Seonggwang Oppa's Jazz Party: "I Wanna Quit This Damn School" – The Man with 14 Wiki Controversy Pages
These days, Seonggwang is shining at #4 on the real-time search rankings—a personality-wrecked musician who's relentlessly fueling the flames with his own body and reputation, without even a moment to catch his breath. After his recent power-trip scandal blew up, his wiki controversy pages jumped from 14 to 16 or something. Anyway, that's the hot topic: Seonggwang.
What do the students online think of him? Are they condemning the guy who shows up to school so shamelessly after the scandals? Or freaking out, calling him insane? Nah, I've been watching for a few days, and it's none of that. The real answer is, "So what the hell is Seonggwang up to?"
Even when he comes to school, it's not that big a deal. He just stays quiet and leaves quietly. During breaks or lunch, he heads upstairs to work on tracks or strum his guitar. He doesn't draw attention in class either. Which teacher—especially one from the same industry, part of Moon Juhee's cartel—would mess with me? They don't even want to get involved with me in the first place.
Those teachers usually just quietly take roll call and treat me like I'm not even there during lessons. Lee Junwoo is no exception. I didn't know, but according to the chatter from other kids, they've stopped doing pair work or group activities lately. That's our relationship.
They might glance at me openly sometimes, but since I'm keeping quiet at school, there's no juicy drama, and the ones who were expecting something just click their tongues and lose interest. I don't know what they say behind my back, but at least they don't draw eyes in school, so that's a relief.
I didn't start school to attract attention in the first place. Who the hell starts an affair scandal just for clout? That's me. No plans to stand out—I was just gonna keep making music with Lara, maybe lean on her a bit for composing if she's reliable, or go back to solo producing otherwise.
The loner Seonggwang, who stays out of sight, heads to his class as lessons begin today too.
'Today's C-class is with Im Siwoo, right?'
He sits far away from the other kids. Personally, he doesn't like classes taught by this teacher. It's not like they're tangled in some controversy or have beef—it's just that she seems to hate him unilaterally. Every class, she glares at him and picks on him to present. Well, picking on a student during presentations might sound a bit funny.
Anyway, in this industry, few people like him, so anyone showing interest is usually someone who hates him. He's Seonggwang, the guy who's spewed trash talk across every corner of the scene. It's normal for most industry folks at this school to resent him.
Creak.
Right on cue, the classroom door slides open, and she walks in. She shoots a glare at him in the front row, then taps the podium twice to get everyone's attention.
"Everyone, quiet down. I'll call roll."
She calls attendance in her stiff tone, and each student raises a hand in response. He stares blankly at her face, which feels oddly familiar. He's never heard of a musician named Im Siwoo. Doesn't remember that face either. But why does she feel so strangely familiar? That flat, emotionless voice with barely any ups and downs. And that personality that somehow reveals a subtle excitement.
Something... there's something.
Memories that don't exist in his head stir up thoughts about her. For some reason, really bad memories keep surfacing. Someone he wants to forget, but doesn't want to forget. He feels like he has to remember her, and fast—even a little faster.
"…Seonggwang."
"…."
"Seonggwang student."
"Ah, uh, yes."
He got lost in thought and missed his cue to respond. You gotta answer these instantly in one go to avoid aggro. Im Siwoo turns around with an annoyed look, fiddles with the laptop connected to the projector, and starts the lesson.
Come to think of it, what was today's lesson about? He lets most classes go in one ear and out the other since there's nothing worth learning.
'Something about examining and analyzing music genres... I think.'
From eavesdropping on the backtalk of kids in the same class, it sounds higher-level than expected, but he wouldn't know. She shows encyclopedic knowledge worthy of genre awards, sure.
"As I mentioned last time, today's lesson is on avant-garde jazz and its application in the current music market."
Avant-garde jazz. Pretty niche genre. Can you even call it a distinct genre? It's ambiguous to teach or explain to someone. He's dabbled in applying it superficially to his own music before—and tanked his sales like never before. That's the legendary Seonggwang's second full album.
"Personally, I see 'avant-garde jazz' not as a genre, but as a musical philosophy. Commercially, it doesn't fit the current market."
Spot-on critique. It's inherently obtuse, and applying it to today's market is insanely tough. Not an issue of understanding the genre or polish. As much as he hates to say it, the public just isn't ready yet. She seems to know that too, covering the topic thoroughly.
"There have been attempts to apply 'avant-garde' concepts, but blending improvisation and chance into album sales is no easy feat."
She glances at him briefly, then goes back to the lesson.
"But as far as I know, there's an artist who pulled it off perfectly."
He perks up a bit at Im Siwoo's words. He's curious too. An artist who nailed something even he struggled with? If they existed, why didn't he know?
"An artist who blended the essence, concepts, and vibe of avant-garde into pop music."
"Teacher~ Who is that artist?"
Great question. He was wondering the same.
"Hold on a sec. Today's lesson will use that artist's track as an example."
Interest sparks in what was just a boring class from her. He forces his sleepy eyes open and watches the screen. She fiddles with the laptop, closes the lesson PPT, and searches YouTube for an album name.
The other students lean in expectantly, wondering who it is, while a few swallow hard with unease. He's the same. Chills run down his spine the moment he sees the album title. Why? It's still May, smack in spring.
"This is the album I think best embodies the avant-garde jazz concept."
Finally, seeing that familiar cover makes his mind go foggy. He stares at the producer name boldly displayed next to it.
Saint LADY
Yeah, as the activity name suggests, he composed that. And that's the infamous second album, star of the Seonggwang bubble myth.
"……."
The other students gawk at him in shock, and he stares dead-eyed at the ceiling.
Why the hell did he let Moon Juhee talk him into this place?
I never thought the teacher herself would straight-up execute me like this.
He squeezes his eyes shut, seriously contemplating dropping out.
A bit earlier. After Seonggwang's second album dropped, when the "Seonggwang bubble" theory really took off.
Seonggwang, insisting "I wasn't wrong," had unleashed on the clueless masses, locked in a staring contest with listeners and his label.
Moon Juhee showed up while he was ignoring all the online hate and suppression by cutting off the internet entirely. Bursting into laughter, she called him "water rocket."
Instead of unspeakable personal attacks or pad rips, he hit her with her deepest, most private trauma.
In the end, they scratched each other raw, bickering until only deep wounds remained. The late-20s Moon Juhee stopped crying and said to him:
"Honestly, I don't get why you made that crap music, and it sucks to my ears too? After listening, I was like, 'This lunatic's finally lost it.'"
"Hey."
"Calm down and listen. I didn't like it, but some overseas guy I know heard it and wants to meet you."
"Who?"
"Dunno. Someone I know through connections. Jazz scene, apparently. Folks there say she did pretty well."
Jazz. He's not really into it. Always thought it was a genre artsy types made up to amuse themselves. Not like he's salty about not winning jazz album awards or anything.
"Sigh... I hate jazz, but she gets the essence of my second album, so she's clearly a high-level musician."
"……."
"So, who is she?"
She told him about some jazz musician from New Orleans. A Zainichi Korean pianist who graduated from Tokyo University of the Arts, then went mad and flew to New Orleans to major in jazz. Name: Im Siwoo.
"…."
Suddenly, the forgotten name resurfaces in his head. He'd known of her vaguely until now, but only now does the memory click.
The one who canceled all her schedule that day for his casual "let's grab a bite," booking the fastest flight to Korea.
Except her flight got canceled, so they ended up talking nonstop for 8 hours. Overseas call fees hit him hard.
No wonder he doesn't know her recent moves—they're in completely different lanes. He never looked her up.
Anyway, why the hell is she at this school? A jazz obsessive who jetted overseas—why here?
If he'd known "I'll definitely meet you someday" would happen like this, he really wouldn't have come to school.
Why drag a classical-jazz major to a pop music vocational school, Juhee?
"This track might seem pretentious at first glance, but dig in, and there's tons to unpack. Especially here and here, homage to Ornette Coleman's style…."
Never imagining she's killing him, Im Siwoo preaches the gospel of Seonggwang. The other students snicker at the sight.
Yeah, how hilarious is this? A teacher praising her own peer student's—that controversy magnet's—biggest commercial flop right in front of him.
He'd laugh too if he were them. It's the best live comedy show unfolding before their eyes.
"Teacher~ Isn't that too much? Seonggwang looks like he's gonna cry."
One kid, giggling mischievously, teases Im Siwoo. Honestly, thanks. Tears were welling up, so he lifted his head a bit. Perfect timing—her point hits exactly right.
It lets Im Siwoo realize what she's doing, and the joke keeps the mood from getting heavy.
Japan's manzai duos could learn tsukkomi from Korean students. But this comedy prodigy with top-tier talent missed one thing.
"…Student, what's your name?"
"Pardon?"
"Your name. I'm curious why you think it's 'too much' for me to feature Seonggwang's producer album."
Caught off-guard by the dead-serious response to his joke, the kid flinches. He didn't expect that look.
"Well... Seonggwang's right there."
He offers a lame excuse instead of his name, but Im Siwoo asks back with genuine puzzlement.
"What's that got to do with anything? I couldn't find a better example for my lesson than Seonggwang's album. Do you know another?"
The kid clams up, smile wiped off, and Im Siwoo shakes off her discomfort and declares:
"I was a jazz musician. I've mixed jazz with other genres and blended jazz I love into others."
Then she drops something deeply personal.
"That's why I can say this: Producer [HOSHIKIRA] showed the most genius side of any composer I've met."
Unable to hold back, he faceplants on his desk. The other students stare at Im Siwoo in fear.
"…Was that teacher always like that?"
They murmur at the teacher's drastically changed demeanor.
Yeah, the worst part of Im Siwoo's behavior right now is there's no malice. She's not tormenting him or twisting things—just pure respect for him driving her actions.
Put nicely, she nailed the essence and talent of this genius called Seonggwang.
Stealing a term from some community, some fandom...
'Ultimate Seong-stan.'
A fairly famous Japanese pianist who was spreading her wings in jazz. Among his acquaintances, Im Siwoo is the most outrageously diehard, low-quality Seonggwang stan.