Chapter 161
Chapter 161
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 161
Chapter Title: The Art of the Corporate Gig
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As I was watching the live stream, I suddenly thought of the reporters who had filmed the video and conducted the interviews. Just in case, I searched for articles about Answer.
-[Idols Gift Expensive Car to Their Manager]
At first glance, this might sound like a story about a global pop star who tops the world charts and earns hundreds of billions a year, but it’s not. The protagonists of this unbelievable story are the members of the recently popular group, Answer.
So, did Answer earn enough money to gift their manager an expensive car? A look into their situation revealed that this was far from the case. After a preparation period of over seven years, their debut, and a long stretch of obscurity, they had just received their first paycheck. This was only possible because all their investment costs had finally been recouped. Let’s hear from the group's leader, Seol-ah.
“It was better before we debuted. At least when we were trainees, we could work part-time jobs. After debuting, our schedules were so irregular that we couldn't even work part-time properly, so we lived off an allowance from the company. Since we had no money, we never really felt like eating anything. Thanks to that, weight management was easier than I expected.”
-So for seven years, you couldn't even eat delicious food properly?
‘Um… we made tteokbokki sometimes. Eating out would easily cost over 20,000 won, but if we bought the fish cakes, rice cakes, and vegetables from the supermarket ourselves, we could make it three times for the same amount of money. Now, I’m just happy I can drink coffee whenever I want.’
-I heard that even with your first paycheck after such a difficult time, it wasn’t enough to buy a car?
‘That’s right. Ro-si, who joined late, received even less than us, so she really pushed herself. She put in her entire life savings from her bank account. But we’re so happy right now. Our Timjang-nim, we call him PD-nim now. Our PD-nim was truly talented, and we believe we wouldn’t be where we are today without him.’
‘Min-jun PD-nim, thank you once again!’
The members of Answer concluded the interview with bright smiles.
(Photo 1) The members surprising their manager with the car.
(Photo 2) A traditional ceremony for the new car, officiated by JD Enter's CEO, Park Jae-yong.
(Photo 3) JD Enter's CEO, Park Jae-yong, personally carving the pig's head from the ceremony and distributing it to people.
-Finally, it was revealed that the car Answer gifted was a model from Hyunki Motors, the very company that hired them as advertising models, earning them the nickname "thoughtful idols." For reference, the car the manager received is known to be a top-trim, fully-optioned vehicle valued at over 100 million won.
We hope to continue sharing such heartwarming stories from the entertainment industry.
-Answer only does good things.
-This is why I love Answer.
-A huge difference from Your XX Girl, who grabbed their teacher by the hair and beat them up.
-I like a world where celebrities with good character succeed. That way, they’ll be more careful about school violence and other controversies.
-This is so obviously a viral marketing campaign. Are you all part-timers?
-Viral marketing my ass. Don't you know undisclosed ads are illegal?
-Exactly. The Answer members spent their own money, and you're just writing it off as viral marketing.
-The article itself seems like viral marketing, but isn't it a fact that Answer spent the money? Why are people so bent out of shape?
-Keyboard warriors are always bent out of shape about everything.
-Hey viral-shills, go take a walk. You stink.
-LMAOOOOO that pig's head.
-So that pig's head was *that* pig's head hahaha zombie pig head.
-What's a zombie pig head?
-Watch today's live stream and you'll know lol.
-Jae-Dragon made a zombie hahaha. I was wondering who did the carving.
Even though the live stream had just ended, comments were already flooding the article about Answer. The reporter who wrote it was impressive, and so were our fans who seemed to be searching for Answer all day long.
Everything was going well.
The Rhythm Saber DLC was still cruising along smoothly.
This month’s incentive was going to be sweet.
And… what happened to that boy group that was supposed to debut with the song I made?
Lately, after Answer and Lee Yoo-ah, the thing that held my interest was the nine-member boy group set to debut from another small-to-mid-sized agency.
I was using my Soundmaker alias, Beat Room, as part of a plan to lure Gyeon Sang-jin into a trap. For that to work, the song made by Beat Room needed to become a hot topic in various places.
Ah! I need to get car insurance to drive, don't I? So busy, really.
***
I was heading with Answer to an event for a mid-sized confectionery company, held at a cultural and sports center in Pyeongtaek.
“A snack company is calling for us? It’s not even for a commercial.”
I couldn’t tell the members every detail, but ever since word got out that we had accepted company stock instead of cash for the Smile Ice Cream commercial, we’d been getting a fair number of similar contract offers.
“They say sales for Smile Ice Cream have skyrocketed since our commercial aired. We must have caught their eye. Or maybe an ad agency recommended us.”
As I answered Ro-si’s question, Seul-bi chimed in.
“If it’s because of the ice cream, shouldn't they be giving us a commercial deal instead of an event?”
“The current model is actress Lee Soo-ah, so her contract probably hasn't expired yet. Besides, you can’t exactly call an actress to sing and liven up the mood.”
“That’s true.”
Seol-ah, however, was so engrossed in her phone that she paid no attention to our conversation.
“By the way, what’s a kickoff ceremony?”
None of the members had a ready answer for Yi-na’s question.
“Originally, it's a ceremony to announce and commemorate the formation of a new organization… but sometimes they’re just held to say, ‘Let’s get fired up with a fresh mindset.’”
“Ah. Fired up? Like, ‘Work, slaves, work,’ that kind of thing?”
Yi-na’s comment drew wry smiles from the other members.
Following the staff's guidance, I parked the car in the VIP area and we did a final check before their performance.
“It’ll be lunchtime when the event is over, right?”
Seul-bi hinted, but I didn’t respond.
“I saw them setting up a catering buffet on the way in. We could grab lunch here and then go.”
“…We have time before our next schedule, but do we really need to eat in such a crowded place?”
To my surprise, Seul-bi just smiled and nodded.
-…Therefore, our Seopyeong Confectionery has taken another step toward becoming a global conglomerate by establishing a second domestic factory in Seotan and an overseas factory in Vietnam.
“But why do older people say ‘glo-bal’ instead of ‘global’? It makes me imagine someone writing with their feet.”
“Pfft…”
Yi-na’s thoughtless remark made the members chuckle softly. I wondered the same thing. Why say *glo-bal* instead of *global*?
-In 1952, amidst the ruins of the Korean War, a national tragedy, our founding chairman, Gyeon No-hyeon, established Seopyeong Confectionery…
“Wow, the surname Gyeon actually exists?”
“Gyeon Sang-jin has it, so of course it does.”
Seul-bi replied to a fascinated Yi-na.
-Speaking of my late father, when I was in elementary school, the other kids used to tease me a lot. Do you know why?
-They’d tease me, asking if there was such a thing as a ‘dog’ last name. They meant the character for Gyeon is the same as the one for dog. Seeing me upset, my father told me, ‘Sang-heon, if you grow up and become famous, our Gyeon name will become famous too, and no one will tease you.’ I made a promise to myself then. I’ll become famous too!
-I worked really hard. And living like that, I’ve come this far, and now our Gyeon family even includes the famous actress, Gyeon Mi-rin. Turns out Gyeon Mi-rin is my niece. Haha.
“Haha.”
The 2,000 employees let out a forced laugh at the chairman's speech, while the Answer members and I laughed as if we found the situation genuinely amusing. Perhaps it was a sense of relief, a thankfulness that we didn't have to serve an owner like that?
-Oh, there’s another one. What was it, Fire Emblem these days? That dance group. The CEO who raised them was Gyeon Sang-jin, right? As one of the only 1,300 people with the Gyeon surname, I’m very pleased. Haha.
“Haha.”
Hearing Gyeon Sang-jin’s name unexpectedly mentioned during the ceremony speech, the expressions on the Answer members’ faces hardened.
“Well, if that’s the case, why didn’t he just invite Gyeon Sang-jin’s group, Your Girl? Why did he call us?”
Seul-bi grumbled with her arms crossed, and the other members tacitly nodded in agreement.
“Your Girl is on hiatus. For us, an event is a good thing. This gig pays 40 million won.”
“Gasp… Well, money is love, of course.”
Color returned to the faces of the stiffened Answer members.
The chairman’s long and annoyingly lengthy speech finally ended, and the performance began.
-For today’s kickoff ceremony, we’ve invited some very special guests. They’re a four-member girl group receiving a lot of attention these days. Who could they be?
“Answer!”
The head of the safety and health team, whom I’d often seen talking with the nurse, mimicked a professional MC.
-That’s right! Please welcome Answer!
“Waaaaah!”
The roar of 2,000 people at once made the cultural and sports center reverberate.
“Make sure to say some nice things.”
“Of course. We have to give them 40 million won worth of performance.”
Seol-ah beamed at my words.
Their faces plastered with capitalist smiles at the mention of the 40-million-won gig, the members of Answer walked onto the stage.
-Ask us a question! This is Answer’s leader, Seol-ah, here to greet you!
“Waaaaah!”
Starting with Seol-ah, every time a member introduced herself, the center filled with cheers.
For a mid-sized company, not even a massive conglomerate, to pay a hefty sum for Answer to perform at their kickoff ceremony, the executives looked incredibly pleased.
Seol-ah, radiating a bright smile, continued.
-It is an infinite honor for us, Answer, to be invited to the hopeful kickoff ceremony of Seopyeong Confectionery as it strides toward becoming a global enterprise. Ever since I was young, I’ve truly enjoyed the Royal Honey Shells made by Seopyeong Confectionery. I’d like to once again thank Chairman Gyeon Sang-heon and all the employees for inviting us here today.
“Waaaaah.”
The chairman, whose name had been mentioned, applauded with a pleased expression.
I knew Seol-ah was sensitive about money, but she handled her lines so smoothly it was as if she had prepared a script. Then, Seul-bi gestured that she also had something to say, and Seol-ah nodded.
-Now that Royal Honey Shells have been mentioned, as the group’s resident foodie, I simply couldn't stay silent. I also love Royal Honey Shells. There have been many types of spiral-shaped snacks over the years, but none could ever match the taste of Seopyeong Confectionery’s.
The executives’ faces were filled with anticipation, eager to hear what Seul-bi would say next.
-While other confectionery companies cut costs by gradually reducing the amount of sugar and syrup, Seopyeong Confectionery took the opposite path.
“Ooooh.”
A look of admiration began to dawn on the chairman’s face. Seul-bi really knew about the most random things.
-Unlike competitors who tried to deceive consumers with smoke and mirrors, you made the bold move to upgrade, mixing in acacia honey, which is more expensive than sugar and syrup, to match the wellness era. As for snacks that crumble powerlessly at the slightest touch, aren’t crackers enough for that?!
“That’s right!”
A loud response erupted from the audience in answer to Seul-bi’s question.
-Unlike those other companies’ spiral snacks, Seopyeong Confectionery’s Royal Honey Shells have the added acacia honey, creating a delightful chewy richness within the crispiness. As a fan of Royal Honey Shells, I pay my respects to the decisive leadership of the chairman and the executives who chose to upgrade the flavor with the confidence of an original.
“Wooooow!”
The chairman, his eyes welling with tears, gave a standing ovation, and all the employees rose with him, erupting in cheers.
How could she stir up the atmosphere like that with just a single snack?
It was true that being connected to me through the system raised their abilities and confidence by a certain percentage, but the growth of the Answer members was clearly visible.
Our members are truly amazing.
My own hands, filled with admiration, were clapping furiously.
-Please continue to prosper, shed our country of its reputation as a land of nitrogen-filled snacks, and keep making delicious treats for us all. I earnestly ask this of you.
-We ask this of you!
At Seul-bi’s words, all the Answer members bowed deeply.
“Waaaaaaaah!”
Amidst the employees’ cheers, the chairman in his sixties, who had risen from his seat, raised a hand to quiet the audience and walked back onto the stage.
As he gripped the microphone, a wave of emotion swirled in the chairman’s eyes.