Debut or Die-Chapter 302
“〈Teholic’s Show Business〉 TeSTAR Edition. Since TeSTAR’s recent popularity is so high that everyone’s at least seen a clip of this variety show, people had expectations and predictions.
“Teholic’s uncles are going to roast TeSTAR so hard lololol”
“Ah, the kids are going to be so cuteㅠㅠ Have fun and play nice!”
Funny Teholic. And the fresh reactions from guests we’ve never seen before!
When this show invites guests, it mostly mines laughs from Teholic’s antics and the guests’ reactions to them. In between, the guests’ promotional purposes are deftly woven in, which is why the format is so well received.
It’s the perfect picture where both guest fans and Teholic fans benefit and leave satisfied!
But this TeSTAR episode... the vibe was completely different.
[M Generation, taste the spicy flavor of Generation Z!]
[Cha Yu-jin: I am a tiger!]
[Ha Jin-tae: I see. So our friend Cha Yu-jin is a tiger.]
[Their minds blown by a tiger comment from someone born in ‘0X year’]
From the very intro, Teholic got steamrolled, and eventually they filled their airtime with their own reactions.
“lololololololololol”
“This is insane—TeSTAR Gen Z madness lol”
Expert editing interpreted everything as a generational gap, collecting only the funniest lines and reactions.
It was a different flavor from the usual show, but it was undeniably hilarious.
‘Those TeSTAR kids really have personalities for days!’
The grad student laughed out loud several times watching the pre-release clip and the opening of the full episode.
Somehow it also felt gratifying that Mundae was Teholic’s only safe haven.
[Park Mundae: Then just one line...]
Park Mundae grabbed the reins from the two runaway maknae like a pro and calmly did what needed to be done.
He promoted the tour, mentioned ties to Teholic, and sang a song....
Mundae’s fans cooed at the sight in delight.
“What’s up with Mundae’s face lol”
“Actually, our baby is technically in the maknae line—total maknae line leaderㅠㅠ”
“Mundangdang has grown up so much”
He was the textbook idol leader on a variety show! The generational conflict that ran wild on screen gradually got tamed.
And once the main game started, Teholic seized the atmosphere again.
Having won the mini-game of reading lip-shapes, they chose the easy argument—then, realizing the rule was reversed (“you must be persuaded”), they were stunned.
[“Receive 1 billion won VS Get stranded”]
[MC Kim Maknae: Now, use your opponent’s argument well and be sure to explain ‘why I was persuaded’~]
It had all the funny twists you’d expect from a variety show!
“Ahahaha!!”
When Cha Yu-jin and Kim Rae-bin lost the mini-game, it was hilarious—but even that was the right move!
On screen, Cha Yu-jin gave his members a thumbs-up.
[Cha Yu-jin: We like it! {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} Kim Rae-bin! Nice job!]
[Kim Rae-bin: You lost because your lip-reading was too fast and inaccurate, so really this win is thanks to you!]
[They’re complimenting us, right, guys...?]
Those little reactions, combined with Teholic’s despair, made it even funnier.
Then Park Mundae neatly wrapped up the situation again.
[Park Mundae: You all did great. From here on, we win—let’s do well.]
[Cha Yu-jin: Go TeSTAR!]
[Kim Rae-bin: Yep!]
“He’s like a kindergarten teacher lol”
“If you cut to just this shot, it looks like a sports match”
“Park Mundae’s so grown-up”
In the channel app, viewers laughed heartily and then warmly praised the team’s atmosphere.
At the same time, they looked forward to seeing how calm Park Mundae would be when thrown by Teholic’s absurd lines.
“Will the T-fox finally appear lol”
“He seemed smart—can’t wait to see how he reacts”
“The more rational the guest, the funnier their bewilderment lol”
And that anticipation seemed sure to be satisfied as Teholic continued to banter and lead the game—until Park Mundae revealed his true nature.
[Park Mundae: Our team would choose being stranded over the 1 billion.]
Park Mundae said the craziest thing with a straight face.
“...???”
The grad student wondered if they’d misheard.
But Park Mundae, rampaging madly, began spouting absurdity with shameless seriousness.
This wasn’t the brazen joking of Teholic—it was on another level because he wasn’t trying to win; he was pushing the losing side’s argument!
As if voicing that true conviction, a subtitle appeared.
[Park Mundae: I can’t abandon my convictions over just one corner of the show.]
[Madness]
“F-k, Park Mundae lololololol”
“They really show Park Mundae’s face like this?”
“What kind of nonsense is this~~~~”
Then each TeSTAR member chimed in in agreement—that alone was comedic gold, since the debate was resolved in a single exchange.
[“That... convinces you?”]
Moreover, Park Mundae’s logic was concise and easy to follow: he’d found stranding more meaningful through his experience, so what could anyone do?
“So persuasive, it’s infuriating”
“Alright, stranding is the best—definitely stranding”
And when Teholic got dragged into counter-arguing, the tables fully turned.
They should have just played along and then flipped it—but they got caught by his unexpected nonsense and launched reactive rebuttals.
[Martin: Everyone! Let’s be realistic... how can stranding be good??]
[Kim Rae-bin: Examined from a realistic standpoint, this makes more sense. As Mundae-hyung said, if we get stranded, it’s still within modern civilization!]
Meanwhile, flash-cut footage showed TeSTAR’s island-stranding variety show scenes.
[“Testimonial from the experienced”]
[Gains: Variety show hit, next album title, money, fame, enlightenment]
[☆Wow, stranding is better than 1 billion!☆]
[“Sounds tempting...? by Production”]
The moment production surrendered, viewers did too.
“This argument is unbeatable”
“Damn, they must’ve loved it lol”
“Oh, they really experienced epic stranding on that island show lololol”
“Is this Stockholm syndrome? They’ve fallen for stranding”
Of course, Teholic, who hadn’t seen the flashbacks, kept valiantly pushing another logic: “It could still be dangerous! People could get seriously hurt!” But Park Mundae just murmured with sad eyes.
[Park Mundae: Isn’t that... more of a tragic accident than stranding?]
[Ha Jin-tae: Stranding is an accident toooo!!]
“lololololol”
“Jin-tae’s veins popping lol”
Teholic was supposed to be the persuaded side, but found themselves scrambling to try and lose—and were utterly confused.
Production did the same, editing in a cosmic backdrop of galaxies and dramatic floating subtitles.
[Generation Z... is terrifying!]
“Stop tying me down”
“Nope—it’s just Mundae being Mundae”
“Popcorn Chicken King hasn’t left—still has that rookie spirit”
And the grad student realized.
‘Mundae... is a fourth-dimension character.’
They’d forgotten, seeing only his recent cool and savvy moments, that this idol had personality from the start—he even danced 〈POP☆CON〉 on debut....
In the end, Teholic’s final push turned into a serious, logical debate.
[Martin: But! That’s TeSTAR’s case, right? Not ours! We don’t want stranding! We wouldn’t!]
But Cha Yu-jin asked innocently.
[Cha Yu-jin: Senior, have you been stranded?]
[Martin: Uh, no.]
[Cha Yu-jin: Then you don’t really know if you dislike it! You have to try it to know!]
Park Mundae calmly spoke to the stunned opposing team, hands clasped.
[Park Mundae: Wouldn’t it be more reasonable to trust the testimony of someone in the same field who’s experienced it?]
[Cha Yu-jin: That’s right. Experience matters!]
[Kim Rae-bin: Truly wise words.]
“Talking like the Buddha lol”
Comments crossed as a huge stamp subtitle appeared over Teholic’s dumbstruck faces.
[“Makes sense when you hear it...!”]
And that’s how Teholic won a hollow victory....
[MC Kim Maknae: Now, it’s time for explanations~ Did you prepare why you were persuaded?]
Ultimately, Teholic had to declare nonsense in their own words.
[Ha Jin-tae: Stranding... because we’re idols! It offers growth and financial gain through new experiences....]
[Ha Jin-tae: Therefore... stranding is our goal for next year over a mere 1 billion! Aaaah!]
[MC Kim Maknae: Okay~ Very convincing!]
The moment that line came out, production applauded—it was from laughter.
[Ha Jin-tae: Don’t laugh, you people!! Is this funny?? We’re actually going to aim for stranding next year!]
Meanwhile, the three TeSTAR members nodded solemnly.
[Park Mundae: Though we lost, I think we fought well.]
[Martin: What are you talking about? You tried your best to lose!]
[“lololololololol”]
The camera cut to each gentle TeSTAR face like a comedy skit.
“Ah, really!!”
The grad student burst out laughing!
Only then did Park Mundae finally crack a smile and start saying something like “We had fun.”
As a show indicator, Kim Rae-bin alone froze in bewilderment one more time—another laugh—then...
The next corner arrived.
[If you win the game, you get promotion; if you lose, you get a punishment.]
[What punishment will TeSTAR receive??]
So far, punishments had been goofy meme reenactments or comedic stages. The grad student, beaming, stared at the punishment wheel in anticipation.
It spun wildly, then slowly slowed until....
[!!!!]
It revealed a shocking punishment!
“Ah~ Today’s shoot went well.”
“You all worked hard.”
“Thank you!”
I bowed my head along with the two of them to Teholic. The moment the cameras turned off, those guys, who had gotten swept up in the vibe, returned to calm as if none of it had happened.
‘So that was the secret to their variety show persona.’
The torrent of insults they’d been hurling at each other was gone, replaced by the demeanor of long-time coworkers.
‘That might be the key.’
Just then, one of the guys who’d been shouting passionately during filming casually spoke up.
“You speak well—are you interested in variety shows?”
“...?”
An offer from their lineup? I answered crisply.
“Variety is fun. But per the agency’s policy, I want to focus more on the album.”
“Ah~”
He understood immediately, sipped his drink, then continued slowly.
“As advice from a senior... it’s hard to stay successful if a group only does music. Ironically, to last long, each person needs to do well individually.”
“Hmm.”
“People~ get bored quickly and their feelings change.”
A firsthand insight, huh.
Meanwhile, a similar exchange was happening beside me.
Kim Rae-bin was delicately offering Teholic’s album for their signatures.
“Thank you, senior...!”
“Ah, come on—you don’t need to do this. Anything else you need?”
“W-well then! I’d appreciate advice on what’s kept a group active for so long!”
Kim Rae-bin’s eyes lit up, and the Teholic member scratched his head.
“Um. Don’t lean on each other too much?”
“Huh...?”
“We’re not friends because we clicked—we’re teammates. Remembering that keeps it easier.”
It was surprisingly earnest advice.
‘He’s basically saying, “They’re not your friends, so don’t be upset if you don’t click.”’
Watching Kim Rae-bin bicker with Cha Yu-jin must’ve given him food for thought. The Teholic member himself looked a bit flustered.
“I see!”
But Kim Rae-bin interpreted it his own way.
“That’s precisely like family: you can’t choose them.”
“...??”
“Though we didn’t meet for camaraderie, I believe genuine solidarity can grow within.”
“Oh... right. Fighting!”
Teholic looked puzzled but didn’t argue—they’d seen every kind of character by now.
‘...Funny guy.’
I chuckled and looked back at the one who’d offered the variety-show line of work.
“But for now, I’ll keep focusing on group activities and working hard.”
He shrugged.
“Sure. If the agency says so, there’s nothing you can do.”
I politely wrapped up the conversation, then approached Kim Rae-bin, who was gathering the signed albums, and asked:
“Think you can prepare the punishment within three days?”
“No problem.”
Kim Rae-bin smiled brightly.
The punishment they’d receive this time was... the M Generation’s childhood dream: the theme song of an animation.
