Minty: "Now, Yeonae, before we get into all the details of your journey, I want to start where it all began—with the person who wrote your story. You were created by Iboni during a time when she was still finding her footing as a writer."
Minty: "Looking back at the book Love Yourself: Wonder and knowing how Iboni crafted your life, how does it feel to look at Iboni as your creator, and what are your honest thoughts on how she portrayed your story and your character?"
Yeonae: "Right off the bat? [Yeonae chuckles] If she's watching right now, I would like to ask as to why make my life SO MUCH COMPLICATED? I could've had a supportive family, hajiman ani. I have a mother who is extremely opposed to my dream. I could've had a great group of friends, hajiman ani. She made us sneak out just to meet that one chingu who she made to look like my love interest when we only saw each other as siblings!"
[Yeaonae's panting, trying to catch her breath]
Yeonae: "How does it feel to look at Iboni as my creator? Jjajeungna. [Yeonae crossed her arms then leaned back on the chair]"
[The audience bursts into laughter and gasps at Yeonae's sudden, passionate outburst. A few people in the front row are giggling behind their hands, totally captivated by her dramatic delivery. Minty's eyes go wide in delightfully shocked amusement, before she throws her head back and laughs warmly.]
Minty: "Oh, wow! Shots fired right at the author in the first five minutes! I love the honesty—Iboni, wherever you are, I hope you're taking notes on what your female lead really thinks!"
[Laughter ripples through the studio again as Minty leans forward, her eyes twinkling with curiosity.]
Minty: "You definitely didn't hold back, Yeonae! And honestly? The crowd is loving every second of this behind-the-scenes tea. Since you laid it all out there, I've got a few follow-up questions for you based on what you just said."
Yeonae: "Gyesoghaseyo."
Minty: "You mentioned how hard it was having a mother who opposed your dreams. Looking back now, do you feel any part of Iboni's writing made you understand why your mother was so against it, or did it just feel like pure friction without reason?"
Yeonae: "I don't know, Minty! I don't know! But I do know that my story is the very first one that she wrote. Changjojuyeo, wae ileohge hasyeossseubnikka?"
[The audience chuckles softly as Yeonae throws her hands up, feeling her raw, dramatic frustration. Minty gasps playfully, clutching her chest at the dramatically formal address to the creator.]
Minty:[Laughing warmly] "Changjojuyeo, wae ileohge hasyeossseubnikka? 'Creator, why have you done this to me?' Oh, the pain of being the first-draft child! Being an author's debut protagonist is definitely a wild, unpredictable ride."
[Minty takes a sip of her tea, nodding in sympathy before turning back to Yeonae.]
Minty: "Since you brought up the group dynamic earlier—you mentioned that chingu who everyone thought was your love interest, when you two were strictly like siblings! How frustrating was it navigating those romantic misunderstandings while you were already just trying to survive all the drama?"
Yeonae: "Jeongmal dabdabhaess-eoyo! Jeongmal! I don't even have any interest in romantic stuff in the first place! Hajiman! The author really push this namja, Jihun, to me! I don't even like the guy!"
[The studio audience gasps dramatically at the mention of Jihun, with a few people shaking their heads in solidarity with Yeonae. Minty's mouth drops open in genuine shock.]
Minty: "Wait, Jihun?! Oh no, nono, not him! The audience knows exactly who you're talking about! Trying to force a spark with a bad guy when you just wanted a supportive friend? That is certified author torture right there!"
[Minty chuckles, leaning in with her hand on her chin, thoroughly entertained.]
Yeonae: "Right!?"
Minty: "You also called out Iboni for making you sneak out just to meet your friends. What was the most heart-pounding, nerve-wracking moment from those secret escape missions that didn't end up making it into the final chapters of the book?"
Yeonae: "Oh. Mwo? Well… I can't… it's hard to remember it now. Too many years already passed. Too many happened already, Minty."
[A gentle, empathetic "Awww" murmurs through the audience. The studio lighting shifts slightly warmer as Minty's expression softens with real understanding.]
Minty: "That's so fair, Yeonae. When you've lived through as much chaos and growth as you have, the small details blend together after a while. Time has a way of blurring those late-night escape plans."
[Minty smiles gently, shifting topics with a playful twinkle back in her eye.]
Minty: "Speaking of how Iboni put your life on paper—she actually admitted in her episode that her Hangul wasn't fluent back when she was writing your story. Did you ever feel like you were speaking or living through her early language-learning phases, and did that ever affect your dialogue?"
Yeonae: "O, ne! It felt unnatural. So unnatural. So weird. I don't want to go back to that. [Yeonae shook her head]"
[The audience laughs warmly at Yeonae's emphatic head shake, a few people nodding along in complete agreement.]
Minty: "Unnatural and weird—yikes! There really is nothing quite like looking back at your own early dialogue and cringing a little bit. We've all been there!"
[Minty chuckles, shuffling her note cards as she leans in closer.]
Minty: "So, if you could hold the pen for just one chapter of Love Yourself: Wonder and rewrite your history, what is the very first thing you would delete or change without hesitation?"
Yeonae: "OUT WITH THE COMPLICATIONS!!! OUT WITH IT!!! But I am glad I was able to meet BTS accidentally. Especially Taehyung oppa~ he's so handsome in real life. Geojismal-eun eobs-eo. [Yeonae raised her right hand up like saying an oath]"
[The audience instantly erupts into squeals and cheers, with several ARMYs in the crowd clutching their hearts and waving their hands in full agreement! Minty bursts out laughing, clapping her hands together at Yeonae's sudden shift in energy.]
Minty: "The oath! Raising the right hand and everything! 'No lies detected!' I love how we went from absolute frustration with Iboni to pure, unfiltered fan appreciation for Taehyung!"
[Laughter ripples through the room again as Minty grins, shaking her head playfully.]
Minty: "Even with all the drama, hardship, and wild complications Iboni threw your way—and despite how 'weird' that early dialogue was—is there any trait, strength, or moment she gave you in Love Yourself: Wonder that you're secretly grateful for?"
Yeonae: "Heh. Resilience."
[A soft, collective "Ahhh" of deep appreciation ripples through the audience. A few people nod slowly in profound agreement, touched by the raw simplicity of her answer. Minty's expression softens, a genuine, admiring smile spreading across her face.]
Minty: "Resilience. Simple, powerful, and undeniably true. She threw you into the deep end without a lifejacket, but you learned how to swim—and stand tall."
[Minty takes a small breath, leaning forward to deliver the final follow-up for this section with a mischievous spark in her eyes.]
Yeonae: "OOOHHH! Swim, swim
Water falling off your skin
Swim, swim
I could spend a lifetime watching you
Swim, swim
This is how it all begins
Swim, swim
I just wanna dive, I just wanna dive~"
[The audience sways and sings along warmly, joining in on Yeonae's impromptu vocal moment before settling back down as her tender request sinks in. Minty places a hand over her heart, touched by the sweet vulnerability of her message.]
Minty: "To wrap up our first round—if Iboni were sitting right next to you on this couch right now after hearing everything you just said, what would be the very first thing you'd say directly to her face?"
Yeonae: "Please be more gentler with me. I don't want hardships. Nugudo gonan-eul wonhaji anhneunda."
[Minty places a hand over her heart, touched by the sweet vulnerability of her message.]
Minty: "Awww! That was beautiful, Yeonae—and so, so real. Nobody wants endless hardship, even if it makes for a dramatic story!"
[Minty smiles thoughtfully, letting the cozy atmosphere settle over the studio as we transition into our next major topic.]