Seo Hoyun… what on earth is he up to?
If Kim Seonghyeon had realized one thing from observing Seo Hoyun over the past year, it was that Seo Hoyun’s refreshing smile appeared only in two specific cases.”
One, when he had successfully messed with someone he disliked. (Just like when he was targeting someone today.)
Two, when things were going according to his schemed plan. (Just like now, in an annoying way.)
Is it the latter this time?
Kim Seonghyeon, unaware that Seo Hoyun had already laid the groundwork for the former, made such a guess.
The latter seemed more plausible because the situation had unfolded exactly as he planned.
The response to their activities in Japan had been surprisingly positive, proving this point.
[Title: Seems like The Dawn are truly a bunch of unique weirdos; today’s V-Live summary saying they’re going to Japan was pretty peaceful.
Jiwon: The Dawn’s pronunciation in Japanese is “Ja Do-On,” you know ㅎㅎ.
Dajun: ?? Ja Do-on??
Jiwon: That’s how it’s pronounced in Japanese!!
Jeong Dajun is extremely confused by the Japanese pronunciation.
Seonghyeon: What does that mean? It sounds familiar.
Ichae: ㄱㄷㄱㄷ[1]
Kang Ichae, sucking on a candy, types something into his phone dictionary and shows 자돈 = Piglet.
Ichae: ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
Hoyun: ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋAhㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋSorryㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
They couldn’t say it out loud, but the two of them were giggling like crazy in the back (Hey, you know that’s the name of your group, right?)
Meanwhile, Jeong Dajun is shocked.
Dajun: (Shocked) Are we… piglets?
Seonghyeon: Hey, Jeong Dajun, watch your words.
Jiwon: (Still splitting the word)
A leader being aware of the V-Live…
Dajun: …. Huh? Did I do something wrong?
Seonghyeon: Well… that’s a bit… if you reverse it
Dajun: …? Huh? (Realization) Ah!!!! If you think about it the other way around!
Seonghyeon: (No way)
Dajun: (Snaps fingers & gets excited) Pig…![2]
Hyungs: (Clamor) Hey!!!!
– Hey
– Hey Jeong Dajun!!!
ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅋㅋㅋㅋ The hyungs drag Dajun away to calm him down
Dajun: … ㅠㅠ;;;;; Sorry..;;
Hyungs: Jeong Dajun is reflecting… It wasn’t on purpose, so please be lenient…
In the midst of this, Seong Jiwon alone is in peace, casually reading comments
Jiwon: ㅎㅎApart from “Ja Don,” there’s also “Do Don”!
Jiwon: They deliberately made it sound similar to Korean!
Members: (Right now, fuck, that’s not what’s important)
But these days, Seong Jiwon is indeed the epitome of chill…
Hoyun: ㅋㅋ… Let’s just go with that.
Ichae: It’s cute, Do Don.
Hoyun: ㅋㅋDo Do Don~
Ichae: (Giggles)
(Lately, Kang Ichae and Seo Hoyun are really hitting it off…)
Are these guys doing this on purpose?
Now I don’t know if I’m selling idols or comedians
└’Dodo’-‘ly’-‘don’…
└└Every time I turn on V-Live, it’s like a mystery comedy show…
└Jeong Dajun is a silver spoon blessed by the heavens, so sometimes Kang Ichae genuinely gets his pride hurt ㅠ
└└Meanwhile, Hoyun: “Silver spoons are just something you’re born with””
Remarks…
└└Next to him, Seonghyeon: “It’s okay, weren’t you born without the shame gene?”
Quietly retorts…
└└Oh, the hyungs’ rivalry is quite fierceㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ]
Thus, the viewers of The Dawn’s V-Live were out of their minds laughing.
Not all feedback was positive.
[Wait, so Seo Hoyun’s spending his birthday in Japan?]
[tlqkf I suddenly want to kill Daepaseong Entertainment…]
But instead of worrying about such comments, most fans decided to think differently, focusing on what reactions they might elicit in Japan.
[The kids are going to Japan and it’s like they’re hitting their prime again. Become princes of the yen and come back]
[The Dawn will definitely be popular in Japanㅋㅋㅋㅋ Their concept is basically otaku bait, isn’t it??]
[With their strong individualitiesㅋㅋ they won’t fail. Kang Ichae might become the popular member…]
[Title: Predicting The Dawn’s Popular Member in Japan
Generally, Japan loves the absolutely handsome, pure, and manga-like faces. If I say this much, you know who I’m talking about, right? ㅅㄱ [3]
└Starts with “seong” and ends with “won” …
└└The middle must be tough…
└└Seems like he might have a mole on his nose…
└Just write Seo Hoyun and Seong Jiwon in the title
└└ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ]
Like idol, like fan.
Noeul did their best to be funny, putting all their pride on the line and not forgetting to showcase their talents.
[Title: How do Japanese kids speak??
The Dawn is about to debut, so kinda curious..
Do they also fangirl a lot?
└Should I try imitating them?
└└Go ahead
└└ Ok… Here comes another idol from Korea—!! I don’t want to admit it, but, honestly, I kinda like Ja Don’s songs w Honestly, why come to Japan? Running out of money? (sigh)
└└ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋshit they’re so goodㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
└Do the version that’s interested in K-pop
└└Eh, everyone doesn’t know? That’s impossible! ∑(O_O;)
Amazing, Ja Don is. The most anticipated rookie after Brakku Kuro? (I like Usong w)
└What’s Brakku Kuro?
└└Black Call
└What’s Usong
└└Woosungㅋ
└└ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋIs this for real? ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ]
[Title: How to Pretend to Be a Japanese Fan of The Dawn
- First, install a Japanese keyboard, and use only Japanese characters for symbols
- Attach “absolutely,” “shall I,” “sigh,” etc.
- Don’t differentiate “이, 가” endings, just use “가” for everything [4]
- (Most important) Suddenly use honorifics Example: Shall I say Hoyun and Seonghyeon are absolutely cute? (*’∀`*)
Eh? I talked too much by myself.
Somehow, I feel embarrassed. (Sigh)
Definitely support Do-Don!!
Refer to this when The Dawn debuts in Japanㅇㅇ
└ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
└Did you swallow a Japanese person? ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ]
After arriving in Japan, The Dawn was gaining popularity beyond what even the hardcore K-pop fans had anticipated.
“There’s our album at Shibuya Building Records.”
“Oh! Let’s go take a picture later—.”
“…Is that possible?”
“—Can’t we?”
Not only the “Second Chance” cover song but all the tracks in the album were climbing the charts at an alarming rate.
Moreover, Daepaseong Entertainment surprisingly went all out with promotions, securing a corner on the first floor of a famous Japanese store.
Thanks to that, even overseas, there were people who would turn around to take another look at them as they walked down the street.
[Hoyun, a real angel]
Primarily, Japanese K-pop hardcore fans, who swiftly switched from “idols in a highly praised relationship” to The Dawn, were thrilled with the new influx.
Most of the praise was directed at Seong Jiwon and Seo Hoyun, with Jiwon, who was fluent in Japanese, easily winning people over, and Hoyun, with his pretty face, also enjoying popularity.
“Hoyun.”
“Hmm?”
“They say you’re really an angel.”
“…??”
It was because he was not fluent in Japanese and kept his mouth shut, that Japanese fans, who only saw his face, nicknamed Seo Hoyun “a real angel.”
“…Me?”
Had Joo Woosung, who wasn’t exactly popular in Japan, heard this, he would’ve scoffed, “Real bs….”
In fact, Hoyun himself found it very bewildering.
“Me…?”
He had at least a shred of conscience.
Kim Seonghyeon, who was nearby, casually remarked,
“Just standing still gets you halfway there. The old sayings aren’t wrong.”
“Kim Seonghyeon, is life treating you well these days?”
Seeing Hoyun’s eyes sparkle, Kim Seonghyeon clammed up and quickly distanced himself.
Meanwhile, Japanese fans who were smitten with The Dawn were seeking a new target to “moe-fy” beyond the “real angel” Hoyun.
[The Dawn members’ birthday/animal moe-ification
Seonghyeon (March 14) Wolf
Hoyun (January 30) Rabbit
Jiwon (August 31) Deer
Ichae (July 11) Fox
Dajun (October 22) Puppy
└Eh?? Hoyun is a rabbit in Korea? No way]
[Hoyun-chan always ends his sentences with “nya,” he’s totally a cat, right? (laughter)]
From the get-go, domestic fans, who had successfully pushed the narrative of Seo Hoyun as a rabbit, were now making efforts to ensure his smooth settlement in Japan as well, even using translators to communicate openly with Japanese fans on SNS.
[They say his personality is really like a cat, why a rabbit
└Rabbit
└… Hello Korean fans? I want him to be a cat~.
└Rabbit
└I want him to be a cat~.
└Rabbit
└……. Korean fans are scary ㅋ]
As Korean fans pushed Seong Jiwon as “my own little skylark” and proposed to make Kang Ichae as an Abyssinian cat, they unleashed their diverse desires amidst heated discussions among the Japanese fans.
Hoyun, naturally, was only scratching the back of his head, unaware of such developments.
Japan….
Seo Hoyun had visited Japan just once when he was younger.
As a complete family.
The foreign landscape, slightly strange yet exciting and somewhat reminiscent of South Korea, initially had him wide-eyed, looking around.
He even teased his younger brother, Seo Hojin, and ended up making him cry, which led to a scolding from their parents….
“Hmm.”
Quickly shaking off these sappy sentiments, Seo Hoyun looked back at his members.
“Hyung, have you been to Japan before?”
“No.”
And he lied about it naturally.
The members’ eyes sparkled with excitement as they agreed that they felt the same way.
Of course, we know…
Except for Kang Ichae, some said their first-time flying was when they went to Jeju Island for vacation.
“Can I go to Shinjuku later?!”
“There’s nothing in Shinjuku…”
“What?? I was planning to go to Shinjuku to eat gyukatsu?!”
Seo Hoyun brushed off Jeong Dajun’s words, who wanted to follow the quintessential tourist route for Koreans visiting Japan for the first time.
During the local fan meeting, Kang Ichae, who used to shout about eels, now seemed uninterested in anything in particular, quietly looking around and taking pictures
[But heyㅠㅠㅠㅠ the B-side track is insane, it’s so refreshing]
What was unexpected during this Japanese venture was the reaction to the anime ending song created by Kang Ichae.
The B-side track “Colors” that was finally chosen as an anime’s ending song, was filled with a sophisticated yet refreshing feeling.
“Baby, this is a bit difficult as soon as the curtain rises from backstage
You keep dancing and I can’t stop laughing when I see you.”
The melody was deceivingly catchy.
[As a K-pop otaku who even listens to the Japanese releases, I’m telling you, this is the real deal…]
Although the tropical deep house genre EDM melody had a refreshing summer concept, no one questioned it.
[There’s a reason it was released in winter. Listen to it in winter and again in summer, right? Daepaseong Entertainment is clever
└Isn’t this just self-justification now?
└Busted]
Not only did the B-side track stir up emotions like a sunset, but it also received an overall positive response.
[Oh;; looks like that popular manga got animated
And the ending song is that B-side track]
[Wow, K-pop is really popular, huh? Amazing, it’s climbing the charts]
[Wow;;;]
[Feeling proud as a Korean
└Makes me want to wave the national flagㅅㅂㅋㅋㅋㅋ]
“Let’s paint our future together.
After meeting you, I’ve changed.”
The lyrics were written considering the anime’s protagonist and the characters around him, and the song, a slice of that summer, was quickly embraced not only by the K-pop mainstream but also by manga fans, enabling its swift entry into the Japanese market.
The Dawn, of course, didn’t expect the B-side track to chart, but it ranked quite well.
[Ah, wow, the anime must be pretty popular???]
[Not just good, but seems like it hit jackpot…
ㅅㅂ The response seems decent, feels good to ride the bus again after a long time…]
[Should we perform “Colors” at the showcase?? Do I need to bypass the IP to watch it??]
Thanks to this, the most attention at The Dawn’s Japanese debut showcase wasn’t on the title track “Second Chance” but on “Colors.”
[Ah fuck, I’m looking forward to the performance but suddenly I’m scared… Thinking about everyone watching later… shit, we’re not gonna get trashed, right???? ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ]
[Shaking in anticipation until the showcase time]
As the days passed, some Noeuls were trembling with the growing expectations, wondering if they could match the quality.
And at that moment, what was Seo Hoyun feeling?
“My whole body aches like hell…”
There was not an iota of nervousness to be found.
After finishing the first part with “Second Chance,” he quickly changed clothes, wiped off his sweat, and drank some water.
Lee Jihyeon contacted me yesterday.
After all, he had prepared for the stage with gritted teeth, and his mind was busy timing things with political maneuvers.
Then, comments in Japanese were heard from the MC seat on one side of the stage.
“The comments are about to end, get ready for standby!”
“Okay!”
Behind the stage, the members adjusted their ear microphones to fit perfectly and exchanged looks.
As Seo Hoyun sluggishly got up to focus on his main job, Seong Jiwon, who was next to him, kindly asked Jeong Dajun.
“Dajun, are your shoes okay?”
“Yes! I’ve tightened them really well!”
Jeong Dajun tapped the front of his tightly laced sneakers on the ground.
Compared to a year ago, it was a completely different, relaxed attitude, and his playful eyes were full of confidence.
Our piglets, the younger members, always worked hard to present the perfect stage for their fans.
As he flicked his bangs, Kang Ichae grinned.
“Shall we go, Seo-causing-chaos-again?”
“Rabbit-chaos, what?!”
It was an abbreviation of “Seo Hoyun causing chaos again,” but Jeong Dajun, misunderstanding, stood up abruptly.[5]
“We’re pigs in Japan! Don’t forget the professional mindset!”
“Our maknae is really into it…”
“Let’s go, piglets!”
“Oink oink~.”
With light-hearted jokes and laughter easing their tension, the members walked toward the stage.
As the bright lights shone and cheers poured in, confident smiles formed on their lips.
…Little did they know, in just 5 minutes, they would be part of the biggest broadcast incident in The Dawn’s history, unknowingly setting the stage for a try-not-to-laugh challenge.
[1] ㄱㄷㄱㄷ = 기달기달, meaning “to wait”
[2] This explanation might be a bit tricky, so let’s simplify it. The term 자돈 (“jadon”) translates to piglet. But, you can also express piglet as 새끼돼지 (“saekki dwaeji,” literally meaning baby pig), or more straightforwardly, as 돼지 (pig). Interestingly, 돼지 also doubles as a swear word. Phew, hope that clears things up!
[3] Good luck!
[4] In Korean, particles like “이” and “가” are used after a noun to mark the subject of a sentence, and their use depends on whether the noun ends in a consonant (이) or a vowel (가).
[5] Ichae said “ttokkaengpan” (또깽판), but Hoyun heard it as “tokkaeng” (토깽), which happens to mean rabbit.
The sound “또” starts with a strong, unaspirated “d” sound, similar to the “d” in “dog” but without the puff of air while “토” begins with an aspirated “t” sound, like the “t” in “top” where there’s a noticeable puff of air.
