<Episode 53>
Reporter Jo Minjun arrived at the agency in less than 30 minutes.
“Would you like something to drink?”
“Water is fine for me.”
At his reply, Han Suseok quickly stepped out of the office.
“You got here really fast.”
“Yes. Our company isn’t very far from here.”
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Han Suseok returned with water and snacks.
“If you need anything else, please let me know anytime.”
“This is more than enough.”
Han Suseok gave a slight bow toward Jo Minjun and quietly excused himself.
“Then shall we begin the interview?”
“Of course.”
Jo Minjun turned on the recording function on his phone and opened his laptop.
“Then I’ll start with the first question. What does Spade Joker mean to you?”
The very first question was unexpected.
Normally, a reporter would have started with questions directly related to the current controversy.
“Well… at first, it was just a group I created casually. But as time passed, it came to mean something different. Since they went through difficult times because of my mistakes, now I just hope that during the remaining contract period, they experience only good things… after everything they’ve been through.”
“You’re very honest. Most CEOs would say things like ‘they’re my children’ or ‘my masterpiece.’”
“I may have grouped them, but they’re people. Calling them a ‘work of art’ doesn’t feel right, and calling them ‘my children’ feels wrong too… I haven’t done enough for them. What kind of parent would exploit their children like that?”
“I didn’t expect you to be this candid.”
“What’s the point of lying about something like that? In the end, I only succeed if Spade Joker succeeds. And for that reason, I won’t neglect them.”
Jo Minjun’s fingers moved rapidly across the keyboard.
“Then is there anything you’d like to say to Spade Joker?”
“Something I want to say…”
“Nothing comes to mind?”
“No. I already said most of what I wanted during the ‘Reverse Perspective’ filming. Right now… I guess just ‘let’s work hard for the next comeback too.’ That’s about it.”
“Then, when running an entertainment company, what has been the most difficult moment for you?”
“When things don’t go according to plan. Of course, that’s true for any business, but things rarely unfold the way you expect. I plan for A, but somehow it ends up becoming B.”
“Business always comes with variables.”
“Exactly.”
After that, Jo Minjun continued asking business questions.
But notably, he did not ask a single question about the current controversy.
“Secretary Han’s interview became quite a hot topic after it aired. I heard he’s both your secretary and the general team leader.”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“I also heard you’ve known him for a long time, and that he gets along well with the Spade Joker members.”
“He’s naturally someone who takes care of others. Since he’s been with the company since the members were minors, he probably feels even more attached.”
The interview lasted about 40 minutes.
Yet until the very end, he never asked whether Spade Joker had actually skipped their schedule.
“That concludes the interview.”
“You didn’t ask anything about the current situation.”
“That’s fine.”
Jo Minjun calmly turned off the recording on his phone.
“You’ve already released an official statement, haven’t you?”
“Yes.”
“That contains everything necessary.”
Then he added:
“If you don’t mind, may I write the article here? I’d like to finish it quickly.”
“Do as you please.”
Since a quick article would benefit him as well, he gave permission.
“Thank you.”
Jo Minjun put in his earphones and began typing rapidly.
***
[Is John Raid Lombardi’s exclusive interview out?]
↳ Already? That was fast.
↳↳ Seriously, their response is quick.
↳ You have to act fast before things spread further.
↳↳ But they already released an official statement, didn’t they?
[Spade Joker skipped a schedule and went to the Han River? That makes no sense. They must’ve really been sick. The schedule was in the morning, and the photo clearly looks like it was taken in the afternoon. They probably went to the hospital and just sat there for a bit afterward. Look at their expressions in the photo. Do those look like people who ditched a schedule? They look depressed.]
↳ Agreed. Look at their posture.
↳↳ Their shoulders are slumped. I can’t believe that article.
↳ Also, that reporter once wrote an “exclusive interview” with John Raid Lombardi, but it turned out she just eavesdropped during a company dinner and wrote it on her own lol
↳↳ Wow. That’s insane.
↳↳ ??? Seriously? Then how does she have the nerve to write this kind of article again? At this point, does she have some grudge against Spade Joker and Lombardi?
[Reporter Kim Yerin lol this is ridiculous. Do you feel good about writing fabricated articles? Wow. Asking them to release hospital records? Why should they? Would YOU be okay with your medical records being made public nationwide?]
↳ Seriously lol why would they release that? There’s nothing to hide.
↳↳ And the “evidence” she presented is just a single photo. Photos can easily be manipulated, no?
↳↳↳ Changing photo timestamps is easy. And she’s a reporter, she couldn’t do that?
[Summary of John Raid Lombardi’s statement and exclusive interview:
Medical records are extremely private and cannot be disclosed. Protecting that is the company’s duty.
Spade Joker members are not the type to skip schedules.
When asked what the members mean to him, he said he just wants to treat them well because he feels sorry.
When the reporter asked why other CEOs call idols “my children” or “my masterpiece,” he replied that they are people, not works, and he hasn’t done enough to call them his children… what kind of parent would treat their child like that?
Regarding concerns about the members’ health, they’ve had joint issues from dancing since they were young, but nothing serious.
That day, they suddenly felt unwell and went to the hospital.]
↳ Wow, that “not my children, not my work” line really hits.
↳↳ Same. I’ve always hated how CEOs pretend to care while exploiting them, then strip everything away when contracts end… group name, fandom name, YouTube channel, SNS accounts…
↳↳↳ Seriously, taking their YouTube and SNS accounts is the worst. What are they even going to do with them?
↳ I support John Raid Lombardi.
Across social media, people overwhelmingly supported John Raid Lombardi and Spade Joker.
Just a few months ago, an article like this would have triggered massive backlash.
But now, their image had improved so much that public opinion did not move in the direction Kim Yerin had hoped.
Seeing this, Kim Yerin anxiously bit her nails.
“Kim Yerin, the department head, wants to see you in the meeting room.”
She let out a quiet sigh and stood up.
Then she entered the meeting room.
“You called for me.”
The department head stood with arms crossed, glaring at her.
“What the hell are you doing?!”
He pointed at her and shouted.
“Do you even know what kind of mess you’ve caused for this company?!”
Kim Yerin lowered her head.
But she didn’t look remorseful at all.
Her slightly bitten lower lip and furrowed brows made it seem like she was suppressing anger.
“You’re suspended, and you go and publish an article on your own?! And one without fact-checking?!”
His voice grew louder.
“You! If you’ve got a mouth, say something!”
Kim Yerin didn’t even offer a token apology.
The department head clutched the back of his neck, his blood pressure seemingly rising.
“Why did you do this?! Because of you, the image of journalists as a whole has been ruined! How are we supposed to show our faces outside now?!”
He jabbed her shoulder with his finger.
“You’re fired. That’s final. And the company will be filing a compensation lawsuit, so be prepared.”
“Then may I leave now?”
Kim Yerin suddenly lifted her head and said that.
“What?”
“You said I’m fired anyway. Then there’s no reason for me to stand here listening to this, right? I’ll pack my things and go.”
The department head was momentarily speechless, his mouth opening and closing.
Then his face twisted in anger.
“Get out. Now!”
At his shout, she left the meeting room without even a formal bow and began packing her belongings.
A cold tension settled over the office.
The remaining reporters could only watch the department head nervously.
Comments (0)