Episode 26: Shock! GraceOne Acid Attack!
“I can talk to CEO Jung about it, but I can’t make any promises with CEO Kim Yong. He’s still tough for me to deal with,” Team Leader Jeon said, promising to push for adding new members.
I don’t want to pat myself on the back and say my relentless persuasion won him over.
It’s common knowledge, even among casual fans, that more members mean a bigger fandom—an idol group’s basic principle. The “there’s bound to be one you like” or “I didn’t know what you’d want, so I prepared a lot” effect.
Jeon and the company owners surely know this too.
The only reason they’d oppose adding members to Free Sense, a group already cut off from support and facing disbandment, is the risk.
I think Jeon’s change of heart was largely because Seon-yu’s talent stood out.
Jeje Entertainment’s trainee system ranks from A to C based on skills and visuals, and a girl who got a free pass to the A-team purely on looks piqued his interest—too good to pass up for Free Sense.
“What’s her name again?”
“Seo Seon-yu.”
“Seon-yu… I can maybe work something out for her, but I can’t guarantee five members. Going from three to four doesn’t change the budget much, but five is a different story. It’s like reserving one table versus two at a restaurant.”
“How about adding one more chair to the VIP table?”
“You getting too comfortable with me now? The guy who needed permission to use the bathroom is cracking jokes a dog wouldn’t touch?”
“Sorry.”
“Go. Send me photos after the kids’ styling is done.”
“Yes, sir. Take care.”
With the double good news of a new single and potential member additions, I headed to the Free Sense dorm.
Neither was fully confirmed, but the single seemed nearly locked in.
But one worry nagged at me.
How do I find “Woo-ya,” the fifth member from the future video?
Once the single is officially greenlit, production will start right away, so I need to track down this second new member before then.
Meeting Seon-yu on the street was like a martial arts novel-level stroke of luck.
I can’t count on that kind of chance again.
If only I had a small clue, I’d hit the ground running…
Things are moving forward, but my frustration is only growing.
***
The members were ready, waiting outside the dorm.
“Hey, oppa!”
“Why’re you so late?”
“Why’re you out here instead of waiting inside?”
“You said you’d be right here!”
“Hyun-jong-ssi, you’re getting lazy. Stag beetle snap snap guillotine lesson time.”
“Sorry, I was meeting CEO Jung Han-yong at the company.”
Ah-hyun, grumbling, asked with a mix of hope and fear, “Why?”
Once everyone was in the car, I shared the first piece of good news.
“CEO Jung said he’ll give you guys a new single.”
“No way, for real?”
“Like, 90% real.”
“Wow!”
“As expected. Everything’s going according to plan. SSS-tier legend Free Sense. Reverse-run booked.”
The quick feedback lifted their spirits instantly.
Seung-ah was bouncing so much the car practically shook.
I dropped the second piece of news.
“I also told Team Leader about meeting Seon-yu.”
“Really? What’d he say?”
“First, I got scolded for meeting her without reporting it. But he likes Seon-yu.”
“Of course, it’s a dirty world where pretty faces get a free pass…”
Ah-hyun’s jealousy was obvious, but I could tell it was playful, given her good mood.
Seung-ah asked, “So, the new album’s with four members?”
“Not sure yet. I told Team Leader I’d like five members, and he said he’d talk to the company.”
“Why are you so set on five, oppa?”
“Well… five feels more stable than four?”
“But even if PD Jung is okay with it, I don’t think CEO Kim Yong will go for it…”
Seung-ah seemed aware that Kim Yong wasn’t fond of them.
Both Jung and Jeon hinted at it—what’s with Kim Yong’s rush to ditch Free Sense?
Sure, their financial losses are the main reason, but Jung’s earlier tone suggested something more personal.
“Is CEO Kim super strict?” I asked Seung-ah casually as I drove toward the salon.
Her answer was as blunt as I’d feared.
“CEO Kim doesn’t like us.”
“Why not?”
“It’s less about us and more that he doesn’t get along with CEO Jung.”
“Really?”
“When we were first formed, they apparently clashed.”
The story goes that when VIP was established as a label under a parent company, Jung pushed for a girl group, while Kim wanted a boy group.
Jung won, and that’s how Free Sense was born.
But even their initial concept caused a rift—Jung wanted something unique, while Kim pushed for a mainstream approach.
In the end, Jung, as executive producer, got his way.
Back then, Jung Han-yong was a star producer with the Midas touch, so his influence won out.
The result was Halloween Day, their ambitious debut song. But Jung’s stubborn vision led to a string of flops, so from Kim Yong’s perspective, managing the company’s finances, he couldn’t look kindly on Jung or Free Sense.
If Seung-ah’s story is true, it’s a miracle Kim didn’t stab Jung.
Jung only maintained his clout because he contributed to GirlXGirl, the program that birthed GraceOne, and brought them to VIP.
Ah-hyun chimed in, pouting.
“From CEO Kim’s view, he’s finally getting his boy group, so us releasing a new album will just make him dislike us more.”
This is gonna be tougher than I thought.
Hearing the full context, I understood why Team Leader Jeon, who cares deeply for Free Sense, was so cautious.
Jung, who seems optimistic by nature, is already enthusiastic about Free Sense’s new single, which could spark another clash with Kim.
I can only hope Free Sense doesn’t get crushed in their power struggle…
***
“This week’s guests on ‘HotTopicPerson’ are Free Sense, the girl group too futuristic for humanity. Hello!”
“Hello!”
The ‘HotTopicPerson’ interview, a “where are they now” segment, was filmed at their studio.
Fresh from their salon visit yesterday, the members were as excited as if it were a comeback interview.
The ‘HotTopicPerson’ team had shared the questions in advance, and the girls answered smoothly.
Interviewer: It’s been a while since your last album. What have you been up to?
Seung-ah: Mostly practicing in the studio. We haven’t been on TV, but we’ve done some events and a troop morale performance.
Interviewer: Oh, I saw that video—the one where you did a deer impression, Seung-ah.
Seung-ah: Aaaah!
Ah-hyun: Geez, unnie, you scared me!
Interviewer: I wasn’t asking you to do it…
Seung-ah: You were gonna make me anyway.
Interviewer: You’ve got great energy, Seung-ah. You’re the leader, right?
Seung-ah: Yes. We’re a bit hyped since it’s been a while since we’ve done a big broadcast like this, haha.
Interviewer: The hiatus must’ve been tough.
Seung-ah: It was. Our confidence took a hit, and we wondered if we just lacked talent… It was rough.
I’d worried they might freeze up, but as former VIP mainstays who’d done plenty of broadcasts, they handled it with ease, contrary to my concerns.
Topics included the truck driver hospital visit, Jin-ah’s cast art, Ah-hyun’s live hospital performance, and the alumni event aftermath. The interview flowed seamlessly into the reason for their appearance: the viral Halloween Day buzz.
The girls even performed a three-member version of Halloween Day, and, unsurprisingly, Jin-ah’s quirky vibe stole the show, perfectly matching the song’s oddity.
You’d think she was an original member.
Interviewer: Wow, I never thought I’d see this song live—it’s amazing. How’d you feel when you first got this track?
Ah-hyun: Honestly, we liked it. Right, unnie?
Seung-ah: Yeah, it felt fresh compared to what other girl groups were doing.
Jin-ah: I joined later, but it’s my favorite song.
Interviewer: Jin-ah, your speech and personality have a bit of a 4D vibe.
Jin-ah: Yup. I like Soul’s Eye, Pikachu katsu, and stag beetles. I also like short hair, but the company won’t let me cut it.
Here It comes…
As the interview dragged on, Jin-ah’s answers started veering into weird territory.
Especially when the host threw in unscripted questions, her responses shone.
Interviewer: Jin-ah, I heard you’re really good at drawing.
Jin-ah: Yup. I really admire my seniors Beethoven and Leonardo da Vinci.
What? Why are Beethoven and da Vinci your seniors?
Beethoven (1770.12.17–1827.03.26, Germany)
Da Vinci (1452–1519, Italy)
As the interview neared its end, my phone vibrated with a notification for today’s future video.
Why… why did this vibration feel different from usual?
Normally, I’d check it later, but something urged me to look immediately.
When I saw the thumbnail, my heart sank to my stomach.
[Shock! GraceOne Acid Attack!]
Thump, thump, thump!
I quickly put in my AirPods and played the video.
–“Hello, this is ‘AllGirlGroups’. On the 5th, a shocking incident occurred: GraceOne was attacked with acid by a male fan at a fan signing event.
The attack injured all five members and their manager, who suffered burns to their faces and bodies, leading to the event’s cancellation.
The perpetrator, a 32-year-old Kim, a GraceOne fan club member, stated in the police investigation that he acted out of resentment for being excluded from the fan signing.
Currently in Japan, GraceOne is scheduled for a domestic brand fan signing in a week.”
The video, thankfully, included the exact date, location, and the attacker’s position and movements.
His face was blurred, but his clothing and general appearance were identifiable.
I can stop this.
I have to stop this.