8 YEARS AGO
The legendary producer who paved the way of K-pop
and produced countless super stars starting from the late 90s,
Tae-kyung Jung,
has announced his sudden retirement.
From Jinusean, 1TYM, 2NE1 to BIGBANG,
the producer has fostered big stars.
The truth behind his sudden retirement
-is met with mixed opinions. -How are you?
The reason of his sudden retirement at the peak of his career
and his current whereabouts is
still not yet confirmed.
GD YOU ROCK!
SEUNG-YOON KANG
PRESENT
It's unbelievable how many people still recognize me.
Take it slow...
-You are the best! -Please look over here!
I just saw WINNER!
Now I can die in peace.
-Excuse me. -Oh, you scared me!
Why are they making such a big fuss?
Don't you know who WINNER is?
Are you from the Middle Ages?
"The Middle Ages"?
Chan-hyuk!
Chan-hyuk, you are the most amazing person in the entire universe.
-Chan-hyuk! -Chan-hyuk!
Please stay with us forever!
Chan-hyuk!
-Please don't go. -Chan-hyuk, please don't go to the army.
Without you, Akdang Musician is nothing.
I love you, Chan-hyuk!
I love listening to your music!
You are the love of my life, Chan-hyuk!
Hey, are you a singer?
Gosh, he is so handsome.
-He looks better in person. -That's right.
Oh, my.
I arrived on time for work as usual.
Work hard today for a better tomorrow.
Cheer up, sir.
Sharing other people's pain is
like lighting a warm fire inside your heart.
May I help you?
My goodness.
You are one dedicated worker. My name is Tae-kyung Jung.
I am a co-founder of this company.
We don't accept visits without prior notice.
Please leave.
Wow, you're really good at your job.
I approve of you.
Let me say it again. I am a co-founder of this company.
I even have a photo there.
See?
I have no choice but to call the police.
Don't you really know me?
You leave me no choice.
Tell me, tell me the truth
I produced Jinusean.
I got my inspiration for 2NE1's choreography
when I fell into the water.
Also, I got an idea for BIGBANG when I was riding a subway.
I'm so sorry, but I love you
It was all lies
Get the picture?
-Call the police. -Let me show you.
No, get out.
-Then, get me a razor. -No, just get out.
-But you look like you have a razor. -No, please leave.
I have an ID with me.
No! I can't take it anymore!
Hey, Hee-jung!
Why can't you hold your temper?
Do you think I can hold my temper?
A trainee came in drunk, reeking of alcohol!
How can I team up with a person like that?
Come now. I told her what's what. She will behave herself.
And I can't just lay her off...
Because she's too good-looking?
Then, make a team with a bunch of pretty girls instead!
Hey, Hee-jung.
Hee-jung Kim!
If you leave right now, you are out for good!
Great, I was going to look for a different company anyway.
Hey, there is no need to rush.
Your talent is too good to be wasted.
Take your hands off me, you pervert!
You've got a bit of temper.
Now, let's sit down like this...
and take a deep breath.
Now, when your mind is relaxed,
your head clears.
With clear head,
your body becomes lighter.
Now, like this...
Let me down. I am Tae-kyung Jung!
Wait.
Wait a second.
Tae-kyung Jung?
Hey, I am Tae-kyung.
Are you really Tae-kyung Jung?
Yes, I really am!
Long time no see!
Where have you been?
And what happened to your clothes?
I was on a journey of self-discovery.
Well, it's great that you're back.
Our company expanded while you were away.
I am overwhelmed.
Let's talk more in here.
KEEP DOOR CLOSED!
Hey, tone it down.
Hey! I said tone it down!
Give me a break!
Gosh, there is a pervert!
Oh, it's not like that.
Why did you go into the girls' bathroom?
-What's happening? -This is the women's bathroom!
I know, but...
-What's going on? -Oh, I am so sorry.
Let's get out.
Weirdo.
So you returned to produce a new idol group?
But didn't you want to retire eight years ago?
You even wrote me a letter and said creating idol groups is unbearable.
At that point, I was lost.
Now, I know where to go.
Okay, I have no doubt in your talent,
but you locked yourself in a Hindu temple
and had no access to television or newspaper for eight years.
Maybe you need some time to catch up with the current trends.
The world has changed, you know.
How many changes could the world possibly have
within the span of eight years?
Has North Korea developed nuclear missile?
Or has an artificial intelligence taken over Go?
Why make a big fuss as if the nation has turned upside down?
North Korea developed nuclear weapons.
Artificial intelligence did take over Go.
Our country did turn upside down due to impeachment.
Well, people still listen to music.
I have already taken note of the potential idol members.
Already? Who are they?
I have only seen their faces.
May I look at the profile of the trainees?
Where are they?
Yes, this one.
HYEON-BIN KWON
Hyeon-bin?
He won't do.
He is not good at singing or dancing.
He also craves for attention.
-He is such a show-off. -Teacher.
Hold on a minute.
I don't know if he came to practice or to update his social media account.
He's hopeless.
I like him.
And...
This one as well.
Soo-ah!
SOO-AH
She is a definite no.
Okay, let's give it a shot. You can do it today.
Okay.
She can sing,
but she has stage fright.
Even if there is only one listener,
she would get nervous and run off to the bathroom.
I'm sorry, sir.
I need to go to the bathroom.
She's exactly what I'm looking for.
And...
Here.
HEE-JUNG KIM
How can you choose the ones with flaws?
Well, she is gifted.
However, she is short-tempered.
Seeing that you already have a pretty face and a great body,
I can help you become a star within two years.
In case you were wondering, I'm not a swindler.
How about you visit my office and see for yourself?
You could at least answer me.
Hey, just answer me already!
She doesn't get along with people.
Why you little...
How dare you touch me?
My goodness!
How can you possibly make a group and work with her?
She's perfect.
Also...
She doesn't seem to be in here.
Who?
-She looked like a singer... -What?
-Ji-woo? -No.
-Seung-won Cha? -He is too old to be an idol.
Oh, there she is!
I would like to work with her as well.
You mean Soo-hyun?
She and her older brother debuted as a duet group.
That earned her a bit of success.
However, she tends to depend on her brother.
It's because she doesn't have enough confidence.
After her brother left to serve in the army,
she started to suffer from a stress disorder.
She can't hit high notes anymore.
She's seeing a therapist now,
but it seems like there is no cure.
I couldn't ask for more.
Let me try doing something with these members.
Wait a minute. Were you even listening to me?
I said they all have problems.
Some may choose to call it a problem,
but I chose to call it a possibility.
You've completely changed.
Is it because of what happened in the past?
Since these members are out of your league,
can I take them under my wings?
Yes, but...
you have to consider our company's image.
The genius, Tae-kyung Jung, has returned to make a new idol group.
The news alone will go viral.
But what if the project fails because of the members?
You can kiss our company stock goodbye.
Let's make a deal.
Let me make and manage an idol group
If they don't rank No.1 in the album charts,
I'll sell you my share at half price.
What do you say?
Why don't we introduce ourselves?
My name is Soo-ah.
I'm a trainee for now, but someday...
How about we stay quiet?
We don't even know why we are here. What's the point of introducing ourselves?
That's exactly why!
If we introduce ourselves,
don't you think we would know the reason why we're here?
I think I know why.
I mean, it's only my opinion,
but I think we're going to get laid off.
What? But I need to make my debut.
That is nonsense.
Who says they can lay off a soon-to-be-superstar like me?
What the hell?
Now, that's what I call "beautiful."
Who could lay off a person like me?
Now I'm sure that we're getting fired.
After going through a lot of trouble all these years,
it turns out that I have been only chasing illusions.
Why are you so sure of this?
We don't even know that yet.
Didn't you see him dance?
And I saw how you couldn't sing in front of people.
The company gave up on me.
I'm not sure why Soo-hyun is here with us though.
Well, something came up.
I'm afraid I need to quit and end my career as a singer.
We are indeed part-timers who don't have a clear future.
Were we working as part-timers?
As a matter of fact, all celebrities work as a part-timer.
That's not true.
Let's not worry too much.
I'm sure they will tell us good news.
I can see that everyone is here.
I have a major announcement to make.
Please don't fire us.
We don't have anywhere to go. We're only working as part-timers.
What?
Who said you are going home?
From now on,
I will take care of you guys.
It's nice to meet you all.
Then, are we working full-time now?
Celebrities don't work full-time.
But one thing is sure.
I will make you guys idols.
Then, does that make us part-time idols?
I guess so.
By the way,
who are you?
I think this is the place.
Our schedule is empty.
Why are we already living together?
What's so bad about it? I'm excited.
Don't you feel like we've already debuted?
I admire your optimism.
Soo-hyun, you got downgraded from a singer to a trainee.
Doesn't it make you uncomfortable?
Our dorm seems old too.
I'm okay.
This is a good opportunity for me too.
By the way, what will become of Hyeon-bin Kwon?
Don't you think he has a place of his own
since living in the same dorm with the opposite sex is not allowed?
You guys arrived late.
You live here too?
Yes, why?
Isn't it uncomfortable for people of the opposite sex
to live in the same dorm?
That's right.
I'm here because that's what they told me to do.
I'm just following instructions.
Then, I guess we are supposed to...
There is no need to be passive.
In fact, we don't even know what kind of person the producer is.
I've looked him up and he's quite famous.
He participated in all projects that created superstars of all time.
In fact, he practically launched the company by himself.
He's the most genius of geniuses, a true legend.
Why would someone like him take people like us under his wings?
Actually,
our first encounter wasn't in the meeting room.
I've thought about it,
and I realized that we crossed paths at the company's lobby.
He looked like a person who belongs in a mental hospital.
I bet he would've stood out in a crowd of lunatics.
I've asked around here and there.
They said that he used to be very strict
and that all trainees cried during their practice.
But after living in India or somewhere else for several years,
he turned a bit mental.
What do you mean, "mental"?
He's the only one who recognizes my talent.
He is a bit crazy too.
That makes us a group of mad people.
I'm not that crazy, you know?
And a real lunatic doesn't look crazy at all.
Why didn't you let us know that he is here?
You didn't ask.
Judging by the way you are dressed...
Are you staying here too?
Of course, I have nowhere to go in Korea.
YZ ENTERTAINMENT
Boss.
Don't you think that the dorm assigned to Tae-kyung Jung's team
is too old and small?
We can give them a bigger dorm.
No.
Didn't you notice that I did that on purpose?
It's good for our company if the team performs well.
But...
it's even better if they fail.
If I can get my hands on Tae-kyung's stock at cheap a price,
our governance system will be simplified,
and it will be possible to eliminate risk factors.
We can kill two birds with one stone.
Either way, it's good.
Then, should we cause them trouble?
Don't make it obvious.
Do it quietly.
That stinks!
One by one.
Got it?
What should we do?
Don't you need to check the expiration date?
It says 2008.
Well, as you can see,
our dorm isn't that clean and isn't in a good condition.
But comparing it to the Hindu temple I used to live,
this is actually a 5-star hotel for me.
Anyway, let's clean up our dorm today and have drinks later.
We need some time to get to know each other.
Which snacks would go well with drinks?
Wait a second. I need to connect with my fans.
Fans?
Yes.
It may seem hard to believe, but I have over 500 followers.
For now, there aren't that many,
but they will soon become primary members of my fan club.
Excuse me, aren't you Soo-hyun from Akdang Musician?
Yes, hello.
May I take a photo with you?
Sure.
One, two, three.
-Thank you. Good luck! -Thank you.
I am so jealous.
Why?
You are a real-life star.
Don't you feel happy when people recognize you?
Yes, but not always.
Do you want to be a star, Hyeon-bin?
Of course!
You get to be loved by so many people.
Don't you feel fascinated when you see thousands of people
cheering for you every time you're on stage?
I guess so.
But 90% of the cheer is for my brother.
Soo-hyun.
If we succeed and if I get one million fans,
I couldn't ask for more.
Only fate can tell.
Don't you worry.
We have the genius producer and me.
Hyeon-bin, you're wearing an odd pair of shoes.
I know.
What?
But why did you....
This is one of the things I have to do for my social media activity.
You're a star, but I guess you are not keen.
"I've been very busy with work, so I didn't even realize
that I was wearing an odd pair of shoes.
Just like my heart, my feet are divided in half."
Honestly, I think this is weird.
Welcome to the world of social media.
Be careful.
Thank you.
What's taking them so long?
They must be taking long because they want to cook a nice meal for us.
I don't think so.
In my opinion,
they must be eating or fooling around.
That can't be.
Would it be all right if we eat first?
Don't worry. It's on me.
No, it's not that.
Don't we need to return home and help them clean?
I'm getting a deep cheeseburger. What about you?
I'm fine.
Then give us one deep Cheeseburger and cheese jalapeño nugget please.
Please make it quick.
We don't sell pre-made burgers.
We only grill them when they're ordered, so I would appreciate your patience.
I guarantee that the burger will be delicious and worth the wait.
Sounds perfect.
Why are you so doubtful?
And why aren't you?
The supermarket is a foot away. It shouldn't take them two hours.
I understand your bubbly personality, but you don't need to go overboard.
I'm sorry.
I didn't mean to lash out.
I'm sorry.
I have a bad temper.
Why?
I just do, that's all.
Actually, I...
I was bullied when I was young.
Really?
I think I was a bit timid.
So on purpose,
I showed them that I'm angry.
They stopped bullying me since then.
But after that,
my anger became the only way for me to communicate well.
So that's why.
I'm telling you, it's true.
I tend to be anxious and timid,
but I didn't know I won't be able to sing because of stress.
Wow, strange things really do happen.
The thing I'm best at is singing.
I don't want to cause any trouble to our members.
-It is quite stressful... -No.
I may not know you that much,
but I don't think singing is the only thing you can do.
People don't have one quality.
Really?
Just look at me.
I can dance and sing.
I have everything.
That's entirely her fault for sure.
Now, I feel relieved. You are such a responsive person!
Of course, I am!
A trainee got drunk and was late for practice.
She should be disqualified.
Now that I think about it, everyone makes mistakes.
I may have been too harsh.
No, you weren't.
I would also explode if I were you.
I feel so much better after talking about it.
Honestly, I wasn't confident about staying here.
That's why I was thinking about going to a different company.
I guess I'm still attached to this place.
I'm still here, clinging to this company.
That's not true.
Do you think we're all mindlessly clinging around?
Something is clingy.
What? I told you, you're not.
You're not clingy.
It's not that...
Look at the floor!
What?
Oh, no!
I turned on the faucet to clean and forgot...
My mistake.
This is not a mere mistake.
We were inches away from getting flooded!
I thought you said you're no longer angry?
We cleaned for two hours, and it only leads to this!
Is it so wrong for me to get angry?
I'm sorry.
We are back...
What happened to the floor?
Is this a new cleaning method?
Hey, you guys!
What took you guys so long?
If you guys arrived earlier, none of this would have happened.
Do you think that buying groceries is that easy?
Why lash out on us when you're the ones who made this mess?
That's bullshit.
Did you really go out just for the groceries?
-Of course. -Okay.
Look at these frozen dumplings. They are not so frozen anymore.
You are lying!
Do you want to get hit with these dumplings?
-I'm so sorry. -Don't say that!
Who's the one that messed up our dorm?
It's not me!
-Do you want a piece of me? -Yes, sure!
-Is that your best hit? You missed. -I didn't miss and you...
-You didn't clean for hours! -Clearly, you didn't either!
You guys seem to be getting along.
How high are you to think that we are getting along?
Come on, there is no need to argue.
Let's wrap up cleaning and grill this meat.
I got the good kind.
PROCESSING
PRINTING
Why don't Soo-hyun propose a toast?
-Cheers! -Cheers!
I think it's the right time for me to say this now.
This place became really shiny after that flood.
That's right. I like your positive attitude.
Too much positive thinking can be harmful.
Right, I like your negative attitude.
You are so wishy-washy.
You like this and that. You like everything.
Exactly!
That is one of the lessons I learned after eight years of meditation.
Strength and weakness stick together.
Someone with strength can be followed by its weakness.
And vice versa, someone with weakness can be followed by its strength.
Then, since we all have our weakness...
We have strength as well!
Thank you for the philosophy lesson.
Then, what could possibly be the strength, of a person with a hot temper like me?
Miles Davis, the legend of jazz.
He also had quite a reputation because of his temper.
His temper served as a source of restless energy.
Your words have a sharp blow,
and you tend to make up rhymes.
Turn your anger into creativity, like rap for example.
You have the gift to become a top rapper.
How about me?
You are always hyped up.
But because of your stage fright,
your excitement is building up inside.
If you take out the excitement you've built in for 20 years,
people will be blown away.
Really?
Of course.
I have a problem with singing.
Your singing problem is only incidental.
The real cause is lack of confidence.
Your brother serving in the army might be a good chance for you.
He must have guided you,
but he was like this bottle cap at the same time.
He was somehow blocking you.
Now.
Awesome.
Here you go.
Now, the cap is removed.
I hope you can perform freely and without any limits.
I look forward to seeing that.
What if you don't have any weakness?
It's not that you don't have any weakness.
Frankly, you just have nothing.
I see.
But you like getting attention.
Is that a good thing?
Yes, of course.
Your desire to become a star would not leave you alone.
Do you know why Einstein developed the theory of relativity?
So that he could score points with women.
You want to be loved by everyone.
That alone will drive you to success.
By the way,
are you sure about this?
I mean, that we will be successful?
I'm 100% sure.
Now that we are in a good mood, would you like to try a really good wine?
I bought this bottle of wine while I was traveling in India.
It is supposed to make you forget bad memories.
Here is to us.
-To us! -To us!
What should I do...
Hyeon-bin, please wake up.
Oh, no.
Hello, is this 911?
People who drank last night are not waking up.
No, it doesn't look like a hangover.
They are not showing any signs of reaction for an hour now.
Yes, they drank an odd bottle of wine.
Oh, hold on. It looks like they are waking up.
Thank you.
Are you feeling all right?
Are you okay?
Who are you?
Pardon?
-Hee-jung. -The wine really worked
and made us forget our bad memories.
Hey...
The problem is,
it made us forget other things as well.
Please wake up, everyone.
Why are you guys doing this to me?
It took a whole day for them to retrieve their memories.
Subtitle translation by Min-a Kang
Subtitles downloaded with "Netflix subtitle downloader" UserScript by Tithen-Firion.