#fmdting

“i’d say take care of you? that one’s a pretty personal one, and in any case it pertains to some heavy aspects i’m still managing. either that one or superstar? superstar’s just a fun one because i doubt any of the listeners get the actual meaning — probably flies over their head. the song’s a cry for help, yet the public doesn’t give a shit. they’re just jamming to it.”

10. if you were auditioning for your company today, what would you perform for your audition, or what would you change from your original audition?

“i can’t remember exactly what i did for my audition — my guess is my own take of a personal self-written rap or just a simple supreme team cover. i wouldn’t change it because in the end, got me here after all, didn’t it? or actually, maybe i would re-do it so that in any case i’d be rejected and my life might have been a lot simpler. but really no use dwelling on things that’ve already passed, right?”

11. if you could do any special stage, what would it be and who would it be with?

“it’d be nice to have an actual rap stage, considering the award shows are already plain and vanilla as they can get. but you know, i can’t just bring my friends from the underground scene onto stage — that’s just not how shit works. so, in any idol-world, i’d put max, sunghee, maybe that guy joosung.. though do soloists count? yeah, i’ll just leave it at that then.”

13. if you could become a model or ambassador for any brand, what would you choose?

“consider me satisfied with my one and only brand deal — chanel’s a womenswear collection, i’m aware. but the history of the brand vibes with me. it’s not some knockoff company trying to copy the others. they’re original. they keep to their own style and people still continue to consume it. couldn’t have chosen a better fashion brand myself.”

21. what one song or album by another group or soloist would you have liked to release yourself?

1. what is your favorite single you’ve released?

“solo wise? i’ve only released one solo portal song, which was a self-written song called that’s okay. well, bc forced that one on me when they took pages from my diary — still, my only one solo release, and that’s the favorite since i’m left with no other option. in regards to group? everyone knows, amigo or not — my favorite will always be view. something special about that time, i tell you.”

2. what are your favorite b-sides/non-title tracks you’ve released?

“since i haven’t released any songs by myself other than the one mentioned before, i’d have to go through decipher’s discography. lovesick, odd eye, prism, honesty, stranger, better off — there’s a lot to sift through in the past few years. unfortunately, there’s a point where my interest had started weaning off idol-dom, and you can observe that when i stopped paying attention and interest into what decipher did conceptually after 2016. at least the enjoyment was fun while it lasted.”

3. what is your least favorite song (title track or b-side) you’ve released?

”that’s an easy one. you take any b-side we’ve released in the past few years, and that probably makes the list. the comeback with the b-side shot was awful. that’s probably the worst, in my head. never was a fan of that comeback, now that i think of it — i call it the dark blip of decipher’s early career. perhaps it’s just ambivalence at this point that i have no real strong feelings towards bsides nowadays.”

4. if you could do a duet with anyone in the industry, who would you choose? what do you think of your/your group’s concept?

“i’d want to do a duet with duri — we’ll have a tale of the oldies. the two 1990 liners inside bc’s walls doing a ballad song. though, duri would have to take the high notes on that one seeing as how he’s a power vocalist. there’s rarely times where i’m able to keep in touch or have people around my age, and for that — i’m always grateful when i come across that. we’d manage something interesting given the same age, and the ballad concept.”

5. what do you think of your/your group’s concept?

“decipher doesn’t really stick to a concept, and i suppose our concept has always been to branch into new avenues. there’s good things and bad things about it, obviously. we’re given new things to try, new stylings, and what not. however, we’re also subjected to that risk in case it doesn’t turn out how bc envisioned. to put it short — it’s either a hit or miss.”

6. what is one thing (a concept, a genre, an outfit, etc.) you would least like your company make you do?

“decipher’s novelty in the industry is that we’ve been here so long that we’ve managed a lot of different concepts. from the house pop to retro vibes, even spring ballads in soft tunes — we’ve done it all. the least? i’d say another electronic heavy music where we’re dancing like madmen. i wouldn’t mind a powerful choreography to show i can still ‘hang’, but to the sounds of techno-ish music? i don’t think so. at least, not with my age.”

7. what one thing (concepts, genres, styling, frequency of comebacks, etc.) would you like to change about your current career as an idol?

“i don’t want to comeback so frequently — it seems we’re coming back more frequently than other rookies. it would be nicer to stay back and relax while we let the hoobaes have their time to shine. genres and concepts aren’t really on the top of my list to complain about, though i would enjoy an old throw-back to decipher’s glory days where we’re given something newer. perhaps, that’d be enough to rejuvenate my attitude towards the industry.”

8. if you could be in any idol group, which one would you choose?

“with my age, i don’t think i’d fit any group. perhaps, i could assimilate myself to knight, but the bad boy niche doesn’t really match mine. say, i was a few years younger — then, you’d have me inside charm. i think i’d do a pretty good left and right if you ask me.”

9. if you could say one thing to your ceo, what would it be?

“i respect the business model you form. however, i’m still trying to understand it when applied to me. thirteen years, and i have yet to sit down and have a conversation with you. it’d be nice to have one someday.”

10. if you were auditioning for your company today, what would you perform for your audition, or what would you change from your original audition?

“my audition was so long ago. fourteen, fifteen years now, and that’s nearly half of my life. i wish i could remember parts — but there’s only the snippet of a ballad i sang, probably kim bum soo. all alongside some awkward dancing that bc shaped me up for. i’d probably pick a sung sikyung song instead.”

11. if you could do any special stage, what would it be and who would it be with?

”call it a weird match, but i’d have a set with duri, andy, joohwan, my maknae and jiah. well, those would be the people i’d know well enough to collaborate with, though the outcome might not be as promising as i initially thought. case closed, never make me do a special stage.”

12. what career opportunities would you like to pursue that you’ve yet to, or what achievements would you like to obtain that you’ve yet to?

“maybe a bit of variety? i’m completely happy where i am with acting, though it’d be better if decipher’s comebacks were rarer. however, i’m taking what i can get and variety might be a chance to show the side that doesn’t get shown when i’m playing a role on tv. i’ve heard from some people that i can be funny at times.”

13. if you could become a model or ambassador for any brand, what would you choose?

“as much as i like high fashion, i haven’t done any modeling in regards to brand deals with high fashion. a luxury brand would be nice — i hear prada has changed with the entrance of raf simons. i’ve been into the streetwear look lately after itaewon class, so that would be a current go-to. otherwise, i think i’m happy promoting good feel and credit cards.”

14. if you could be on any variety show, which one (or which type of one) would you want to be on?

“i live alone would be my first pick. only because i’ve decorated my house nicely recently, and haven’t had a chance to show it off to many people as i’m not home as often these days. however, that’d require an off day and i don’t have many of those lately. i think people would be shocked to see what i do when i’m around my house, lounging and rarely moving around.”

15. if you were offered the chance to become a ceo of an entertainment company, new or existing, would you take it? why or why not?

“as much as i’m leader of decipher, i don’t think i could handle leading a company. i wouldn’t want to become a ceo. it distracts from my own schedule, and i’d be too focused on my company rather than the hobbies and interests that appeal to me. sure, i’d make more money — but what’s more money on top of the money i already have? it’s counterproductive and i’d rather do what i like doing.”

16. what changes would you implement if you were the ceo of your company?

“each company runs on a specific pattern of events, and there’s a reason for that. a reason why routine shapes each group, so i wouldn’t necessarily change much. my trainee year was difficult, but it also fostered friendships within the group that i consider irreplaceable. the only change i can think of? maybe getting to know my artists rather than staying far off.”

17. what do you do to relieve the stress of idol life?

“i work out. i run a lot, and go to the gym as cliche as it sounds. but each role requires me to be in top shape, and after all that i’ve found a love for working out each morning. other than that, i like to shop and cook, even walk my dog. normal things any other person does on their day off. by the end of the day? finishing it off with a cold beer becomes my saving peace.”

18. what tips would you give to a trainee about to debut?

”push through it because it’s only a matter of time till debut happens. the trainee years are taken for granted, and you need to learn to treasure those moments. once debut happens, there’s no looking back and you’re constantly on the move — so, you’re better off enjoying now. also, don’t be afraid to approach sunbaes. we’re all in the same boat, been there and done that, so let us help where we can.”

19. what was the hardest part of being a trainee?

“singing while running around the room? i remember running too many laps, out of breath belting a high note. looking back, it was probably the time i thought i was going to end my trainee career right there and run to my parents. other than that? learning to live with others? i’ve lived a blessed life, and i’ve never had to share a room with anyone. that felt like a culture shock.”

20. did you enjoy the lifestyle of a trainee or of a debuted idol more?

“call me weird, but i’d say the trainee life. there was something special about those days, and now i’m so many years in my career and i miss the days crammed in the dorms. i don’t think there’s anything like it. the structure of it, the tears of joy and sadness all into one — every emotion all there. it’s rare moments like those i’ll never get back.”

21. what one song or album by another group or soloist would you have liked to release yourself?

“i’ve heard a lot of songs, but i heard a song recently by a charm member. one of the solo projects of dai, and his song let’s love was something that made me want to release music as well. maybe, it’s just inspiration just at that moment, but the song was something i enjoyed listening to. knight’s tempo was also something that i wish decipher was given, just because there’s a certain spark when it comes to the song.”

22. describe your dream sub-unit (members and concept).

“my dream sub-unit? does that relate to in-group or out of group? for the sake of this question, i’ll keep it in-group to simplify things. i’d like to keep our main vocal, myself and our lead rapper only because the maknae already has his thing in champion — though conceptually, i’m not sure what we’d be able to do. something non-dance related, i’d hope. perhaps, a power house vocal because i know our lead rapper can belt a few notes better than most main vocals of other groups.”

23. out of the following six options, would you rather be allowed to play a major hand in the lyrics, production, choreography, styling, music videos, or concepts you release?

“no lyrics, production or choreography. i’ve never been talented in that market, and maybe that’s why i don’t take part in any of these things. instead, i’d keep to the styling, and music videos — though, i don’t have an artistic eye. perhaps, i’d keep to styling as it lies most with my interests. my members might get bored of wearing the same dress shirts and slacks for each comeback.”

24. which of the two other companies (out of bc, dimensions, and gold star) you are not currently signed under would you rather be an artist in?

“none of the other two. i’ve said it time and time again that i’m loyal to bc — i might complain about it, sure. but in hindsight, i don’t see myself being in any other music company. now, if you had asked me in terms of acting? then, we’d have a different story between namoo, artist and vast.”

25. what is your least favorite part of being an idol?

“there’s no breaks, not for age. there’s little opportunity to cease the past, and continue on a new future. instead, i’m always tethered to the role of an idol, and despite how much i try — they still reel me back in each time for another comeback. on top of that, some songs don’t age well with time — decipher has a few of those. yet, because they’re fan favorites, i have no choice but to dance and sing along as if it’s 2009 again.”

26. what is your favorite part of being an idol?

“ironic, but there’s a lot of opportunities to try new things. i wouldn’t have thought of cf modeling or acting, if it weren’t for the opportunities presented to me. as a result, i’ve found a new enjoyment in an acting career due to the idol life. plus, along the way i meet different people to give me new insight — suppose it keeps me young again.”

27. would you rather be incredibly famous with a terrible reputation and hated by most or be fairly unknown with a good reputation and adored by those who know of you? why?

“i don’t know how to answer this one because being incredibly famous with a terrible reputation is just a cheapened output of your career you’ve built thus far. that would simply become a life unenjoyable, so by default i suppose i’d rather have the latter. fairy unknown with a good reputation because that way, you have a basis to build yourself up.”

28. what moment in your career are you proudest of so far?

“i’d either attribute it to parasite, which did win a lot of accolades not only in the country but out or i’d give it to the recent baeksang nomination for the dramas i was in. i don’t think i’d ever predict the success of stories i had a pleasure of working on. in retrospect, it was nice that so many people were able to relate and get along with the characters i was given the honor of portraying.”

29. what have you learned about yourself and/or society since becoming a celebrity?

“i’m no longer an extrovert. in fact, i’m more of an introvert. i used to think i was an extrovert, and one time i was when i was busy running around getting assimilated to those new faces. however, over the years, my circle’s only run short and i’ve been given little things here and there that make me want to preserve my small circle of people i’ve gotten to know along the way. i don’t like going out and partying, and much rather have a night in with dubu in peace.”

30. what would you like to change about how society views or treats idols?

IN-’VERSE INFO

The following idols are informed they’ve been chosen in early August and will be sent a contract to sign: @fmdhyoyeon, @fmdartemisia, @fmdxsuwei, @fmdhyuk, @alicefmd, @fmdminhee, @fmdtaejin, @durifmd, @fmdheesung, @miyeonfmd, @fmdwoochan, @fmdrina, @fmdjaeyeol, @fmdting, @fmdsan, @fmdminah, @fmdsooah, @fmdminjung, @fmdsophie, @fmdjynx They will be told not to share the news of their casting with anyone yet and sharing the news with anyone outside of their management before they’ve been officially announced will result in them being removed from the cast and replaced.

The cast members will be paired up as follows, with the designated filming date (for a twenty-four hour span from the afternoon/evening of day one to the afternoon/evening of day two):

Lipstick’s Artemisia & Fuse’s Sooah - August 7 - August 8

Lipstick’s Ruby & Lucid’s Hyoyeon - August 8 - August 9

Lipstick’s Minnie & Lucid’s Suwei - August 9 - August 10

Fuse’s Minjung & Lucid’s Alice - August 14 - August 15

Fuse’s Miyeon & WISH’s Rina - August 15 - August 16

Knight’s Hyuk & Unity’s Ting - August 16 - August 17

Knight’s Duri & Unity’s Jaeyeol - August 16 - August 17

Decipher’s Taejin & Knight’s Heesung - August 21 - August 22

Knight’s Woo & Alien’s San - August 22 - August 23

Aria’s Jynx & WISH’s Sophie - August 29 - August 30

(admin note: The date of the first day of filming should have been checked to work around all muses’ schedules with the consideration idols do not attend music shows on Mondays and some schedules may happen on the morning of the day they meet, but if you notice any problems, please send in a message and the date will be fixed!)

Before the first meeting, each pair member will be driven to the filming location by a manager and told whether they are the younger or older “sibling” of their pair, but not the identity of their partner. They will then be asked the following interview questions by their manager and are expected to answer them as if having a casual conversation with their manager. There will be three cameras stationed in the car for different angles of the interview “conversation”.

What are the traits you think you should show as a good younger/older sibling?

What kind of personality would you like your older/younger sibling to have and why?

What might surprise your sibling about you if they only know you as a celebrity?

The idol member will then have their partner’s identity revealed by their manager by playing the message from their audition as linked above (if their partner didn’t say their name, their manager will tell them who it is).

What do you think about your partner now that their identity has been revealed? From what you know of them, what are they like / what do you think they are like?

Following the conclusion of the in-car interview, they will be taken to the location of their first meeting: an apartment rented out by production and set up with mounted cameras where they’ll be spending twenty-four hours together to get to know each other. They’ll be aware that this is the setting and concept for the first day of filming beforehand.

The older “sibling” will arrive first and will be given time by themselves to get to know the apartment, which will include everything the pair might need, like food in the fridge, a video camera and Polaroid camera, board/card games, and pair-specific props like a guitar, a karaoke machine, cooking essentials, video games, etc. based on public knowledge of the interests of each member of the pair. Each idol will also be allowed to bring a single bag of their own full of anything they may need overnight like pajamas, toothbrush, snacks, bonding activities, etc. 

Examples of what the apartment might look like are here, here, and here.

The younger “sibling” will arrive after the older “sibling” has had about thirty to forty-five minutes in the apartment on their own.

In addition to everything else in the apartment, each pair will also have also have a “secret notebook” which will include questions and tasks for the pair to get to know each other including the following:

Have three meals meeting the following requirements:

Leave the apartment for one meal mutually agreed upon by both siblings.

For another meal, cook together using what’s supplied in the kitchen.

For another meal, order take out agreed upon by both siblings to be delivered to the apartment.

Take Polaroid photos together as proof of this memory.

Teach each other the point dances of one of your songs.

Use the projector set up in the living room to watch a reel of moments (stages, variety appearances, etc.) from each of your careers prepared by production and discuss your experiences as an idol.

Share your concerns with each other.

A note is included in the notebook including these missions and telling them they should work to achieve every mission by the time they part at the end of the twenty-four hours.

Outside of these missions, the “sibling” pairs will largely have free reign over what they discuss and what they do within the apartment with their twenty-four hours together, although everything should remain family-friendly and image-conscious and idols should not be too candid about any frustrations with their company, their group members, or their fans.

When/if the pair sleep, they’ll sleep in the same large bed like real siblings might do in their childhood.

At the conclusion of their first day together, they’ll do separate talking head interviews before leaving:

Was there anything that surprised you about your sibling during the time you spent together?

What was the most memorable part of the twenty-four hours you spent with your sibling?

Do you feel that you opened up to your sibling or is there still a barrier between you two?

What would you like to do with your sibling next time you meet?

OUT OF ‘VERSE INFO

The final number of submissions was twenty with even numbers of muses by gender, so all muses submitted were cast in the show, although the casting process would have been selective in-character. Pairing was semi-random as complete randomization was not possible while still keeping pairs realistic and making sure muns weren’t paired up more than once across multiple muse submissions!

IN-’VERSE INFO

Before filming begins this month, the cast members are informed that the show has teamed up with the Korea Tourism Organization to sponsor the next two episodes of the show and each pair will be going to a city in one of the nine provinces of South Korea to spend a day on a “family trip” with an itinery completely created by the pair themselves. They are given at least a few days to research their assigned city if needed to find places they might want to visit before they are expected to make their itinerary. Assigned cities(/counties) and the dates the pairs will be visiting are as follows: 

Sep. 11: Knight’s Hyuk & Unity’s Ting - Jeonju (Jeollabuk Province)

Sep. 12: Alien’s San & Impulse’s Haechan - Suwon (Gyeonggi Province) 

Sep. 14: Lipstick’s Artemisia & Fuse’s Sooah - Danyang County (Chungcheongbuk Province)

Sep. 14: Knight’s Duri & Unity’s Jaeyeol - Cheonan (Chungcheongnam Province)

Sep. 18: Decipher’s Taejin & Knight’s Heesung - Gyeongju (Gyeongsangbuk Province)

Sep. 19: Lipstick’s Minnie & Lucid’s Suwei - Changwon (Gyeongsangnam Province)

Sep. 20: Lipstick’s Ruby & Lucid’s Hyoyeon - Seogwipo (Jeju Province)

Sep. 21: Fuse’s Minjung & Lucid’s Alice - Sokcho (Gangwon Province)

Sep. 21: Fuse’s Miyeon & WISH’s Rina - Yeosu (Jellanam Province)

(admin note: The date of filming should have been checked to work around all muses’ schedules with the consideration idols from the three companies do not attend music shows on Mondays, but if you notice any problems, please send in a message and the date will be fixed!) 

Each pair is assigned one tourist spot in or near their assigned city/county that they must visit during their day trip to fulfill the sponsorship with the Korea Tourism Organization, but the rest of the day’s activities will be completely decided and agreed on by the pair themselves during a day of filming taking place before their trip (admin note: the exact date can be decided based on muse schedules) where they will meet in a room at the company building of the younger of the pair. They will be given an hour or two to film themselves planning out and agreeing on an itinerary together. They’re free to do as they please with the obvious limitations of all activities needing to be family friendly, image appropriate, within a reasonable budget, and reasonably able to be filmed. If they’d like to take a food tour of the city, they may do so. If they want to spend all day in the city’s animal shelters except for when they must visit their required location, they’re also welcome to do that. (admin note: A list of possible hot tourist spots in each city/county is linked above to help start out research into specific locations, but muses are also welcome to visit general locations that can be found in most every city like restaurants, shopping, movie theaters, etc. if that’s what they jointly prefer!) The required tourist spots to visit for each pair are as follows:

Knight’s Hyuk & Unity’s Ting - Jaman Mural Village (Jeonju)

Knight’s Woo & Alien’s San - Samsung Innovation Museum (Suwon)

Lipstick’s Artemisia & Fuse’s Sooah - Mancheonha Skywalk & Zipline (Danyang County)

Knight’s Duri & Unity’s Jaeyeol - Arario Art Gallery Cheonan (Cheonan)

Decipher’s Taejin & Knight’s Heesung - Gyeongju World Amusement Park (Gyeongju)

Lipstick’s Minnie & Lucid’s Suwei - Chandong Art Village (Changwon)

Lipstick’s Ruby & Lucid’s Hyoyeon - Seogwipo Daily Olle Market (Jeju)

Fuse’s Minjung & Lucid’s Alice - Seoraksan National Park (Sokcho)

Fuse’s Miyeon & WISH’s Rina - Yeosu Expo Ocean Park & Hanhwa Aqua Planet (Yeosu)

Before their planning meeting, each member of the pair will be pulled aside to film a talking head interview:

What kinds of places do you want to visit in the city/county you’ve been assigned?

Are you the type of person who prefers day trips around a city, or is a night in like last filming more comfortable for you?

If you could go anywhere in the world outside of Korea with your sibling, where would you want to go?

Following the planning meeting, at least a few days later, the pairs will go on their trip as they have planned (on the dates listed above). Each pair will have a camera crew and a few producers present during their trip. Production will have already cleared filming at any location they planned and any necessary tickets or equipment for activities planned will have already been bought.

At the conclusion of their day trip filming, they’ll do separate talking head interviews before leaving:

Did you learn anything new about your sibling today? If so, what did you learn? If not, what would you like to learn about them?

What was the most memorable part of the day you spent with your sibling?

Is there anything you didn’t get to do that you might want to come back and do with your sibling off-camera some time? Was there anything you did do that you’d want to come back and visit/do again some other time?

You’ll need to buy your sibling a gift before the next time you meet at the full cast dinner. What do you think you’ll get them?

On September 29, all nine pairs will come together for a joint day of filming at a large apartment rented out by management where they will have an early pre-Chuseok gathering. Anyone who has other group mates on the show is encouraged to introduce their group mates to their sibling, and, in general, everyone is encouraged to socialize and come together for what will be used as a heartwarming ending scene to the fourth episode. At the end of the dinner, the sibling pairs will exchange gifts with each other.

OUT OF ‘VERSE INFO