The Road to Glory – Chapter 211 – [Side Story] Chapter 13. Walking Into the World

Author: Dawn

Korean broadcasting is divided into before and after Halo’s hemming out. At least, that’s what PD Na Hyejoo thought about Korean broadcasting stations.

Before the hemming out, the broadcasting stations’ stance on Roh Haeil, or more precisely, on Roh Haeil’s attitude, was split in two.

As everyone would know, Roh Haeil wasn’t particularly friendly with broadcasting stations. While stations wanted to be close with the overnight star, Roh Haeil wasn’t active in broadcasts.

He wouldn’t appear when asked, wouldn’t answer calls. The broadcasting stations’ first reaction to this attitude from an overnight star who hadn’t even been active for a year was acceptance.

Having learned from the peculiarities of numerous celebrities, the stations accepted him as just another one of those types. Not all star celebrities appear frequently on broadcasts anyway. Since he wasn’t throwing his weight around or creating controversies that would make the social pages, they just kept sending casting offers without viewing him negatively.

On the other hand, there were more conservative and negative reactions. Some viewed it as ‘showing off’ when someone barely a year into their career wouldn’t respond to casting offers just because they gained some popularity.

Some also saw him as lacking humility, given how confident the artist was in himself.

Still, there wasn’t much they could do right now, and they were closer to the stance of waiting to see what would happen after he lost popularity.

And these two stances of the broadcasting stations completely changed after the hemming out (Halo’s coming out) at Coachella.

There were already many music broadcasts, but they increased even more, and they started trying specific genres like bands and rock that they hadn’t really attempted before.

The Rendezvous template that created the star Roh Haeil had long since sold its rights overseas, and many music-related programs like auditions, radio shows, and talk shows came and went.

Well, unless Halo commits some terrible crime later, there were quite a few people who would roll out the red carpet just for him to come.

Grammy Award winner, The Sun, real artist, music genius. He had no shortage of titles.

Everyone was curious about him, and this was confirmed just by looking at Roh Haeil’s recent NuTube content.

It was just entertaining even though it didn’t add any special content format, or include comedy or emotional appeal.

The topic of his ‘slump confession’ was also going viral.

After streaming, Na Hyejoo, who watched episode 1 on NuTube, honestly thought she would watch episode 2 as well. She couldn’t help but want to watch it.

Anyway, the reason PD Na Hyejoo earnestly expounded about Roh Haeil wasn’t because she wanted to cast him – oh, of course she wanted to bring him in, but she thought it was impossible – it was to explain the program she was planning.

She said the broadcast landscape had changed because of Halo.

Just like many PDs were influenced by Roh Haeil and planned music broadcasts, Na Hyejoo was also influenced by Roh Haeil. She became more certain after Roh Haeil’s NuTube content.

The program she planned was to find Korea’s ‘music genius.’ Yes, just like how such programs were briefly created during the genius craze that once swept Korea, she wanted to find geniuses who might be somewhere in Korea again.

Actually, even if they weren’t geniuses, being gifted would be good enough. The purpose of the project was to connect gifted individuals who couldn’t receive proper musical education due to environmental factors or various reasons with mentors.

The purpose was good.

Music and genius, which are trending these days.

And the possibilities for what could be shown by connecting them with mentors were endless.

The respected star PD, PD Jang, also said it was good and that he could help find mentors. She dreamed of a rainbow-colored future for her debut work.

But what she needed to worry about wasn’t the mentors. It was finding the ‘music prodigies’ who would be mentees. She was contacting and visiting music prodigies through SNS and various places, but…

It was very difficult to find someone who fit her program’s purpose.

She would get her hopes up hearing about awards and achievements, but when she checked, some were quite ordinary, and most were somewhere between gifted and manufactured gifted.

Also, even when meeting actual prodigies, they didn’t seem to need mentors as much as PD Na Hyejoo had thought.

‘More than I expected…’

“These days, it seems wealth is essential for prodigies too.”

Writer Do Minhee said exactly what she was thinking.

That’s right. Today’s prodigies didn’t live the lacking lives shown on TV in the 2000s. They were either born in the so-called Gangnam area and lived in wealthy households receiving good education, or had already been contacted after becoming popular NuTubers.

After going all the way to Jeju Island only to hear that they were already a student of a famous pianist residing in Jeju, PD Na Hyejoo returned with an enlightened face.

“The world these days is really good to live in. Different from my time.”

She couldn’t complain if they called her old-fashioned.

Because she meant it sincerely.

And after emerging from the sea of prodigies, PD Na Hyejoo came to a place called Baegun Island as her last stop.

She wanted to have expectations, but given her experiences so far, it was hard to be hopeful. Moreover, unlike other reports, the sighting of a prodigy on Baegun Island lacked certainty about them being a prodigy.

It was just that they were unusual.

“What was that child’s name again?”

“It was a pretty name.”

Winter, was it? (+) ^[1]

Just as Writer Do Minhee was trying to recall, PD Na Hyejoo got up.

“Well then, let’s get up.”

“Already?”

“We didn’t come here to sleep.”

“Visiting at dawn wouldn’t be polite.”

“Don’t you know countryside starts early? And let’s go out to look around the village too.”

She seemed like she hadn’t slept properly, feeling dejected after numerous failed prodigy searches. Writer Do Minhee dropped her head for a moment before getting up.

The dawn air was cool.

Even in the southern region, the sea breeze in early March couldn’t be ignored.

Still, the sun rising from the horizon was illuminating the entire island.

PD Na Hyejoo stretched.

The dawn air carrying the scent of salt felt like it was awakening her stiff body.

That’s when it happened.

[Friday, March 3rd, announcing the start of the day on Baegun Island with the morning broadcast.]

PD Na Hyejoo was startled by the sudden voice. Writer Do Minhee looked around before spotting the village speaker attached to the streetlight.

“Wow, they even do broadcasts, must be because it’s countryside.”

She was surprised because it had been so long since she’d seen something like this.

Actually, if this were in the city, she would have been annoyed at radio sounds she hadn’t turned on herself, but was she just finding it fascinating?

Or-.

[As we approach the end of the week today. Hoping you have a comfortable and relaxing day-.]

“I don’t know who it is, but their voice-“

The voice coming from the poor-quality speaker was truly sweet.

It was just the right voice to start the morning with. It made her think they would do well on radio. Or even singing-.

It would probably be pleasant to listen to just based on their voice quality, unless they were particularly bad at singing.

She wondered how it would have been if the speaker quality was just a bit better.

PD Na Hyejoo momentarily forgot why she came here and wanted to see the owner of the voice.

“Let’s hurry.”

But this wasn’t the time.

They decided to move quickly.

Baegun Elementary School Broadcasting Club.

Halo was reading the broadcast script written on paper. There wasn’t much written on it, and it was even worn out.

He heard they hadn’t done broadcasts for quite a while.

Not because of any problems, but simply because there was no one to take charge. Either too noisy, too mumbly, or reading so poorly you’d doubt their literacy.

At this time when the village broadcasts had ceased, Halo didn’t really need to do the broadcast, but surprisingly, Halo lacked life skills.

A scene that would shock viewers was captured by the VJ’s camera.

Come to think of it, whether in the past or now, did he ever clean his house diligently or cook for himself?

His house had draft songs rolling around that would now be called trash, regular cleaning staff visited, and cooking was out of the question.

Whether past or present, he had never cooked with his own hands. He either ate with someone or ate food cooked by others.

And when there was nothing to eat, he just drank leftover alcohol. Sometimes starving, sometimes eating leftover french fry crumbs from parties. He wasn’t particularly picky about food then or now.

Now his house was always full of fresh food, and he never had to eat alone.

[This might be a question you’ve heard often, but which season do you like? Summer when the sand beaches is most beautiful? Spring with its colorful flowers and fluffy dawn fog?]

[I like winter the most.]

Halo smiled faintly while looking at the script.

[There’s nothing quite like eating sweet potatoes under thick blankets with your pretty siblings and loving parents. Also, my mother, who always says ‘take care,’ calls me back to wrap a warm scarf around me. She whispers to not catch a cold. Also-.]

Though nothing special, the listed stories were cute.

[But recently, I read this passage in a book: “Many human beings say that they enjoy the winter, but what they really enjoy is feeling proof against it.” This is a famous quote from the British novelist Richard Adams.]

People heading to the harbor at dawn unconsciously scratched their ticklish ears.

It felt completely different from the village broadcasts they heard last year.

They had heard that famous people from Seoul had come. They’d only heard about it briefly and didn’t think they were much different from people like them, but something was different. It seemed they weren’t famous for nothing.

Kim-ssi!

Though Mr. Hwang called out for him to come quickly, he felt reluctant to work.

The languid voice made him feel languid too, without even realizing it.

But he had to go. To make a living.

Mr. Kim walked forward slowly.

The pop song they used to play every Friday was about to come on, and the broadcast not continuing seemed to push him to work.

That’s when it happened.

Ah ah-.

After a brief squealing noise, the voice came back again.

No, a song.

[When I was young, I’d listen to the radio]

[Waiting for my favorite songs]

Someone sang without accompaniment.

[When they played, I’d sing along]

Though they seemed to sing easily without putting much force into it, Mr. Kim knew this song’s notes were surprisingly high.

[It made me smile]

His younger days came to mind.

Memories of listening to music with his lover under a shared blanket. Looking back now, he wonders how they could be so happy in that cramped single room.

[Every sha la la]

How could a song he’d heard to the point of tedium make him feel this good?

Mr. Hwang approached Mr. Kim, who was standing still until the song ended.

“Kim-ssi, it’ll be daybreak at this rate.”

Mr. Hwang blamed him even though he too had stood still listening to the song.

Is it all his fault that he couldn’t appreciate it?

Mr. Kim grumbled as he approached Mr. Hwang.

Mr. Hwang, not knowing his own situation, hummed that song from earlier. He didn’t seem to know that even good songs become noise when he sings them.

“Aight, be quiet.”

The lingering mood would all disappear.

Halo put down the sheet music.

The script said to play music, but unable to find where the music was, Halo fortunately found the sheet music.

Looking at the damaged and hole-filled file full of sheet music, it seemed the CD was lost too.

The morning broadcast ended like this.

Halo thought radio was quite fun in its own way as he got up from his seat.

That’s when noise came from outside.

The sound of someone running urgently.

Since it was before the semester started, there couldn’t be any students, and given the current time, it was before teachers’ arrival.

The only person likely to be around was the grandfather who managed the school, but he had shown Halo around earlier and said he was going in to sleep.

So-.

Halo tilted his head, knowing there shouldn’t be anyone coming. The members would be busy right now too.

Regardless, the sound got closer.

Soon there was breathing sound at the door along with thump thump thump sounds.

The door that seemed about to open remained closed.

Halo stayed still for a moment before approaching first.

Clunk-.

Light came through the opened door, and Halo-.

“?”

Found a scruffy-haired elementary school student.

The kid who was watching other children from hiding in alleys instead of mingling with them.

“No one’s supposed to be able to come here, how did you get in?!”