Assistant Manager Kim Hates Idols - Chapter 110
Only Krnovel
| Episode 110. Video Conference
Mental pillar Jeong Seong-bin
[I’m really sorry everyone, I know you’re on vacation.]
[I heard that Spark got an offer to appear on a survival program, and the manager asked me to ask everyone what they thought.]
Then there was an emoticon of a cute character lying on the floor and crying.
Why do all the companies I work for contact me on my days off?
Is this actually the industry standard? It’s tough, our society.
Cute pretty visual Lee Cheong-Hyeon
[What kind of program is it?]
Mental pillar Jeong Seong-bin
[This is a new program being launched!]
King cute Kang Ki-yeon
[Only groups that have debuted will appear?]
Mental pillar Jeong Seong-bin
[I guess so. I’ll organize the information I just received and upload it, just a moment!]
In the meantime, the guys who had checked first were already exchanging a few words. I respect your passion for work.
A few minutes later, a long message arrived from Jeong Seong-bin.
Mental pillar Jeong Seong-bin
[★ IMPORTANT ★
This is confidential, so never share it with anyone else!
Working title: Idol Dynasty Chronicles
Planning Intent: A survival project without sanctuary for K-dols who continue the legacy of the K-pop market
Composition: 6 boy group teams compete on five stages, with a final to determine the winner
Special Note: Due to the filming schedule, I need to respond as soon as possible (I would like to get feedback by next Wednesday)]
It’s neat and tidy. I’m glad I recommended ‘The Leader’s Communication Method’ to Manager Nam, who I really wanted him to read.
I checked the notice, and while I was drying the remaining water from my head with a towel, Lee Cheong-hyeon groaned.
“what’s the matter?”
“They said we have to decide quickly, but I wonder if we can get together right away. Kang-Kyun, Seong-Bin, and I are going to Seoul tomorrow because of school, but Je-Ho and Joo-Woo aren’t going.”
“Is it really necessary to gather together and talk?”
“Survival programs are so controversial. I’ve heard that because they’re long-term projects and competitive systems, there are often cases where internal coordination of opinions is difficult.”
“Then let’s all talk about it together.”
Even after my answer, Lee Cheong-hyeon’s expression did not look very cheerful.
“Why? You don’t want to go out?”
“No, that’s not it.”
The guy paused for a moment and then spoke with a serious expression.
“Hey, everyone’s on vacation. Do you think we can make a quick decision over text?”
“It’s completely impossible.”
“Thinking about it already makes me feel suffocated… … .”
Lee Cheong-hyeon beat his chest.
I looked at that guy and said, turning on my laptop that I had closed for only 30 minutes.
“Cheong-hyeon, what century is it now?”
“It’s the 21st century.”
“Yes. But do we really have to communicate through text just because of spatial constraints?”
I left a brief notice in the group message room.
me
[Have you ever had a video meeting?]
[I’ll tell you how to do it, so everyone, go vote first whenever you have time.
21:00~22:00
22:00~23:00]
I’m also not very good at preparing for remote meetings.
* * *
What kind of program is ‘Idol Dynasty Chronicles’?
‘Idol Dynasty Chronicles’, or A-Wang-sil for short, was, simply put, a common survival program.
A Wang Sil, which came out at a time when survival programs were being launched one after another, did not receive much response at first.
Although the program name was full of concepts, it was not much different from your average survival program, and most of the other programs either changed the gender of the cast from an already successful previous program or came out with a new season, showing differences in viewer ratings from the beginning.
No one except the so-called stone-plate veterans took interest in this common competitive pro.
That is, until all the other programs that started airing around the same time failed.
The reasons for failure were varied.
It’s a competitive program, but the broadcasting station got caught manipulating the rankings.
The cast caused controversy during the broadcast and left the show as a group.
There was a dating rumor between an MC and a guest, but one side admitted it and the other side denied it… … etc.
With the promising players gone, all that was left was the royal family, left alone in the wilderness.
The production company, which was struggling with the lackluster buzz surrounding A Wang Sil, did not miss out on this windfall.
≫ People who benefited from the final winning group of the A Royal Family
Prize money: 100 million
Comeback Showcase Support< < This was what was initially announced
Prize money increased to 300 million
Making a pure gold jade seal with the names of the members
Confirmed to appear in Season 2 and receive benefits
This was added
+ Starting from the 3rd round, stage production costs will be paid according to ranking.
└ It is certain that the royal family is at stake
They declared that they would do a second season even before the program ended.
As one comment said, the entire universe was praying for the success of the royal family as the third quarter budget was invested into the royal family.
A Wang Sil was able to establish itself as the representative survival program for boy groups for about two years. In fact, the groups that appeared on it were the most well-known among the teams that debuted in similar years.
This was the reason why Spark had to go to the royal palace.
Because if you go to Awangsil, you can really get involved in competition with the same generation group.
'If not, it's unclear when we'll be able to achieve our KPIs.'
The reason he brought forward Spark's debut, and the reason he constantly took selfies and appeared on entertainment shows that others avoided was all to receive an offer to appear on this royal family show.
I had planned out several scenarios in case the schedule of programs including Awangsil would change in return for the debut schedule being brought forward, but fortunately, the error was within the expected range. If I hadn't anticipated it in advance, I would have been stamping my feet about the fact that the lineup of the cast was brought forward by half a year.
Are you coordinating opinions on this day when you are so sincere to the royal family?
It's impossible. I'll let you appear as a group in front of a large door.
* * *
As the appointed time approached, I saw people one by one logging into the Zoom video conference room that had been prepared in advance.
It's amazing. I just sent a few lines of explanation in a message, and they connected on their own.
At this rate, even if I go to a company where I work from home, I won't feel embarrassed from the first day.
“Choi Je-ho, why is your background like that?”
While waiting for everyone to gather, I asked the guy who was in Hawaii alone.
"My sister said the room was dirty so she turned this on."
“Since you’re at your parents’ house, why don’t you clean your room a bit?”
"Is this your sister's room?"
“It’s up to the owner of the room to decide what to do with it, right?”
From afar, someone could be heard harassing Choi Je-ho. Choi Je-ho didn't give up, but he told him to take care of it since he was staying in his older sister's room.
After getting the consent of the guys who had gathered by the appointed time and even turning on the recording of the meeting, the discussion about the appearance of the royal family began in earnest.
The vote on whether or not he would like to appear was 4:2. Park Joo-woo expressed dislike, and Lee Cheong-hyun expressed that he was not sure.
Rather, it was surprising that Kang Ki-yeon wanted to appear.
I thought it wouldn't be strange for him to feel pressured since he was not a one-time pro, but he said quite calmly, "I can't do only what I want to do."
18-year-old Kang Ki-yeon seems a hundred times more mature than 29-year-old Kim Yi-wol, who cried inside because he didn't want to work.
“You know, I want to respect all of your opinions.”
At my words, all the guys' eyes turned to the camera.
“But this opportunity is too good to pass up.”
Then, I turned on the PPT I had hastily created before the meeting time and switched the camera to screen sharing mode.
So, in about 40 minutes, we came up with 58,000 reasons why we had to go to the royal palace.
“How can I oppose something like this?! Oh my, I’ll agree.”
"……me too."
Lee Cheong-hyeon and Park Joo-woo readily changed their minds. I expressed my deep gratitude to them.
"So what should we prepare now?"
In the midst of the warm atmosphere, Kang Ki-yeon asked a very good question.
“I had something I wanted to say, taking this opportunity.”
"What is it?"
“You all, how about you all just talk it out?”
The dismantling of Spark's honorifics has been a long-cherished project of mine since last year.
Since I started speaking informally to my younger siblings out of the blue, I never had a day where I felt at ease.
It may be presumptuous of me to say 'thank you' to the teachers who have supported me, a slow learner, even though I cannot bow down to them.
It's best to be polite to each other, but that's mostly only done in the workplace.
Considering the tendency of those who are polite to their elders, it was obvious that if Nana Choi Je-ho spoke politely to them, they would feel more uncomfortable.
In that case, I concluded that it would be better for everyone to speak equally.
I asked Choi Je-ho about it indirectly… … .
'What do you think would happen if the kids started talking?'
'Yeah. You've been with the kids for years.'
'It doesn't really matter.'
… … That’s what they said.
“Once you enter the program, you’ll have to plan the stage and rehearse everything in a short period of time. You’ll have no time or mental space to spare compared to when you were preparing for a comeback. I don’t think it’s helpful to the team if you’re too polite or if you’re worried about what your elders think, making it difficult to express good opinions.”
It's possible to make a suggestion like this because these people aren't the type of people who would forget the minimum level of respect for others just because they were told to speak informally.
The faces of the guys on the monitor were all filled with bewilderment, as if it was a completely unexpected story.
“Brother, aren’t you going to regret it if your younger siblings nag you too much?”
“Yeah. I’m not really worried about my other siblings, but I’m a bit worried about you, Cheong-Hyeon.”
Lee Cheong-hyeon burst out laughing at my words.
“It’s not mandatory. If you feel comfortable letting go, let go. If you need more time, do as you normally would. Just know that you don’t have to be overly cautious when suggesting something or giving feedback.”
“Okay, Yiwol!”
“Can’t you see Cheong-Hyeon talking? Everyone, eat half as much as this and feel at ease.”
As a result of approving the liberalization of informal speech, Park Joo-woo and Lee Cheong-hyun split in favor of speaking informally, while Jeong Seong-bin and Kang Ki-yeon split in favor of maintaining formal speech. Anyway, they are like the rigid brothers.
I imagined for a moment Jeong Seong-bin or Kang Ki-yeon saying, "Hyung, aren't you dancing properly?" I couldn't help but laugh.
Come to think of it, it's not really a time to laugh. I should brace myself beforehand.
* * *
The next day, Lee Cheong-hyeon and I returned to Seoul after our short trip.
Kang Ki-yeon arrived at the accommodation first.
'Why are you here so early? Do you have to go to school tomorrow?'
'That too.'
I thought you came to the dorm early before going to school on Monday.
'We decided to practice a few cover dances in preparation for Idol Dynasty Annals.'
'That's right.'
'I talked to Jeho hyung separately, but he said it would take time to get the cover. I decided to watch his choreography until Jeho hyung comes.'
'Yeah, we don't need anyone who can't keep up with the team.'
I found out that he was there to take charge of the wild and wild Kim Yi-wol. The dance line that became one because of me was so nice to see and brought tears to my eyes.
I did my best to attend Kang Ki-yeon's 1:1 lessons so that Choi Je-ho would not have to rush up from Gwangju.
'Brother, I said we don't need anyone who can't keep up.'
'Leave me alone.'
But I never became a dancing machine.
The world is really harsh. This is how I am reminded that I am not a full member of Spark.
After that, I was addicted to dancing, but I never gave up on anything else because I was dancing.
At a time when all idols are practicing their individual skills, shaving or burning fat to increase their idol power.
“If you’re ready, can we begin the Spark Interview?”
The first meeting of the royal family is approaching, faster than early summer.