The Daughter of a Conglomerate Family Has Debuted - Chapter 134
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The Chaebol’s Daughter Debuted
Episode 134
If he admits his wrongdoing, everything he’s built up until now will crumble, so it would be difficult to decide in just one day.
He might be discussing with his agency.
It seems he’s racking his brains to minimize damage to his reputation even a little, but I have absolutely no intention of letting that happen.
Ding!
I checked both of their messages and immediately turned on the internet.
[“If you don’t accept, I’ll block your debut path”… Former Context member Ji-hoon, sponsor broker threat controversy]
The article sent out by Reporter Choi Gyo-young was prominently displayed in the center of the portal website.
Whether Ji-hoon turned himself in or not, the article about him was scheduled to go up today.
True to Reporter Choi Gyo-young’s specialty in aggro and witch hunts, Ji-hoon’s news began spreading rapidly.
[In the obtained recording transcript, Ji-hoon made remarks that seemed to force sponsorship on Trainee A, saying things like “Didn’t you know this industry originally works this way?” and it’s reported that rather than showing remorse, the recording even contains statements attempting to rationalize this behavior.
Meanwhile, it’s known that some of the victims who were forced to connect with sponsors through Ji-hoon were minors, causing great controversy.]
An article written without lies but as provocatively as possible.
Reporter Choi Gyo-young, who had spent his entire life chasing celebrity scandals and stirring up aggro, was extremely proud, saying he was finally doing something good.
[Start Plan, from parachute controversy and manipulation to sponsor brokers… Endless controversies]
[From vote manipulation to brokers, trainees exposed to crime… Is South Korea’s entertainment industry okay?]
Not long after the initial article was posted, articles criticizing the state of South Korea’s entertainment industry beyond just Ji-hoon were popping up like mushrooms after rain.
There were even YouTubers covering entertainment industry news and drama channels who uploaded videos about this faster than Gu Beom-tae.
‘Ji-hoon’s image really must be bad.’
The reaction was even worse than when I first suffered from the parachute controversy, which was quite surprising.
It seemed Ji-hoon was already a controversial figure among K-POP fans and didn’t have a good image to begin with.
Anyway, because of this, Ji-hoon was now in a situation where he had no choice but to release an official statement.
‘There’s no need to pressure him further.’
Soon Gu Beom-tae’s video summarizing this situation would be uploaded, and then his agency would have to step forward and present his position to resolve this situation.
So now the matter with Ji-hoon is as good as resolved.
Seo Ra-eun also said she no longer receives contact from Ji-hoon.
“Let’s sign the contract now.”
This place is Day Entertainment’s conference room.
I spoke with a much more relieved expression.
At my words, Kim Ja-in presented the contract, and Seo Ra-eun bowed her head deeply with a face that still looked haggard.
“Ji-ye…”
Well, it’s okay to cry openly.
She began crying quietly, stifling her sobs.
She said she couldn’t contact her parents due to circumstances – how much mental anguish must she have endured alone?
I could fully understand why she was crying so sorrowfully.
“I should have paid more attention to this kind of thing too. There will absolutely never be such incidents in the future.”
Kim Ja-in spoke with a serious expression and handed Seo Ra-eun tissues and cold water.
‘How difficult it must have been for her.’
I too felt my heart ache and could only watch with pity, when.
“If I had gone with you, I would have hit him.”
A blunt voice came from beside Seo Ra-eun.
Choi Song-i spoke with an even colder expression than usual.
“Why didn’t you take me? I said I was doing Flora.”
Watching Choi Song-i speak with her arms crossed and legs crossed, full of complaints, Han Da-min, who was sitting next to me, spoke soothingly to her.
“How could we take you there… It’s dangerous. And you still hadn’t gotten permission from your parents.”
This morning, Choi Song-i’s parents decided to send her to Day Entertainment after quite a bit of deliberation.
It was welcome news since until a few days ago, even when we tried to persuade them by presenting Kim Ja-in’s talented people, they only responded that they would think about it more.
Since it involved their only daughter’s future, they would have needed time to think from various angles.
Even though she could be with the members her daughter liked and had financial backing.
Both parents had long careers in the entertainment industry, so they would know all too well the difficulties faced by idols from new agencies.
When Start Plan ended, Song-i was so serious about Flora that she planned not to debut as an idol unless it was with Flora.
However, since her parents had different thoughts, I was actually worried that Choi Song-i’s side might be the unexpected obstacle.
But as they say, no parent can win against their child – since Song-i was so adamant about wanting to do it, they eventually gave permission.
According to Kim Ja-in, until the end they looked anxious and distrustful, repeatedly asking her to please take good care of their daughter.
“Don’t cry. It just gives you a headache. Don’t even think about that trash anymore. Ugh.”
Choi Song-i said that and coolly scrawled her signature on the contract.
“Sniff… Th-thank you, everyone. I’m really nothing special, but for you to go this far…”
“Again! Unnie’s doing it again! How much we need you, yet you say you’re nothing special! We’re really a team now, so don’t say things like that!”
Min Ha-young, who had been standing behind me even though there were empty chairs because she said they were too far, quickly approached Seo Ra-eun and handed her a ballpoint pen.
“Let’s hurry up and sign the contract so we can be Flora again!”
“Sniff, y-yes…”
Seo Ra-eun signed the contract with trembling hands.
Kim Ja-in smiled brightly and clapped her hands.
“Please take care of us from now on! My first artists, Flora!”
With this, we became Flora again.
***
After all the members finished signing contracts, we immediately began preparing for debut.
Even during that time, so many things happened.
First, Ji-hoon eventually admitted all his wrongdoings and announced his retirement from the entertainment industry.
Of course, the social atmosphere was too negative and he had to go to prison, so it was a semi-forced admission.
He posted an apology letter on Star SNS as I instructed and said he would live quietly.
Of course, I made sure there would be no chance of him appearing on broadcasts even subtly after his release.
And finally, news that our Flora would debut through Day Entertainment was reported.
[Start Plan ‘Flora’ reunites, joins with former MN director Kim Ja-in! “Debut planned for early next year”]
[Start Plan’s ‘actual winners’ Flora debut early next year… keeping the group name as is]
This was probably the most positive and hopeful news story related to Start Plan recently.
Start Plan, which had been evaluated as social evil itself with so many controversies in one program – parachute, evil editing, manipulation, lawsuits, sponsors – though most of them were things I had exposed.
The victims of that program, who were substantially the winning team but couldn’t win due to manipulation and even had their team disbanded.
That group, which had become fans’ unforgettable regret, was the first to announce debut news.
I hadn’t seen the reactions yet, but public opinion was said to be positive, and above all, fans were certainly very happy.
Preparations flowed smoothly.
Our Flora also began frantically running toward debut.
***
Day Entertainment conference room.
We had gathered here to discuss Flora’s debut concept.
“First, the concept we’ve been thinking about is this.”
CEO Kim Ja-in smiled confidently with a face full of confidence.
The 55-inch TV positioned behind her was filled with famous painting photos that you’d typically see on the internet.
“Concept?”
Han Da-min tilted her head and looked at the screen.
Just suddenly displaying painting photos and calling it a concept…
‘She won’t understand.’
I quietly thought to myself while observing the members’ reactions.
Of course, I already knew about the concept.
I had concept meetings with Kim Ja-in and the staff even before the members signed their contracts one by one.
The screen was filled with all kinds of paintings. Western nobility, commoner paintings, as well as Joseon Dynasty folk paintings, modern artists’ and illustrators’ works, and even web novel and webtoon covers. It was hard to find any commonality other than them all being paintings.
The members seemed unable to grasp what kind of concept this could possibly be.
“Hmm, paintings, is it a painting concept?”
Seo Ra-eun said after pondering for quite a while.
Paintings.
It was too broad a term to call a concept.
But Kim Ja-in seemed very pleased as she snapped her fingers and pointed at Seo Ra-eun.
“Ra-eun, correct!”
“…Excuse me?”
“That’s the correct answer? Paintings?”
“Huh? Paintings?”
When Seo Ra-eun and the members asked back in bewilderment, as if they didn’t know this was really the right answer, Kim Ja-in said with an excited face.
“Groups where all members have such outstanding visuals are really, really rare. When you have members who are as pretty as paintings, shouldn’t we make full use of that?”
“…Excuse me?”
“From now on, each of you will become a different genre of painting.”
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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