Absurdly enough, even after the mask was taken off, the screen didn’t show the face for a while.
Instead, it captured a wide shot of the shocked panel and audience members behind the real Original, overlapping still cuts from the past stage over their stunned expressions.
-What the f**k, this is seriously too much.
-These people are insane lol
-Even if Spider-Man took off his mask in the middle of New York, it wouldn’t be this bad.
Swearing poured out on viewer boards and social media, but from a broadcasting perspective, this was completely expected.
Anyone curious about the real Original’s identity wouldn’t be able to leave during this segment.
In other words, it meant they could ensure the moment the mask came off would hit the highest minute-by-minute viewership.
-3 minutes 42 seconds. Crazy.
-Hey, but they must be someone famous, right? If it were someone nobody knew, they wouldn’t do it like this lol
-True, makes sense?
And finally.
As if to apologize for all the teasing so far, the camera finally cut to a front shot.
Starting from the legs, the camera tilted up slowly, finally revealing a sweat-soaked face on screen.
It was a face everyone was familiar with.
Sedalbaekil had been undeniably the center of the Korean music scene for the past year.
The buzz that began with Coming Up Next carried through Self Made and continued all the way to the second album release.
So even if someone didn’t know the name Goo Taehwan, there were few who wouldn’t recognize that face.
-No way no way no way is this real??
-Holy sh*t?
-WTF WTF WTF
-So it really was Goo Taehwan?
-Damn f**k my friend kept saying it was definitely Goo Taehwan and I teased her so hard for being a delusional fangirl;
-I even bet money on itㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ
-Wait Goo Taehwan sings this well?
-Wait, so Sedalbaekil has two honorary graduates with Onsaemiro?
-What the hell is Sedalbaekil evenㅋㅋㅋㅋ
-lol frㅋㅋㅋㅋ
The online reaction was intense, but surprisingly, not at total chaos level.
There was a clear reason.
These people were accustomed to social networks to the point where they shared real-time reactions to broadcasts.
They were regularly exposed to internet info and had been hearing nonstop for the past eight weeks that the real Original was Goo Taehwan.
Of course, most denied it or made fun of the idea, but regardless, the name was within the realm of possibility.
Because of that, there were even people pretending they had known all along.
-But honestly, the intro and arrangement smelled so much like Sedalbaekil.
-Yeah, but I thought it was going to be Choi Jaesung or Han Siwon.
-Choi Jaesung injured his throat; he’s not supposed to sing for a while because of the pressure.
-For real? How’d he get hurt?
-Car accident during his schedule.
-Yikes, poor guy. He sang well too, looking at his Super Number One win.
-I told you it felt like Goo Taehwan.
-Enter the “I told you” squad
-It was obviously Goo Taehwan from the start.
-And here comes the “it was obvious” squad
-lololololol
But for those far removed from internet info, the identity of the real Original was downright shocking.
Posts filled with astonishment flooded personal SNS accounts.
OMG. Holy sh*t.
The real Original is Goo Taehwan;
Surprise exploded in group chats with friends and on personal social media.
-Dude. Did you watch Masking? The real O took off the mask.
-Yo yo yo yo yo NO SPOILERS. I haven’t watched it yet. Don’t spoil it nnnnnnnn
-Oh okay?
-Seriously, don’t spoil it. I’ll kill you if you do.
-It’s Goo Taehwan. (screenshot) (screenshot)
-You f**king bastard
-(dancing rat emoji)
-Wait, it’s really Goo Taehwan? Goo Taehwan’s an honorary graduate?
-Yeah yeah yeah. Didn’t your sister say she was a TT?
-Yeah, she was just entering the apartment complex and turned around.
-Huh? Why?
-Had to run an errand for her. But honestly, even if you didn’t say anything, I’d have gotten spoiled. My Kakao’s blowing up.
-lolololololol
It was so impactful that even communities of people in their 40s and up were buzzing about the identity of the real Original.
They had believed it was an older singer all along, so they were understandably a bit embarrassed.
But the ones who were truly caught off guard were elsewhere.
SBI Entertainment employees.
It was after work hours, and some had been watching Masked Singer at home when they shot up from their seats.
“Wait… That was Director Goo Taehwan?!”
Most Sedalbaekil members were young artists only 21 years old, but structurally in the company, they were all directors.
Director Seo Seunghyun had treated them respectfully because of their age, and that respect extended to the employees too.
Besides, except for Han Siwon, they were generally very kind to staff.
So even when Goo Taehwan wasn’t around, people used respectful titles when referring to him.
But that wasn’t the important part.
What stunned SBI employees was that they really hadn’t known the real Original’s identity—and that this was money in the bank.
At the current moment, the buzz around the real Original was astronomical.
Masked Singer had once gone through a revamp and introduced an honorary graduation system, but before that, contestants didn’t remove their masks until they were eliminated.
Which meant a long-reigning champion could emerge.
There was once an indie singer named Benov who held on for a whopping 18 weeks.
In other words, not someone super famous even after unmasking.
Well-known to indie music lovers, sure.
But now? Benov was a massively popular celebrity.
This was because Benov’s agency launched an aggressive marketing campaign immediately after he unmasked.
SBI Entertainment needed to do the same.
The moment Goo Taehwan was revealed as the real Original, they had to start making plans.
‘But seriously, why didn’t he tell us?’
Sure, maybe he just wanted to keep it a secret.
If SBI knew, the team leads might keep their mouths shut, but the info would leak through lower-level staff.
To be honest, it was rare even in a show like The Real Original for the identity to be hidden from insiders until the end.
But between secrecy and marketing strategy, isn’t the latter more important?
Each SBI employee, from their own homes, thought the same thing.
Some, more action-oriented, contacted Director Seo Seunghyun directly.
Unimaginable at a regular company, but not that weird in showbiz on a Friday night when something huge drops.
“Director, did you watch Masking?”
-I didn’t watch, but I know. It’s about Director Goo Taehwan, right?
“So you knew? Then shouldn’t our marketing team go into full gear?”
-Hmm… I’ve already got some plans. But I don’t think we’ll go all-out.
“Why not? Because of the self-produced content with the channel?”
Kang Seonghun, the head of PR, was being logical.
The upcoming Sedalbaekil’s Singing School (working title) had an insane casting lineup and would begin filming soon.
So maybe the plan was to allocate marketing efforts there?
But Director Seo’s voice on the other end sounded… vague.
-That’s not it. Ah, this is hard to explain.
“Why? Is this something I shouldn’t know?”
-Hmm… On second thought, no. You’re PR; you need to know.
“Got it.”
-First of all, Han Siwon didn’t tell Director Lee Ieon because he didn’t want to pressure him. He wasn’t hiding it from you all specifically.
“Director Lee Ieon?”
And as Director Seo continued, Kang Seonghun felt his mind go blank.
Goo Taehwan—Lee Ieon—Han Siwon, all scheduled to appear on Masked Singer in that order?
All aiming for honorary graduation?
Goo Taehwan had successfully buttoned the first one.
-But here’s the tricky part—there’s no guarantee Director Lee Ieon will graduate. Same for Director Goo Taehwan, honestly.
“Right. Being able to and actually doing it are two different things.”
-But if we go all in on Goo Taehwan and Lee Ieon ends up graduating too, it becomes awkward. And if we prep assuming he’ll graduate, it adds pressure.
Makes sense.
You can’t run identical promotional campaigns for three people from the same team.
They’d each need different approaches, and if only Lee Ieon failed to graduate, it’d be a mess.
Honestly, it’d be a lot of pressure too.
“Then shouldn’t we at least prep something for Director Han Siwon? Honestly, he doesn’t work much. We should push him while we can.”
-He’s not not working. He’s doing different work. Wait, no—I shouldn’t say “he.” Director Han Siwon.
“Anyway. Seriously, it’s frustrating for us.”
If Director Han Siwon just had decent marketing behind him, the benefit to the company would be massive.
No offense to the other Sedalbaekil members, but Han Siwon’s value was on a different level.
Not double. Not triple.
Four to five times more, easily, and in some programs, up to ten times.
For shows like Making Film that require genuine musical performance?
No production team would ever turn down the Han Siwon card.
He’s a guaranteed firestarter.
-Don’t plan anything Masking-related for Director Han Siwon.
“What? Why not?”
-Something bigger is coming.
“Apple? WWDC’s in three weeks.”
-No, not that.
“Then what?”
-This absolutely can’t get out. You’re the only one I’m telling, so if it leaks, it’s your fault.
“Okay, okay. I got it.”
Then Kang Seonghun heard something unbelievable through the receiver.
-There’s a good chance Han Siwon’s going to blow up on Show Me.
“…What?”
Show Me? Show Me What You Got? That rap competition show?
What’s Han Siwon doing there?
Wait, is he joining with sing-rap?
No way, they’re already filming. Thought the top 20 finalists had been picked.
Through the cognitive dissonance, Director Seo’s voice came through again.
-He already made it to the finals. I checked discreetly—he’s overwhelming. He’s a top contender.
The Real Original buzz that began Friday evening took over the entire Korean entertainment scene.
Someone once joked that the most credible music award in Korea is the Masked Singer honorary graduation award.
It’s a joke, sure, but not 100%.
Even Onsaemiro completely changed her image after graduating from Masking.
From being seen as Han Siwon’s lesser version, to a tragic genius overshadowed by him.
That image solidified even more with the release of her first solo album, Independence.
Same goes for Goo Taehwan.
Once dismissed as just the king of intros and rhythm, now he was seen differently.
[Han Siwon Victim Association.]
- Choi Taeho. Made the porridge, gave it to the dog.
- Fade. Challenged him, ended up just leaking his apology recording and humiliating himself.
- Onsaemiro. Honorary grad? So what. Do what you’re told.
- Choi Jaesung. Super Number One champ? So what. Just dance.
- Goo Taehwan. Honorary grad? So what. Just sing the intro.
-lolololol Han Siwon’s a damn villain lol
-crying as a TT, can’t even deny thisㅠㅠ
-lol at this rate, he’s the worst villain in the entire lore lol
No one doubts Goo Taehwan’s skills anymore.
In fact, now people are expecting Han Siwon to give him a solo album too.
-Sedalbaekil solo activity condition: honorary grad on Masking.
-If you don’t get the honorary grad, no solo album.
-lolololololol
-Choi Jaesung Super Number One? Hmm… we’ll give you a unit solo.
-lololololol
The internet was filled with nothing but talk of honorary graduations and Sedalbaekil.
But even in the middle of all that, something else started to grab people’s attention.
-Oh, Show Me’s starting.
It was episode 1 of Show Me What You Got Season 7.
Little Pink Starfish 
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