181 – Peony: A New Beginning (1)
“Luxury…”
A rapidly developing economy.
Increased cultural status.
Korea’s rapid growth seems to be causing stretch marks.
Negative aspects gradually emerged one by one.
One of them was the consumption rate of luxury goods.
[Morgan Stanley ‘Korea ranks first in the world in luxury goods consumption rate per capita]
What is the reason for the rapid increase in people’s consumption of luxury goods?
There are many requirements that can be added.
2020S.
The emergence of new luxury products amid the diversification of luxury houses.
Open run phenomenon and excessive price rise.
Resale culture that takes advantage of the scarcity of luxury goods.
However, I think the fundamental reason is the characteristic of luxury goods themselves.
It provides satisfaction from a psychological aspect rather than functional practicality.
An Asian culture that lives in a collective society called ‘we’ rather than an individual ‘I’.
Among them, Korea has a particularly small land area.
Members of society cannot help but notice what others think.
Acceleration of simultaneously fetishistic and vanity tendencies.
In the meantime, famous celebrities who are decorated with various images and easily admired by others are promoted as ambassadors.
In Korea, where we represent ourselves as seen by others, it may have been inevitable that we would rank first in luxury goods consumption.
But I didn’t want to jump on the bandwagon, saying it had already happened.
I don’t want to see my elementary or middle school fans begging their parents to buy them luxury goods.
But.
─But we still have to do it… Right?
─Why? Do not want to do it?
─No, I have to…
I couldn’t say no to it.
Team leader, you would consider it if I said I was against it, but as a member of the company, I also have to consider the company.
Becoming an ambassador for a luxury brand had great meaning.
In fact, there was not much to gain from the contract itself.
At best, you only get a small down payment and sponsorship and vouchers from Cartier.
It is possible that Lira received a huge contract amount because she was a world star.
It was a situation that had nothing to do with me.
But still, the reason why I had to sign an ambassador contract was clear.
This in itself has a large ripple effect.
The brand image of being a luxury brand ambassador was able to raise my value to the next level just by signing a contract.
Because other advertising companies also reflect what the celebrity is advertising.
If it’s a high-end line like Cartier, there’s no need to talk more about it.
Of course, even without this contract, my ransom would have continued to trend upward.
‘Because it’s me.’
But this was not simply a problem limited to me and the company.
It also affected the members of our team who will debut together.
If I receive it, the value of the members goes up together.
I have to open the door for my sisters to naturally sign contracts.
─This time, let’s just do the Cartier Ambassador. There is also image consumption. I will accept fashion and beauty brands the next time I come to a good place. Got it?
─Yes, I will.
─Yes, you are amazing, Dohee.
So, what can I say with the bare minimum of conscience?
I rejected several so-called new luxury brands and only accepted Cartier, a high-class line.
‘It’s sad…’
I walked to the front entrance of the office building and looked up at the sky as rain showers fell one by one.
And I thought about it self-deprecatingly.
“It’s not the clothes that are important… It’s the people that are important…”
You can tell just by looking at my clothes.
It’s just baggy school gym clothes and loose slippers that are one size larger.
You can’t hide this luxury and classy inner side.
“Wow, what is he doing?”
“Well?”
Kim Seo-yoon doesn’t know.
I feel the agony of having to be advertised as a luxury brand because of my innate sense of luxury.
“It’s sad…”
“Ah, why do you keep getting so upset?”
“What did you talk about with the team leader?”
I looked at Seo-yoon Kim once, shook her head, and made her sigh.
“Oh, really. He did that on purpose again.”
“That tidbit is cute. Sister, take a look at it.”
“Do you think it’s cute that he’s been like that for 6 years?”
“Why, you’re a baby.”
“He’s over 5 centimeters taller than me. What is it?”
“You’re smaller than me?”
‘Okay, what does Kim Seo-yoon know? Cartier, you have to endure it.’
“Dohee, you should use an umbrella. Are you going to catch a cold if you do so?”
“Yes.”
Yes, like a better sister, she is kind and takes care of people first.
What’s on the inside, the person, is what’s important.
“Hey, do you have any chiyo?”
“Yes, yes, there is…!”
“Chiyo, come and put an umbrella over me.”
“Yes, yes, I understand…!”
“Put it on properly. Your shoulders won’t get wet!”
“Nenen…!”
What’s on the inside, the person, is what’s important.
* * *
[Seoyoon: Ah, Lee Do-hee’s way of speaking is so annoying these days]
[Seoyun: If I do anything, Cartier puts up with this]
[Seoyun: To be honest, it’s more annoying because it’s funny lol]
[Chaerin: Phew, I’m glad you’re not next to me]
[Chaerin: You were my roommate like you were with Save, wow]
[Harang Unni: hahahaha Gong Chae-rin is so f*cking awesome]
[Yeeun: LOL]
[Our youngest♡: @Yeeun is it funny?]
[Yeeun: (Crying duck emoticon) Why do you always do this to me…]
[Our youngest♡: Huh… Cartier, you hold back]
[Our youngest♡: Okay, okay]
[Hana Unni: hahahaha, I’m so excited]
[Seoyoon: It’s like that all the time]
[Seoyoon: What happened earlier? Isn’t this happening with Jaehyun Lee Do-hee and Cartier Let’s go?]
[Harang Unni: hahahaha Dora White Ga]
[Yeeun: (dog emoticon smiling while looking at you)]
‘I too…’
I wanted to attend a fashion week with the same brand and take pictures together.
I wanted to sit next to you and have a chat after a long time.
I wanted to hold hands and attend the after party together, eat finger food, and have a simple chat.
[Sera: Congratulations…]
As Sarah watched her chat room, she felt sad.
“Guys, practice time~”
Hana, who had been chatting just now, stood up from her seat.
“Se-ra, she said she’s practicing…!”
“Yes…”
Sarah clung to the shoulders of Yeeun, her new youngest child.
She wiped away her tears as she dragged herself to the practice room.
* * *
A few weeks later, the news of Dohee’s selection as an ambassador was made public, and the Kpop community was quickly filled with stories about Dohee.
[Former Saben Lee Do-hee, new face of Cartier (official)]
─(Photo)
=Photo provided by Cartier
Former Save member Lee Do-hee joined Cartier Ambassador and became the new face of the Panther de Cartier campaign.
“Cartier provides a bigger voice by mixing culture, music and art projects, style and social expression, and only Cartier can convey such expression,” He said, explaining the reason for selecting Lee Do-hee.
-Wow, suddenly? Well done, Dohee
-I just film commercials without stopping.
-Wow, they do Cartier…
-Have you never taken a pictorial with Cartier?
└I guess it has really grown recently.
└ㅇㅇThe reactions of foreign singers were crazy. If you look at the YouTube video of the performance, there are a lot of comments.
-It’s amazing, really.
-Cartier lineup Lyra Jaehyun Dohee ㄷㄷ
-Dorahee wears Cartier?
└Uh-huh, don’t use that nickname.
└Yeah, you’re Dohee when you’re doing your day job hahahaha.
[Cartier originally used it as a pianist ambassador]
[W Korea Lee Do-hee Cartier pictorial preview video]
And then, as if there was competition, news of Sarah’s ambassador came up one after another.
[Former Saven member Eun Sera selected as Givenchy ambassador]
Of course, such news could not help but be welcomed by Saben fans.
─If Dohee does something, Sarah still follows along hahahaha.
└ㅋㅋㅋ Our roommates are matched ㅠ
─ Even though they disbanded not long ago, she seems to be working hard in her own position, which is great.
─Seeing as the stories are coming out one by one, I wonder if they will start filming the broadcast again soon.
However, these topics are only mentioned to some extent in large communities.
It was not shocking news that would become a hot topic even for the general public.
Such news was made public through JS’ official announcement a week later.
[Kwon Ha-na˙Park Ye-eun’s thoughts on joining the JS division via SNS (MD video)]
[The 2nd Saben, in JS… Eun Se-ra, Kwon Hana, and Park Ye-eun]
[Park Ye-eun from Seven, profile disappears from her existing agency website]
[Do you recommend strong loyalty with Pudding Entertainment, what is the cost of the JS label deal?]
* * *
Hana’s transfer was confirmed not long ago.
It is said that the president of her existing agency sent her Hana sister first.
Of course, I would have received a lot of money.
Thanks to this, Harang is whining in the Saven group chat room.
[Unni Harang: Why are I and Chaerin alone?]
[Unni Harang: Hey, Gong Chae-rin, do you want to join me too?]
[Chaerin: No?]
[Chaerin: I really don’t like it]
[Harang Unni: Momsang…]
[Me: Are you coming to Top East?]
[Seoyun unni: Are you coming?]
[Unni Chaerin: Let’s go hahahaha]
[Unni Harang: Don’t make fun of me… It’s sad…]
Anyway, the fact that an official article came out from JS means that preparations for the girl group’s debut have begun in earnest.
And it was the same for us Top East.
“Guys, are you here?”
CEO Widong Kim waving his hand as he entered the conference room.
We all bowed together and greeted each other politely.
“Hello, CEO!”
“So, is practice going well these days?”
I feel like I’m dying.
From noble mtl dot com
“Yes, CEO!”
Stop exercising.
I lost 3 kilos.
What if I lose my heart like this…
“Dohee, doesn’t it have an expression?”
“No…”
“It’s not true, right? If you’re having a hard time, tell someone.”
“Yes…”
“Sohyeon, are you having all of them receive psychological counseling?”
“Yes, I receive it once a month.”
“Okay, okay, good job. Oh, kids, don’t stand. Sit down first.”
The momentarily chaotic atmosphere was settled, and the CEO opened his mouth again.
“Director Jeong, tell me now.”
“Moving? Team leader, have you moved?”
“Oh, you didn’t know? Sohyun will now step down from her position as A&R team leader and take full charge of your production as a director and producer.”
“Really?”
“Wow, awesome.”
“I didn’t know.”
Team leader Sohyun nodded.
“Yes, from now on, as the director, I will only take full care of you.”
Although Team Leader Sohyun did not change her expression easily, she seemed to be in a good mood as she smiled brightly.
“Everyone was expecting it, right?”
Probably the reason why the team leader is in a good mood.
Rather than becoming a producer or director.
“I waited for such a long time without even hearing the group name. Thank you for your hard work.”
I thought it was because they could tell us about our debut and congratulate us.