きっとまたいつか会えるだろう。

[ujunxverse]

omg i am back from the dead i am careermaxxing

[ujunxverse]

one last b2p rant but leo fans are the worst kind of evil there is in the internet. y'all claim to take talent above all but then claim a song where they weren't even SINGING but chanting and screaming "QUEENCARD IMMA QUEENCARD" did BETTER than rose blossom or breathe ????????? HANEUM HIGH NOTE AND VOCAL HARMONIES ???????? KANGMIN AND ANXIN ???????? they are so delusional it's fucking irritating

[ujunxverse]

i came back here just to write another kpop sorta think piece. i know a lot of people online have been saying hybe is the shein of kpop, but i think bighit music on its own is very selective about who they choose to debut, when, etc. it's the reason why trainee a was scrapped even with such a perfect lineup, and though i still think that they would've been the it group had they debuted, i think it's nice to see a glimpse of the direction they wanted with the trainee a boys and cortis—both being super involved in crafting their aritst identity, production, vlogging. etc. it's also the reason why they take so long to debut their own groups, with there being a six-year gap between txt and cortis, and a bigger gap between bts and txt (though let's be fair that gap was mostly caused by their lack of financial resources and the fact that bighit wasn't what it is now back then; also idk where to count &team cos bighit japan is a bit different from bighit music proper). like hybe could've pulled what they did with prelude and katseye in geffen with cortis, but they took their sweet time, waiting, testing the waters, experimenting, and then, when EVERYTHING was set, debuted cortis.

i think cortis is so interesting to me as a group, and mind you, i was trying to hard not to get into them after hearing "go!", but "what you want" completely took me by surprise in every good way. in terms of identity, though it's too early to tell, cortis isn't really unique (i'll get to this later). like, you have a lot of groups that turn the la skater/grunge garage rock subculture into an aesthetic, but what really stood out to me about cortis is their heavy involvement in crafting their artistry so early into their careers. with txt being more conceptual, some of their albums, depending on the aesthetic they're going for can disconnect with them, but i don't really feel that way with cortis, even if it's so easy to tell yourself that this "organic" identity is highly likely to come from a boardroom of execs looking at trends because profit matters before anything else. that being said, it's still too early to tell, but i'm actually looking forward to what direction they'll take their artistry, considering, again, that they are quite involved in everything about their brand.

now, here's where i feel i'll ruffle some feathers: i think cortis' debut is what riize could've been. sm is known to experiment quite a lot with their groups and have polarizing tracks throughout their artist's discographies, but i think, the original vision and the whole "emotional pop" thing they wanted is embodied in "what you want": this bold ode to youth. odyssey as an album was great in showcasing the versatility of riize as a six-piece (i had to listen and break my boycott streak after the cortis debut and to really write this out ngl), i think the lack of involvement of the boys, or if they're involved in any way, kind of leaves a big hole in the kind of authenticity they want to sell (and also, "love 119" imo destroyed any chance of getting "get a guitar/memories" era back once they decided to give the delulu fands boyfriend fanservice). once again, i know cortis is new in the game, but from their vlogs, their "idiots and cortis" trademark when crediting themselves and their staff in videos, their involvement in every aspect of their debut, and the fact that (for a hybe group) they are SINGING LIVE IN EVERY PERFORMANCE to me marks a very, very strong change in not just what bighit music or perhaps hybe as a whole is steering towards, but in kpop as well, hopefully. also, not-so-choreo-heavy !! that's so nice !! letting them breathe and do whatever on stage and hold a note !!! god i hope this sets another precedent because cortis felt like when newjeans debuted back in 2022. they're just so, refreshing, and i can't wait to see what they will become, while also hoping they keep being extremely involved in their artistry and have a massive say in the direction they want to take themselves.

[ujunxverse]

also i take back everything i said never trust h*be cos wtf was fashion

[ujunxverse]

i saw somewhere on my twt timeline that b2p is if everything in bp1 went wrong and i can't agree more. wdym a majority of rising sun team 1 got e-worded (rip andrew han) cos they aired that episode after voting has closed. y'all literally e-worded all the competent singers and left only haneum to carry the entire cohort like i actually miss the way bp1 had hui, jay chang, seungeon, taerae, shanbin, zhang hao, and i can name many more. like even people like junhyeon, who mind you is an extremely talented vocalist and was so stable from his audition up to the finals, weren't taken seriously because you had fucking hui, zhang hao, shanbin, and seungeon as top vocals in the finals. like i seriously took bp1 for granted... this season actually sucks so much ass and whatever bg comes out of this mess... i'm just gonna send my prayers in advance

[ujunxverse]

i took the first season of boys planet for granted the songs for this season is so ass. chains wanted to be over me 2.0 so bad but... i'm sorry... even sangwon's star quality wasn't able to save that ass of a song. the producers seriously didn't eat with this one.

[ujunxverse]

i came back here just to write another kpop sorta think piece. i know a lot of people online have been saying hybe is the shein of kpop, but i think bighit music on its own is very selective about who they choose to debut, when, etc. it's the reason why trainee a was scrapped even with such a perfect lineup, and though i still think that they would've been the it group had they debuted, i think it's nice to see a glimpse of the direction they wanted with the trainee a boys and cortis—both being super involved in crafting their aritst identity, production, vlogging. etc. it's also the reason why they take so long to debut their own groups, with there being a six-year gap between txt and cortis, and a bigger gap between bts and txt (though let's be fair that gap was mostly caused by their lack of financial resources and the fact that bighit wasn't what it is now back then; also idk where to count &team cos bighit japan is a bit different from bighit music proper). like hybe could've pulled what they did with prelude and katseye in geffen with cortis, but they took their sweet time, waiting, testing the waters, experimenting, and then, when EVERYTHING was set, debuted cortis.

i think cortis is so interesting to me as a group, and mind you, i was trying to hard not to get into them after hearing "go!", but "what you want" completely took me by surprise in every good way. in terms of identity, though it's too early to tell, cortis isn't really unique (i'll get to this later). like, you have a lot of groups that turn the la skater/grunge garage rock subculture into an aesthetic, but what really stood out to me about cortis is their heavy involvement in crafting their artistry so early into their careers. with txt being more conceptual, some of their albums, depending on the aesthetic they're going for can disconnect with them, but i don't really feel that way with cortis, even if it's so easy to tell yourself that this "organic" identity is highly likely to come from a boardroom of execs looking at trends because profit matters before anything else. that being said, it's still too early to tell, but i'm actually looking forward to what direction they'll take their artistry, considering, again, that they are quite involved in everything about their brand.

now, here's where i feel i'll ruffle some feathers: i think cortis' debut is what riize could've been. sm is known to experiment quite a lot with their groups and have polarizing tracks throughout their artist's discographies, but i think, the original vision and the whole "emotional pop" thing they wanted is embodied in "what you want": this bold ode to youth. odyssey as an album was great in showcasing the versatility of riize as a six-piece (i had to listen and break my boycott streak after the cortis debut and to really write this out ngl), i think the lack of involvement of the boys, or if they're involved in any way, kind of leaves a big hole in the kind of authenticity they want to sell (and also, "love 119" imo destroyed any chance of getting "get a guitar/memories" era back once they decided to give the delulu fands boyfriend fanservice). once again, i know cortis is new in the game, but from their vlogs, their "idiots and cortis" trademark when crediting themselves and their staff in videos, their involvement in every aspect of their debut, and the fact that (for a hybe group) they are SINGING LIVE IN EVERY PERFORMANCE to me marks a very, very strong change in not just what bighit music or perhaps hybe as a whole is steering towards, but in kpop as well, hopefully. also, not-so-choreo-heavy !! that's so nice !! letting them breathe and do whatever on stage and hold a note !!! god i hope this sets another precedent because cortis felt like when newjeans debuted back in 2022. they're just so, refreshing, and i can't wait to see what they will become, while also hoping they keep being extremely involved in their artistry and have a massive say in the direction they want to take themselves.

[ujunxverse]

sometimes kpop makes me think that i should probably a) go offline b) spend less and c) be true to myself again. all this core core bs was technically fed by kpop turning these counterculture elements (re: punk, alternative fashion, queer culture, voguing, etc.) into a sellable "concept" so now u have ppl wearing vivienne westwood or getting wolf cuts and septum piercings without idk knowing that fashion used to be personalized for people in marginalized communities to feel empowered and also find themselves in an oppressive society? like i can't even tell who's queer anymore cos the str*ights dress like us now and paint their nails like it's embarrassing.

all day project has all day to kick that man out of the group: kpop's sound is stolen from black culture and time and time again i'm so disappointed like it's 2025, teddy is westernized and should be aware of certain issues that he who shall not be named represent in the current dialogue of kpop and globality. yet you have this walking caricature that basically is a one-man mistrel show cosplay black culture ????? and people LOVE him for it ?!?!?!??!?!?!?! bailey is complicit in this btw she should know better and if she cared enough she would call him out on his bs. i thought y'all hated kiss of life for doing the same thing and then bend backwards and do some of the craziest mental gymnastics to defend this guy because you like woochan and yeongseo ????? also i can't stand the discourse around annie like wbk kpop idols are rich as hell esp these days like who can afford to remove themselves from the job market or the education system for a couple years ??? definitely not a middle class family that's what. what i don't stand by is people idolizing annie and romanticizing chaebols. she's handling it decently imo but it leaves such an icky taste in my mouth when people talk about her being a chaebol like it's a good thing, almost reminiscent of the resurgence of "old money" aesthetics and soft conservatism seeping into pop culture.

boys ii planet needs to fire their casting director: bro it's so BORING had it not been for sangwon i wouldn't even keep myself updated on whats' going on. it's so stale, there are no singers (and this is a larger issue with later generations in kpop wbk after le sserafim's coachella disaster), and we have a wholeass bully who's still not kicked out of the show ?!?!?! pmo fr. if only hybe hadn't fumbled trainee a and handled leo's controversy better we'd have a better boygroup than woochan being in adp. i'm serious save that man.

xnghan and otsicks: twitter hype actually pmo like otsicks briize freaks are actively taking his fan accounts down and talk so much smack about his solo debut when idk ??? focus on your group ???? mind your own business ???? you got what you wanted and you still complain !??!?!?!?! anywho i hope nothing but the best for xnghan's career and i hope he sets a more positive precedent in the korean music industry because i fear netizens and the gp never learn no matter how many lives are lost. fandom culture continues to become toxic as fuck and there are no checks and balances to saesangs still roaming around and invading the privacy of these people solely for the fact that these companies care about their profit margins more than the well-being of their artists. more saesangs means more album sales, merch sales, and streams, and that's what they want, not the peace of mind of their artists. it's the sad truth, but i really hope and pray that xnghan sets a precedent. i'm not trying to make him out like a messiah but to me, he represents potential for positive change. it's him and nwjns' downfall that imo are visibly showing the cracks in the kpop industry, and this is not good for cultures such as those of east asia who are confucian in nature and value saving face out of all things. negative press where we're from IS negative press, and especially with the global coverage seunghan got when he was dealing with the wreaths, i hope he gets a redemption arc and proper closure from this entire ordeal.

[ujunxverse]

XNGHAN SOLO DEBUT LET'S GO KINGHAN MY KING IS BACK RAHHHH THE WORLD IS HEALING MY SKIN IS CLEARING MY MANIFESTATIONS ARE GONNA COME TO LIFE KINGHAN THE TRUE SECOND COMING THE RAPTURE THE PROGENITOR MY LOVE <3

[ujunxverse]

every once in a while the viv tumblr era writer comes hitting me like a truck. i miss being creative so much but i always feel like the more time passes the less time i do have investing in this hobby for free. also, can we not talk about the economy i feel like i need 16 different SiDe HuStLeS to survive, selling myself to a failing system and turning my hobbies, ideas, and interests into cOnTenT or a product to sell to people. very unfortunate that i went from "oh i should try pottery" to "hey what if i made money off pottery" like... can't my hobbies stay a hobby....... :(

[ujunxverse]

summer reminds me of 14 steps and 14 steps reminds me of you.

it’s insane how i read that fic as a miserable little teenager and now i’m literally going off to my dream school as a uni student for philosophy in less than 2 months.

at the time, 14 steps was such a source of comfort for me because i was at a point in my life where i was terrified i would amount to nothing. paralyzed by inaction, i didn’t know how to move on from the past. during that summer i got absolutely shitfaced on coming of age media like omg it was honestly crazy. but things are different now, and i think i have started to commit to a little less yearning and a lot more learning!!

sometimes i look back to 14stab as a reference point, and i often want to thank you.

your passion for writing makes me want to be better too and i think that is super epicness ngl. i’m reading lots more, and i am starting to turn my ambitions into reality.

i feel like im the biggest 14stab and viv glazer on the planet but eh, so be it!

it’s great to hear from you again. always wishing you well in a little corner of my heart n mind. yay!

hey min !! so sorry for not getting back to you sooner !! i've been so busy with everything in my life at the moment and couldn't carve out the time to properly read your message and respond. every time someone tells me how much 14 steps resonated with them, i can't help but feel so much joy at the thought that, even if my words were a true reflection of my own anxieties, fears, and doubts about what kind of adult i'll become after uni ends as a second-year student with zero experience owing to the pandemic basically locking me in the house for the first two years of my uni life, i'm glad people found a sense of solidarity and comfort in that, in this idea that we're really not alone in this journey. i'm overjoyed to hear that you got into your dream school, pursuing what you want, and learning as you go. i think the tunnel vision that the pandemic created can definitely consume you in its black, endless void, but there's always a light at the end of the tunnel, and i think, as cringy as this sounds, i've been trying to think about that aspect of resilience a little bit more (also because as someone who's currently studying disaster risk reduction, resilience, management, preparedness, etc., it's kind of hard to be pessimistic and ennui about things such as courage, bravery, and resilience....).

in the same way you've constantly thanked me for providing you with some of my works, which are an extension of myself, i'd like to thank you for reaching out to me personally and speaking with me. our interactions here and there really mean so much to me, and getting to know you as a person made my writing journey here unforgettable, almost as if i'm reminded that there's real people out there reading my works, hearing what i have to say, and taking my words with you. truly, that kind of interaction always warms my heart.

i hope you're well, and as always, do keep in touch !! my inbox is always free, even if my reply schedule is SO BAD

[ujunxverse]

wtf is boys ii planet and why are everyone children in there literally go back to school what's a 2010-2012 liner doing in a SURVIVAL SHOW

[shihlun]

Akira Kurosawa

- High and Low

1963

[jareckiworld]

Tan Mu — Torus (oil on linen, 2021)

[irenelichtensteinblog]

Junxian Wang, Facing Shadows, Havana, Cuba, 2024

[clawmarks]

L'Art ornamental - Frères des écoles chrétiennes - 1916 - via Internet Archive

[shihlun]

Takeyoshi Tanuma

- Writer Kenzaburo Oe and his wife

February 5, 1961

[ujunxverse]

yet, they're both iconic anyways! like, i still see people reading your orpheyeux fics a lot, especially 14 steps,,, literally cementing yourself in the legacy of enha fic blr ngl i've been doing alright with the writing projects! don't wanna jinx it but the brain's been churning a lot of things recently. freaking FINALLY getting to that jake cyberpunk au i mentioned to you back in 20 freaking 22. also, because you reminded me of wong karwai a lot prob because of your prev pinned post, i actually just posted a jay fic but in a style of like mid 90s wong karwai movies + hou hsiao-hsien's millenium mambo *eyes* (with that tinge of asianess to it, cause enha fics recently have been westernised a lot)

bro i thought you've moved out already? but yeah, get your master's first, tho. also where do you think you'll end up, esp being your nomadic self? and a freaking novel??

it still shocks me that i get ppl coming back every now and then, finding my personal blog just to tell me they've read 14 steps or any other orpheyeux era works. i feel like a niche internet micro celebrity LOL

ahh that's so good for you though !! i miss being creative :(((( omg jake cyberpunk is something so scrumptious i can't wait !!! even if i haven't been following the enha boys lately (ngl the only kpop group i've actively been following here and there are zb1 but they're disb*nding soon so i don't know how i feel......) but for you i'd read it and come back on the blr HAHA jay x wkw is also so scrumptions mmmMMMMmMMm