Chapter 137: Corporate Retaliation (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 137: Corporate Retaliation (3)
“Is he making the sports drinks from scratch or something…?” Lee Cheong-hyeon muttered.
Twenty minutes had passed since Kim I-wol left. Considering the location of the convenience store, he should have been back long ago.
“I’m sure he’ll be back soon enough,” Choi Je-ho said.
“Still, though…”
At Je-ho’s words, Jeong Seong-bin glanced toward the practice room door.
He really is late.
Knowing Kim I-wol’s personality, he should have run to the convenience store without breaking a sweat and returned saying, ‘Considering my hard work venturing out in the middle of the night, let’s work even harder on the rest of our practice. Got it?’
It wasn’t that he was worried. How many things could actually pose a threat to a grown man over 180 centimeters tall? It was just that I-wol wasn’t the type to be late, so it felt unsettling.
“…Is he carrying too much? Should I go help him now…?”
“Do you really think he’s the type who can’t carry a few bottles of drinks because they’re heavy? Besides, it’s better to wait than to risk missing each other on the way,” Kang Gi-yeon said, stopping a restless Park Ju-woo. Even so, Gi-yeon himself couldn’t bring himself to suggest they continue practicing.
Just then, a familiar vibration echoed through the room.
None of the members were bold enough to keep a cell phone hidden from the company. Therefore, it had to be Kim I-wol’s phone. He had stepped out to take a call during practice not too long ago, after all.
“Did he borrow a phone from somewhere to call us?”
“Maybe.”
Lee Cheong-hyeon and Jeong Seong-bin were the first to head toward the sound. They easily found the phone tucked into a corner of the practice room sofa.
“Huh?”
“Eh? Why is PD Yu calling at this hour?”
Just as Cheong-hyeon said, the name ‘PD Yu Han-su’ was flashing on the screen.
“Let’s answer it. It might be an emergency… and we don’t want him getting in trouble for missing a call,” Jeong Seong-bin said.
On the surface, it sounded like a kind gesture, but it was hard to say for sure. Normally, one wouldn’t answer someone else’s phone so casually. Furthermore, Jeong Seong-bin was one of the two most polite members of the group, alongside Kim I-wol. There was no way he didn’t know basic etiquette.
Choi Je-ho could only guess that Seong-bin didn’t trust Yu Han-su and wanted to gauge the atmosphere between him and I-wol while I-wol wasn’t around.
“Give it to me.”
“Pardon?”
“Give me the phone. I’ll take it.”
Considering Yu Han-su’s temperament as he had seen and heard it so far, Je-ho felt it was better if he handled it.
He picked up the call.
“Hello?”
— Put Choi Je-ho on.
“……Kim I-wol?”
An unexpected voice came through the line.
“It’s me.”
— You’re in the practice room right now, right?
“Yeah.”
— Are the other guys there too?
“Yeah. Why aren’t you coming back? We’re supposed to be heading out soon…”
The other members were hovering right in front of him, their expressions full of urgent questions. However, Kim I-wol cut him off sharply.
— Don’t come out.
“What? Are you almost here?”
“If you have too many bags, should I go down to the entrance?” Jeong Seong-bin chimed in, having been listening quietly.
— The manager will probably be there soon. Until then, no one leaves the practice room. Understood?
“Manager Chan-yeong went home earlier.”
Since the dorm was close to the agency, they had sent the manager home early, saying they would head back together after practice.
— Someone from the company will come. Just stay there and wait.
“Where are you and what are you doing that you keep…”
Choi Je-ho was starting to get annoyed. The guy who usually explained everything without being asked was being strangely cryptic today.
At that moment, Park Ju-woo carefully took the phone from Je-ho’s hand.
“But hyung, why does your voice sound like that…?”
His voice?
It sounded the same as usual to Je-ho. Why was Ju-woo asking that all of a sudden?
As Choi Je-ho and the other members looked at Park Ju-woo in confusion, a woman’s scream erupted from the phone.
Following that piercing noise, the call was abruptly disconnected.
Just as Kim I-wol had said, the manager rushed into the practice room immediately after the call ended. His face was deathly pale.
Even when asked what was happening, the manager didn’t answer. He was simply preoccupied with getting the members into the van and away from the agency.
Everyone was bewildered—until they saw the police lines, the patrol cars, and the chaotic crowd gathered outside.
The inside of the van turned into a madhouse. It was hard to even remember how they managed to restrain Choi Je-ho, who was screaming at the manager to turn the car around.
After dropping the members off, the manager left the dorm again. It was only then that the members were able to learn exactly what was happening outside.
[BREAKING] Spark’s I-wol Attacked with Weapon Near Agency… Transported to Hospital
UA Entertainment Assault Incident: Culprit Revealed to be Company PD
[FIELD PHOTO] Tragedy Strikes Entertainment Industry, Heavy Police Presence at Scene
Producer Attacks Own Idol… Victim Identified as Spark’s I-wol
Articles poured out from every news outlet. Perhaps due to the nature of the incident, news about Kim I-wol began appearing even in the general social affairs sections. Reports about Yu Han-su being taken into custody directly from the scene continued to surface.
Idol Assault Perpetrator Complains of Unexplained Headaches… Investigation Faces Difficulties
[EXCLUSIVE] Producer Arrested at the Scene
Police Investigation Begins… Focus on Whether Arrest Warrant Will Be Issued
The entire world was in an uproar. Social media, the fan café, and even the dorm’s landline were buzzing incessantly. Whether they were people who genuinely cared for Kim I-wol or those who simply loved gossip, everyone was waiting for a clear explanation. A producer causing physical harm to an idol was an unprecedented scandal.
≫ Holy f*ck, what is going on?
≫ No, I-wol, what happened? He was filming just fine yesterday, why did this suddenly happen to him?
≫ No matter what conflict there was, this kind of violence isn't right... They should have talked it out... I hope the victim is okay.
≫ So is our boy okay? F*ck, I’m panicking right now.
≫ A company employee hit an idol with a blunt object?? Did I read that right???
└ The world is actually going crazy...
≫ Isn't this the kid who had the personality controversy before? Looking at this, maybe the rumors about him being disrespectful were true.
└ F*ck off, read the room.
└ Honestly, I thought the same... where there's smoke, there's fire.
└ Someone is lying in a hospital bed after being attacked and you're saying this sh*t? You need to be sued to snap back to reality.
UA Entertainment didn't release a single statement, even as the 'Request Follow-up Article' likes reached triple digits. To be precise, it was more like they couldn't. This was the first time such a massive incident had occurred at UA.
But that couldn't be used as an excuse. Incompetence is nothing to be proud of. Moreover, hadn't UA already gone through this once? A situation where their artist was at the center of a controversy.
Of course, back then, UA hadn't really done anything.
Jeong Seong-bin thought of Kim I-wol, who had handled that entire situation by himself.
‘Wouldn’t it be better to leave this to the company?’
At his question, Kim I-wol had hesitated before answering.
‘No, I think I’ll feel better if I do it myself.’
To be honest, Jeong Seong-bin had thought his hyung tended to worry too much. The people at UA he had seen so far weren't the type to ignore their artists' hardships. In fact, they had told Kim I-wol to leave it to the company back then.
But Kim I-wol hadn't. Instead, he had single-handedly cleared up all the controversy.
And now, facing this situation without Kim I-wol, UA was struggling with something while leaving both the fans and the members neglected.
It’s night, so there are no people at the office, which is why the response is slow. Hyung’s safety is the most important thing.
He tried to think rationally, but frustration welled up in his chest.
Because of the unprecedented and sensational nature of the news, rumors began to snowball. While the other members unplugged the phone lines and waited only for word from the company, stories they didn't even know about were spreading like wildfire.
≫ I heard this was a mutual fight, is that true? People are saying the idol overreacted too.
└ There hasn't been a clear article yet, so stop spreading false information...
└ It's not false info, it's a question. Can't I even ask a question?
└ Fans are anxious over every little thing right now, so don't make things worse. Are you socially stunted?
└ The article says 'Producer Mr. Yu is claiming mutual negligence, saying the other party also injured him.' Why are you acting like your oppa is the only victim lol
└ So where exactly was this Mr. Yu injured? lol The idol with the gash on his head is unconscious, but the guy who claims he's hurt is the only one putting on a show and screaming in front of the cameras.
≫ UA you f*ckers, please just say something. I feel like I'm dying of anxiety... I'm going crazy.
≫ Forget everything else, just tell us if I-wol is okay... It's a head injury, for god's sake. Please...
└ T_T I know you're worried, but let's wait a bit longer! There will be news soon T_T
And then.
≫ @NEW_Re:
Who was the one who helped you when you were about to be kicked off the team for being incompetent and almost ruined everyone else's work?
There's a limit to repaying kindness with enmity.
I don't think anyone covered for you as much as I-wol did.
If it weren't for him, I would have sued you before you even caused this mess.
I hope I never see you in this industry again.
And to the people scratching at me in the comments and DMs:
If you can't say it to my face, don't say it behind my back ^^
I-wol is a junior who helped me so much, and everyone at the company adores him.
Use some common sense.
Is it normal to do something like that to a kid nearly twenty years younger than you?
≫ G. Your Seong-chani
[You probably know from the 3rd Competition meeting footage]
[But honestly, I-wol hyung took such good care of us]
[What you see on screen isn't even half of it T_T That hyung is the real deal, he takes such good care of people]
[He's really not the type to be rude to anyone, seriously]
[You'd know if you talked to him for even 3 minutes, people are so strange]
[Am I going to get in trouble with the company for saying this?]
[Don't worry, our company likes I-wol hyung too]
[But that hyung is kind of another class. He has a different charm from President Moon]
[Heerang is talking about I-wol hyung right now too?]
[See? I told you that hyung is human catnip.]
≫ @Pollo_q
The I-wol I saw was someone who gave his best even to the smallest tasks,
who was diligent in everything and took great care of his members.
And now you're turning him into a problem child who gets into fights with company staff overnight.
I've seen and heard this kind of thing for a long time, but this is just too much.
The moment these unexpected figures pulled the trigger, the fandom—which hadn't been able to relax for a single second for fear of hearing bad news—exploded.
≫ Summary of why Sparklers are pissed (Long post warning)
1. I-wol is a producing member, but he does concept + styling + planning. It's so bad that in the self-produced content, his own members say there's no Spark without I-wol.
2. They're called a self-produced idol group, so the members are splitting up the lyrics, composing, and choreography.
3. The members even plan the self-produced content (they often film with camcorders + they plan their own individual videos and get them confirmed by Kim I-wol).
4. The members also did the Awangsil concept and stage planning (just look at the meeting scenes that were broadcast).
5. In the midst of all this, Kim I-wol was cleaning up the messes made by YHS while doing his actual job (Narae's testimony).
6. The company knew this and just let it happen until this sh*t show occurred.
If this is what's on the surface, how much worse was it behind the scenes?
Even when the personality controversy broke out last time, I-wol did the explanation broadcast himself.
Back then, I just thought it was clean and professional, but looking back now, my blood runs cold.
I wonder how much he must have distrusted the company to do that...
≫ Members plan the content, members do the producing. What exactly does the agency do? You brought in a bottom-tier PD and then left the cleanup to the artist? #UAExplain
≫ Can UA not manage its employees or write an apology without I-wol? #UAExplain
I don't expect anything else, just take proper care of the kids' mental health. #UA_Protect_Your_Artists
≫ If a singer from the same agency is saying that much, how hard did I-wol have to work...?
The nuance is that whenever that perpetrator sh*t the bed, I-wol had to clean it up.
If this is true, the executives at UA need to bow their heads in apology.
≫ So to summarize:
A forty-year-old man did a sh*tty job, threw a tantrum at a twenty-one-year-old kid, got fired, and then took his anger out on him.
Is this right? Is this actually happening???
≫ We need to look at why I-wol had to shoulder all the work in the first place.
The company is a total sh*t-show, and the PD they sat down is incompetent...
This incident shows how structurally flawed UA is as a company.
What's the point of the company and the employees if this is how it is?
≫ Please, at least earn your damn salaries.
You guys get paid to work, but my baby hasn't even been settled yet, so why are you working him like a dog? To the point where his head gets cracked open?
Actually, the ones who should be working until their heads crack are you people at UA.
Don't just stay silent, do something, f*ck.
Around that time, UA finally realized what they were missing. Busy running between the police station and the emergency room, UA hastily posted an apology.
≫ Hello, this is UA Entertainment.
This evening, an incident occurred where one of our artists was injured by a company employee.
Currently, the artist is receiving medical treatment, and the employee has been handed over to the investigative authorities.
We ask for your understanding that we were unable to deliver the news quickly as we prioritized the artist's safety.
To ensure such an incident does not recur, our company will take responsibility for artist management.
Once again, we apologize for causing concern to many people with this unfortunate incident.
The moment Jeong Seong-bin saw UA’s apology, he felt a slight headache. He realized poignantly why Kim I-wol had taken on so much work himself—and just how wise a choice that had been.
Just as Seong-bin expected the moment he saw the apology, fans were even more enraged by the post that merely listed facts. When an office worker writes a letter of apology, it’s enough to explain why it happened, what the mistake was, what the result was, how much damage was caused, and what the countermeasures are. But the entertainment industry was different.
≫ You call this an apology?
Go back and rewrite it, f*ck.
≫ What needs to be in an apology:
Forget everything else, write down what you did wrong and beg for forgiveness.
This wasn't an accident; it was something that had been building up until it exploded.
Shouldn't you first apologize for failing to prevent something that was clearly preventable???
≫ Look at the state of this apology after making people's blood dry up.
I'm soooooo grateful you guys let I-wol do an explanation broadcast instead of writing an apology during Awangsil, you bastards. This is why the kid has to do everything himself from A to Z.
≫ Yeah, whatever, just fold your entertainment business.
Running things in such a haphazard way and then claiming you're an entertainment agency, lol.
What kind of agency in the world lets their idol's head get cracked open?
Just how sh*ttily did you do your jobs to let things get to this point?
Are you all on drugs? Seriously.
In the end, UA posted a new apology.
They admitted to the excessive workload of the idol that had been rumored, and clearly explained the background of how Yu Han-su came to work with the artist, the troubles between them, and emphasized that the artist was strictly the victim.
They also included that the rumors of Kim I-wol’s corporate power trip, insubordination, or mutual negligence were false, and that they would take legal action if such claims were not voluntarily deleted.
The second apology ended with the statement that they would seek damages and legal action against Yu Han-su and would provide all necessary support for Kim I-wol’s recovery.
“Haa…”
Jeong Seong-bin let out a deep sigh after confirming that the atmosphere had finally calmed down slightly.
“…Are you okay?” Park Ju-woo tapped Seong-bin’s shoulder. Concern was etched on his face.
The dorm was like a house of mourning. It was Choi Je-ho who broke the ice-cold atmosphere.
“No, I’m asking why we can’t go.”
Choi Je-ho could be heard arguing with someone on the phone. Kang Gi-yeon was beside him, trying to keep Je-ho from raising his voice too much.
“To put it bluntly, all the reporters are there, but you want us to just sit here? You said he’s in surgery right now. Shouldn’t we at least see that our member’s surgery ends well?”
When it seemed like a curse word was about to burst out, Jeong Seong-bin stepped in. As he took the phone, he could hear a noisy background behind the manager’s voice.
“Hyung, it’s Seong-bin.”
— Right, Seong-bin. I know it’s hard, but please try to convince Je-ho…
“No, hyung.”
Jeong Seong-bin’s voice dropped. It was partly because he couldn’t trust the company, which hadn't told them anything while he was searching for and reading every single article that came up.
“I think it’s right for us to be there. Please.”
Everyone wanted to see Kim I-wol right this instant.