Debut or Die-Chapter 327
[Idol of the Year TeSTAR Wins Artist of the Year at ToneA]
[“202X ToneA”: TeSTAR’s Grand Prize March]
[ToneA Grand Prize Euphoria... TeSTAR: “We’re Launching Our Label!”]
At first, articles covered the Grand Prize news, the acceptance speeches, and TeSTAR’s prospects in equal measure.
No doubt, many people were primed to hit “publish” at the exact moment the award was announced.
After all, the first article exposed tends to get the most clicks.
For the next couple of hours, more write-ups simply reproduced what was said during the speeches.
But the true public reaction only emerged after the ceremony ended.
[TeSTAR Launches Independent Label—A New KPOP Development Strategy by T1?]
[T1’s New Artist-Dedicated Label: Kicked Off by TeSTAR]
Everyone was reacting to TeSTAR’s exceptional Grand Prize speech.
“Why are they launching a label?”
In truth, spinning off an artist-focused label isn’t that rare anymore.
But the difference lay in the presentation.
It wasn’t the company announcing it as a business decision—it was the artists themselves, live onstage.
“It looks like T1 is really committed.”
“I wonder what they have planned.”
Anyone familiar with the entertainment business smelled an opportunity at once.
And the fans only fueled the fire.
– FINALLYFINALLYFINALLY
– The days of stashing our kids in a T1 sub-label are over, so proud of you guys ㅠㅠ
– I’ve never seen Mundae that excited—he’s still on cloud nine after the award, so cute I’m crying
– Am I dreaming?
– Wow, an independent label before even the renewal season... throw some staff and resources at them
People who’d often been frustrated by the company were ecstatic to hear both the Grand Prize and the label news.
As their excitement flooded comments and posts, even casual observers took notice.
“Wait, is this a big deal?”
That sparked a second wave: the stock market.
[What do you think about TeSTAR’s independent label news?]
Is this bull news for T1 Entertainment?
– Since Spacer, the boy group from the new “AJUSA” season, could compete with TeSTAR’s position, they gave TeSTAR its own label. Expect a new plan next year.
– Haha, looking at T1 Stars’ revenue this year, the label’s logic is obvious—definitely good news
└ Exactly—domestically TeSTAR’s top-tier, but they’re weaker abroad. And once you dominate Korea, overseas follows^^ Next year, global expansion will multiply their revenue and name value.
– T1 owns 100% of TeSTAR’s label shares, right?
– I’m not into entertainment stocks... but this looks sweet
As rumors spread that “T1 has big plans,” the share price climbed accordingly.
Analysis pieces popped up, treating the label’s launch as fact.
[Why Is T1 Entertainment’s Stock Rising?]
[Benefits of an Independent Label: T1’s New Strategy]
By now, T1’s headquarters itself wouldn’t want to claim ignorance about TeSTAR’s sub-label.
A denial could backfire as bad news.
And even if we go independent, T1 Stars remains a subsidiary—T1 loses no advantage.
The company simply forfeited its biggest leverage to cajole or intimidate us.
“You can’t threaten us with ‘do you want a fallout with T1?’ anymore.”
Thus the situation unfolded as follows.
Three days after the awards.
“The company wants to release a statement saying, ‘Nothing concrete has been decided yet.’”
“No way.”
Of course.
Instead of digging in, the company bowed ever so slightly and started talking—checking our stance.
“Perfect.”
Now they’d come to the negotiating table voluntarily.
I nodded inwardly at Ryu Cheong-woo’s report.
Most members reacted with disbelief, but the fact that the company was already scrambling to communicate was a win.
Even Bae Sejin flashed a discreet thumbs-up and mouthed, “Well done...!”
“.......”
That sounded exactly like the guy who first agreed to this plan. I nodded grudgingly.
But one member’s face turned red and he stomped his foot.
“T-that’s too much...!”
“...?”
...Seon Ah-hyun? Suddenly?
He clenched his fist and began to explain.
“You talked to Mundae so harshly back then...!”
Oh. On the day of the ceremony.
Right—on that day, they’d even called us directly to scold a bit, as if they were out of control.
“I think I spoke rashly, lost everyone’s trust,” or something like that—I’d only half-listened.
Still, we’d offered a perfunctory apology gesture—“Sorry if we startled you. We’ll let you know next time in advance.”
It had all been expected theater, but apparently he’d taken it to heart.
Seon Ah-hyun raised his fist.
“M-Mundae apologized... but then you didn’t apologize, and now you’re acting like Mundae’s the liar... this can’t stand.”
“I think that too. The company’s in the wrong. They need to taste justice!”
Cha Yoo-jin agreed, obviously inspired by a recent superhero-movie dub.
Ryu Cheong-woo thought for a moment, then asked gently,
“So what do you want to do?”
“I want us to protest. Like—vote on it by majority... is that okay??”
“Well, I don’t mind. Let’s put it to a vote.”
“...??”
They didn’t ask me?
So the non-offended members voted to decide.
Unanimous in favor of protesting.
Seon Ah-hyun declared firmly,
“Let’s lodge a formal protest...!”
“.......”
I nodded reluctantly.
“Alright... I appreciate it.”
“Ah, no...! Um, Mundae, what do you want to say?”
What do I want to say?
Everyone was silently telling me to speak my mind. They were looking at me.
Then.
I shrugged.
“Then I’ll just say exactly what happened.”
“Huh?”
“The things you said.”
There was nothing more to add. I drafted an honest reply that reflected Ah-hyun’s position precisely:
We were taken aback by the company’s request. The contract is clear—why claim “nothing’s been decided”? Did you never intend to follow through?
We apologized during the ceremony, thinking you might’ve been embarrassed by the media—but now, we’re uneasy about that apology too.
We assumed you’d honor the contract, which is why we announced it in our speech. We hope you’re not actually planning to backtrack—and if so, that’d be even more upsetting.
In short: “Stop messing around and give us the plan, please.”
“T-thank you... I’ll send it like this!”
“Okay~~”
“I think it conveys our disappointment perfectly! Amazing work!”
Amid the members’ cheers, Seon Ah-hyun sent the message to company management.
Then Big Sejin bowed slightly toward me and whispered,
“It won’t work, will it?”
“It won’t.”
There’s no way the company, upon reading that, suddenly twitches and declares, “We’re terribly sorry! We’ll launch the label immediately!”
They’d only grow resentful and more anxious.
“They see that nothing’s going their way, so they’re pissed.”
Meanwhile, they still have to soothe us, so they can’t drop the ball on care either.
We’ve become the powerless party in every respect.
Trapped.
I let out a short laugh.
“But, you know, mistakes tend to happen in situations like this.”
“.......”
Big Sejin looked at me silently, then patted my back.
“Mundae, let’s keep TeSTAR going. Actually, we’re TeSTAR for life. Right?”
“Sure.”
I chuckled. It felt good to be acknowledged—and it was genuinely pleasant to be able to agree to that.
And if everything goes according to plan, things will only get better.
A few days later, just as expected, the agency caused a massive uproar.
They picked a fight with their parent company, T1 Entertainment headquarters.
Unable to persuade either T1 or TeSTAR, the agency lost its power to speak on its own.
But it couldn’t stay silent either—fans had started to complain.
– Why hasn’t the agency said anything?
– The only official statement is “nothing’s been decided yet,” that’s kinda lame
– Even if full launch is after awards season, they need to show some gesture. There’s no way we’d talk about an undecided plan in our speeches
It felt like protest trucks would roll up any moment if they stalled too long.
And I realized my announcement had fueled the buzz among fans.
Behind the scenes, people were speculating, “Why did Park Mundae mention it?”
– Looks like they poured serious investment into that label, judging by how Mundae snagged the mic lol
– Is he acting CEO or something?
– You never yield to the leader on this stuff—bear brain, indeed
Those were the malicious anti-fan takes, but controversy only increases coverage.
And those negative comments presupposed, “TeSTAR’s label is going to be massive,” so everyone naturally drew the same conclusion.
“You can’t buy that kind of hype.”
Eventually, T1 Entertainment itself bit the bait.
[T1 Proposes a New KPOP Vision: “Starting with an Artist-Dedicated Label”]
They put out an article first.
Essentially, T1 Stars declared they had no intention of letting TeSTAR go quietly.
And did our agency executives give up after that?
Of course not. Rumor has it they flew into a rage and sent a strong statement to the parent company.
“Stupid move.”
Normally, even foolish as they were, they wouldn’t have done that—but obsessed with this contract issue for days, they lost their judgment.
Their ill-considered statement went up to headquarters and...
The agency execs were marked as contemptible in T1’s high echelons.
The result?
“...So, it looks like we’ll go independent early next year.”
What else could it be? A surrender declaration.
“Holy crap!!”
The guy on my video call shot awake.
He’d been dying to hear the update since our award speech, so I was filling him in.
I’d originally planned an audio call but switched to video to check on him.
“Glad there’s no sign of trouble yet.”
He’s training well and seems healthy.
“Hyung, isn’t it freezing over there? Like a balcony...?”
I laughed. It seems every time I sneak off to avoid the members, I end up here.
And honestly, I could’ve called from my room on this tiny screen, but habit brought me here.
“It’s fine. The place is expensive, so it’s well-insulated.”
“Wow... that’s great!”
“Yeah.”
I shrugged.
“And congrats on the label again. As a fan, I can’t wait for the next album...”
Big Daedal, in Ryu Geon-woo’s body, launched into his own speech, which I listened to silently.
That’s when I heard movement beside me.
Clatter.
“Mundae, the company’s calling..!”
“Huh?”
I turned to see Bae Sejin bursting through the balcony door, phone in hand.
‘What now?’
I pulled out one earbud to talk, but before I could, he started poking at my phone’s screen.
“...?”
“Um... umm??”
As if recognizing someone.
“.......”
– Hyung? Hyung?
No way.
