Surfin’ Boy

The studio complex in the outskirts of Seoul had been transformed into a surreal aquatic dreamscape for Red Velvet’s Velvet Summer title track “Surfin’ Boy.” A massive indoor pool basin filled with pale turquoise water sat at the center, its surface dusted with fine white sand that clung to skin and fabric alike. Elevated concrete platforms and weathered stairs rose on the left and rear, draped with fishing nets, coiled ropes, and oversized silver fish props. Soft blue gels and high key lights bounced off white walls and a painted sky backdrop, creating the illusion of endless summer without a single real sunbeam. The air smelled of chlorine, expensive perfume, and the faint metallic tang of the industrial fans that kept the models’ skin from overheating under the continuous lights.

The final group shot — the one that would become the main concept image — had been scheduled for the last two hours of the day. Everything before it was preparation, testing, and refinement.

At 10:17 a.m. the five members of Red Velvet entered the main set already in their white costumes. Joy walked in first, short black hair still slightly damp from the styling room, white high-neck crop top sitting cleanly under her full chest, flared white pants brushing the floor with every step. She rolled her shoulders once and muttered, “Fuck, this fabric is colder than I thought,” then laughed when Wendy poked her side.

Yeri followed, long black hair smoothed under a thin white headband, white crop top and tiny shorts already riding a little high on her hips. She tugged the shorts down an inch and said, “These are going to disappear the second I sit, aren’t they?”

Irene came next, white captain’s hat already on, sleeveless white dress clinging to her frame, long black hair falling in a perfect sheet down her back. She adjusted the hat with two fingers and gave the photographer a small, polite smile. “Ready when you are.”

Seulgi stepped onto the sand barefoot, short black hair framing her face, white mini dress with underbust cut-outs already showing the clean line of her waist. She stretched her arms overhead, the fabric pulling tight across her chest, and exhaled, “Okay. Let’s make this look expensive.”

Wendy closed the group, hair twisted into a high bun, white mini dress with strategic cut-outs already outlining the faint ridges of her abs. She looked around the set, eyes landing on the six male models already in position, and whispered to Seulgi, “They look like they walked out of a perfume ad.”

The male models had been briefed earlier. Kai stood on the left stairs, dark skin gleaming under a light mist of water, black shorts the only clothing on his powerful frame, a large net draped over one shoulder. Leo waited mid-stairs, light hair messy, shirtless, black pants, holding a second net. Finn was already at the pool edge, red hair bright under the lights, shirtless and barefoot, circular net in both hands. Axel stood on the upper platform with the oversized silver fish, platinum hair catching every beam. Zane and River shared the far right platform — Zane with the gold chain, River leaner and quieter.

The photographer, a woman in her forties named Hyejin who had worked with the group since “Red Flavor,” clapped her hands once.

“Listen up. We are building toward the final group composition. I want every single frame to feel like the moment just before someone dives or just after someone is pulled out of the water. Faces calm but charged. Bodies open. No one looks at the camera like they’re selling toothpaste. You look at each other, or past each other, or at the water. Understood?”

A chorus of “Yes” and “Got it” answered her.

They began with individual and small-group tests while the lighting team refined the fill. Joy was directed to the left side of the sand first.

“Joy, stand with your weight on your right leg, left hand on your hip. Chin slightly down, eyes soft. Think of the exact second the water hits your thighs.”

Joy shifted, the flared pants pulling tight across her hips and ass. She placed her hand on her hip, fingers spreading slightly, and looked toward the pool. The crop top rose a fraction with the movement, showing a thin strip of soft underboob. Hyejin called, “Hold that. Perfect. The fabric is doing half the work already.”

Joy murmured under her breath, “Jesus, these lights are making everything look wetter than it is,” then louder, “Is the angle okay?”

“It’s fucking perfect,” the first assistant said, adjusting a reflector. “Keep the soft mouth. Don’t smile yet.”

Yeri was placed next, lower on the sand.

“Yeri, sit with one knee up, the other folded under. Hands on the sand behind you. Lean back just enough that the crop lifts. Head tilted, eyes on Joy’s legs.”

Yeri lowered herself carefully. The tiny white shorts immediately rode higher, the fabric stretching across her soft thighs and settling into a clear, plump outline between her legs. She adjusted once, then left it. “They’re going to see everything,” she said quietly to Wendy, who was waiting nearby.

Wendy answered with a small smirk, “That’s the point today.”

Irene was guided to the front right.

“Irene, recline on one hip, one hand near your face, the other resting on the sand. Captain hat stays. Look past the lens like you’re deciding whether the ocean is worth it.”

Irene settled, the white dress pulling tight across her chest and hips. The soft swell of her ass pressed into the sand. Her expression stayed cool, almost detached, but her eyes tracked the movement of the male models as they shifted positions. When Kai adjusted the net on his shoulder, her gaze lingered half a second longer than necessary.

Seulgi was positioned standing, slightly behind and to the right of Yeri.

“Seulgi, weight on both feet, one hand lightly touching Yeri’s shoulder for the later group, the other relaxed at your side. Arch just enough that the cut-outs open. Face calm, almost bored, but your body is anything but.”

Seulgi shifted her weight, the white mini dress rising a fraction on her thighs. The underbust cut-outs framed the lower curve of her chest and the tight line of her waist. She placed her fingertips on Yeri’s shoulder and said, almost to herself, “This fabric doesn’t hide a single thing.”

Yeri answered without looking up, “Neither do the shorts.”

Wendy took the final standing position near Irene.

“Wendy, one hand near your collarbone, the other on your thigh. Slight twist so the cut-outs show the abs. Eyes on Seulgi’s waist.”

Wendy obeyed. The dress clung to every line of her midsection. When she twisted, the fabric revealed the faint ridges of muscle and the soft upper curve of her thighs. She exhaled slowly and muttered, “Okay, these lights are not forgiving.”

The photographer moved between them for twenty minutes of continuous shooting, calling adjustments in rapid Korean and English.

“Joy, drop the shoulder another centimeter.”

“Yeri, open the knees just a little — yes, that exact amount.”

“Irene, softer mouth. Think of something private.”

“Seulgi, more arch. I want the waist to look like it could fit in two hands.”

“Wendy, breathe out and hold. Perfect.”

Between takes the members spoke in low voices while the assistants misted them with a fine water spray to keep the “just-out-of-the-ocean” look.

Joy to Yeri: “If these pants ride any higher I’m going to flash the entire crew.”

Yeri: “At least you have pants. These shorts are basically a suggestion.”

Seulgi, laughing quietly: “I’m one wrong move away from the whole dress becoming a belt.”

Wendy: “My abs are going to have permanent light marks after this.”

Irene, almost smiling: “Focus. We still have the final frame.”

The male models were directed in parallel.

Hyejin called to Kai, “Stay higher on the stairs. Chest open, net lower across the body. Look down toward Joy like you’re deciding whether to pull her in or let her drown.”

Kai shifted, the black shorts pulling tight across his thick thighs and the heavy outline of his cock. He answered only with a low “Understood,” voice deep and calm.

Leo was told, “One foot higher, net held loosely. Eyes on Seulgi’s waist.”

Leo obeyed, the lean lines of his torso catching the light.

Finn received, “Center edge, net in both hands, slight lean forward. Look at Yeri like you’ve already decided.”

Finn’s red hair caught a flare of light as he nodded.

Axel on the upper platform: “Fish higher. Shoulders back. You’re the one who caught the biggest thing in the ocean today.”