Legendary Superstar

Days after the airing of the first 2 episodes, every drama under the Korean Drama Festival entered their next battlefield—promotions.

While initial rankings painted a picture of the audience's early favorites, nothing was set in stone yet. Week 1 was just the beginning, and every agency knew it.

There were still many weeks to come, and those were much more important. The next few weeks would determine whether a drama would soar higher or completely die.

Each drama's cast and production team began rolling out unique promotions, hoping to boost visibility and attract new viewers.

Some dramas played it safe, releasing behind-the-scenes clips and casual interviews of the cast talking about their roles and chemistry. It was fun, but it was also pretty much ordinary.

Others went aggressive, bringing in already established top actors to react to their episodes. Some even had joined live streams wherein they pushed their drama on every popular channel they could book.

Among all of them, Chasing Dreams was the most explosive one. Kwon Jihyun was backed up by his idol group. His fellow members filmed reaction videos, covered the drama's OST, and even hosted fan challenges online.

Just a single retweet from one of the members was enough to trend the drama all over again.

"I just watched episode 2 of #ChasingDreams and cried. My member really did well 😭💙 – @sunyeok_official"

Their fanbase moved at the speed of light. They uploaded fan edits, fancams, and quotes across all platforms. It was organized. Intentional. And incredibly effective, especially among their fans.

On the other hand, Global Studios, the studio behind The Star's Secret, took a slightly different approach. They believed in experience over algorithms.

Because they knew that only Minjae was well-known, they knew they had to level up their promotions.

That was rather than flooding online platforms with over-polished content, they decided to host a free public event.

It was a collaborative effort between Global Studios and all the agencies involved in the drama, including Flex Entertainment.

The concept was simple but intimate: a live talk session with the main cast, held at a small open venue that could seat just over a thousand people.

A temporary stage was set up in a cultural plaza in Seoul. It wasn't fancy, just a solid white stage with a long table, five microphones, and a banner that read "The Star's Secret – Meet & Talk" hanging above in soft pastel tones.

Even the event host was someone rising, a rookie MC from Flex Entertainment. She had only hosted minor online shows before, but this would be her first time holding a mic in front of a live audience.

There were no popular artists or paid influencers.

Just them.

Just the cast, their sincerity, and a chance for fans to meet them face-to-face.

But that's exactly what made it feel special.

Tickets weren't sold; they were reserved online on a first-come, first-served basis. And within minutes of opening, the seats were all gone.

Not just because of Minjae's growing fandom, but also because of the rising love for Jihoon, Yura, and the rest of the ensemble.

Backstage, as the sun dipped low and the venue buzzed with chatter and camera flashes, the cast of The Star's Secret waited in light jackets and soft stage makeup.

Minjae stretched his arms quietly, glancing toward the curtain.

Jihoon was bouncing from foot to foot, full of energy, but still looked visibly nervous.

Yura checked her mic, humming a song to calm her heart.

And outside, the crowd began to chant their names. It was soft at first, then louder, until the host gave the cue.

"Let's welcome! The Cast of The Star's Secrets!"

The moment the host's voice rang out over the speakers, the crowd's voice erupted.

Cheers exploded from every corner of the plaza, loud enough to drown out the city noise. Some fans even stood from their seats, holding up homemade banners and lightsticks that glowed softly in the fading light.

"Minjae oppa!"

"Jihoon!!!"

"Seo Yura is so pretty in real life!"

"Seojin unnie!"

"Haejin oppa!"

"Wahh! I love all of youuu!"

The plaza felt alive, warm with excitement and anticipation.

Backstage, the cast exchanged quick glances.

"Let's go, guys," Minjae said, calm but steady, his voice anchoring the rest of them. He gave Jihoon a soft nudge. "You got this."

"I'm not nervous, hyung," Jihoon uttered, though it was obviously a lie. He inhaled deeply and grinned. "Okay, maybe just a little."

"Don't trip, alright?" Yura teased, adjusting her earpiece as she gave Jihoon a light smack on the shoulder.

"Don't jinx it!" he hissed back.

With one final deep breath, the group stepped out onto the stage.

The cheers doubled in intensity.

Minjae was the first to show up. He was wearing a light beige jacket over a black shirt. His expression was modest, but his presence radiated the quiet charisma that fans had come to love onscreen.

He gave a soft wave to everyone and bowed slightly, his smile widening when he heard his name being chanted again and again.

Jihoon followed him, more enthusiastic, waving with both hands and throwing hearts toward the crowd. He nearly bumped into Minjae and gave an exaggerated "Oops," earning a few laughs from the front row.

Yura stepped out next in a cream blouse and jeans, her hair tied up in a neat ponytail. The applause that met her was especially loud. Her visuals stunned everyone in person. She blinked, a little surprised by the response, before bowing and giving a graceful smile.

Next, Seojin came out, more reserved than the others, but still beautiful and poised. The crowd welcomed her warmly, and she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear as she greeted the audience.

Finally, Haejin stepped out.

He was dressed in a clean white shirt tucked into loose slacks, the sleeves rolled up just enough to make him look both casual and stylish. He paused slightly at the edge of the stage, scanning the crowd with a composed expression before giving a short, respectful bow.

He was nervous, but the positive response from the crowd put his heart at ease.

Unlike Jihoon's playfulness or Yura's elegance, Haejin was just calm, quiet, and mature. He didn't smile as widely as the others, but his gaze was sincere, and that alone made several fans in the front row gasp quietly.

"He's so handsome in real life…"

"OMG Haejin oppa is even better in person."

As he walked toward his seat, someone from the crowd shouted, "

Haejin oppa, fighting!"

That was when he smiled. The scream that followed was deafening.

Now with all five cast members seated behind the long table, the host stepped up again, her voice bright but steady.

"Thank you for coming tonight to this special Meet & Talk event for The Star's Secret! Please give another round of applause to our rising stars!"

The crowd clapped enthusiastically.

"Minjae oppa!!"

"Ahhhh! I love youuuu!"

"You all look so good!"

"I love youuuu!"

Minjae, Jihoon, Yura, Seojin, and Haejin looked at each other and smiled. Despite the nerves, they could feel the energy radiating from the audience.

It wasn't a red carpet or a glamorous press conference. There were also no cameras around that were live streaming the event. Though there were some photographers on the side to capture the moment.

Still, even if it was simple, it felt heartfelt and sincere.

"Minjae oppa, fighting!"

"Jihoon, you were hilarious!!"

"Yura unnie, you're so pretty it hurts!"

"Go Minjae oppa, you're the best!"

"Seojin unnie, you looked like a goddess today!"

"Minjae! You looked so sad in episode 2, I wanted to hug you!"

"Seo Yura! I love your character so much!"

"Jihoon, you're my sunshine!!"

"Seojin, you're my role model!!"

"Haejin oppa, your eyes are so deep!!"

"Minjae oppa, I love youuuu!"

"Haejin, please smile again!! We'll scream louder!"

The cheers came from all directions—some were shy, some shouted with all their hearts which made everyone laugh.

The cast couldn't help but grin, their nervousness slowly dissolving into genuine warmth. Even the staff watching from the side were smiling at the overwhelming support.

The host laughed softly into her mic, glancing at the cast who were now visibly relaxed and glowing from the crowd's energy.

"Well, I think it's safe to say you're all loved!" she said. "Let's start the talk—shall we?"

And with that, the event officially began.

All of the cast took their seats at the long table in front. They held the microphones in their hand, while a staff member gave each one of them a water bottle incase they get thirsty.

The rookie MC smiled from the side of the stage, a little nervous herself, but she powered through.

"Welcome, everyone! I'm your host for this evening, Lee Dami, and I am so honored to stand here today with the rising stars of this incredible drama. Please give another round of applause for the cast of The Star's Secret!"

The fans clapped, screamed, and waved once again.