As Go Won’s debut date approached, his agency began releasing teasers one by one.
Concept photos were uploaded in succession to Go Won’s official account, opened under K-dum’s management.
A half-body shot of Go Won with his sweat-drenched hair disheveled, a close-up photo staring straight ahead with fierce eyes, and finally a full-body shot of him asleep in one corner of a garage wearing a racing suit.
Go one way, Go one more round.
The boy dreams again.
Comments flooded in below the post like a swarm.
luv_hj24 Calling him a boy while giving him a pitch-black, skin-tight concept, well done K-dum you perverted bastards who know exactly what tastes good..
._.hyhy._ K-dum’s experience in regularly churning out older guy fanservice, same-age fanservice, and younger guy fanservice hasn’t gone anywhere, has it?
aaabbc.1 Seems like a smart strategy ㅇㅇ All the kids who debuted from survival shows chose either school uniform/white tee+jeans/colored suit. Might as well go sexy instead
go.one_easy Seriously fucking insane, he’s so damn pretty I want to give him my entire fortune (3,500 won)
noyeehmik Oh the 3rd photo gives Cha Yeonsu vibes
Fans who had nearly lost their precious pick to the blunder of <Debut Chart> showed enthusiastic reactions.
In previous posts, they’d vaguely thrown out the date saying something was coming on February 14th without a single hint of what, but it seemed they were finally doing some work!
Fans cheered for the dark concept that brought to mind what he’d shown on the survival show.
But on the other hand, it wasn’t like they weren’t worried.
‘Even so, it’s a debut album, isn’t it?’
Of course, they would have cursed if they’d ignored Go Won’s special strengths and slapped on a pastel-toned refreshing concept like everyone else.
‘Sexy from the first album?’
This was far too radical in its own way. Grumbles emerged that it might shorten his lifespan as an idol.
Though they were an inconspicuous minority, there were also those showing cynical reactions like, ‘A racing driver concept at this point…?’ Most of them were people who used to have Choi Songhyeon’s photo as their profile picture but now had it completely empty.
Of course, Go Won’s fans thoroughly beat down such comments with the report button and replies, chasing them away.
However, the fact that fans showed such intense reactions also meant anxiety was lurking beneath.
‘K-dum bastards, you’re a major agency. We’re trusting you…’
Amidst the murmuring, a few more concept photos were released at midnight.
Go Won sat on top of a utility pole in casual attire with his overalls top loosened, gazing at the night sky.
In another photo, he was staring intently into the showcase of a bakery with only dim lighting on a dark street.
He even appeared in the strange sight of wearing inline skates while riding a skateboard on an athletics track.
The more photos were uploaded, the more bewildered people became.
‘What is this…?’
There was definitely a dark and gloomy atmosphere underlying it all.
But it wasn’t the direction of simply revealing masculinity like a male idol who’d matured with seniority.
Instead, an indescribable tenacity and twisted attachment flowed out.
Not the languidness typically associated with darkness or night, but desire exposed raw and unhidden in a place with little light. And therefore, immaturity that stood out.
doo_doong What should we even call this… dark refreshing?
go.one_easy What the hell, why does a prospective Jean Valjean eyeing a three-tier cake in the middle of the night feel fresh
Fans eagerly awaited only the announced 14th.
Because they had no sense at all of what K-dum had done after completely taking Go Won away…
Raspberry Pi @maditna
D-10
Going to be the longest ten days of my life since college acceptance announcement day
Civilian Won-P A @asdfgjkll
9 days left until February 14th
A woman is dying here,,
Even if you upload it pretending it’s a mistake I’ll absolutely keep it a secret
K-dum Release Go Won @agiisfree
Ha but at least it’s within a week now. Won-P noonas just hang in there a bit longer ㅠㅠ
The fans watching the official account had a bamboo spear in one hand and a credit card in the other.
‘Which one it’ll be depends on what you do on the 14th…’
However, the ambush happened suddenly.
Go one 【Unlimited(∞)】 M/V Pre-release
February 7th.
At this point when there was still a whole week left until debut day.
Everyone’s eyes went wide seeing the post that suddenly appeared on the official account and they rushed over.
‘It’s not a teaser video that teases for a dozen seconds… it’s a full 3-minute song?’
It’s good, it is good, but so suddenly…?
After taking deep breaths, fans clicked on the video.
The music video showed the racing circuit. At the same time, intense bass sounds poured out from the very beginning.
The surging intro ended and finally the first line of the verse came out.
-Go one way
Go one more round
The identity of the text written in the concept photo feed was the first verse of the pre-release song.
‘The boy dreams again.’
For fans who had been watching Go Won since <Debut Chart>, the meaning hit even harder.
K-dum’s color was deeply embedded in the fierce beat and the grain of the music. It naturally intertwined without harming Go Won’s image.
At first, they just watched in a daze. Even after the video ended, they couldn’t come to their senses for a long while.
The second time, they watched while pausing the screen at every moment where Go Won showed off his beauty and physique to the fullest.
Like that, the third time, the fourth time…
Having watched it dozens of times until they’d memorized every single scene, suddenly Easter eggs began to be discovered.
“Ah, ah…! Wait a minute. This can’t be. Huh!”
Civilian Won-P A @asdfgjkll
Guys this seems crazy but Won is |
‘Ah damn, the character limit here is too short!’
The fan opened their blog for the first time in a while. The sound of typing on the keyboard poured out like a downpour.
It was strange how they were getting breathless just from typing. But the shorter the scroll became, the more they felt a euphoria just like runner’s high.
Go Won Unlimited Review [Lyrics/MV/Subjective Interpretation]
(Clip1.gif)
Intro. Go Won, a super rookie in motorsports
Visiting the circuit spectator seats in the middle of the night, he kisses the seat of the young fan who had enthusiastically cheered for him during the day
(Clip2.gif)
At that moment, the surroundings crumble like sand and Go Won is left alone in a gray space
(Clip3.gif)(Helmet_closeup.jpg)
He covers his hollow face by putting on a helmet
The racer number written on the helmet is 00
For reference, 00 is a number that cannot be used according to regulations
(Clip4.gif)(Clip5.gif)
Go Won returning to the stadium and boarding the car as a racer
Go Won’s speeding car, and the engineers’ shocked expressions
(Clip6.gif)
Go Won seizing the trophy at the end of a reckless strategy
But what’s reflected on the shining surface is not a bright smile, only obsession
Lyrics:
I came to shake up your heart rate
Leaving the practice room after an all-nighter
From the start to eternity, last spurt
The distant future now grazes my fingertips
(Clip7.gif)
Ultra-low pitch paradise part appears
“Unlimited.”
Go Won’s first words facing the reporters with his sweat-drenched face after removing his helmet, and also the only lyrics of the hook part
Go Won was not satisfied with himself in the slightest
(Clip8.gif)(Clip9.gif)(Clip10.gif)
Lyrics:
No wings, But I rise
No light, But I shine
The race is all over, atmosphere where spectators are leaving one by one
But Go Won, whose heat hasn’t cooled, throws away his helmet and starts running the circuit again on his own two legs.
After the first verse ended, the song had that K-dum artistic vibe, so I briefly opened the album credits
Composition/Lyrics: HANZEL Hanje-ya I love you,,,
Let’s stop investigating here.
[Omitted middle section]
(Clip19.gif)
Here, the pillar Go Won is leaning against is a floodlight (large lighting)
(Concept_photo1.jpg)(Concept_photo2.jpg)
In the concept photos, there was a photo of him sitting on top of a streetlight
In other words, Go Won’s position is the darkest place where the shadow of bright light falls
(Clip20.gif)
End of the race, Go Won crosses the finish line first by a hair’s breadth!
But suspiciously, no one approaches him, the winner
(Clip21.gif)(Clip22.gif)(Clip23.gif)
The background changes as if crumpling and it’s the same midnight stadium as before
Go Won strikes the floodlight pillar with the trophy he’s holding
The giant light topples over and crashes onto the podium, and in the stadium brightened by fire, Go Won smiles very brightly
(Clip24.gif)
Go Won turns his feet along the track and heads back to the starting line for the ending
Spoiler Warning
Go Won is a ghost.
When alive, he must have been a champion, or at least a promising racer.
I don’t know how he died, but he remains at the stadium, yearning for victory forever (Unlimited)
Because what he wants is not the trophy that’s merely a symbol, nor others’ recognition, but the moment of victory itself
Vowing that no one can take that exhilaration from him, he returns to the starting line forever.
Also, the sight of him trying to achieve what he wants without his will being broken even by death perfectly harmonized with his narrative of unfailingly moving forward despite a frustrated debut.
“Damn, I feel somewhat relieved now.”
They poured out everything they wanted to say.
It hadn’t even been long since they posted it, but views were already starting to accumulate. It was thanks to casually asking one of their Twitter friends how this interpretation was, and them spreading it saying ‘I think my acquaintance is a genius, could you take a look?’
The fan shuddered once again with happy chills looking at Go Won’s clips in the post they’d written.
In the music video, Go Won having become an F1 driver showed an obsessive appearance toward victory.
A player crazed by victory, madness that burned the body, sexiness blooming from there, and a bit of creepiness.
As if wearing the concept itself, Go Won fearlessly performed terrifyingly difficult moves and filled the song.
No explanation other than “overwhelming” was needed for the impression of the music video that rushed through 3 minutes without rest.
‘But why did they specifically release it a week before debut? Of course I’m happy but…’
When they went to the official account to watch the music video one more time and think about it.
One more video had been uploaded.
They hadn’t noticed because it was uploaded while frantically writing. They’d lost a whole 15 minutes of their life!
Fortunately, the video was less than 10 seconds long.
But the moment the fan saw the end of that video, they screamed out loud.
“Ahhhhhhh!!!!!”
202X. 02. 14
Another title
DRIFT
See you next grand prix
‘Double title announcement!’
Looking at the title, it seemed to be an extension of this insane concept.
The album’s motto had already solidified into ‘fanatical desire.’
Our baby is bringing not one but two title tracks! They showed us one song early so the fans wouldn’t die of thirst!
Then when does the music show appearance come out?
↳Only Unlimited had its MV pre-released, and after announcing Drift on the 14th they’ll do double title activities!
↳Wow thank you thank you thank you
↳Unusual strategy, why did they do it that way?
Don’t they use pre-release song strategies often these days?
But usually groups with recognition do it
He’s the survival show first place so he obviously has recognition..? Can’t you see the resentful fans running here right now?
↳Only people who watched the broadcast know that, to other people it’s like who gives a shit lololol
As much as it became a hot topic, small fights were also breaking out here and there in the comment section.
The fan also started joining the battle to beat down the humans dampening spirits on a day when their kid brought such an admirable and amazing music video.
But they wouldn’t know.
That K-dum’s 5th Division was grateful even for such chaos…
“Thank goodness, really…”
An employee from K-dum’s 5th Division PR team let out a sigh of relief while squeezing their eyes shut.
Among the reactions to the released music video, there was absolutely no talk about drunk driving.
Originally when planning <DRIFT>’s music video with this concept, they had tried to focus on Go Won enjoying precarious speed matching lyrics like ‘accelerate,’ ‘turn the wheel,’ ‘no such thing as restraint.’
‘If they’d done that, it would’ve really been a total mess by now.’
The PR team employee looked fondly at their artist on screen who was diligent, kind, and hardworking but had pitiably many troubles.
“Heaven helps those who help themselves, they say.”
Hadn’t Baek Hanje appeared before Go Won even in a desperate situation.
‘Then I should row harder while the tide is in too.’
Why keep the momentum and just start activities right away, why drag it out another whole week ㅜㅜ What if all the firewood burns out ㅜㅜ
“Don’t worry!”
The employee looked proudly at the content list to be uploaded to SNS.
Tomorrow a dance practice video, and the day after that filming behind-the-scenes was scheduled to be uploaded.
They were videos perfectly suited to promote Go Won overflowing with determination even outside the music video.
***
At the same time, a notification appeared in the Quest Window that only one person could see.
Q1-1. Close Call!
Progress: 90% (▲25)
Time Limit: 114 hours 11 minutes 02 seconds (D-6)
“Oh, it shot up nicely.”
Sunbae had led the debut up to 90%.
Now it was up to hoobae-nim to fit the last puzzle piece of a flawless debut in time for February 14th.
As I passed through the corridor, I glanced inside the office.
After seeing the reaction to <Unlimited>, without a single exception everyone in the 5th Division was enthusiastically accelerating preparations.
‘Ah, this is done.’
