Top Star By Luck [EN]: Chapter 77

77. The Entertainment Industry Scandal of the Past

It was an unprecedented scandal, a volatile mix of drugs, sex, and violence that rocked the industry.

The media often referred to it by a single, evocative name:

[Kim Do-ha Scandal]

Entertainer Kim Do-ha was said to be at the center, with the tendrils of the crime spreading outward like a spider’s web, ensnaring many.

[Kim Do-ha travels to Pattaya with celebrity B. After picking up local contacts, he enjoys a week-long secret trip.]

[Kim Do-ha’s KakaoTalk room: what kind of stories were exchanged inside?]

[Parties held every day at K Hotel near Gangnam Station. Many high-ranking officials invited.]

The scandal generated a deafening roar.

While the media revealed a great deal due to the matter’s significance, Lee Min-ki knew that what was public was merely the tip of the iceberg.

‘They said so many celebrities were involved that there was a desperate cover-up attempt.’

Whether they were victims or perpetrators, mere involvement in such a scandalous incident was enough to irreparably tarnish their image.

It was rumored that one victim was deliberately targeted through media manipulation, falsely portrayed as a perpetrator, and ultimately had their career destroyed.

‘They said a fierce lobbying war broke out between management agencies and media companies, all vying to redact even a single letter of their clients’ names.’

There were many shadowy figures operating behind the scenes, pulling strings and influencing events.

Who would have guessed that Daon [likely referring to a powerful entertainment agency or organization] was actively involved behind the scenes?

Lee Min-ki couldn’t even fathom Daon’s involvement.

Kim Do-ha.

How much does JC [presumably Lee Min-ki’s agency or a related entity] know about this?

Do they know that Kim Do-ha is one of their pawns?

Probably not.

If they were aware, they would have quashed such an interview opportunity before it even reached his ears.

But since he’s already here…

Suddenly, an idea sparked in Lee Min-ki’s mind.

‘Maybe I can trace Daon through Kim Do-ha?’

Kim Do-ha was said to have cultivated a network through celebrities who were friendly with him, creating a web of influence and connections.

If he could contact even the edge of that network…

If that were possible…

‘Wouldn’t it be possible to seize Daon’s weakness from this side?’

In the end, it all comes down to evidence.

Lee Min-ki is well aware of the deep-seated problems plaguing the entertainment industry.

The crucial thing is how to prove it.

If he could glean even a small clue through Kim Do-ha, wouldn’t that be a worthwhile endeavor?

‘Even if that’s impossible…’

He was very successful during this period.

Lee Min-ki tapped on his phone, searching for Kim Do-ha’s face.

And soon thought.

‘He seems like a genuinely nice person.’

His kind face and gentle voice are certainly impressive.

Thanks to this affable demeanor, he also possessed excellent hosting skills and was rapidly gaining attention as a next-generation star MC [Master of Ceremonies] in the industry.

‘I don’t need to reject the interview itself for now.’

He’s a big deal.

That’s precisely why JC readily suggested it.

Let’s take what we can get from this opportunity.

The rest can be considered later.

Lee Min-ki nodded, about to rise from his seat.

“Did you get a casting offer?”

Kim Tae-yang, who had already hung up all the laundry in an instant, spoke up.

Oh, shoot.

He had promised to help with the laundry, but he was distracted by the phone call.

“Ah, I had an urgent call. I’m sorry.”

Lee Min-ki, surprised, tried to explain, but Kim Tae-yang shrugged and said.

“You can just carry the groceries when we go grocery shopping later.”

“Ah, yes.”

“So, what’s going on?”

“Well, that’s…”

Lee Min-ki glanced at Kim Tae-yang for a moment before speaking.

Should I tell him?

No, it would be even stranger to hesitate about whether to tell him or not.

It’s just an interview; there’s no need to hide it from a roommate in the same company.

“I got an interview offer from Kim Do-ha.”

That was the moment he revealed the truth.

“Kim Do-ha, Kim Do-ha.”

Kim Tae-yang repeated the name several times, his face somewhat ambiguous.

Then, he stared into the empty air and muttered to himself for a while.

He suddenly spoke.

“He’s a person with a bad reputation.”

“Yes?”

Did he hear something?

Lee Min-ki was slightly surprised by the sudden remark, but Kim Tae-yang continued.

“I majored in Theater and Film.”

“That’s right. Hanyewon.”

Hanyewon isn’t just any Theater and Film department.

It’s considered the cradle of talent in the Korean entertainment industry, a prestigious institution that shapes future stars.

Just being a graduate of Hanyewon is enough to establish a certain level of credibility in the acting industry.

‘I forgot because he doesn’t show off.’

He doesn’t usually flaunt it, so I forgot, but Kim Tae-yang continued.

“I have many close female classmates and juniors, and some of them have been contacted privately by Kim Do-ha.”

“By Kim Do-ha?”

Lee Min-ki widened his eyes in surprise.

If it’s Kim Do-ha’s private contact, isn’t that a red flag?

“Yes, mainly using connections as an excuse, saying he would give them work or introduce them to famous celebrities.”

That’s right.

Was this known through word of mouth?

“I don’t know the details. And also…”

Kim Tae-yang started to say something.

Then, he closed his mouth again.

As if it didn’t even make sense to himself.

“Is there anything else?”

“…This is just a rumor.”

Kim Tae-yang hesitated for a moment, then spoke again, as if he had no choice but to say it since he had already brought it up.

“There was a junior who gave up her dream of becoming an actress after associating with Kim Do-ha personally.”

Suddenly, as those words flowed from Kim Tae-yang’s mouth, Lee Min-ki’s own words seemed to diminish.

Isn’t that exactly what he’s talking about now?

‘Luring them in by promising to help them debut, then exploiting their weaknesses to control them like slaves.’

It was a well-known tactic.

If it’s Kim Do-ha, it’s certainly a possible method.

Kim Tae-yang continued in a seemingly nonchalant voice.

“Well, I’m just saying. There are so many people who quit in the middle in this industry. Kim Do-ha is famous for being a nice person, and there’s no one without rumors behind their back, right?”

Unfortunately, that rumor was likely accurate.

Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.

Lee Min-ki blinked his eyes, and Kim Tae-yang continued.

“If he’s really a problematic person, it will explode soon. But it’s still quiet, so maybe he’s a good person.”

Accurate.

That problem will explode soon.

“He might be a good person when you actually meet him, like Min-ki was at the academy.”

“Um, well, right?”

Lee Min-ki soon pouted and decided to let the words flow.

He didn’t intend to continue gossiping deeply.

Of course, it’s true that he’s a bad person, but at this point, there’s no real evidence.

“You have to meet them all to know the details. Words are so easily distorted.”

“Yes, Min-ki is right.”

Kim Tae-yang also nodded as if he thought the same way and said.

“People are like onions.”

“Onions?”

“You have to peel them to know. Let’s focus on onions for dinner tonight.”

The connection is strange.

* * *

Kim Do-ha.

The most well-connected person among the actors who have recently gained recognition in Korea.

No, the most well-connected person among entertainers, beyond just actors.

His defining characteristic is…

“Oh, hyung [older brother/male friend] is here?”

“Kim Do-ha, that rude bastard, tries to hog all the good spots for himself.”

“Haha, hyung, calm down. I’ll hook you up with a hot girl today.”

He loves to play and party.

He did so before his debut, and even more so after achieving fame.

Since his college days, he has always been unrivaled in creating exciting and exclusive social gatherings.

After his debut, only the participants changed, from ordinary people to celebrities.

No, even high-ranking members of society were mixed in.

‘The vibe isn’t great tonight.’

Kim Do-ha slowly scanned his surroundings as he sat down.

Perhaps because he had been at the center of the entertainment scene for so long, his senses were thoroughly desensitized to ordinary stimulation.

Any stimulating entertainment in this world becomes familiar over time.

Even steak gets boring if you eat it every day.

That’s why Kim Do-ha was always searching for new and exciting experiences.

‘Let’s keep her in mind for now. Find out her contact information.’

He was quickly planning out his strategy for the night in his mind.

“Oppa [term used by younger women to address older men they are close to].”

A cloying word flowed into Kim Do-ha’s ear.

“Does oppa really know all the celebrities?”

“Hey, would I lie? Whether it’s a ten-million-viewer actor, a Hallyu [Korean Wave] star, or the head of an agency, they’re all my brothers.”

A man was sitting next to a woman, boasting.

The man’s name was Lee Heul.

He was a second-tier member of the once-popular idol group [Lava].

Even though he belonged to a shining group, he didn’t receive shining benefits because he lacked the talent and charisma.

Lee Heul was overshadowed, like a firefly in front of the sun.

He was desperately trying to inflate his self-esteem in front of the woman, having finally found a place for himself in the entertainment world, even if it wasn’t within the group.

‘What a pathetic bastard.’

Kim Do-ha sneered inwardly.

There are too many like him in this industry.

There are many people who have simply filled the time, but haven’t developed a career that suits them.

Lee Heul was a prime example.

“Hmm, I don’t believe it.”

“You really look down on people. How many years have I been rolling around in this industry?”

Lee Heul was engaging in a classic push-and-pull dynamic with the woman in the corner of the room.

“Oppa then…”

Finally, one person’s name was mentioned.

“Do you know Lee Min-ki too?”

“Lee Min-ki?”

“Yeah, the one who’s famous for the coffee commercials these days.”

It was Lee Min-ki.

As she said, he was the most talked-about male rookie actor at the moment.

The moment Lee Min-ki’s name was spoken, deep wrinkles formed on Lee Heul’s forehead.

“Hey, that kind of guy is nothing.”

“Huh? Do you know Lee Min-ki?”

“Famous is bullshit. He’s just a flash in the pan. He’s just lucky and selling for a while; there are a lot of kids like that. They’ll all be forgotten over time.”

At that moment, Kim Do-ha almost burst out laughing at the vulgar and jealous words.

‘That bastard has never even experienced that level of success.’

But anyway, as long as Lee Heul is part of the same group and has a use, he can’t say anything.

Even though he is a washed-up idol, he is still a member of the group he manages directly.

If he keeps him around, he will be useful in some way someday.

Kim Do-ha quickly suppressed his sneer before his true feelings were revealed.

Even in the meantime, Lee Heul continued to boast steadily.

“Then can you introduce me to Lee Min-ki too?”

“I can, but hey, do you really want to meet that kind of guy? I’m here.”

“I’m curious about oppa’s ability.”

“…Ha, this is cheeky.”

Lee Heul retreats like that because he knows it himself.

His mouth is grand, but he can’t actually introduce Lee Min-ki.

But…

The person who can do that is right here.

“Hey, Do-ha.”

It was Kim Do-ha.

Lee Heul winked at him and said.

“Come to think of it, aren’t you going to shoot an interview with Lee Min-ki soon?”

“I’m shooting it.”

“Bring him once. She doesn’t believe me.”

This time, I couldn’t hold back my laughter.

Is he going to bring an unverified rookie to the gambling scene just to impress an ordinary woman?

“Hyung, should I?”

But, he was considering it.

Before Lee Heul even finished speaking, he brought it up.

‘There was a request recently.’

There was a request from Daon’s CEO Hwang In-gu.

He asked if he could become friendly with Lee Min-ki.

[Hey, Do-ha, you can quickly become brothers with people, right? Can you do that with Lee Min-ki too?]

[Are you talking about Lee Min-ki, that rookie actor?]

[Yeah, that guy.]

[Is there any reason?]

[Do-ha, were we in a relationship that needed detailed reasons?]

[I’m just curious.]

[Our Do-ha is very smart. He’s also curious. He’s also handsome. There’s a reason why he’s so popular.]

[I…]

[But do you know that people who have been curious since ancient times have died young?]

[…I will.]

It’s a request, but it’s essentially an order.

Moreover, it’s ridiculous that simply getting close is an instruction, not something more substantial.

‘It’s like a mother telling her neighborhood kids to get along with each other.’

The intention is obvious.

He’s trying to introduce him to the darker side of the industry, to corrupt him.

Once you have them in your hands, it’s easy to use them later when you need them.

It was CEO Hwang In-gu’s dirty hobby.

He wanted to have a weakness in his hands for every celebrity.

Whether it’s a scandal or a tax issue.

If not, it’s a woman.

CEO Hwang In-gu seemed to believe that he could control the other person with a weakness, and that constituted a relationship of trust.

Kim Do-ha was no exception.

‘What a creepy bastard.’

It’s not a good feeling to be someone else’s chess piece.

It’s not a subcontractor.

Well, this side also has the other side’s weaknesses, so it’s not the time to criticize others.

Anyway, Kim Do-ha has received so much from Daon so far, so it’s true that it’s difficult to completely ignore it.

Later, I don’t know, but this time I was going to play along with CEO Hwang In-gu’s game.

‘It doesn’t seem that difficult.’

As far as he knew, there were few celebrities who genuinely disliked women.

It doesn’t matter what kind of person Lee Min-ki is.

No matter how noble they pretend to be on the outside, once they experience the allure, they quickly become addicted.

‘Yes, like that bastard.’

Kim Do-ha smiled faintly as he watched Lee Heul pour white powder into his alcohol.

‘The more diligently they lived, the more quickly they fall into the game because they don’t know the stimulation well.’

Did he see one or two guys?

In addition, Lee Min-ki is a little better.

Not only is he diligent, but he also has the skills.

If you cultivate a successful person in the younger generation, you can benefit each other for a long time, so it is a good investment.

Weakness.

Well, it wouldn’t be bad to have a leash on a successful rookie actor.

“Good. I’ll bring him along.”

Kim Do-ha said that and got up from his seat.

Seeing him, Lee Heul was surprised and said.

“Hey, are you leaving already?”

“I have a shoot in the morning.”

“Tsk, you’re a model citizen. If you live only for work, you won’t have the physical strength to play later. You.”

It’s different from you, who can’t work even if you want to, so you’re just playing.

I hope you don’t mistake me for being on the same level just because we occasionally play together.

Kim Do-ha repeatedly suppressed the thoughts that were simmering in his heart and said with his unique, kind smile.

“Haha, I can’t beat hyung. I’m learning a lot today.”

“See? Kim Do-ha is that stupid.”

“…”

I changed my mind.

I’m going to cut that washed-up bastard loose soon.