Why “Welcome to 20 Orientation” is fromis_9’s best episode the year

Jeong Jae Hoon (Original Contents 3 Studio lead professional): I felt so happy while both filming and editing the episode “Welcome to 20 Orientation.” My personal favorite part in the episode is Saerom’s expression when she watches Jiheon drinking. It was amazing to see how she could look at her with as much love as her own flesh and blood just because she was 20 in Korean age now, too. I loved seeing her have someone like that in her life. It even made me a little envious. (laughs) It was also the all-important starting point of this year’s episodes of Channel_9. Following that episode, we made individual episodes that reflect each member’s personality. That started with the next episode, “Beat Song Hayoung! 1 VS 8,” and also included “Byeoljubujeon 2022,” eventually ending with “Jisun’s Hell’s Kitchen.” We planned each episode with each of the group member’s charms and personality traits in mind.

Everyone’s 20

Jeong Jae Hoon: The oldest member of fromis_9 was born in 1997 and the youngest in 2003, so there’s a bit of an age gap between them. We also thought fans would be curious about what the members born in 1997 and 1998 were like when they were 20 because they debuted after they’d already turned 20.So this episode was meant to feed fans’ curiosity and we wanted to shed light on all of the members’ lives at age 20. We wanted to give viewers and fromis_9 fans a chance to reflect on and think about life at age 20 at the same time because that’s the most wonderful time of your life. I hope they feel fromis_9 and Channel_9 were there for that amazing time of their life. (laughs) I hope the group and the show will always be memorable for them.

fromis_9’s many roles on Channel_9

Jeong Jae Hoon: We talk things over with the members a lot before we ever shoot anything. After we finish an episode, we say to them, “This is what we’re working on for the next episode. What do you think?” Then they give us more ideas. For example, for the episode “Save me, please! horror_9,” Nagyung’s idea was, “The costumes should look like this and there should be a ghost here,” and then, for the episode “Jisun’s Hell’s Kitchen,” Jisun suggested, “What if we cook this and make them do this exercise routine?” They’re very active with giving opinions when we make videos. Our production team is truly blessed. (laughs)

Behind the scenes of Channel_9

Jeong Jae Hoon: When we’re making anything, the first thing we ask is, “What would the members have fun doing?” Fans feel good when they see their favorite artists happy and having fun, and it makes for good content when the artists are doing things they like on camera. The credo behind the Original Contents Studio is to make something the artists will have fun with. That’s why we want to keep showing off what makes fromis_9 special on Channel_9. I think they can do that without the help of the show because they’re all so funny, so we want to make another reality show with them someday. It should let us make even more fun content showing them from a different angle. (laughs) I’ll still never forget after we finished filming the 50th episode special, “Channel_9 Review,” and Nagyung said to us, “Thank you for always putting so much effort in every time,” and then, “We’ve always taken Channel_9 really seriously, too.” I’m so grateful they’re all take things seriously whenever we do a shoot. I hope fromis_9 and flover will remember "Channel_9"

Hoping Channel_9 will be memorable for fromis_9 and flover

Jeong Jae Hoon: I hope someday, when the members look back, Channel_9 will still be a good memory for them. After shooting the “Channel_9 Review,” Saerom said something really touching: “Of all the amazing memories I have with fromis_9, Channel_9 has been a big part of it.” I hope the fromis_9 members look back on 2022 and count Channel_9 among their happiest memories. And I hope flover will someday remember the way they were able to spend such a wonderful time with their favorite artists through the series. If I could wish for one more thing, it would be that Channel_9 always be something the fans are proud of and feel they can brag about.