The stage filled with Go Hyun-jung and Ryeo-woon‘s sincerity is touching the hearts of viewers and making them cheer for their challenge even more.

In episodes 3 and 4 of the Genie TV original drama ‘Namib’ (written by Eom Sung-min, directed by Han Sang-jae, Kang Min-goo) that aired last week, the ‘Star Rise’ auditions finally began, and Yoo Jin-woo (played by Ryeo-woon), who received personalized training from Kang Soo-hyun (played by Go Hyun-jung), delivered a touching moment with a song that consoled his precarious life.

Kang Soo-hyun persuaded her husband, Shim Jun-seok (played by Yoon Sang-hyun), who was a capable producer, to help her, and hired her friend Hong Jung-hwa (played by Kim Hyun-sook) as a vocal trainer, putting spurs to Yoo Jin-woo’s development. Also, he met with the PD in charge of ‘Star Rise’ and emphasized Eugene Woo‘s strengths and narrative, showing his passion both inside and out.

While Kang Soo Hyun was preparing thoroughly for the audition, Eugene Woo was still working at Club Muse where Chris (played by Lee Ki Taek) was to make a living. Eugene Woo, who had been driving a car filled with bad people under Chris’s instructions and taking dangerous actions, ended up panicking due to an unexpected accident that happened in an instant.

At the same time, Kang Soo Hyun met Eugene Woo‘s aunt and heard shocking news about him. Not only did Eugene Woo not love her, but he was also hurting himself. Eugene Woo, standing at the scene of the accident covered in blood, had a large scar on his wrist, which was shocking.

After returning home, Kang Soo Hyun confessed to her husband Shim Jun Seok what she had heard from Eugene Woo’s aunt, revealing her despair. Here, Shim Jun-seok said that it is important to instill memories of success, and he used Hong Jeong-hwa‘s store as a stage to give Yoo Jin-woo real-life experience. Yoo Jin-woo had a smile on his face after finishing the stage amidst the warm encouragement of the customers, Kang Soo-hyun, and Shim Jun-seok.

Kang Soo-hyun and Shim Jun-seok decided to create a new game plan to hide Yoo Jin-woo’s shortcomings and highlight his strengths. They decided to show him his true self by eliminating the existing strategies such as song selections that give a surprise and high notes that leave a strong impression, and to appeal to his sincerity. Yoo Jin-woo expressed his doubts until right before the first round stage at Kang Soo-hyun‘s words, “Sing like it’s your real life,” but Kang Soo-hyun confidently encouraged him by saying, “Trust me and go on stage.”

Finally, the stage began, and Yoo Jin-woo sang calmly as if telling his own story, following Kang Soo-hyun‘s advice. Yoo Jin-woo’s stage, which contained his sincerity that he is happiest when singing, was enough to strongly thrill the hearts of the viewers.

However, at the moment when the song reached its climax, an unexpected person entered Yoo Jin-woo‘s eyes, surprising everyone. This was because Yoo Jin-woo’s mother was looking at her son on stage from the audience. Episode 4 of ‘Namib’ ended with Yoo Jin-woo‘s sad tears as he was unable to finish the song due to the trauma he had felt toward his parents that had built up for a long time. One wonders why Yoo Jin-woo’s mother appeared there, and whether Yoo Jin-woo will be able to overcome the trauma that keeps coming back to him and finish the stage safely.

Episode 5 of Genie TV original drama ‘Namib’, which will feature the earnest challenges of producer Go Hyun-jung, who is chasing the light, and trainee Ryeo-woon, who is covered in scars, will air on ENA at 10 p.m. on the 6th, and streaming will be provided for free on KT Genie TV and Genie TV Mobile immediately after the main broadcast.

Jeon Hyo-jin, Donga.com reporter jhj@donga.com