Episode 30: A Scandal Rewritten
Morning in Seoul — Unspoken Tension
Seon stared out the window of their new shared apartment. The skyline buzzed with calm noise—horns, pigeons, neon ads. But inside, a storm was brewing.
On the table in front of him: a manila envelope.
Inside: medical documents, forged contracts, and an old hard drive labeled "Yoo Confession."
Jaewon entered quietly, coffee in hand. "You've been up since 4 again."
Seon didn't respond. He held up the hard drive instead. "This has everything. But if we release it, there's no going back."
Jaewon set the mug down. "Then we don't go back."
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Flashback — The First Warning
Two years ago.
Director Yoo had pulled Seon aside in the dark corridor after a recording session.
"You think fans love you? They love the lie. You're the product. I'm the brand."
He handed Seon a pill. "Take it. Smile. Sing. Repeat."
Seon never forgot the cold sweat.
But today, he had the antidote.
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Midday Strategy Meeting — The Team Gathers
AX1 sat around the living room, each holding a copy of the document dump.
Minho flipped through a page. "This shows he faked contracts. Even altered age records."
Jun added, "There's audio of him threatening trainees. Some of them were minors."
Seo-jin's voice trembled. "If we release this, it'll destroy him. And probably a few others."
Seon said, "Then we make it count. We do it legally. Publicly. Transparently."
Jaewon: "And emotionally. Because fans deserve the truth. And idols deserve freedom."
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Filming the Confession — A Visual Manifesto
They hired an independent journalist—an ex-idol turned activist—to document everything.
Interview lighting. No filters. No stylist.
Seon sat alone on camera.
"I was 16 when I joined Orion," he began. "I signed a contract that said 'until further notice.'"
The camera zoomed slowly.
"I thought I owed them everything. But what they took? That was mine."
Footage flashed:
Hidden cameras in dorms.
Audio of Director Yoo shouting.
The infamous incident backstage where Seon fainted and was told to 'drink sugar water and smile.'
"Today," Seon whispered, "we reclaim the story."
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The Drop — Online Release
A 50-minute documentary. Title: "The Cost of Silence: The Real Story of AX1."
Seon tweeted: "We're not perfect. But we're real. #IdolRights #AX1Truth"
In one hour: 5 million views.
In three: trending worldwide.
In six: news outlets broadcast segments.
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Fallout — Industry Collapse
Other idols stepped forward.
A girl group member shared her story. A former trainee leaked NDAs. A parent of a teen idol filed a lawsuit.
The Ministry of Culture issued an investigation. Talk of a new law: the "Seon Act" — protecting minors and whistleblowers in entertainment.
Director Yoo was arrested within 48 hours.
The footage was clear. The money trails real.
And the public? Furious.
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Backlash — But Also Love
Some fans unfollowed. Accused Seon of overreacting. But most stayed.
One tweet read:
> "They danced for us while hurting. We owe them more than cheers. We owe them justice."
Seon cried reading it.
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Fan Project — "Letters for Seon"
Thousands of handwritten letters arrived. Some just said: "You survived." Others: "Thank you for teaching my son boundaries."
They made a collage. Pasted across the AX1 dance studio wall.
A rainbow of pain, healing, and hope.
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Night Before the Interview — Alone Together
AX1 was invited to appear on The People's Hour — Korea's highest-rated talk show.
Seon sat outside on the dorm rooftop. Jaewon joined him, holding two cans of grape soda.
"You okay?"
Seon nodded. "Just… wondering if I still love the stage, or if I only loved you on it."
Jaewon looked at him. "Why not both?"
He leaned in. A kiss. Slow. Solid. Like they had all the time in the world.
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Live Broadcast — One Last Question
The host asked, "If you had the chance to do it all over again… would you still debut?"
Seon smiled.
"Only if it meant meeting these four boys. And falling in love. Twice."
Jaewon reached for his hand.
"And this time, we won't hide."
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Ending Scene — New Era Begins
The final shot:
AX1 rehearsing in a community center with mirrors that weren't broken.
New tra
inees watching, not afraid.
A new company forming.
A nameplate on the door: "VOX Entertainment. Founded by AX1."
Seon in the center, laughing.
Free.
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To be continued…