”
“......!”
“...Right?”
Why the long face, Ryu Geon woo?
I shrugged.
“And even after that persuasion, Sejin hyung will likely remain uneasy. I don’t think you need solo activities that badly.”
“.......”
“So I want to refute Sejin hyung’s reasoning entirely.”
“...??”
“R-Refute... you mean?”
Indeed.
“I think the real root of your worry is schedule density.”
“...Root cause?”
Look.
“You’re concerned because during a packed promotion, there’s no time to calm your mind and body for stage. That environment makes mistakes seem inevitable given your skill level.”
Bae Sejin’s expression blinked in surprise.
“If the schedule were looser, you’d say it’s fine—you’d have time to rehearse even if you did both.”
“Well... that’s true.”
I nodded.
“Then there’s no need to worry.”
“...?? Why...?”
“Our schedule is more generous than before.”
“Why?!”
I interlaced my fingers.
“All T1-affiliated slots are sealed off......”
“.......”
“.......”
Right.
Assuming a promotion schedule similar to previous albums, Bae Sejin missed this gap.
‘We don’t have many broadcast gigs.’
A couple of national variety shows, a few YouTube spots, that’s it.
Anything more would clash with the group’s name value, so we can’t even appear.
‘But the hype covered it...’
In effect, the frantic 60-day album prep was promotion enough.
Realizing this, Bae Sejin’s eyes went wide.
He was flustered.
“I... need to think.”
“Sure. And while you do, I have another proposal.”
“What, what?”
This meeting wasn’t just about your acting.
“Instead of only Sejin hyung doing solo work, what if during this promotion we each do a few individual appearances?”
“Excuse me??”
“Us...?”
“Well, the album’s out, but group appearances—on shows or events—are limited. It might be better to split up and show our faces individually more times.”
“I see.”
That would make up for the lost T1 blocs.
We need to let SNS and forum lurkers know TeSTAR’s album dropped.
And... another advantage dawned on Seon Ah hyun.
“Aah...! Then Sejin hyung’s acting will seem like part of our individual appearances... so it’ll feel like everyone’s doing it!”
Exactly.
Though Bae Sejin’s acting is more serious, if we present it as a group strategy, he won’t be singled out.
“...! Genius—I never thought of that!”
“Then I’ll book the slot!”
The room buzzed with Kim Rae bin praising Seon Ah hyun and Cha Yoo jin scouting programs.
Bae Sejin bowed his head.
“...Thank you. Truly.”
“...!”
“Not at all! I’m impressed you’d consider even declining for the album! I’ll support your acting...!”
“All right. I appreciate it.”
“G-Good luck...!”
Should I add one more thing?
“If you get cast as a thug again, ask them to change it.”
“...Okay.”
Laughter crept into Bae Sejin’s voice. When he raised his head, fists clenched and eyes shining—
“I’ll do well.”
Go ahead.
“I’ll keep practicing the stage too.”
Good.
“I’ll also promote the album hard on set...!”
“That’s not necessary.”
It is—even that field’s ruthless. You’ll get crushed. Just focus on the project.
“Um, ah, still......”
Bae Sejin seemed to want to say more, but suddenly locked eyes with someone who hadn’t spoken all meeting.
Big Sejin.
He regarded Bae Sejin with an unreadable expression. Bae Sejin reflexively averted his gaze, then steadied himself.
Instead, he asked Big Sejin seriously.
“What do you think—about me acting during promotions?”
Big Sejin glanced at the table, then spoke.
“In this situation, I think it’s fine.”
“...!”
His tone was relaxed, his nod unequivocal. Bae Sejin nearly leaped from his chair, then cleared his throat.
“No, um, I thought you weren’t speaking because you disagreed!”
“Well... yes. I thought whatever I said, you might interpret it negatively.”
“.......”
‘He hit the mark.’
Big Sejin teasingly raised his intonation, but he was sincere. And Bae Sejin looked stung.
If he’d said solo work was a great idea, Bae Sejin would’ve suspected mockery; if he’d opposed it, he would’ve nodded.
Big Sejin rubbed the back of his neck.
“We’re not rookies anymore... It’s about time for solo work. And you already planned to decline.”
“.......”
“I hope it goes well for all of us.”
Big Sejin’s words rang true.
“...Right.”
This time, Bae Sejin seemed able to accept them.
“All right. I’ll ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) summarize and contact the director!”
“Great!”
And so TeSTAR was ready to officially enter the album promotion period.
In a slightly unconventional way.
“Um... if all collaboration with T1 affiliates is impossible, does that mean we can’t even produce a group reality show this time?!”
“Let’s wait and see.”
