Assistant Manager Kim Hates Idols

I took a deep breath and reread the post in front of me.  

 

Nothing had changed. It was exactly as I’d read the first time.

 

Exemption from group activities, special treatment despite not meeting the criteria, terrible personality…

 

I could guess why the controversy over the study hall started. My academic ranking wasn’t incredibly high.

 

However, our school’s study hall admission system considered both internal exams and mock exam scores.

 

So, the author of this post either didn’t know my mock exam ranking within the school or deliberately ignored it to fit their narrative.

 

The reason I hadn’t gone on school trips or retreats was simple: I couldn’t afford the costs.

 

Instead, I followed the school’s instructions and attended the self-study sessions. I definitely didn’t stay home relaxing while everyone else was on extracurricular activities.

 

My family wasn’t that well-off either.

 

Besides, even if my family had been well-off, what good would it do to me? I didn’t get any of the money. Just look at how I couldn’t even afford to go on the school trips.

 

The part about not greeting my classmates… that was somewhat true. But I always participated when they needed players for soccer or when they were assigning cleaning duties.

 

Since the post included a photo of our graduation album as proof, it gained a certain level of credibility. As a result, a lot of people already spread it across the internet.

 

The half-truths, through comments and retweets, became distorted and over-interpreted.

 

≫ Summary of IDC’s cast member kiw’s controversy

  

And finally, it had reached this point.

 

The comments and related posts were just as bad.

 

≫ Did you see the summary of Kim Iwol’s controversy?  

 

This is illogical beyond belief

 

If solo variety show appearances are considered preferential treatment, then how do you explain Choi Jeho appearing in a music video before his debut?

 

≫ Just like how he got special treatment in school, now he’s pulling the same stunts in UA

 

└ Proves the saying ‘Old habits die hard’

 

≫ Meanwhile, ‘certain’ fans still shielding him…

 

Just as expectedㅋㅋㅋㅋ

 

≫ Honestly, Parthe’s fandom has held back a lot so far

 

I thought it was only a matter of time before this exploded

 

└ Right… We just kept quiet because we didn’t want any unnecessary drama on programs featuring our boys, even though he was being openly disrespectful.

 

≫ Wasn’t his image supposed to be sociable and diligent?

 

This is a bit shocking

 

└ No idol would honestly show their true self; it’s all for image

 

└ People ignore all the praise from PDs and members and only believe these so-called schoolmates ㅋㅋㅋ

 

≫ Isn’t this a case of a rolling stone kicking out the stone that has been set?

 

If I were Jeong Seongbin, I’d be incredibly resentful. 

 

What’s the point of being a leader if the company and the members treat you like a puppet?

 

(TL note: ‘A rolling stone kicking out the stone that has been set’ is a Korean idiom. It means a newcomer completely taking over the power/authority without much effort.)

 

≫ But isn’t receiving special treatment in school a serious issue???

 

Who knows if he also had his student record embellished?

 

└ Seems like a fair suspicion.

 

└ Exactly… As a current high school senior, just hearing about this is infuriating.

 

≫ The womanizer thing is seriously disappointing

 

└ Another low point for humanity

 

└ What’s this about being a womanizer? This is the first I’ve heard of it

 

└ He intentionally loiters near places where only women are present, trying to get their attention

 

└ Even the people who were actually there acknowledged from the start that Iwol was just picking up trash. It’s written in the original post. I’ll attach the PDF.

 

I could tolerate other things, but I couldn’t stand the claim about mistreating staff. Just hearing the word ‘xx abuse’ made me feel sick.

 

“Ha…”

 

As angry as I was, I needed to stay calm. Now wasn’t the time to think about Manager Nam’s tyranny or anything else.

 

“How am I going to resolve this?”

 

I’d been forced to write apology letters before, but I had no experience with public statements, so my head hurt. The sun rose in the distance, indifferent to my plight.

 

***

 

The first thing I did as soon as my morning alarm went off was wake up the members.

 

I sat them down at the living room table, handed them each a piece of bread, and asked. 

 

“Do you guys think I treat Seongbin like a puppet leader, play politics within the group, and monopolize speaking rights by cleverly silencing everyone else?”

 

“….What?”

 

Kang Kiyeon asked back with a look as if I’d lost my mind.

 

“Speak freely. This is important.”

 

“Hyung, did something happen?”

 

Jeong Seongbin asked, his voice full of concern. These guys never answered properly when I asked a question.

 

I sighed softly and replied.

 

“Yeah. There’s a controversy about my personality.”

 

“What?!”

 

Lee Cheonghyeon jumped up from his seat.

 

“Why? Is it because you tattled on PD Yoo?”

 

“That, and some other things.”

 

“Did they find out you scolded us and told us to keep smiling even when our limbs were trembling…?”

 

“Our Joowoo, it seems my words really stuck with you, huh?”

 

“Is it the controversy about you forcing us to buy those heat packs on that home shopping channel?”

 

“I paid for those with the company card. Plus, there were quantity limits. Besides, in the first place, I bought them for you and Kiyeon to use, Choi Jeho… Wait a minute. Is my personality really the problem?”

 

“What are you saying? Get a grip, hyung!”

 

Lee Cheonghyeon grabbed my shoulders and shook me.

 

I’m sorry. I’m a bit easily swayed.

 

“….Is it serious?”

 

Kang Kiyeon, who had been listening quietly, spoke up.

 

“Don’t worry, I’ll take care of it. But if there really is something wrong with me, it’s not a matter of defending myself—I need to fix it. That’s why I’m asking.”

 

“…”

 

“Alright then, I’ll take it that no one has complaints. I’m heading to work first. Take your time.”

 

“Huh? Let’s go together!”

 

Jeong Seongbin jumped to his feet.

 

I’m sorry, but I don’t have time to wait for you guys. The UA staff must be so worried.

 

I told them to finish eating and left the dorm first.

 

***

 

The atmosphere at UA was as serious as I had expected.

 

However, no one immediately grabbed me by the collar or reprimanded me.

 

That was probably because I looked like the biggest mess in the world after pushing through the crowd of sasaengs camped outside the dorm.

 

Honestly, it was really tough. Coming to work while hearing things like, ‘Iwol, do you like women that much?’ or ’XX, stop causing trouble and get lost!’ wasn’t easy.

 

My manager got scolded for not picking me up. After explaining that I left early on my own, the blame on the manager ended there.

 

I explained in detail to Mr. Min Jukyung and the CEO that none of the accusations were true. The student record I brought from the local PC cafe helped a lot.

 

It also helped that the company already knew that my parents weren’t close enough to me to exert influence on my school.

 

I was prepared to bare my back if they didn’t believe me, but thankfully, they believed me easily.

 

“Still, I deeply apologize for creating a situation where such rumors could arise. I’ll take responsibility and resolve this.”

 

“No, Iwol. It’s better to handle this through the company.”

 

That made sense. Statements issued by the company would be more carefully crafted.

 

But…

 

“I’m just worried about the emotional toll on the fans. I think it’s only right for me to explain directly to them.”

 

I promised that I wouldn’t make any rash statements and would consult with the company beforehand if necessary, then left the meeting room.

 

Once I confirmed there was no one around, I summoned the system.

 

‘Just lend me one more work tool.’

 

+

 

[SYSTEM] Work instructions from ‘Superior’ have arrived.

 

▶ Didn’t you request equipment not long ago? You need something else already?

 

+

 

This is your fault for fueling baseless hate. If you want to see me succeed as an idol, cooperate a little.

 

I requested my CSAT score report and mock exam score reports from the system.

 

Then, I diligently printed out the messages I exchanged with the staff using the company copier and quietly returned to the practice room.

 

***

 

“What did the CEO say?”

 

“The company will contact IDC.”

 

“No, about the clarification.”

 

“I’m taking care of that.”

 

Choi Jeho shrugged at my answer. He looked like he had something to say but decided it wasn’t necessary.

 

After that, we just focus on practice. Thankfully, everyone concentrated well.

 

At least until my phone vibrated.

 

“…Isn’t that a phone ringing?”

 

“Sorry, it’s mine. They said I might need to be contacted urgently, so they told me to keep it with me until this is resolved.”

 

I excused myself and checked my phone.

 

It was Yoo Hansoo.

 

Of course. I was wondering why you’d been so quiet lately.

 

“Guys, I need to take this call.”

 

From behind, Kang Kiyeon asked who it was.

 

I didn’t answer and simply left the practice room.

 

“Hello.”

 

─ Oh, Iwol.

 

The voice on the other end was incredibly friendly.

 

I could feel it even without seeing him. Yoo Hansoo’s face was probably lit up with a huge grin.

 

─ I heard you’re in big trouble?

 

Not even ‘You’re screwed’—such a mild expression. He seemed to be thinking clearly enough to consider the possibility I might be recording this call.

 

To meet his expectations, I pressed the record button and silently listened to what Yoo Hansoo had to say.

 

─ I told you to be careful with people. This industry is small. You’ve been debuted for less than a year, and you’ve already gotten on people’s bad side. How are you going to manage?

 

Sure, I should be careful with people, but what am I supposed to do when the system is the one causing the trouble? Does the system even understand human languange?

 

I desperately wanted to request an IP trace of some of the posts.

 

But it would be useless. Even if I reported it, these things took time. It would take several weeks for the complaint to be filed and the investigation to begin.

 

The public, on the other hand, didn’t wait. Even now, posts demanding my removal were appearing on IDC’s bulletin board.

 

Yoo Hansoo likely understood this dynamic all too well. That was probably why he took this opportunity to stick his spoon into the pot.

 

In other words, he was currently in a position of complete power.

 

If I were to expose his harassment now, I’d just end up being an idol countering harassment accusations with claims of being a victim of harassment.

 

─ Don’t get too discouraged, Iwol.

 

Yoo Hansoo said kindly.

 

─ This is how you learn.

 

Ha.

 

I might as well have a huge fight with this guy and plaster my picture all over the front page of the entertainment news tomorrow morning…