In the dorm on the evening of the end of the Chuseok holiday…
The members started to return one by one.
Actually, I thought Bae Sejin and I would be the first to arrive, but there was someone who came first.
"Uh?"
"Oh, you're here! Welcome, Welcome! Sejin hyung too~"
Keun Sejin, whose home was close to the dorm, returned early and was lying on the sofa in the living room. What I saw on the screen was a specialization of
From what I had heard, it seemed that he enjoyed a first-tier idol holiday by giving autographs to his excited cousins.
It wouldn't be long before eyewitness accounts and autographs from a big-name relative would flood social media.
"How could you be so cold-hearted Moondaemoondae? My grandmother wanted to see you in real life, but she was so sad!"
The guy who went to his grandparents' house was good at talking.
"Okay. I'll have to give them a video call next time."
"Haha!"
Keun Sejin chuckled.
I didn't know if it was because I had a good rest or if I was relieved after checking our recognition in real life, but it was nice to have some free time anyway.
Now, I could squeeze out every last drop of energy when making the album.
"Ah, many of you have already come."
"Everyone, I'm back…!"
Ryu Chungwoo and Seon Ahyeon arrived almost at the same time. Seon Ahyeon said that he went on a family trip again, and he even brought souvenirs from a small island in Namhae.
I accepted the wild goose-shaped bread that Seon Ahyeon offered. Inside was green tea cream.
"I-it was near the island we went to! My parents said they wanted to go there…"
After all the trouble…?'
I didn't know. But it was fun.
"Did you spend your holiday comfortably?"
And Kim Raebin, who packed a bundle and brought it… He got a little chubby.
From his grandmother's hospitalization to his own car accident, she seemed to have fed her grandson a lot this year for his hardships
"Hyungs?"
"… Well, welcome."
"Yes!"
Well, it would be fine because we were inactive. It wasn't a health problem… If we prepared an album, he would automatically have no choice but to return to how he was originally.
Besides, it turned out at dawn that this level was good.
This was because the guy with the most unconventional image transformation appeared at the end.
"Hurray! [Everybody say hello~ like] Hello!"
"Cha Eugene!!"
It was Cha Eugene, who came by plane from Los Angeles early in the morning.
This guy… His skin was mottled.
In a good way, he looked healthy, and in a bad way, he was a sunscreen destroyer.
It must have been an amazing holiday at the beach.
'The stylists will be in a mess…'
Wouldn't they make him get vitamin D from another method after locking him indoors?
"Hey! You! What's up with your face!"
First of all, Kim Raebin was startled and slapped Cha Eugene on the back.
"Ouch! No! I am healthy and cool!"
"No, you're not! This isn't a healthy tan, it's just a tan without rules due to mismanagement!"
"Kim Raebin didn't exercise either! A failure!"
"… ! N-no, I'll soon recover my muscle loss through exercise…"
Anyway, after the fuss was over, I was able to get to the point.
It was 2:00 in the morning.
"Tomorrow… No, I'm going to go to work around lunch today."
"Huh?"
"Why, why… ?"
"Moondae, you are too much of a workaholic. Get some rest. You worked at Sejin hyung's house too, right?"
"No, just listen, please."
If they said anything, it would come crashing down.
I pressed my forehead and spoke out.
"I thought it was a pity that we, especially Bae Sejin hyung, collected the lawsuit materials…"
I put into words the plans I had leisurely laid out during the holidays.
"Hmm."
Bae Sejin, who had already heard it before our departure, nodded without any reaction, while the others were surprised and had faces full of anguish.
"Is that possible… ?"
"… It's possible. I asked the lawyer."
Following Bae Sejin's answer, Kim Raebin raised his hand.
"Is it illegal?"
"No, it's not."
After that, a fairly productive discussion and Q&A ensued.
In the end, Keun Sejin shrugged.
"Well, anyway, everything we want is agreed upon, right? It looks like it will work."
"Okay. Then, let's all go together tomorrow and talk about it."
I shook my head.
"No, I think it would be better for me to go alone."
"What?"
Such a man would rather feel a secret one-on-one meeting overpowering. But if young people came in groups, he'd feel like he was in a lower class.
One representative was adequate.
After explaining that part, I added a comment.
"I think if Chungwoo hyung went, he'd mistake it for an official deal since he's the leader. I think it's better to catch him off guard."
"Um… …"
Keun Sejin frowned and opened his mouth.
"Still, considering retaliation or threats…"
"It's okay. I have no intention of using such extreme measures."
"… … ?"
Why was his face like that?
He was puzzled for a moment, then burst out laughing.
"Ah, I meant the general manager to you."
"… …"
"I don't think he can. He's not a guy that would do such a thing."
And after a while, the final decision was made on me as the presenter of the opinion.
It went smoothly.
• * *
The third general manager of T1 Stars had a decent holiday break.
Although the man who was fired and went insane gave him a headache, one of the members was able to recover right before vacation, which made him excited.
Still, his head was still pounding when he thought of the damage to the image of the company, interference from the head office, and the loss caused by the cancellation of the tour.
'It was fortunate that he recovered.'
Fortunately, the member of TeStar who was in a coma did not die, but the step that was taken afterward was not very satisfactory.
'A donation concert.'
It was also on the related platform of another agency.
He was very suspicious.
'They're not trying to transfer there, are they?'
He couldn't stop it due to public opinion and the atmosphere, but since he was new to the entertainment industry, the general manager, who thought of an idol's agency as close to that of a sports club, was even more confused.
Because he thought that they were trying to leave.
However, there was no sign that TeStar was contacting the agency again, so he put his doubts aside.
'As soon as public opinion recovers, things will calm down and they can go on tour.'
At the same time, he planned to prepare the next album and launch it globally in time for the end of the tour.
In the meantime, it was already stressful to have to reflect on the words of the idols who were noisy.
'Those who didn't even graduate from college can still do their business properly.'
In the early days of Hollywood, didn't the industry come to this point because of star marketing made to sell tickets?
Anyway, he clicked his tongue, saying that the entertainment business had no structure or dignity.
He jumped in with ambition, but his spirit fell.
'I need to pull out my portfolio for a few years and launch another business line.'
Then, during lunchtime, he came to an appointment that a TeStar member had made in advance.
"Hello."
"Yes, welcome."
Actually, this was a bit odd. Was he in a position where an appointment had to be made beforehand just to listen to the words of his celebrity?
Still, it could be used as a new hand, so he thought that he should give it a listen.
It was true that the company was in trouble because of the car accident.
'Let's see.'
He made an assumption by looking at Park Moondae, a member of TeStar who came out alone.
'Is it a request?'
He was also informed that it was not the leader who contacted the head office last time, but it was actually him.
However, he didn't even think that the dedicated TeStar team was created because of that.
It was because he had no doubt that a tantara who hadn't even graduated from high school would have such a head.
(TN: Tantara/ 딴따라: A derogatory term used to belittle celebrities/idols/entertainers)
Still, he had an idea of how to use it.
'He's the type who can't overcome his own greed if he's encouraged.'
It was because he seemed like a guy who had the right to speak on the team and was greedy for success in his own way.
So, even after recovering from a coma, he came to see himself!
However, as soon as he sat down in the sushi restaurant room where the course meal was served, Park Moondae took out the paperwork.
"It's a lawsuit."
"Kheup!"
The general manager let out a choking sound.
However, the idol in front of him just stared at him indifferently.
It was a face that observed him indifferently.
"… …"
The general manager seemed to be widening his eyes in anger at the moment, but he took care of the truth first.
The documents.
And he was astonished.
"… … !"
"This is evidence of the agency's negligence regarding the former manager."
The paperwork was meticulous in a legal sense.
In addition, there were parts where specific details were deliberately erased, so even if they checked this paper, it was difficult for the company to create refutation materials.
Anyone could tell that an expert was used.
'They hired a lawyer… !'
The general manager took a deep breath and put down the papers.
"So why are you showing this to me?"
"… …"
"Looking at it, I don't think you're going to sue right away. Is this because you want something?"
Park Moondae acknowledged it.
'He's got his own head.'
Indeed, the general manager was neither a parachute nor a relative of an executive. He was just an ego-bloated senior.
And, because of that, it was rather easy to say.
Park Moondae remembered the conversation he had with Bae Sejin the night before they returned to the dorm.
-… Park Moondae, you talked about taxes at the first settlement. This is the pre-tax amount, so it will be deducted a lot later.
-Yes.
-Yes, I know. Celebrities are not workers.
At the time of writing the contract, Park Moondae also knew based on the legal knowledge he had gained through college and civil service exams.
Celebrities did not sign an employment contract with a company.
Therefore, they were classified as individual entrepreneurs rather than workers, and in many cases, the Labor Standards Act or the Occupational Safety and Health Act were not properly applied.
'The agency's power is too great to see it that way.'
It wasn't something he could change right now, so he had to move on.
This was what Park Moondae thought.
'On the contrary, doesn't this mean that I can write the contract more freely?'
Wasn't this a contract between business owners?
So, he made this suggestion.
"We put additional clauses in the basic contract. A penalty and guarantee clause."
"A guarantee clause."
"Yes, it's nothing serious, I'm putting it as a kind of bet. The contents are…"
Park Moondae laughed.
"If TeStar wins the grand prize at the annual awards ceremony during the following year, you will have to fully support TeStar's establishment of a new independent label."
"… … !!'
"The deadline is set at two years… Oh, of course, the form is subversive. And if the contract is terminated? We'll have to stay with TI."
The paper that Park Moondae gave out was full of details.
-'Annual Awards Ceremony' refers to an awards ceremony held by the main body of a music source or music platform that broadcasts 70% or more of sales figures in the music market that year.
-… During the verification period, A guarantees B's proactive and safe activities. In that provision, 'leading' means...
In a word, it meant that they would take care of themselves, so please don't interfere and try to take care of them properly.
And Park Moondae knew.
'This bastard has no connections in the entertainment industry.'
What he had was a personal connection with the board of directors at T1 Headquarters, enough to fill the position here. But he wouldn't be able to talk about this to his superiors because of reputation issues.
'Then, he'll have to take it alone.'
No, actually, it didn't matter if he talked.
'We have no intention of arguing with T1. It's just a repetition of the assertion that we want to distance ourselves from this agency where he's the general manager.'
It was a logic that was already used when requesting a dedicated team. Even if the deal was discovered, there was no reason for the headquarters to be hostile to TeStar.
At that time, the general manager finished his own calculations similarly.
Knowing that if he shouted or came out forcefully, the bomb would explode.
So, he clasped his hands together and spoke more seriously.
"I understand the artist's opinion, but… It's not something I can easily say 'OK' to, right? I am a practitioner… I have to tell the board of directors and the CEO."
It was a lie. In fact, the CEO position was only given to give business cards to T1 relatives.
In fact, the general manager was right to discuss the revision of the contract.
"Oh, I don't know much about that."
Park Moondae did not blink an eye.
"I just need you to convince them."
"… ! What…"
"No… I don't know. If not, I think it would be easier for us to just sue. Our lawyer will take care of that."
Was he crazy?
The general manager was speechless and looked at Park Moondae, but there was no agitation on his smooth face.
So he knew too.
This guy was really going to file a lawsuit without batting an eye.
And this crazy guy couldn't be persuaded.
"In a little while, you will do another new season of
"… …"
"If we win the grand prize, we can make a label, so it doesn't seem difficult."
And at sunset that day…
Park Moondae returned home with all 7 sheets of contracts that had been modified and stamped.
'It's neat.'
He knew this would happen if he didn't give it time and pushed.
They would have done something useless if he had given another day or two on this matter.
'The correct answer is to deal with it quickly.'
And since the additional clause was related to TeStar's career anyway, it didn't prevent them from winning what they could.
That general manager was a guy who had a lot of dirty desires for honor.
In addition, a provision for compensation in case of double violation was also put in place just in case.
Park Moondae shrugged.
'I couldn't make a legal precedent the way Bae Sejin wanted… I hope he'll be satisfied with this.'
Anyway, until next year, when they won the grand prize, they wouldn't be able to move completely freely.
What if they couldn't win the grand prize?
'It doesn't matter because the contract period isn't long anyway.'
He shrugged.
Either way, there was nothing to lose.
"Shall we go prepare an album?"
He was ready to devote all his spare time to it.
'I'll make it properly this time.'
… That was how the extremely high-intensity album preparation camp began.
For reference, the first stage of the comeback that TeStar planned was the year-end awards ceremony hosted by T1.