Chapter 215
‘I’m sorry about this, Mr . KangYoon . ’
Professor Choi ChanYang apologized to Kangyoon but KangYoon waved his hand saying that it was okay .
‘It’s okay, but there are a lot of students here . ’
KangYoon scratched his cheeks awkwardly while looking at the lecture room that was filled to the brim with students .
HeeYoon was watching KangYoon with interest as she wanted to know how he would solve this problem .
‘Let’s get this out of the way first . ’
KangYoon turned around to the students .
“Is there an empty lecture hall nearby? I think I can proceed with the cla.s.s like this . ”
When he said that, one student voiced out .
“It’s a few minutes walk, but… room 302 of my department is currently empty . It can hold more than 100 people . ”
“Really?”
When KangYoon turned around to Professor Choi ChanYang, he asked which department he was in . After that, he gave a call and received permission to use it .
Having gained permission, KangYoon spoke to the students .
“Well, then . Let’s go to room 302 of the building next door . ”
Everyone left the lecture room like a tide before KangYoon and HeeYoon got their stuff ready .
Professor Choi ChanYang couldn’t hide his sorry feelings and spoke again .
“I’m sorry . It looks like I was too complacent . I should have considered the fact that your reputation is completely different from before…”
“Can I live up to their expectations? I’m rather worried . ”
Seeing KangYoon act worried, HeeYoon put his hand on her brother’s shoulders .
“You’re still going to do well, aren’t you?”
“Yeah, I will . ”
“Ah? Hey, you’re messing my hair . ”
KangYoon rubbed HeeYoon’s head before heading to the building next to his current one .
When the three people entered, the students were all in their seats and were waiting for him .
KangYoon wrote his name on the whiteboard and bowed towards the students .
“h.e.l.lo, everyone . Some of you may have seen me before, but I’m guessing this is our first meeting for most of you . I’m Lee KangYoon . ”
“Ooooooooh!”
When the lecture started, the students started applauding .
Muse was a composer that entered the ranks of ‘hit-song makers’ within 3 years of appearance .
He made a forgotten star popular again and had succeeded with rookies as well .
Above all…
He was known as the Midas’s hand that never failed in the entertainment industry .
As the majority of the students here had half a foot into the music entertainment industry, they were pa.s.sionate about getting to know KangYoon .
‘Maybe this is why the musicians crave for a stage . ’
KangYoon had this rather sudden thought due to the immense eruption of cheers .
However, he saw the eyes of a female student who was pa.s.sionately staring at him in the front seats and started his lecture .
“What is your name?”
“My name is Jang YeonJoo . ”
The female student went stiff for a moment before replying with a crisp voice . This made all the other students focus on her .
KangYoon had a look at the register and noticed that she entered the applied music department as a vocalist and asked .
“What do you think ‘entertainment’ is?”
“Entertainment? Uhm… Having…fun?”
While some people giggled, KangYoon nodded and continued to speak .
“You’re right . Having fun . Entertainment is about having fun . Then, what do you think is the ideal environment that musicians look for in entertainment companies?
“A company that… uhm…does fun things?”
The laughter became even louder .
However, KangYoon smiled and agreed with her answer .
“Yes . They do fun things . To be precise, they provide an environment for people to do fun things . ”
“Ahhh . ”
When the other students cheered, student Jang YeonJoo shrugged .
While the mood was getting heated up, KangYoon asked his final question .
“Then what do you think an entertainment company looks for in their artists?”
“An artist…uhh… that can do fun things?”
“You’re right . You’re rather smart . Everyone, give her a round of applause . ”
“The majority of you sitting here must be related to the entertainment industry in one way or the other . Employment, founding, and many other forms must exist . For that, you have gotten through the fierce compet.i.tion to come to college, and you’re now facing the future . What I am about to tell you today are the standards that entertainment companies use to evaluate people, as well as those entertainment companies in general . I hope I can be of help . ”
KangYoon’s declaration made the students’ eyes light up with pa.s.sion .
***
A government facility in Sejong-city, belonging to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism(MCST) .
In the bureau of the busy facility was one person who was having a headache due to a decision about a party in the near future .
“World, huh . Do I send it or not?”
Senior Chief Jung ChaSoo had circled the words ‘World Entertainment personnel’, wondering about something .
He knew that World Entertainment was a rising star in the music entertainment industry during the past 3 years, but it was a hard decision whether to invite them or not since it was rather young as a company .
Junior Chief Min YoungChan, who was next to him, said that it was okay to invite them .
“They satisfy all the conditions for the invitation . The scale of their company, the number of artists in their possession, as well as others . What they lack are time and reputation . I think that it’s alright to invite them…”
“Yeah, time is the most troublesome thing . The so-called ‘3 big’ entertainment companies are all at least 10 years old or older . Won’t they say something if we invite a company that was only founded 3 years ago? The entire premise of this party is to listen to the n.o.ble opinions of those that have quite a large influence over the Korean culture . ”
“But considering the things World’s CEO, Lee KangYoon has achieved now…”
“That’s why it’s even more troublesome . Lee KangYoon? It’s not that I don’t know about him . I’ve read the report already . We’re okay with him, but would the others be?”
Just as Senior Chief Jung ChaSoo was sighing because he couldn’t make a decision, a man with a balding head entered his office after knocking .
“V, vice-minister!”
The two men abruptly stood up from their seats .
Vice-minister Han YoungGwan gestured to them to sit down and spoke about his matter .
“I’ve read the report . You’re wondering about one person?”
“Yes, sir . I’m worried that other people may…”
“You have a lot of work to do so don’t take any more time on this . Send it . ”
“What?”
When Vice-minister Han YoungGwan approved it with ease, Senior Chief Jung ChaSoo was rather dumbfounded .
“We can’t be inviting the same people over and over again . Let’s invite some new people this time . Send them the invitation . Let’s see how those other CEOs react . They always say that they have an ‘open att.i.tude’ so let’s see if it’s true or not . ”
“Yes, sir . ”
“Looks like this party will be a fun one . ”
Vice-minister Han YoungGwan signed the papers on the spot .
The two others smiled as well .
***
Back to the lecture .
You can make a comeback in life by becoming a star through enormous effort?
Such hopeful words didn’t exit KangYoon’s mouth .
“Everyone knows that the gate to this industry is a small one . Out of 1000 trainees, maybe around 100 people will have their debut . One out of those hundred may or may not become a star . If I told you you can become that one person, then I’d only be giving you false hope . Everyone here has stepped into a cruel, merciless league . ”
KangYoon’s pragmatic words made the students halt their breath .
He was incredibly realistic and told them the cold hard truth .
It was also words that KangYoon could speak since he had once lost everything .
“Here, everyone becomes desperate . That’s why there are a lot of traps as well . I will make you into a star, but I need X amount of money to do that . If you sleep with this guy… fuu . These kinds of dirty behind-the-scenes exchanges are commonplace as well . ”
“……”
Everyone became silent .
They thought that KangYoon would be somewhat different .
They thought that KangYoon would try to give hope to the youths .
The students looked down in dejection .
At that moment .
“However, you can’t see it, but there is a path . Let me say that again . It’s not that a path doesn’t exist . It’s that you can’t see it . What you need to do is to find that path . I don’t know if what I’m about to tell you is the correct path, but I hope I can be of help . ”
The sudden twist made everyone raise their heads .
Having attracted attention, KangYoon spoke calmly .
“Singers and composers have different strategies . Likewise, other fields have different strategies as well . Since the majority of you here are aspiring vocalists, I’ll focus on this part . First, the way to become a singer, and among them, I’ll focus on trainees . ”
Even the students that were absent-minded until now raised their pens up .
“I believe you all know that there are traits that companies prefer . To put things simply, MG prefers trainees with a solid foundation and good looks, while Yerang looks for something rather unique, whether it be your voice or your dancing or your looks . YoonSeul is a little different . Their preferences differ according to the season, and… ah, I guess telling you this might get me a scolding from President Choo . ”
“Hahahaha . ”
The students laughed as they loosened up a little .
KangYoon also continued his speech in a lightened tone .
“Your individual traits are the most important there, but their standards are rather abstract . This is the most difficult part . The standard of ‘individual traits’ differs by year . You’ll be better off solidifying your foundations . YoonSeul is the company with the strongest influence over their artists . If you strive towards entering it, then you’ll naturally be preparing for other companies as well .
At that moment, one student, a girl, raised her hand .
“What does World look for then?”
Hearing that, the other student all agreed and started asking .
“I want to know as well .
“World, world!”
When the students erupted into chatter, KangYoon raised his hand to quieten them down and spoke calmly .
“World? Hm…How should I put this… someone to my liking?”
“What? That can’t be right . ”
“You’re an evil boss . ”
“Hahaha . ”
The rather abstract words made everyone complain, but KangYoon smiled as he continued .
“Hahaha . This might sound a bit difficult, but… the motif of my company is to ‘let singers sing the song they want’ . My role is to judge whether that song will appeal to the public or not . To sum things up, I want people that can make other people enjoy themselves with their own color of music . ”
“… . . ”
“…That’s hard . ”
“That’s the most difficult one!”
The students complained, but they understood why World was able to succeed .
KangYoon’s awkward expression made HeeYoon giggle, while Professor Choi ChanYang smiled without a word .
After summarizing the companies, KangYoon talked about compositions, concerts as well as other things that were related to the industry . The students focused on his words as KangYoon talked about the majority of fields related to the music industry .
Like that, two hours flashed by without a single moment of rest .
“And that’s it from me today . Does anyone have any questions?”
A girl with braided hair raised her hand .
“I’m Moon JinHee from the applied music department . I’m preparing to become an idol singer trainee while studying . Am I perhaps… too late?”
“How old are you?”
“I’m 22 this year . ”
KangYoon heaved a short sigh .
“It won’t be easy . Oh, I don’t mean that it’s difficult . ”
“……”
“Let me put this simply . What you’re saying means that you will have to compete with teens, and that means that you need to have something compet.i.tive about you, Miss JinHee . A female idol will have male fans . And to do that… being young is actually quite advantageous . Or, you will have to have a weapon of your own . ”
“A weapon… of my own?”
“The dancing skills of Eddios’s MinAh is an example . ”
“Ugh…”
The student turned pale with fright .
JooAh and MinAh’s dancing skills were ranked in the top 3 of all the female artists in Korea .
She appealed to KangYoon, asking if there were any other methods .
Seeing her expression, KangYoon replied calmly .
“…I’ll be a bit blunt about this . Miss, you’re quite a beauty . However, there are plenty more like you in this industry . That’s reality . ”
“Th, then, I’m no good after all…?”
She became teary-faced .
Even her teary face was rather pretty and it looked like she must have had a lot of guys fall for her . Her tears contained the words ‘Can’t I do something at World?’ in them .
KangYoon spoke calmly while ignoring her actions .
“I’ll be honest here . You are quite eye-catching . ”
“Eye…catching?”
“Yes . That’s a big advantage you have . Some people have a hard time getting attention no matter what they do, but you’re eye-catching even when you stay still . But right now… that’s all you have . ”
While everyone watched with bated breaths, KangYoon stood in front of her .
“People are bound to have expectations for people who catch their eyes . The fans are no different . As long as you have something that can fulfill their expectations, you will have become a person that you want without you knowing it . ”
“… . . ”
KangYoon took out a pen and wrote something down on her notebook which was on her desk .
– Being coy won’t get you anywhere in this field .
Having read KangYoon’s message, her face became beet-red .
Having returned to his podium, KangYoon declared with a calm tone .
“That marks the end of today’s lecture . ”
“Waaaa—!”
KangYoon finished his lecture amidst the cheers of the students .
***
After that, Professor Choi ChanYang offered to treat KangYoon and HeeYoon to a meal and they headed to a nearby restaurant .
Professor Choi ChanYang went as far as to order some high-cla.s.s wine to thank KangYoon for handling more than a hundred students .
While the three of them were having a meal, Lee HyunJi, who was given a call beforehand, entered their room .
“Director-unni . ”
“You’re here . ”
KangYoon and HeeYoon greeted them while Professor Choi ChanYang waved his hand at her .
The four of them talked about today’s matters .
Lee HyunJi listened to the advice that KangYoon gave to the students .
“…I’m worried that they might spread it on social media as some secret sauce . ”
“At most, it’ll be just some advice . There’s no guarantee that they’ll pa.s.s with that alone . ”
“That’s true . But the students are right on one thing . World’s conditions are the hardest to satisfy . They have to do ‘well’ in what they want, right?”
“…Haha . ”
When even Lee HyunJi agreed with the students, KangYoon smiled awkwardly .
He felt like he was the university admissions officer of some prestigious university .
They talked for a while before Lee HyunJi took out an envelope from her bag and gave it to KangYoon .
“What’s this?”
“An invitation . ”
“An invitation?”
When KangYoon opened it, he got an invitation that was wrapped in a rather luxurious-looking string .
– We cordially invite you to the party hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism for influential figures of the music entertainment industry .
Date:…
(omitted)
“Influential figures? Did the MCST hold such a thing?”
When KangYoon wondered about the ‘influential figure’ part, Lee HyunJi explained about the party .
“As the Korean wave became bigger, the MCST started inviting the big names of the entertainment industry in order to solidify their relationship with the entertainment people . The presidents of big companies like MG and YoonSeul will all be attending . Being invited to this party means that we are accepted as a big company . ”
“This, it looks like I can’t miss it . ”
“Yes . It means that we’re given acknowledgment . A total of three people are invited, two from management and one celebrity . Usually, the most popular celebrity . ”
“Hm… it will be somewhat wrong to bring JinSeo since she has just joined us… who should I take…”
Thanks to the invitation, KangYoon started wondering about who to take to the party .