Merit Award.
A special award given to artists or music professionals who have had a significant impact on the Korean popular music industry.
The criteria for granting the Merit Award usually varies every year.
For instance, it could be awarded to pioneers of a genre or to those who have led groundbreaking changes in popular music.
However, the criterion for this year’s Merit Award was focused on the development of Korean popular music.
As the entertainment industry becomes increasingly stagnant and the same faces dominate award shows year after year, it’s inevitable that the market itself stagnates as well.
Thus, the emergence of new rookies is always welcomed by stakeholders, especially when these rookies shine particularly brightly.
In that sense, this year saw the emergence of extraordinary new talent: Baek Ye-rin, Ha-on, and Ryu Se-ah, who won the award for Best New Artist this year.
So who is the person known for discovering all three of them?
“Uh… I didn’t expect to receive this, so I didn’t prepare any acceptance speech. First of all, thank you.”
Standing on stage, Kang Beom-jun scratched his head as he spoke.
The reason why he was given the Merit Award is clear.
However, there is another individual who discovered those three…
All Kang Beom-jun did was luckily receive a critique email from that person and from then on let himself be carried away by the overwhelming momentum.
But still…
‘That person would surely say the following…’
It’s also thanks to him.
So, please enjoy receiving the award.
With that thought, Kang Beom-jun grinned and continued speaking.
“To be honest, if it wasn’t for me, RT Entertainment wouldn’t have grown so much in merely a year. In that sense, I’d like to thank all the members of RT Entertainment who believed and followed me despite my shortcomings, and also our company’s star, Ye-rin and Se-ah, and last but not least, Ha-on.”
Kang Beom-jun’s acceptance speech was textbook-perfect for a CEO of an entertainment company.
Ryu Won, who was listening, agreed with this sentiment.
In fact, after hearing someone’s outlandish acceptance speech earlier, it was impossible not to feel this way even more.
However…
“By the way, I have something I’d like to say to Ha-on. Please, for this year, cut down on the big drama. At this rate, I’ll lose all my hair.”
Ryu Won, who heard this through the TV, paused in thought for a moment.
This request to cut down refers to the presumption that creating drama is already set as the default.
One representative threatens to grab the other by the pants while the other begs him not to cause trouble, citing his hair as leverage.
Is RT Entertainment really okay to go on like this?
But Ryu Won felt reassured.
Because a sudden storm had already passed.
Now only three awards remained.
Song of the Year, Album of the Year, and Musician of the Year.
And anyone could guess who would win these awards.
‘Probably Baek Ye-rin.’
Although Ryu Won himself would win the Musician of the Year, there was a high probability that the other two awards would go to Baek Ye-rin.
This would then result in an amusing spectacle where Baek Ye-rin would deliver all the remaining acceptance speeches in succession.
Of course, unlike the previous two recipients, Baek Ye-rin wouldn’t go off the rails.
When Ryu Won thought about it, Baek Ye-rin was definitely not that kind of character.
But that was half right, half wrong.
First off, Baek Ye-rin won Song of the Year with her track “Your Picture,” which made countless people cry.
Following that, Album of the Year was awarded to her debut album “Rewind” and…
“Thank you so much. There have been countless songs made throughout this year, and there are many excellent people who have dedicated themselves fully within the music scene. So, I’m extremely thankful to have received such a great award.”
Baek Ye-rin’s speech was so smooth and elegant that it naturally brought smiles to the listeners’ faces.
Even Ryu Won had a faint smile on his face as he watched her.
It was a perfect acceptance speech, quintessentially Baek Ye-rin, and it ended gracefully.
This reassured Ryu Won.
Even though there had been a bit of chaos earlier, he felt confident that Baek Ye-rin would bring a smooth and pleasant conclusion.
Now only one award remained, the Musician of the Year.
But Ryu Won’s eyes widened at what he saw.
As if boasting to someone…
Ziiip—
Standing at center stage to accept the award on behalf of Ha-on, Baek Ye-rin tore up a piece of paper.
It was the acceptance speech Ryu Won had handed her a few days ago.
The one he had written himself.
*
Three minutes ago.
After finishing her own acceptance speech, Baek Ye-rin descended the stage.
Instead of returning to her seat, she retreated to a shadowed area where cameras couldn’t reach, waiting for her next turn.
Since she had to ascend the stage once again.
For the grand finale of the 25th Korean Popular Music Awards.
In order to accept the last award on behalf of someone else.
Thus, Baek Ye-rin retrieved a piece of paper from her pocket.
It was Ryu Won’s acceptance speech.
She read it again, and couldn’t help but offer a faint smile.
Did she ever think she’d just read it out loud?
Probably not.
Right from the moment she received it to this very instant…
Why?
‘Because it’s disappointing.’
People don’t know.
Who this composer named Ha-on really is.
What he looks like, how he talks, or what his personality is like.
All they know is his music.
Is that enough?
Baek Ye-rin doesn’t believe it is.
She wanted to let people know.
How amazing he was, how warm a person he was.
For that reason…
Clic-
She walked back up to the stage.
“The person who achieved the greatest musical success this year could only be this person. The Musician of the Year goes to composer Ha-on! Regrettably, due to personal reasons, he could not attend the ceremony, but Baek Ye-rin has kindly agreed to receive the award and deliver the acceptance speech on his behalf.”
As the MC explained, Baek Ye-rin had once again stepped onto center stage.
She looked straight at the camera placed right in front of her.
This was because she assumed he would be watching her now— the person who was supposed to receive the award personally.
Thus, Baek Ye-rin offered him the same bright smile she always gave him.
And then…
Ziiip—
She dramatically ripped the piece of paper down the middle.
It was a warning.
A warning that the acceptance speech he had written would not be revealed to the world in this scenario.
Still, there would be no grand confession in this situation either, so she hoped he wouldn’t worry too much.
This was a celebration of his greatness.
…Just that.
“First of all, congratulations, Ha-on. The title ‘Musician of the Year’ really suits you.”
Through this occasion, she was conveying all the things she hadn’t been able to say up until now.
“The reason I’m standing here as Ha-on’s representative is because I genuinely want to express my gratitude. Without Ha-on, the singer Baek Ye-rin wouldn’t have existed in this world.”
Perhaps this is true, or perhaps it isn’t.
Baek Ye-rin was certainly destined to become a singer.
But the reason she can stand on this stage now is all because of the composer named Ha-on.
“In fact, I never really had a defined dream. I never had the leisure to think about such things. But after hearing the songs you shared and receiving your encouragement, I finally found a dream.”
Though she couldn’t reveal the content of that dream here…
There was something she could clearly state.
“In my personal favorite song, ‘Rewind,’ the last verse says, ‘This time, I’ll be the light for you.’ That lyric always seems like something you would say to me. To me, Ha-on is an incredibly cool and radiant person.”
The lyric was exactly that… Ha-on… or rather, Ryu Won was like “light” to Baek Ye-rin.
Always cool, respected, infinitely warm and kind.
Hence, Baek Ye-rin remembers every moment they’ve spent together.
Each moment was precious and full of happiness…
Recalling those treasured memories in her mind, Baek Ye-rin spoke again.
This was…
“Ha-on! Thank you for being that person for me. I admire you so much, and from now on, I will strive anew. I hope to continue to stay with such an amazing person.”
That was Baek Ye-rin’s final thing she wanted to convey to Ryu Won through this moment.
Baek Ye-rin bowed her head at the end of her speech in gratitude, marking the end of the proxy acceptance speech for Ha-on.
Although…
It was less of Ha-on’s acceptance speech and more of Baek Ye-rin’s heartfelt confession.
Yet it didn’t matter.
Who could criticize a young girl who had achieved the incredible feat of winning four awards at the Korean Popular Music Awards and had sincerely conveyed her feelings?
And the same went for the person who received the confession.
‘I should be the one who’s grateful.’
Ryu Won slowly closed his eyes, recalling Baek Ye-rin’s heartfelt expression.
All the words of gratitude she had expressed…
They were exactly what he wanted to say as well.
Thinking about how foolishly endearing the pair was, Ryu Won smiled faintly.
