Debuting by Riding the Returnee’s Bus Chapter 172

Things had gotten out of hand.

 

‘He might actually get kicked off at this rate.’

 

Even now, it was still escalating.

 

The situation was spiraling beyond anything I could have predicted. What could have ended as a simple incident had stopped being ‘just an incident’ once Grandpa Byeon and the other actors joined the fray. Something that had been nothing more than speculation until now had suddenly surfaced into the open.

 

I’d bet Seo Dong-gwon himself never expected things to go this way. Or rather, there was a high probability he didn’t want it to go this far. Even though he was the one who started this mess….

 

His impulsive behavior was likely nothing more than a venting of frustration. To begin with, Seo Dongkwon wasn’t smart enough to deliberately corner Lee Unha and ruin his career. Resolving his immediate irritation must have been his top priority, and he was likely more focused on appealing to his fans to take his side.

 

In other words, he hadn’t wanted this issue to become public and snowball either. You could tell by the fact that he didn’t explicitly name Lee Unha, but just vented about ‘certain things’ that happened. He probably just wanted to make Unha look bad for a bit and call it a day….

 

‘Well… it’s a total disaster now, isn’t it?’

 

Things had spiraled.

 

‘I think he’s in real trouble.’

 

And it had grown quite massive. An event that could have ended as a simple fandom squabble expanded until it touched upon the seniority culture of the entertainment industry. The crucial point was that people outside the fandom started taking an interest in a story that was previously only talked about within these circles.

 

Even I, watching everything unfold in real time, was stunned. I couldn’t even imagine how panicked he must be. I could already see the communities catching fire. Discussions were spreading even in places completely unrelated to idols, and even in simple humor or hobby forums, talk of [TOP9] and <Fantasia> was everywhere. I even noticed posts that had copied entire threads and comment sections from idol communities.

 

I clicked a link to a post that seemed well-organized, and a dense wall of text filled my vision.

 

[Anon: Summary of [TOP9] Seo Dongkwon’s sniping of <Fantasia> Lee Unha.]

 

[14th] [Zombie] script reading began. I believe this is where they first met. According to Actress Yoo Aran’s SNS, they attended the dinner together after the reading. Lee Unha, who is still a minor, went home earlier than the others.

[Link to article regarding the Zombie script reading]

[Link to Yoo Aran’s personal SNS story photo]

 

[15th] [TOP9] Seo Dongkwon suddenly sniped an idol junior via SNS Live and [GIFT]. Though he didn’t specify who, public opinion among [9S] spread that the junior he was referring to was Lee Unha.

After that, every community started dragging Lee Unha. I remember it being absolute chaos.

News articles also started coming out around then. Honestly, that’s when things really became insane.

All I remember is Lee Unha getting endlessly bashed because people already disliked him over the appearance fee controversy. There were all sorts of calls for him to drop out or explain himself.

[Capture of comments bashing Lee Unha]

[Capture of comments sniping Lee Unha]

[Capture of comments belittling Lee Unha]

 

[16th] And the grand finale: currently, the actors who were present at the script reading on the 14th have simultaneously released interviews defending Lee Unha.

[Link to articles of Actor Byeon Yongseok and others defending Lee Unha]

 

[I know this summary might seem a bit biased, but honestly, I couldn’t write it any other way. Anyone who remembers what people were saying on this board back then will understand where I’m coming from.^^

How you interpret it is up to you, but I trust you aren’t stupid enough to fail to judge who the perpetrator is and who the victim is.]

 

↳ [Anon]: 2222222 I relate to that last sentence so much. The most amazing part is that OP scraped all those comments after filtering them. I really thought everyone had gone collectively insane ㅋㅋㅋㅋCan’t believe it’s come full circle like this.

↳ [Anon]: Separately, I feel so proud seeing the actors dote on Una. I didn’t expect them to step up for himㅠㅠㅠㅠ Especially Byeon Yongseok,, you can see how much he adores him. He gave an interview immediately… ㅠㅠㅠ I already liked him as an actor, but now I love him. So thankful to Kim Jonghoo and Yoo Aran too…

↳ [Anon]: Turns out the problem wasn’t the rude junior—it was the old-fashioned senior ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ. I guess it looked bad even to the other people there. ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

↳ [Anon]: Didn’t [TOP9] always have personality issues? ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ Especially Seo Dongkwon. Wonder if he’s just as strict with himself. It’s not like he’s the kind of junior other seniors are especially fond of.

↳ [Anon]: It’s not just the actors; even the staff gave interviewsㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ Seeing them protect Una with one heart and mind, he must be really loved ㅠㅠㅠ I was worried he was having a hard time on set because of all the hate… I’m so glad things turned out well.

↳ [Anon]: If that one idol senior wasn’t there, the atmosphere would have been much more harmonious ㅋㅋㅋㅋ

↳ [Anon]: What on earth did he do on set for not a single person to take his side…

↳ [Anon]: We still don’t know exactly what happened yet. Is it really okay for everyone to jump to conclusions like this already?

↳ [Anon]: I didn’t see you anywhere when Una was getting hit, and now you show up with comments like this ㅋ You’re so transparent. Transparent ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

↳ [Anon]: If it keeps going like this, it’ll be bad for both sides… I think we need to hear Lee Unha’s side too. I hope he releases a statement soon…

↳ [Anon]: ??

↳ [Anon]: ????

↳ [Anon]: Why should Una have to release a statement?

↳ [Anon]: I don’t know what you want to hear… the statement should come from [TOP9] and [YM].

 

‘Public opinion has completely flipped, hasn’t it?’

 

No, it had gone far beyond simply flipping. It was total chaos, as if everyone was paying back their past karmic debts at once. If even a slightly hostile comment toward Lee Unha appeared, several people would swarm in to shut them down. ‘Hunting them down like rats’ was the perfect description.

 

It almost looked like the entire public had united behind a single opinion.

 

‘This is pretty satisfying to watch.’

 

It wasn’t just these anonymous communities. SNS comments, NewTube comments from troll channels—all public sentiment was joining forces to accelerate the process of turning Seo Dongkwon into a demon.

 

I almost felt bad for him. He became human trash in an instant. Even I was taken aback by how quickly his image had transformed into that of a complete villain. He was being portrayed as the world’s worst senior—someone who had debuted only a few years earlier yet acted like an old-school tyrant who bullied his juniors. It had gotten to the point where NewTube channels known for documenting infamous villains were rushing to feature him.

 

‘Wait, even here?’

 

Conversely, Lee Unha’s stock was rising to its peak.

 

And that wasn’t all….

 

[Anon: The edited video of the [Zombie] script reading is up!]

[Link provided]

 

As if it had all been planned in advance, the script reading video had been uploaded as well. I didn’t know if it was for Lee Unha’s sake or a marketing strategy to capitalize on the current buzz, but the timing was suspicious. They didn’t even edit out the part where Seo Dongkwon and I were exchanging lines.

 

As I played the video as if possessed, I saw Seo Dongkwon stuttering for anyone to see.

 

‘Isn’t this too cruel?’

 

“…….”

 

‘Doesn’t it feel like a public execution?’

 

The comments seemed to be feeling the same way I was.

 

@user-uc8cc3et5: Lee Unha’s acting is chilling. Honestly, when the appearance fee controversy happened, I never imagined he was this good. This is seriously insane…

 

@DKAMDKM112: He was always good at acting. Even in Idol Classism, he was always praised for his expressive power, and directors were sending love calls just based on his MV. I thought he showed everything in Diner, but I guess the public didn’t see it that way. While it’s not a guarantee fee a rookie usually gets, I can understand it. He’s actually at his cheapest right now. I can guarantee that.

 

@user-eodm15qa: I didn’t know he was this good. Why is he an idol? If he quit singing and switched to acting, he’d hit it big. Is the company holding him back?

> ↳ @dqiznt1asd6: He said himself he’s not that interested in acting.

 

@amkmdka59: I’m not just saying this; he doesn’t seem to lag behind the other lead actors at all. I’ve studied acting for a long time, and honestly, watching him is discouraging.

 

@user-zq57vlqmfj: Since when did everyone become an acting expert? Everyone’s acting like a Supreme Court justice of drama.

 

@Hotpink: You don’t have to know anything about acting to see he’s good. Go compare him to Seo Dongkwon’s acting right now. To your eyes, does Unha look like a beginner? To me, he looks like he’s eating the other leads alive. I can’t even imagine how it’ll be in the actual shoot rather than the reading… I’m dying to see it. Seriously.

 

@dqiznt1asd6: Meanwhile, Seo Dongkwon’s acting is absolute trash. I don’t know if it’s because everyone else is a powerhouse actor… but he feels so out of place;;;

 

@damkmk11: Guess he had no time to study acting because he was too busy being a boomer. No wonder Actor Byeon sniped him. If you have time to act like a social media thug, read one more line of the script. Isn’t he just acting out because he lacks the talent?

> ↳ @dqiznt1asd6: As much as Unha looks good, Seo Dongkwon looks terrible…

 

@gateway576: I’m vicariously embarrassed. His acting is seriously bad. ㅋㅋㅋㅋ He can’t even read and memorize properly

 

@akanz: What is he doing, seriously ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

 

@dmkqmzn71: Look at 5:16, what is he doing ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

> ↳ @dqiznt1asd6: Ah, I lost it there ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

 

‘Too cruel….’

 

@user-vnja14akna: It’s a bit weird that they released the script reading video at this timing. Doesn’t this feel like they’re telling him to leave on his own?

 

‘That’s what I’m saying… aren’t they telling him to quit?’

 

“…….”

 

‘Since the contract and everything is getting complicated, aren’t they just telling him to take the hint and get out?’

 

Is it just me, or does it feel like a silent protest? No, to anyone watching, it looked like a silent protest. Or maybe things were happening behind the scenes that I simply didn’t know about. There had to be all kinds of discussions taking place out of sight.

 

Unlike <The World>, which was responding somewhat quietly, I was certain [YM] was in a total state of emergency. Maybe… discussions about his withdrawal were already underway between the Director—no, higher up—and the production company.

 

‘How is the contract structured? his isn’t exactly a major public scandal… Can they really force him off the project over this?’

 

No, even if they couldn’t force him to withdraw voluntarily, there were plenty of ways to make his life miserable. For example….

 

‘Wouldn’t they… change the script?’

 

Just like that.

 

Sure enough….

 

“…….”

 

‘It really changed?’

 

“…….”

 

‘It actually changed.’

 

Right before the shoot…. Without any explanation or notice, I received a script where Seo Dongkwon’s screen time had mysteriously vanished. It felt like they were telling him: stay if you can handle it.

 

Eventually….

 

‘The apology… is up.’

 

A handwritten apology had appeared. It didn’t feel like an apology he wrote himself, but one written by an apology expert within the company.

 

And even worse….

 

‘What? What’s with him? Why the sudden attempt to act close?’

 

There was even a message saying he wanted to meet me in person and apologize.

 

‘I’m getting tired of this. Just leave already. Please, just go. Don’t cling on, just go. Don’t try to pull off some last-minute comeback. Just… leave already. Please…’