Chapter 216
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 216
[Title: Isn't this Kang Yi-chae song a rip-off?
The melody is literally identical to a B-side track by the rookie idol Ri-kun.
Kang Yi-chae’s Fan Song Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThEDa1wN_oRB1T
Rookie Idol Ri-kun’s B-side Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1kUN=Ne?W
LOL. The rookie idol’s song came out on July 29th, and Kang Yi-chae’s fan song came out on September 19th.
I’ll let you guys be the judge.]
The group involved in the controversy was a rookie group with low recognition, and the song in question was a B-side that had only been released on their album without any official promotions. Because of this, it took a bit of time for the issue to gain traction after the fan song was released.
Similar chords, similar progression, similar melody.
The resemblance was so uncanny that anyone who heard it would immediately think of plagiarism.
[Wow, LOL. They’re seriously the exact same. Kang Yi-chae can’t even talk his way out of this one. What are the fans who worshipped him as a genius gonna do now? T_T]
[F*ck, LOL. The stans were so touched because he released it as a fan song, but it’s plagiarism? Gross. (Vomit emoji)]
[Kang Yi-chae pushed that "my-pace genius" image so hard, and now he’s falling straight to hell. T_T]
In an instant, the comment section of the post exploded.
Furthermore, the ripple effect was incredibly powerful.
[What?? Kang Yi-chae plagiarized?]
[Is this just forced hate? I thought everyone said he was a genius.]
This was partly because The Dawn was on a steep upward trajectory, and most of their songs had been touched by Kang Yi-chae’s hand.
The fact that Yi-chae had been framed as a "genius" also played a significant role.
[Ah, LOL. I won’t bother seeing you off. Goodbye.]
[Shouldn't we stay neutral for now?
└ It’s a dead ringer, what do you mean "stay neutral" LOL. Are you a fan of The Dawn?
└ Ah, of course the "neutrality police" had to show up. LOL.]
Like dry kindling, the plagiarism controversy flared up, being endlessly reproduced on Nutube and SNS.
[Famous Idol Plagiarism Controversy! What is the Truth?]
From Nutube channels that scavenged for negative celebrity issues and added speculative commentary to survive, to newly created SNS accounts that seized the moment to run wild.
Kang Yi-chae had been reduced to nothing more than tasty prey for them.
[At this point, even him playing the piano is suspicious. LOL.]
[No, but it’s so obviously marketing. T_T It feels a bit excessive, and I honestly don't even know if he was really playing it.]
[He hasn't played it once since then. LOL. They kept Kang Yi-chae’s past so tightly under wraps, too. Pushing that "mysterious" concept is weird. What kind of idol does a mysterious concept these days? LOL.]
[Wait, if it’s a mysterious concept, is the study abroad story a lie too?
└ No, it’s more likely his past is just dirty. Hehe.
└└ Ah, LOL. Honestly, that’s more convincing. T_T I’m so disappointed.]
The controversy reached my ears while I was still struggling to adjust my sleep schedule after returning from Europe, pushing through my activities without a moment's rest.
A beat too late.
"What?"
Between the existing schedule, basic training, and coordinating the newly acquired interview with Riel, I had barely managed to snatch bits of sleep here and there. Even today, I had only closed my eyes for a moment after returning at dawn.
I had briefly found a gap in the morning to drop off the gifts I bought in Europe for Seo Ho-jin, and this was the news I heard upon my return.
"Kang Yi-chae was called into the office just now."
I heard Kim Seong-hyeon’s words before I could even take off my shoes at the entrance.
"Why the f*ck didn't anyone call me?"
"He already met with the CEO with me, but he said he wanted to talk to the management team alone... Hey, hey!"
I cut Seong-hyeon off, stood up abruptly, and stormed out of the dorm. I gestured for the following Seong-hyeon to go back inside and hurried toward the company.
Pressing down on my throbbing temples, I listened to Kang Yi-chae’s song and the other song posted on the community boards back and forth.
...It’s a dead ringer.
They were definitely remarkably similar.
However, something felt strangely off.
But it’s familiar.
It wasn't just because it was a fan song we had practiced, recorded, and performed; I had felt a strange sense of déjà vu from the very beginning.
I arrived at the company, passed through the lobby, and reached the floor with the meeting rooms.
As I swung the door open, the first thing I saw was Kang Yi-chae, who had been uncrossing his arms and was now staring at me with wide eyes in an awkward posture.
"Hyung?"
"...Uh, huh? Ho-yun-ssi."
"Hello."
The manager must have been called by the CEO again, as there were only two management staff members and Kang Yi-chae in the room.
I greeted the management team and plopped down next to Yi-chae. I felt his gaze on me, but I ignored it for now and assessed the situation.
The management staff member sitting on the right spoke cautiously but firmly.
"Um, Ho-yun-ssi, we think it would be best if we spoke with just Yi-chae-ssi for now."
It seemed they wanted to talk to Yi-chae alone because it was a sensitive issue, and they likely judged that if it really was plagiarism, it could cause problems within the group.
However, whether they labeled me an uninvited guest or tried to kick me out, I had no intention of leaving.
"Is that so?"
"...It’s not just 'is that so.' Earlier, Yi-chae-ssi also said he wanted to talk alone..."
As I held my ground with a shrug, Yi-chae leaned forward with a bright smile.
"No, it’s fine."
"......Pardon? But earlier you clearly—"
"It’s fine to talk with Ho-yun hyung here. Actually, I was just thinking it would be nice to have at least one member with me."
The management staff member frowned as if it were a bit absurd, but Yi-chae only tilted his head innocently.
Then, he glanced at me and added, "Where were we? You said you wanted me to be honest, right?"
"...Yes. The fan song is very similar to the song currently being compared."
Yi-chae made a "hmm" sound and tapped his fingers on the table a few times.
"Do you watch all of The Dawn’s live broadcasts?"
"......Pardon?"
"Or it would have been better if you had called me after consulting with the A&R team."
The management staff members just blinked, unable to understand what Yi-chae was talking about.
However, I finally realized the source of my "déjà vu."
That’s right.
I wondered where I had heard it before.
It’s Kang Yi-chae’s unreleased song.
Yi-chae searched for something on his phone and then played a live video.
[Shouldn't we let our Noeul hear this once?]
In the video, Yi-chae looked to be in a very good mood, wearing a mischievous expression.
Soon after, he began humming an unreleased song he had written while playing the guitar, and the melody was incredibly familiar.
"......It’s the same."
It was the exact same melody as our fan song.
The staff member asked in confusion, "W-when was this?"
"I don't know the exact date, but the date this Nutube video was uploaded was four months ago. I think it was when I was fully immersed in work after Shining Star ended."
"Then... was it May? That’s even before the two songs currently in controversy?!"
The management team hurriedly checked the dates on their work tablet. It was definitely a live broadcast that took place before "Orbit."
"If I’m not satisfied with a song I’ve worked on, I usually keep it and then reuse the good parts later to compose something new. I didn't know it would cause this much trouble, though."
"Then... it’s not that Yi-chae-ssi plagiarized, but rather that he was the one plagiarized?"
Yi-chae smiled brightly without a word.
Only then did the stiff management staff members let out a deep sigh of relief.
"Phew, thank goodness..."
"Ahaha, did you really think I actually plagiarized something?"
In other words, the song Yi-chae had played for fans during a live broadcast in May had been circulating on Nutube.
No matter how I thought about it, the songs were too similar. It was to the point where it looked like someone had possessed Yi-chae’s body, left, and then written the song.
However, as it was a sensitive matter, I couldn't make any hasty judgments.
Regardless, the certain fact right now was that Yi-chae had done nothing wrong.
As if Kang Yi-chae would ever plagiarize.
It wasn't that I trusted his conscience; I trusted his massive ego.
I listened to the conversation with my mouth shut, but for some reason, I felt Yi-chae constantly looking my way.
When I met his gaze with a raised eyebrow, he turned his head as if it were nothing.
"Yi-chae-ssi, then."
The management staff member, who was jotting down the situation on the tablet, spoke up.
"We need to make an announcement as soon as possible. It’s too unfair for us to just let this slide."
Just as I was feeling relieved that a problem I thought would be difficult was being handled quickly,
"Ah. But since this is an unreleased song..."
Yi-chae rolled his eyes once and muttered as if to himself.
"What should we do..."
In that moment, everyone realized the meaning behind his words.
It meant the song hadn't been registered for copyright.
"......Ah......"
A heavy sigh of regret escaped the room.
It was likely due to the intense premonition of overtime and the calculation that the situation would turn out to be much more complicated than expected.
Even if it was an unreleased song, he had revealed it on a live broadcast and the video remained on Nutube, so he would be cleared of the false accusation. However, as long as the copyright wasn't registered, it had no legal force.
Watching the staff members who were lost for words, I let out a sigh and began to wrap things up.
"Anyway, the answer is to announce it quickly. Dragging it out will only damage our image further."
"Yes, that’s true..."
"By now, the fans might already know about the existence of the song revealed on the live broadcast. Still, it would be good to post a notice, even if it’s just for show."
As I exchanged words with the management team, I glanced at Yi-chae, wondering if he might be uncomfortable.
But Yi-chae was nonchalant.
What is it?
Come to think of it, from the moment I arrived until now, everyone around him was making a fuss, but the person involved seemed the most unbothered.
"Good work. I’ll leave it in your hands."
"Yes! We’ll contact you again."
As we finished the emergency meeting and stepped outside, Yi-chae followed me with a swagger, smirking at my side.
"Our Ho-yun-ssiiieee~."
I was already annoyed.
Yi-chae swept back his bangs and tilted his head slightly.
"I thought you went to see your brother, but did you perhaps come running for your Yi-chae~?"
"Hyung took a taxi and came very comfortably."
I half-ignored his constant pestering and organized my thoughts.
Where should I start looking into this?
First and foremost, the most important thing was public opinion.
No matter how innocent Yi-chae was, once the atmosphere had tilted one way, it was difficult to turn it back.
Initial suppression is key... did we miss the timing?
"What are you thinking about~?"
"Hmm......"
Seeing how he’s been joking around since earlier, Yi-chae’s mental state seems fine.
"It’s nothing—"
As I looked up and met Yi-chae’s eyes, I faltered. A strange look had flickered through his eyes.
Before I could figure out what it meant, Yi-chae relaxed his expression and smiled.
"I’m fine, Hyung. Don't worry too much."
"You’re fine?"
"Why? If I’m not fine, are you going to solve it for me?"
"......"
"Do you even have a way?"
A few methods came to mind, but was there a need to tell Yi-chae?
To the person himself?
My deliberation was short.
"No? What could I possibly do?"
The corners of Yi-chae’s mouth, which had been curved into a smile, twitched.
When I maintained my ignorance with a brazen expression, Yi-chae eventually nodded.
"I guess that’s true. Let’s just go to our schedule."
He spoke as if this controversy would die down in no time, but I knew.
The fall of a genius.
People wouldn't easily let go of such an entertaining and provocative subject.
"Yi-chae-ssi, um—"
And that prediction was proven true shortly after we arrived at the scheduled interview location.
"There’s a lot of talk surrounding the fan song 'Orbit.' Could we perhaps hear your opinion on this, Yi-chae-ssi?"
See, they’re biting already.
"......Pardon? That, that’s—!"
It wasn't Yi-chae, the one who received the question, but Jeong Da-jun who jumped up from his seat. His face was filled with a sense of injustice.
"Ahaha."
Just as the maknae was about to protest, Yi-chae laughed and pulled him back into his seat.
"Well, it would be a lie to say I wasn't flustered at all, but on the other hand, I’m also a bit curious."
"...Yes?"
"About what will happen from now on."
Everyone’s eyes widened, from the interviewer to the members.
What the hell is wrong with that guy??
"Excuse me, just a moment!"
Before Yi-chae could open his mouth again, the managers rushed over in a panic.
What is it?
Thinking of the usual Kang Yi-chae, he would have skillfully diverted the conversation or avoided the answer by using the company as an excuse.
Even if he seemed to live as he pleased, in reality, he was someone who clearly distinguished between what should and shouldn't be said, and knew when to step in and when to step back.
He looks fine on the outside, but is he actually losing it?
"This wasn't a pre-agreed question!"
"I told you we could add questions at our discretion!"
Voices were raised, and the filming set became a mess.
In the midst of it all, only Yi-chae was perfectly calm and relaxed.
According to the search I did before the interview, things were quite unfavorable for us.
Even when fans presented the live video as evidence, the public opinion that had already formed didn't budge.
I guess Yi-chae’s popularity really was quite high. Seeing how many people were eager to tear him down.
Then there’s only one way.
I just need to feed them another issue to draw the public’s attention.
"Good work today."
"Yes, good work!"
A dramatic compromise was finally reached between the interviewer and the managers, and the interview was successfully completed by continuing with only the agreed-upon questions.
Yi-chae clung to the anxious maknae and whined.
"Da-jun-ah, Hyung~ is having a really hard time."
"R-really?! What can I do for you?"
Even if he acted nonchalant, it seemed it was weighing on him a bit.
No matter how professional he was at his job and how quick-witted he was, he was only a twenty-two-year-old kid. It would be stranger if he were perfectly fine after being condemned for something he didn't even do, and in a situation where his own song might have even been stolen.
Yi-chae wiped his dry eyes and made sobbing sounds.
"Tell me Yi-chae hyung is the best."
"Hyung, you’re totally cool and the best!!"
"Also tell me I’m the most handsome in the world and that you cherish me."
"......That’s a bit much."
"Hey."
...Is he actually fine?
Regardless, I had no intention of letting this matter end half-heartedly while The Dawn’s image was hitting rock bottom.
After a brief moment of deliberation, borrowing my long-lost conscience, I pulled out my phone as soon as we reached the van.
Then, I found a number and sent a message.
[Me: Do you have some time?]
He, who would usually have been disgusted, replied as if he had been waiting.
[Im Hyeon-su: Why are you only contacting me now, you f*cker?]
She was, in many ways, the person who knew this industry best.
[Im Hyeon-su: Get your ass over here right now.]