Konnect The Dots

7: Maroo Entertainment

Merriam-Webster Word of the Day:

Obtain (ub-TAYN)

Verb. To gain or attain usually by planned action or effort.

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Everything felt like déjà vu for Daniel. Daniel arrived first at the conference room in Maroo Entertainment together with his legal counsel. The executives arrived five minutes later along with Park Jihoon. The meeting immediately started as soon as the Maroo officials arrived. The only difference was that the meeting was scheduled in the morning.

"Good morning, I am Kim Hyeongcheol, the CEO of Maroo Entertainment. Together with me are Won Geunyeon, director in Maroo; and of course, Park Jihoon."

"Thank you for meeting with us. I am Kang Daniel, CEO of KD Corporation and Konnect Entertainment. I am accompanied by Chae Chinjeol, my legal counsel."

After the series of introductions and a short embrace between Daniel and Jihoon, there was a short silence as, per usual, refreshments were served to all persons involved in the meeting. While everything seemed to be like a replay of the Fantagio negotiation so far, Daniel was expecting curveballs to be thrown along the way. Daniel needed all the luck and negotiation skills needed to have Jihoon — Wanna One's resident visual-rapper and national wink boy — back in their group. After all, if Wanna One was part of the mafia, Daniel was certain Jihoon would be his trusted right-hand man.

"So, what are we going to talk about, Daniel-ssi?" Hyeongcheol started.

"I believe CJ ENM might have tipped your company off regarding my move to transfer Wanna One's trademarks to all members of Wanna One," Daniel said.

"I must admit, yes," Hyeongcheol admitted.

"So, to confirm your suspicions, I am thinking of permanently reuniting Wanna One under Konnect Entertainment," Daniel stated.

"Really, Daniel-hyung?" Jihoon acted like he did not know. He truly deserved all the acting accolades he had worked hard to obtain.

The two executives bought the act, making Geunyeon ask, "And how may Maroo be of service?"

"Simple, Geunyeon-nim and Hyeongcheol-nim. I want to negotiate for Park Jihoon's contract with your agency," Daniel simply answered.

"Which contract are you talking about?" Geunyeon asked for clarification.

"Well, for starters, there is the exclusive contract between Maroo and Jihoon," Daniel did not beat around the bush. "If Jihoon wishes to join the Wanna One's reunion, he needs to sign a contract with my agency, Konnect Entertainment, which will be handling Wanna One's future activities. Your exclusive contract prevents him from doing so at the moment. Thus, I ask your humble office to revise Jihoon's contract into a non-exclusive one."

"But what about his solo and acting careers?" Hyeongcheol asked.

"I beg your pardon?" Daniel was confused.

"Accepting your plea to make Park Jihoon-ssi's contract non-exclusive is an implied agreement to let him join Wanna One. For our part, we are concerned about his solo and acting careers," Hyeongcheol clarified.

"I must admit I cannot promise that his solo and acting careers will remain unaffected. However, if you allow Jihoon to join Wanna One's reunion and activities, our agency will be doing our utmost best to coordinate with your agency regarding Jihoon's schedules," Daniel committed.