The Reincarnated Idol Hard Carries an Indie Band - Chapter 90

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The Former Idol Carries the Indie Band
Episode 90
At the word “conditions,” the division head’s expression clouded with discomfort.
But I couldn’t forgive him for demanding negotiations while pushing forward that absurd contract.
We deserved fair terms too.
“All right, let’s hear it. What are your conditions?”
The division head pressed his temples as he asked.
“First, upload the performance you cut off today in full version tomorrow evening at six o’clock.”
“Yes, that shouldn’t be difficult.”
I started with the easier demand first.
“And the broadcasting station needs to issue a formal public apology regarding the unfortunate incident involving Do Hyun. You can’t release an official statement without the attitude to back it up, right?”
Lee Min Hyung, the division head, seemed displeased by my attitude, but it was a legitimate request.
“……All right, fine. We should do that.”
“And there’s one more thing.”
“One more?”
“Nullify the First Negotiation Right.”
It was a clause imposed on bands that advanced to the finals.
A clause that gave the broadcasting station the right of first negotiation in contract talks with management companies.
The force of this clause extends for three months from this moment, now that the broadcast has ended.
While the clause remains in effect, we face restrictions on independent activities.
Even contact with another management company is considered a breach of contract,
and we’re restricted in performances and events as well.
If the broadcasting station calls us in for negotiations, we have to go immediately.
“Look, Seo Ha, that’s impossible. TK Entertainment and many other companies want to contract with Okdap. This directly concerns our station too.”
“Can’t do it? Then we have no choice. We’ll be going now. Everyone, let’s stand up.”
At my words, all my friends rose from their seats.
“Wait! The First Negotiation Right is still in effect. You can’t leave without our permission!”
“That’s not right.”
I pulled a small piece of paper from my pocket.
“We need to prepare for the college entrance exam?”
The paper I held out was an Exam Certificate.
An Exam Certificate I’d gotten from my homeroom teacher not long ago.
“We need to prepare for music school. And this one’s studying for medical school. Surely the broadcasting station wouldn’t interfere with college entrance exams—the most important thing for Korean teenagers, right?”
“Look, are you joking right now? Do you understand how serious this situation is?”
“Do you know the Cultural Industry Development Act Article 23?”
“What?”
“There’s something called right to education. How can a man who calls himself a broadcasting division head not know that? Is this your first time dealing with minors?”
The division head glanced at the legal team sitting beside him.
The legal team kept their lips firmly sealed and shook their head with an awkward expression.
“You know, right? It’s a mandatory provision that supersedes private contracts like the First Negotiation Right.”
“You, this…….”
“If you won’t meet our conditions, we’ll be going to study. The reading room closes soon.”
“Wait, hold on!”
“Yes?”
“There must be… some other good terms. I’ll have the station provide additional compensation personally. How about a special performance at the year-end awards ceremony?”
This guy wasn’t making any sense.
I exchanged a glance with my friends.
An expression that asked: what on earth is he talking about?
“Well, then. Let’s talk about this again after our entrance exams.”
By then, the world would have already thoroughly picked apart the broadcasting station and Who’s The Real, and the situation would be over.
Lee Min Hyung let out a heavy sigh.
“Fine, we’ll nullify the First Negotiation Right. But write the statement right now.”
“Now we’re getting somewhere.”
At my cheeky reply, the division head glared at us as if he wanted to kill us.
The look of someone asking: how dare this kid joke around with an adult.
But there was nothing he could do about it right then.
So we drafted a statement saying the broadcasting station had no connection to Producer Lee Jong Myeong,
and we also drew up a contract regarding the three conditions I’d laid out.
* * *
We didn’t win the audition program, but we got what we wanted.
If we’d actually won and had to sign directly with a management company, the threat of using entrance exams as an excuse wouldn’t have worked.
Besides, in the original history, the winner of this program was the Maruru Band.
The original owners had won, that’s all.
The Maruru Band were remarkable people, and I didn’t want to take their crown away from them.
After finishing with the division head, it was very late morning before we could clock out.
The morning breeze, now growing cool, welcomed us along with President Jo Hyun Seop.
“President!”
The kids rushed toward the president waiting in front of the car as if he were their father.
“There, you kids worked hard. Tired? Hungry?”
“Starving! Food!”
“I’m so sleepy…….”
I pushed through the clamor of the whining kids and spoke to the president.
“You must be tired too, sir. The conversation went quite long.”
“No, just get in the car. We need to get home.”
So we got into the president’s car.
We considered stopping for food on the way, but it was too late, so we decided to each just head home.
A cool breeze blew in through the slightly opened window.
The kids, exhausted from doing a live broadcast since morning, fell asleep one by one.
In the passenger seat, I savored the sense of relief as the night wind brushed against me.
“You certainly made a fuss, didn’t you?”
“Yes, revenge should be done right.”
“Will it be all right? Lee Jong Myeong might pursue legal action or something.”
“Let him try. We already stamped a contract with the broadcasting station’s law firm guaranteeing our protection.”
“Thorough, aren’t you?”
Now Lee Jong Myeong has no way to touch us.
Of course, the broadcasting station probably resents us because of my attitude earlier,
but even so, it’ll probably just end with being banned from K-Net appearances.
So what? We never had ambitions about broadcasts in the first place.
“How far back did you plan this?”
President Jo Hyun Seop asked me, his tone slightly reproachful.
“From the very beginning.”
“Hearing about it, your preparation seems solid, but the world of adults is more dangerous than you think. Be more careful going forward.”
“Yes, understood.”
President Jo Hyun Seop always helped us with our commutes.
And if we needed anything, he readily provided it.
But he didn’t directly involve himself in serious incidents.
It was a very calculated way of helping us succeed without taking on the risk.
And yet, after everything was finished, he would always check on us in a worried voice.
I wonder when he’ll fully open his heart to us.
I hope that day comes soon.
In any case, with everything I’d planned finished, I sank deep into the car seat and rested.
* * *
The next morning.
As soon as nine o’clock arrived, K-Net released the official statement drafted with Okdap.
-This is K-Net’s Entertainment Division.
During last night’s Who’s The Real finale live broadcast, a broadcast incident occurred in which the participating band Okdap’s performance was interrupted and an unscheduled advertisement was aired.
We deeply apologize for disrupting the broadcast flow with this unfortunate incident, for disappointing viewers, and for rendering null all of Okdap’s four months of effort.
The statement began with an apology to the nation.
-This broadcasting station immediately launched an investigation into the facts following the accident, and upon establishing the circumstances, we have confirmed that this broadcast interruption incident was a serious violation of regulations committed through the unilateral judgment of Producer Lee Jong Myeong, the on-site director in charge at the time.
And then came the clarification that followed.
The broadcasting station disclosed Lee Jong Myeong’s past conduct without reservation and severed all ties with him.
-Accordingly, K-Net has convened an immediate internal personnel committee and
as of today, has stripped Producer Lee Jong Myeong of his position as lead director (dismissing him from office) and reassigned him to standby status, while pursuing the heaviest disciplinary measure of dismissal and legal accountability procedures
as we make abundantly clear.
Above all, K-Net deeply acknowledges responsibility for the tragedy of Lee Do Hyun, a participant in the Royal Band program that aired four years ago, and sincerely apologizes to his bereaved family.
K-Net will provide condolence payments to the family and will also pay damages to Okdap, who suffered unfair treatment on air.
The broadcasting station’s apology acknowledged the wrongdoing, specified the circumstances that led to the incident, included measures to resolve the problem, and was perfectly written with compensation for the victims.
And the apology quickly spread across various SNS and YouTube.
-Wait, Lee Jong Myeong? So he’s a murderer then?
└No, not a direct murderer?
└But charges like spreading false facts, defamation—those should apply, right?
-Wow, I remember that. Lee Do Hyun got so much hate back then, but it was all fabricated…….
-Damn, so a murderer’s been making broadcasts while acting high and mighty?
-But Lee Do Hyun’s family lost a family member, so why haven’t they done anything until now?
└What do you mean they haven’t done anything? How’s an individual supposed to win against a broadcasting station?
-Still, they got condolence payments and an apology, so I hope the family’s heart feels a bit better
-So what happens to Lee Jong Myeong now?
└He’s got money, so he’ll probably live just fine
└But isn’t cutting a live broadcast completely unprecedented? I don’t think sponsors and advertisers would let it slide
└I think he’s gonna have to pay some serious penalty fees
└How much are we talking?
└Like, maybe tens of billions?
└Wow……. That’d be a serious hit
The public, upon reading the broadcasting station’s statement, was in a forgiving mood toward the station after seeing such a thorough apology.
The basic reason why countless people who inhabit the internet with anger forgave the broadcasting station was simple.
Because a scapegoat named Lee Jong Myeong existed.
And for them, this incident was only recognized as a historic broadcast accident in the entertainment industry.
That is, until the footage was released.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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