When idols debut or make a coback, it is often said that they hold a showcase. A showcase, simply put, can be seen as an introduction. It’s like saying, “This is our concept, this is our group, and these are the kinds of songs we can perform.”
In other words, it is the very first ti they present themselves to the public before a debut or coback.
To use a rough analogy, it’s similar to the sample tasting corner in a large supermarket. The new product is cooked right there to let custors sll and taste it. An idol’s showcase is just the sa. It’s about letting people get a whiff and a taste.
Typically, idol showcases co in two types: one for reporters and one for fans.
Like a movie premiere, they first show themselves to the reporters, and then they et the fans. In short, two showcases are held in one day. Through this, they provide material for reporters and joy for fans.
Since it’s their first unveiling to the world, whether it’s a debut or a coback, the idol’s agency pours a great deal of effort into the showcase process, concept, outfits, venue, promotion, and so on.
In addition, a showcase serves as a baroter to gauge the idol’s current recognition.
If the idol is not very popular, neither the reporters nor the public may even notice the showcase happened. But for idols who have built up considerable buzz before debut, it’s an uproar from the start. Of course, most rookie idols’ showcases are usually quiet. It’s rare for things to explode right from the beginning.
However, ‘Vanguard’ was a completely different story from ordinary idols.
They had already gained montum through ‘Produce That 100!’ and various other things. Moreover, they had a considerable Japanese fanbase. This ans they had built up trendous buzz and controversy. That’s why manager Kim Ki-baek, said,
“And how about holding the ‘Vanguard’ showcase at Gocheok Do?”
He proposed Gocheok Do for the ‘Vanguard’ showcase. As soon as he finished speaking, CEO Ha Seo-hwan asked back with a strange expression,
“…Gocheok Do?”
The surrounding executives and staff frowned slightly or showed slight bewildernt in their eyes.
“Go, Gocheok Do.”
“Manager Kim, are you serious??”
“Manager-nim… suddenly Gocheok Do? That’s quite sudden.”
It wasn’t a strange reaction. And for good reason.
“You know, right? Gocheok Do has over 20,000 seats.”
Because Gocheok Do has more than 20,000 seats. Gocheok Do is literally a do-style baseball stadium. But Gocheok Do has also been used as a concert venue for famous singers or idols. Since its scale was quite large, articles like this were often seen.
《Gocheok Do filled with 20,000 seats, a historic concert!/Photo》
In short, while Gocheok Do has several precedents as a concert venue, it has never been used for a showcase. So it’s only natural that the executives and staff were taken aback.
“To hold a showcase… at Gocheok Do honestly, I think it’s going to be difficult.”
When people are presented with sothing they’ve never experienced before, they unconsciously beco afraid. Especially when the scale is overwhelming.
“Weren’t we originally looking into a mid-sized performance hall for the ‘Vanguard’ showcase??”
“Gocheok Do… that’s way too much. Not only do we have to fill all the seats, but the stage construction alone will cost at least double no, probably triple.”
“I think it’s a bit too much, honestly.”
The staff had valid points. No matter how much buzz ‘Vanguard’ had, they were still rookies. Moreover, even a typical showcase costs a lot to hold. If it’s at Gocheok Do, which has more than 20,000 seats, the budget will easily multiply several tis over. That’s just the cost of building the stage, not even considering the operations and promotions. As the size grows, the number of people hired will also increase drastically.
Even with just a brief thought, it felt overwhelming, and several staff mbers held their foreheads. Especially the departnts in charge of budget managent.
At that mont,
-Swish.
CEO Ha Seo-hwan, who had his arms crossed, slowly raised his hand. The murmuring staff fell silent, and he locked eyes with Manager Kim Ki-baek.
“Explain in more detail.”
He was asking why he had considered Gocheok Do. Kim Ki-baek let out a small breath and replied, as if he had prepared his answer.
“Twenty thousand seats at Gocheok Do. I think we can fill them all, which is why I brought it up. Um- do you rember when the ‘Vanguard’ mbers held a mini concert while they were on ‘Produce That 100!’?”
“That’s right.”
“At that ti, several thousand seats were sold out. Of course, that was while ‘Produce That 100!’ was still airing, so it made sense. But since then, ‘Vanguard’ has grown in size several tis over. I think 20,000 seats would be no problem.”
“No problem?”
“And, I also considered Vanguard’s concept.”
“……”
CEO Ha Seo-hwan subtly shot a look as if telling him to keep going. Kim Ki-baek glanced around at the surrounding staff.
“‘Vanguard’. The first, the unique, the leading. That’s the concept. But if we go with the sa format, similar scale, and familiar vibe as other idols, it’s kind of… dull, right? ‘Vanguard’ has to be different from the start, launching with an impact that makes jaws drop, sothing unheard of. That’s how it fits the concept.”
Gradually, a sense of agreent began to ripple through the staff.
“And even if we don’t fill all 20,000 seats, it’s not a huge problem. With a bit of dia play, ‘Vanguard fills over half of Gocheok Do’, we’d still get a reaction. The core of Vanguard’s showcase is.”
“A historic first.”
CEO Ha Seo-hwan cut in during Kim Ki-baek’s briefing, his face full of interest.
“Sothing no idol has ever attempted. ‘Vanguard’ goes first, and the rest follow.”
“Mm- though wording-wise, ‘crushes it’ might be better than ‘attempts’, but yes, that’s the vibe.”
Tap, tap, tap. CEO Ha Seo-hwan rhythmically tapped the desk with his index finger. Then ca a smile.
“Not bad. No matter how many people show up, it’ll hold symbolic value.”
At this point, Kim Ki-baek thought,
‘Ti to throw a jab.’
He judged it was the right mont to poke CEO Ha Seo-hwan just a bit.
“Of course, it’ll cost a lot. But since you said not to worry about budget, this is just a proposal. If the scale feels too big, we can scale down.”
CEO Ha Seo-hwan smirked at him.
‘He’s subtly provoking , saying “unless we’re broke, we should go for it.”’
Perhaps the nearby executives noticed as well; two of them narrowed their eyes slightly. But CEO Ha Seo-hwan didn’t mind at all. He was truly planning to stake everything on ‘Vanguard’.
“Gocheok Do it is.”
He made the decision on the spot.
“Let’s not worry about other entertainnt companies or idol groups. ‘Vanguard’ quietly walks its own path. Even if there’s interference, it’s fine if we overpower them physically. And the showcase, Gocheok Do.”
At that mont, the female team leader of the A&R team chid in.
“But… renting a place like Gocheok Do just for a showcase feels a bit lacking.”
She was asking whether the content would be too thin for such a grand backdrop. Kim Ki-baek answered without even a second of hesitation.
“We solve that by combining the debut showcase with a debut concert.”
“You’re combining it with a debut concert??”
“Yes. Of course, since the focus is the showcase, the concert quality may be a little diluted, but that shouldn’t be an issue.”
This, too, was a first.
“‘Vanguard’ debuts not through a music show, but with a concert. Sounds good, right? Impactful.”
A short while later.
After the eting, where many things had been decided, Kim Ki-baek called the ‘Vanguard’ mbers to the practice room and inford them of what had just been finalized. Si-hoo, Kang-min, and Do-kyung all widened their eyes in shock.
“W-Where did you say??!!”
“Gocheok Do… Gocheok Do?? You an the Gocheok Do I’m thinking of?!”
“For real??? We’re holding our showcase at Gocheok Do?!”
While the mbers were losing their minds, Kim Ki-baek remained calm. Or rather, his energy felt still.
“Yes. That Gocheok Do.”
Gocheok Do? Kang Rojun was just as surprised. He didn’t know the details, but he had a rough idea that Gocheok Do was a big baseball stadium.
‘We’re doing a showcase in a giant baseball stadium like that? Is that normal? Judging from the mbers’ reactions, it seems far from standard.’
Recently, the mbers and Kang Rojun had been talking a lot about the showcase and debut. Now that the debut songs had been decided, they were imagining the future. But suddenly, Gocheok Do? Soon, Kim Ki-baek continued.
“As you all know, Gocheok Do seats over 20,000. But I think ‘Vanguard’ can definitely fill it…”
Kang Rojun’s thoughts began to blur as Kim Ki-baek explained slowly. Damn, 20,000 seats? The sheer number startled him. He expected it to be big since it was a baseball stadium, but hearing 20,000 made his heart pound. For the record, Kang Rojun had never once been to a baseball stadium.
‘Not just 20,000, but over 20,000?? Whoa- this is insane.’
The mbers froze. Rojun also felt a rise in tension. But Kim Ki-baek wasn’t finished yet. He went on to drop more information, like combining the debut showcase with a concert, a rough cue sheet for the day, and so on.
Lastly,
“From what I’ve researched, in the first half of this year, many rookie idols are debuting and, so big-na groups are making cobacks. In short, it’s going to be a real war zone. Sounds fun, right?”
He gave a faint smile.
After that.
The ‘Vanguard’ mbers gathered in the practice room were buzzing with conversation over what they had heard from Manager Kim Ki-baek. A whirlwind of emotions surged, excitent and fear, worries and concerns, anticipation and elation, and more.
“Gocheok Do!! The dream stage of idols!”
“Crazy… Are we really doing our debut showcase at Gocheok Do??”
“A showcase mixed with a concert, that’s seriously a first, right???”
“I honestly thought only the really huge idols went there.”
“Ugh, my hands are shaking. What if not many fans co?”
“Anyway, once this is announced, it’s gonna blow up!!”
“Of course it will. The press, our fans… this is gonna be a huge deal.”
In contrast, Rojun beca unusually calm. He just watched the other mbers bounce around. Of course, he was a little nervous too, but not nearly as much as the others. Probably a difference in interests. Si-hoo, Kang-min, and Do-kyung had probably seen many idols soaring on the Gocheok Do stage, but Kang Rojun, honestly, had never seen it even once.
Right now, instead.
‘20,000 people, compared to the mini concert during ‘Produce That 100!’, it’s on a whole different scale, right?’
He found it kind of exciting. Though maybe he’d feel differently on the actual day.
The overly amped-up mbers soon threw themselves into training, while Kang Rojun moved to the studio. The mont he arrived, he had a lot on his plate.
But first, he picked up his phone.
He logged into YouTube.
To check out videos related to Gocheok Do. But before that, he checked the ‘Vanguard’ channel first.
[Channel Na: Vanguard]
[Subscribers: 4.12 million]
[Videos: 8]
Before he knew it, ‘Vanguard’’s channel had surpassed 4 million subscribers. Compared to the initial spike at launch, the growth had slowed, but it was still increasing, so it wasn’t a problem.
“Manager said once we officially debut, the numbers will explode again.”
Rojun casually browsed through view counts and comnts, then searched for ‘Gocheok Do concert’. A flood of videos appeared. He imdiately let out a small exclamation.
“Oh-”
The concert videos from top-tier singers and idols were awe-inspiring.
-♬♪
Tens of thousands of seats filled with fans, lighting shooting out from everywhere, a massive stage, and artists dominating that stage.
“…When tens of thousands of light sticks co together, it’s literally looks like field of stars.”
The sight of thousands of light sticks swaying in the dark Gocheok Do was stunning even on video. He wondered what it would feel like to actually stand on that stage.
Goosebumps crept up Kang Rojun’s arm.
Just like that, Rojun watched Gocheok Do videos for about an hour, imagining that one day, this would be his future. Then he lowered his phone.
‘Honestly, I can’t clearly picture myself at Gocheok Do right now.’
But there was sothing he needed to do right now.
“First, work. Work.”
If he kept doing what he needed to now, one day he would stand on that Gocheok Do stage. Filled with determination, Kang Rojun opened his laptop. He started with lyrics writing. The lyrics for the debut songs, ‘GreenBee’, ‘Windveil’, and ‘Flying Bell’, were already completed. He had also heard that they were officially confird in the morning eting.
What remained now was.
“The Japanese versions.”
Writing Japanese lyrics for ‘GreenBee’, ‘Windveil’, and ‘Flying Bell’. Manager Kim Ki-baek had said it’d be good to have them ready, and Rojun also wanted to do it. As a review or study exercise.
-Swish.
Soon, Kang Rojun began scribbling Japanese quickly into his notebook.
And the next morning.
Leaving the dorm with the other mbers, Kang Rojun got into the waiting company van. Not long after, sothing made his eyes widen noticeably as he glanced down at his phone.
The reason was simple.
‘…A hundred million?’
There was a 100-million-won-level deposit in his bank account.
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