Little Pink Starfish

Average viewership rating: 2.7%.

Seoul Capital Area average: 2.9%.

Peak minute rating: 3.3%.

This was Self Made episode 1’s report card.

At first glance, disappointing for a program starring Sedalbaekil, currently enjoying peak popularity.

But PD Kang Seokwoo didn’t see it that way.

This was actually higher than what he’d anticipated for episode 1 when first planning Self Made.

Especially considering that M Show generally struggled with self-produced variety shows (though Coming Up Next had helped overcome that image somewhat).

What mattered for Self Made was how the public would perceive the program.

If they simply saw it as a variety show showcasing Sedalbaekil’s charm and personalities, that would be the end.

But if viewers grew curious about what Sedalbaekil was doing—if they wanted to see what their self-made endeavor would yield—then it was a different story.

Not just the fandom, but general viewers.

That’s why variety producers always prefer top actors.

Even if the missions are identical, the level of curiosity changes depending on who’s performing them.

In that sense, Sedalbaekil was the perfect cast for Self Made.

After all, they truly were a self-made success story.

Their first album was approaching 1.5 million in sales, and all concert dates had sold out.

Of course, to be fair, Drop Out could also qualify as a self-made group.

They had once fallen to rock bottom, nearly disbanded, but had clawed their way back through self-produced music and videos.

However…

‘Drop Out could never achieve what Sedalbaekil did.’

What Han Sion accomplished would be teased at the end of episode 2 and fully revealed in episode 3.

When that aired, Korea would explode.

Kang Seokwoo thought about this while reviewing online reactions with his writers.

Season 1’s domestic portion, consisting of five episodes, was already fully filmed and rough-edited.

In two days, they would depart for the U.S. to begin filming season 2.

Kang Seokwoo was monitoring reactions not for season 1, but for season 2.

If viewers had specific expectations for Sedalbaekil, he wanted to reflect them.

-lol I looked up some of the Masked Bandit videos, no wonder no one figured it out lol

-Why?

-Eion sings all the intros, and Gutaehwan handles the high notes.

-Gutaehwan singing high notes is rare.

-Their personal fans are going crazy right now lol crying while watching the Masked Bandit videos.

-Why crying?

-Because Sedalbaekil has almost no solo activities. Aside from The Masked Singer and Stage Number Zero, nothing. So they’re rare and precious.

-I watched too; Eion sings well! He usually gets fewer parts in Sedalbaekil.

-But he gets plenty of camera time. Every time they zoom in, it’s on Eion lol

-True. He’s always center too.

-But wow, they’re really living up to their name. Sedalbaekil secretly earned money over three months lol

-How much do you think they made?

-Maybe around 10 million won?

-No way lol no indie can net 10 million won.

-With five webtoon OSTs, maybe?

-But you have to deduct studio fees, mixing, mastering, even meal costs.

As Kang Seokwoo monitored these comments, he felt assured.

Starting with episode 2, this program would take off.

Because viewers weren’t just curious about Sedalbaekil — they were curious about what Sedalbaekil had done.

---

The era of one million celebrity hopefuls.

That’s not an exaggeration.

According to a 2016 survey by the Korea Creative Content Agency, there were over 1,700 registered agencies in Korea and over one million aspiring entertainers.

Then how many people are connected to those million? If you count parents, relatives, and friends, the number skyrockets.

Even conservatively estimating three-person families equals 3 million; realistically, at least 5 million people are tied to this.

For these people, Self Made—produced by M Show, directed by Kang Seokwoo, and starring Sedalbaekil—became an excellent textbook.

How important is talent in this near-impossible entertainment industry?

Is talent enough to succeed?

If so, how can that talent translate into success?

How do you make money?

Parents of aspiring entertainers flocked to their TVs. So did practical music school owners and small event agency staff.

They were dying to know how Sedalbaekil would start earning real money.

“The lead-in rating is 5.2%.”

“That high?”

The control room at M Show was stunned.

Episode 1 had averaged 2.7%, but the lead-in for episode 2 had crossed 5%.

And not everyone even watches live broadcasts…

‘This is huge.’

‘Feels like a hit coming.’

In broadcasting, people avoid actually saying “hit” out loud because it’s considered bad luck, so everyone stayed quiet.

Meanwhile, Self Made episode 2 began.

Rather than continuing from episode 1’s ending, which featured the Masked Bandits, episode 2 opened with Choi Jaesung.

[Byobong- byobyong-]

On screen, Choi Jaesung was playing a mobile game. His phone briefly flashed onscreen.

Viewers didn’t know, but Self Made had already secured product placement with M.O.L.

For the game company, it was no loss.

They were already spending astronomical amounts on marketing, and with Choi Jaesung already having filmed a domestic commercial, PPL was easy.

-Isn’t that MOL?

-Yeah lol

-Pay-to-win trash game lol

-But fun though lol

Since it was the #1 game on the app stores, viewers recognized it quickly.

[Papapat! Papapapat!]

-Sounds like he’s fighting the world boss lol

-Must be hitting for decent damage?

But this was only funny for MOL players. General audiences weren’t amused.

-Why are they inserting PPL already?

-Feels a bit cheap;

They just saw Choi Jaesung’s behavior as product placement.

Naturally, since Self Made’s premise didn’t seem to justify mobile games being involved.

As Choi Jaesung lay on the couch playing, dark shadows loomed behind him.

[Give us your money!]

[Hands up!]

It was Eion and Gutaehwan, masked.

[What’s with the masks?]

[We found a way to busk without special makeup.]

[Won’t people recognize your voices? You two have such distinct features.]

[We’ll change how we sing. Cool, right?]

[Don’t the masks look badass?]

Choi Jaesung tilted his head.

[Eion hyung, you’re talking differently than usual.]

[It’s my alter ego.]

[Eion hyung.]

[Yeah?]

[I think Taehwan hyung is an idiot.]

[Calling your hyung an idiot…]

Eion froze mid-scold. He wasn’t “Confucian boy” Eion right now — he was Masked Bandit.

[I can call him that if I want.]

Choi Jaesung laughed as the busking scene began.

At first, no one paid them any attention.

But as soon as they started singing, a few people stopped to listen.

Because it was unexpected.

The two, who looked like they should be rapping or doing rock, were singing a sorrowful ballad.

-lolol what kind of song choice is this?

-Maybe the mask symbolizes being too shy to meet the eyes of someone you love?

-Get a grip lol

-But imagine: they take off the masks, and it’s Eion and Gutaehwan underneath.

-Oh…

-When Gutaehwan wears the mask, he looks like he’d rob your wallet. When he takes it off, he looks like he’d steal your puffer jacket.

-No, he’d probably settle for a sausage bun.

-lol these people are insane.

It didn’t end there.

While dividing parts, Gutaehwan belted out high notes while Eion made gun-firing gestures with the mic.

Eion had practiced this awkward gesture multiple times at the dorm.

-lolol this is great content.

-Han Sion’s advice was spot-on. Even with your face covered, you still need something to show.

Their incredible vocals drew in passersby.

When Eion did the gun gesture, someone dropped money into the tip jar as if paying for the entertainment.

Afterward, Eion and Gutaehwan returned to the dorm, stating that all proceeds would be donated.

But back at the dorm, Choi Jaesung was still gaming.

-Is Choi Jaesung just the PPL guy?

-Feels like he’s addicted to MOL.

-It’s obviously production placement.

He kept playing while Han Sion stepped out for water, while Onsaemiro edited lyrics with webtoon writers — every time he appeared onscreen, he was playing.

Naturally, Choi Jaesung’s fans weren’t thrilled.

It wasn’t the PPL — it was the lack of meaningful screentime while everyone else was working.

But Kang Seokwoo wasn’t using Choi Jaesung as mere filler.

Without Han Sion, Choi Jaesung’s project would’ve been the biggest “big shot.”

[Done!]

Suddenly, Choi Jaesung jumped up and ran to his laptop.

-Did he beat the boss lol

-Is he secretly leveling an alt on PC?

But no.

As his MacBook lit up, all the sound samples subtly sprinkled throughout previous scenes appeared on screen.

Choi Jaesung had been compiling and creating something.

-Huh? Wait a sec…

-What?

-Remember that viral MOL fan video from a while ago? lol

-Wait, that was made by Choi Jaesung?

-What are you guys talking about!?

Choi Jaesung brought it to Han Sion.

[This is my best. Can you help me polish it?]

-The way Sedalbaekil members casually dump songs on Han Sion is hilarious lol

-Unexpected comedy gold lol

-But Han Sion barely appears in episode 2;

-Yeah, he’s always locked away composing.

Han Sion sat down and methodically guided Choi Jaesung through improvements.

The song itself wasn’t shown yet.

Instead, the scene cut to Han Sion demanding additional sound effects, having Choi Jaesung act out dropping his phone on his face.

[Ah!]

[Say it more clearly.]

[Ah!]

[More like “Ahaah!”]

[What does that even mean?]

[Trust me. You’ll get it.]

But then, YouTube view counters appeared onscreen.

The MOL fan video Choi Jaesung uploaded was rapidly gaining likes, views, trending ranks.

Music played, and—

[Hello! Uh…?!]

A MOL staff member visited their dorm, clueless about who created the track, wearing a dumbfounded expression.

Episode 2 seemed like it would end there.

Fun overall, but it still felt like Han Sion had gotten little screentime.

Then, like a dragon in his dungeon, Han Sion finally addressed the camera.

[It’s complete.]

[I plan to pitch this for an advertisement.]

-Did he make a commercial jingle?

-For Eion drinks?

-If Eion stars and Han Sion composes, it’ll sell like crazy lol

But no.

Han Sion lightly tapped his MacBook’s (carefully blurred) logo.

[Apple.]

Yes.

Han Sion’s big shot was Apple’s WWDC and worldwide advertising campaign.