Mad Summer

"Mad Summer" (or, occasionally, "Crazy Summer"https://www.reddit.com/r/kpoppers/comments/1gd7j3e/txt_0x1_lovesong_i_know_i_love_you/) is the English-language title for the popular Korean language-fanfiction 미친 여름 上 (romanization: michin yeoleum sang) in the TommorrowXTogether (TXT) fandom. It was originally posted on the Korean platform PostType in 2019.
The fanfic was published as an original book with names changed and has been read even outside the fandom. The containment breach of this fanfic is so significant that fans speculated it directly inspired the band's 2021 song “0X1=LOVESONG (I Know I Love You)." An internal document leak from Hybe (TXT"s entertainment company) in 2024 provided concrete evidence in support of this theory.
=== Reception ===
The story is very widely read in the Korean-speaking fandom, even reaching beyond Moas (fans of TXT) into other fourth-generation k-pop fandoms. https://seoulcrush.com/news/txt-lovesong-fanfiction-connection-revealed-in-hybe-documents/ https://www.koreaboo.com/news/hybe-internal-documents-seemingly-confirm-fans-suspicion-txt-0x1lovesong-written-based-yeonjun-x-beomgyu-fanfiction/
Threads user pik4ichu described the story as "basically the bible of fanfics in Korea."https://www.threads.net/@pik4ichu/post/DBmdt6uRK2R One Twitter user described the fanfic's relevance as akin to the Mauraders fanfiction All The Young Dudes.Need to find this source
Responding to the popularity, the author published a book version with the serial numbers filed off. Since publishing the novel, Kyrie has locked the fanfic and seldom allowed fans to access it. Typically, this has been done on an annual basis for a period of days. https://www.pinkvilla.com/entertainment/txts-0x1lovesong-is-seemingly-based-on-yeonjun-and-beomgyu-fanfiction-according-to-hybe-report-1355501
=== 0X1=LOVESONG Theory ===
==== The Theory ====
The fanfic gained a new surge of popularity in 2023, during which fans began to draw comparisons between it and TXT's 2021 release “0X1=LOVESONG (I Know I Love You)." https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/k-pop/music/news/txts-0x1lovesong-may-be-inspired-by-yeonjun-and-beomgyu-fanfiction-report/articleshow/114648581.cms Fans pointed out both thematic and linguistic similarities between the text and the song's lyrics and accompanying music video. Some of these similarities are as follows:
* Both the story and song use the rare word 무저갱 (mujeogaeng) instead of its common synonym 심연 (shimyeon). Both words can be translated into English as "bottomless pit" or "abyss." 
* In the fanfic, Yeonjun is a fan of the 1996 film adaptation of Romeo and Juliet. The song's music video directly references the famous fish tank scene from the movie. 
* The lyrics "say you love me, say you love me" are notably similar to a famous passage from the fic that can be translated as: "Yeonjun suddenly looked back at Beomgyu. Beomgyu answers [redacted]. ‘Love me, love me, say that you love me.’ Yeonjun follows Beomgyu’s humming and continues, ‘go on and fool me.‘” 
* Both feature themes of drug use. In the fanfic, Yeonjun is a drug dealer and Beomgyu dies due to drug use. The song contains a lyric that translates to "Please use me like a drug."
* Both feature themes related to heaven and redemption. A line from the song translates to English as “I probably can’t go to heaven. It doesn’t suit me. There’s no place for me in heaven.” 
==== Apparent Confirmation ====
On 26 October 2024, an internal report from HYBE was leaked as part of an audit. While no direct statement was given, this report contains language that many fans believe confirms their suspicions. Certainly, it demonstrates that individuals in the company were knowledgeable about the fanfic and its impact, providing grounds to believe it could have factored into content the actual band released.
==== Ethics ====
If the fan theory is accurate, it is unclear if Kyrie gave permission for their fanfiction to be used in this way or if they received compensation for their work. This type of containment breech certainly raises ethical concerns. Most published authors, for instance, will not read fanfics as it could influence their work. In this case, this typical standard may not have been respected by HYBE and the song's creators as Kyrie's ideas may have been taken with no compensation. 
According to the website, Seoul Crush, this revelation represents a significant development in fandom.https://seoulcrush.com/news/txt-lovesong-fanfiction-connection-revealed-in-hybe-documents/ 
== Commentary ==
== References ==
Category:Korean-Speaking Fandom
Category:K-Pop Fandom
Category:2019 Fanfiction