Chapter 17: Interviewing Frappuccino and Shadows in the Wings

K-POP Music Magazine Frappuccino May Issue Cover Model: 4ever

Everlasting 4ever!

Includes an exclusive 4ever interview

Up to this point, many rookies had appeared like comets.

There were also many rookies who slowly radiated light step by step, as if climbing a staircase.

However, no rookie had experienced both the floor and the ceiling within a single month.

We still do not know them well.

Thus, Frappuccino decided to take on the role of pulling back the veil on behalf of the public who wants to know them.

We held a time to talk about what we wanted to know and what they wanted to share.

Thus, in warm, sunlit April, we met five men dreaming of eternity, 4ever.

Q: Hello.

4ever: Hello!

They appeared visibly frozen, as if their first interview felt awkward.

They sat with tense expressions and postures, but as the conversation flowed, smiles gradually bloomed across their faces.

Q: We heard this is your first magazine interview.

Yunbin: Because of that, out of a desire to do better, both I and the other members prepared quite a lot.

Jemin: Since I’m not particularly articulate (laughs), I pulled out expected questions and practiced answering them for this interview.

Eunhan: Looking from the side, it felt almost like job seekers preparing for an interview (laughs).

Jemin: In a way, it’s no different from taking an interview in front of the general public.

Q: It was a far from smooth debut, so we’re curious about your mindset or thoughts at the time of debut. May we ask directly?

James: Of course.

Q: When you debuted with your title track, did you feel like you would succeed?

4ever: (Pfft, bursting into laughter)

Q: Why are you laughing? (The editor asked while holding back laughter as well.)

Woohyung: The members’ ideas couldn’t be included much in the title track. Because of that, I think there were many regrettable aspects.

Jemin: (Flustered) The CEO strongly insisted that as rookies, we should imprint an intense image first. Of course, that doesn’t mean it was wrong or that we intend to disparage the CEO’s sense.

Yunbin: We were simply lucky. If it weren’t for that title track, we wouldn’t have had early debut fans either. In that case, there wouldn’t have been a marsh snail catching experience fancam either.

Q: Speaking of which, let us ask. What do you think was the turning point for 4ever to receive attention a step late like this? Does 4ever also think it’s because of the fancam? We’re curious about each member’s thoughts.

James: An unknown algorithm?

Yunbin: I wonder if they liked seeing us do our best on any stage. Woohyung dancing so hard that his bones were practically breaking, and Jemin-hyung smiling brightly even when his mic didn’t work.

Eunhan: I knew we’d do well eventually! I just think we did well a little earlier!

Jemin: Wouldn’t the chemistry, tightness, and teamwork between members have stood out? Seeing that group and unit fancams received love alongside individual fancams.

Woohyung: It’s because the follow-up track revealed then, which was my self-composed song, and the choreography were good. Ultimately, idols are people who perform on stage, so if we hadn’t done well on stage, we would never have seized the opportunity even if it came.

Q: It’s fascinating that five different people gathered like this. Could we hear about how the team was formed? Who was in the debut group the longest?

Yunbin: First, I was a trainee at the agency earliest. There were many other agencies, but the reason I chose Q2P was because they planted a dream in me and nurtured it. As an ordinary middle school student, I never imagined I would sing and dance. They continuously blew courage into me, making me think, ‘Let’s try it!’ Even though it took a bit of time.

Q: We’re curious about how James ended up being an idol in Korea, and whether he was originally interested in K-POP.

James: Honestly, I came because I was tricked.

4ever: (Bursting into laughter except Yunbin)

Yunbin: Rather than the CEO tricking him, it means there was a misunderstanding in language communication… right, James-hyung?

James: No. He tricked me.

Eunhan: (Wiping tears spilled from laughing with his sleeve)

James: It’s true that I was interested in K-POP. In the first place, I came to watch a concert.

Q: May we ask whose concert it was?

Yunbin: Hold on a second, let me listen first.

James: (Whispers to Yunbin.)

Q: Haha, now we’re even more curious about which group it is?

James: Yunbin stepped on my foot, so I don’t think I can tell you that. Before coming to the interview, he told me to stop talking if he stepped on my foot.

Yunbin: (Looking wronged) Saying it like that makes me look like such a tyrannical leader!

James: Anyway, I went to see a concert, and the mister in the seat next to me was the current CEO. He gave me a business card and cast me, saying it was a major Korean agency, so I believed him.

Eunhan: (Holding back laughter, eventually bowing his head)

James: I visited the next day, and Yunbin happened to be in the practice room. He was handsome. So I believed it even more and stamped the contract right away.

Yunbin: Now I feel guilty for no reason.

James: No way~ Thanks to you, I became a superstar.

Q: We’re also curious about how the youngest member, Eunhan, joined.

Eunhan: I came through Yunbin-hyung’s recommendation. A kind of parachute insertion, so to speak. As soon as the CEO saw me, he said, ‘Practice starting today.’ Yunbin-hyung was from a high school dance club, so we knew each other. I had given up my dream of being an idol, but I got a contact from hyung asking if I still wanted to do it. I thought I wasn’t meant to be an idol because following the dance was too hard, but somehow it turned out like this again.

Q: Out of the 5 members, 3 including Yunbin are related to Yunbin?

James: Right. The more we talk, the scarier Yunbin seems.

Yunbin: I feel like I’ve become a person running a multi-level marketing scheme right now….

Jemin: It feels like a joint purchase of jade heating mats.

Woohyung: Is that why he became the leader….

Yunbin: Are you raising a conspiracy theory against my authority? (laughs)

Q: Then, between Woohyung and Jemin, who was the last member to join?

Jemin: (Raising his hand high) I came in last! Honestly, even though my dream of becoming an idol was firm, I failed every audition. Because of that, my self-esteem was very low. ‘Is this a spot I don’t deserve? Am I hanging my dreams, hopes, and future on a place I can’t reach?’ There were many nights I couldn’t sleep thinking that. I was simply running toward a dream, but even that step felt selfish because back then, I only met failure. Still, I didn’t give up. The light at the end of the tunnel is the brightest. I think that way—it was only that dark before because I was passing through a long, long tunnel.

Q: The agencies that didn’t pick Jemin will beat their chests in regret.

Jemin: I hope so (laughs). I wish they’d wake up from sleep going, ‘Ah! I should have picked Yu Jemin!’ But is that too bad of a thought?

Q: If you read us the list of CEOs who should regret it, we will quietly handle it for you.

Jemin: (Laughing loudly while slapping Eunhan’s shoulder next to him) Thank you, but I’ll just take the thought.

Q: We heard Woohyung was a trainee at another agency before coming here.

Woohyung: It’s fascinating how everyone found out. I was a trainee at Agency A for about two years.

Q: It couldn’t have been an easy decision, was there a special reason?

Woohyung: Rather than a special reason, there was a special person. Ah, it’s not a relationship like a girlfriend or anything. Someone next to me keeps giving me glares.

Jemin: Haha. Since it’s a sensitive issue, I’ve never asked directly, so it’s my first time hearing it too. I thought he came due to musical reasons. The CEO likes Woohyung’s music.

Woohyung: To put it briefly, he was a hyung who was my role model. I’m thankful to that hyung because I think I didn’t stray into a bad path thanks to him. I hope that hyung sees the light someday as well.

Q: Speaking of role models, we’re curious who the other members’ role models are.

Eunhan: Group B seniors! We filmed a cover video, and I think it will be uploaded soon. And if given the chance, I’d love to stand on the same stage or collaborate.

Yunbin: For me, Senior K. Not only is he great at his main job, but he also does a lot of volunteer work for society, so I want to emulate his positive influence.

Jemin: All the seniors in PPP are my role models, but among them, Senior Ryuseong—beyond being born to be an idol, wasn’t he sent down from heaven to be an idol? If I met him in person, I feel like I’d freeze on the spot.

James: For me, the CEO?

Eunhan: James-hyung, I can feel the ambition to acquire the company (laughs).

Q: Did James say he’s been in Korea for four months? His Korean is fluent; did he originally know how to speak Korean?

James: It was only to the extent of memorizing and singing songs by the singer I liked.

Q: Could we know the secret to improving vocabulary in such a short time?

James: It’s thanks to love.

Q: Right, when you fall in love, you learn that country’s language quickly… wait, what? (Flustered)

James: Because I love the fans.

Jemin: (Surprised, tears welling up) Hyung!

Q: Wait a minute, Jemin is crying?

Jemin: (Wiping tears) I’m sorry. I was really surprised….

Woohyung: (Disgusted) Why are you crying over something like this at twenty-four?

James: Woohyung, twenty-four is a baby. It’s okay to cry.

Eunhan: James-hyung is acting like that because he feels targeted when age is brought up for no reason. He’s the oldest hyung.

Q: I shouldn’t laugh, but you’re so cute that I keep laughing. I’m sorry.

Jemin: Everyone… James-hyung isn’t dating anyone.

Q: Understood. Understood. When Jemin says it while crying like this, who wouldn’t believe it?

Jemin: Thank you.

Q: Would it be too early to ask about the next comeback?

Yunbin: We really want to make sure fans don’t wait as much as possible.

Woohyung: At the same time, we don’t want to disappoint you.

Jemin: We are ready to make you happier moving forward. ‘Forever’.

The weight of the word ‘forever’ is heavy.

Watching their passion and confidence calmly unpack such a word without lightness makes one place high expectations on them. To be continued.

“Hyung, did you see this?”

Jeokyeop said, shoving his phone forward as he watched Ryuseong enter the waiting room.

“What is this?”

“They say it’s an idol blowing up these days.”

Ryuseong sat with his legs crossed on the chair, crossing his arms as he looked back and forth between the screen and Jeokyeop.

“Where is their agency?”

“Q… Q-something… it was a total bottom-tier agency. Hold on, let me search.”

Jeokyeop narrowed his eyes as if he almost remembered, then eventually searched.

“Q2P? It says here.”

“Where is that?”

A sneer spread across Ryuseong’s face.

Jeokyeop laughed out loud, seemingly agreeing with Ryuseong’s reaction.

“Honestly, it feels like they’ll flash and disappear.”

“But why are you showing me these guys? Don’t tell me you’re keeping tabs on them?”

Ryuseong personally pressed the back button on Jeokyeop’s phone for him and spoke.

“Keep tabs on people worth keeping tabs on. We have our standard.”