God Idol Project: Hope [GIPH]

Chapter 18: Personality Evaluation (2)

As CEO Son Joong-ki was about to move on to the next trainee, the future manager interrupted him. 

"I've heard that trainee Kim Ji-on is living alone, away from his parents. I'm concerned that he might struggle with loneliness or homesickness." 

"You're quite the thoughtful manager. But you don't have to worry. Kim Ji-on doesn't seem to feel any of that," said the head of trainee development, leaving the manager puzzled. Did he mean Kim Ji-on lacked empathy? It was a statement that could easily be misunderstood. 

"What do you mean?" 

"I asked him once if he ever felt lonely living by himself, and he just said, 'Why would I be lonely? I'm independent now.' He didn't seem to understand why I'd even ask. I think it's a cultural difference." 

Maybe it was because he grew up in a country with a strong sense of individualism? 

"That might be a factor, but I think it's more about personal temperament. I have American friends who feel lonely all the time," said one of the staff members sitting nearby. The manager then understood it was more of a personal trait.

"We should be mindful of these differences in thinking. Let's make sure to educate the trainees about things that are sensitive in our culture. One mistake is all it takes for trouble," said the planning director, and a moment of silence followed among the staff.

They couldn't help but recall the recent case of an idol who got in trouble for posting a comment supporting another country on social media. Fortunately, it wasn't a Hanul Entertainment artist, but the issue had just happened a few days ago, so it was still fresh in their minds. 

As the meeting continued and more trainees were discussed, it became clear that additional research and time would be needed to gather all the necessary information. It was important to wrap up today's meeting in order to stay on schedule. 

"Let's discuss the next trainee," someone suggested. 

"Both singing and dancing are above average, and their visuals are appealing. There's no denying that this trainee is a strong candidate. However, based on my experience, they have a quick temper. They struggle to control their anger. Our training is tough, and getting scolded often can be frustrating, but that doesn't justify storming out after yelling." 

"What? That happened?" 

"I debated whether to include this in my report, but I think it's better to mention it. While the trainee did come back and apologize afterward, it's already happened three times." 

"...It seems the pressure to maintain a good image has built up mentally, and they finally snapped." 

"That's likely the case." 

Son Joong-ki frowned deeply. He could foresee the future. As more trainees focused on maintaining their image, it might become increasingly difficult to identify those with genuinely good personalities. 

"It's going to get tougher. With more trainees putting on an act, how can we judge their character when we're only seeing the surface? What can we do if we can't tell the difference?" 

"If no one's noticed, it means they're so thorough that they're acting even in everyday life. At that level, I don't think there's much we can do. But, CEO, in my personal opinion, I wouldn't worry too much. If they're that meticulous, they won't slip up after debut either." 

"...That's true. No need to worry unnecessarily." 

Living an entire life in character wouldn't be easy for anyone, but if someone was that thorough, the chance of getting caught was slim. 

As long as a celebrity's image remained intact, there was no reason to criticize them.

In fact, such dedication could even be admired.

"I checked the attendance records, and this trainee consistently arrived late by a few minutes. They also left immediately after classes ended, except when the debut evaluation was scheduled. Their lack of dedication and urgency suggests they're either overconfident or have lost motivation." 

"Maybe they've grown disillusioned with the idol dream because it's too difficult. They might be scared to quit but no longer committed to it." 

"If they're already acting like this, they won't last. Debuting isn't the end of the road."

One of the trainees was harshly criticized. The sharp feedback made it clear that this trainee was struggling, and they were lucky not to be present to hear it.

The conversation then shifted to the next trainee. 

"Let's move on to trainee Hong Oran." 

"Hong Oran has no major weaknesses in terms of skill, and since they're a hard worker, I think they'll continue to improve." 

"This is the trainee who renewed their contract after getting a nose job, right?" 

"Yes, and the doctor did a great job." 

"Isn't it a bit young to be getting plastic surgery?" 

"Well, if the doctor said it was fine, I guess we have to trust them." 

The company had a hands-off approach to plastic surgery. Suggestions might come later once someone made the debut team, but until then, it was up to the trainee. 

Trainees could get plastic surgery if they got permission, but it usually meant missing a few weeks of training, which would disrupt their progress. Hong Oran had strategically timed it to coincide with the end of his contract, a calculated move.

"You know, I find Hong Oran to have a strong professional mindset. I'm not sure if everyone else noticed, but he seem to treat this like a job. His very good at separating their private life from work." 

"Really? I thought he were a friendly, approachable type." 

"That's just business." 

"Huh?"

"The way he interacts with friends is completely different from how he treats us. I thought it was all part of his image management, but he don't even try to hide it. I asked him directly, and do you know what he said?" 

The staff listened intently as the vocal trainer shared their story, and even Son Joong-ki leaned in with interest. 

"He told me he sees being a trainee as a profession. They're being invested in instead of receiving a salary, so in return, they work hard and treat us, their superiors, respectfully. He said he treats fellow trainees like family because, once they debut, they'll be like family." 

"Wow...." 

"The trainee with the biggest difference between their on-stage and off-stage personas is Hong Oran. With such a business-minded approach, he'll do whatever is asked, even if it's difficult. He'll push through to get the job done, even if it hits him hard later." 

Some staff members were surprised that they hadn't realized Hong Oran's true personality after three years. 

"Hong Oran may be cold by nature, but he's perfectly suited for variety shows. He's quick-witted, and he'll handle whatever task you throw at him. I learned all this by asking him to treat me like a friend. I tried to be objective, but I might've failed...." 

"No, now it makes sense. No wonder there was such a huge gap between the way staff and trainees evaluated his personality." 

Son Joong-ki, who had reviewed the personality evaluation reports, finally understood the discrepancy.

Since personality was a sensitive subject, the evaluations had to be anonymous. But what if someone exploited that anonymity? If only one person gave a conflicting opinion, it would naturally raise suspicions. Evaluators are human, after all, and personal biases can affect their judgment, leading to errors. 

While Hong Oran's personality was often described as cynical, other trainees praised his warmth, calling him a "tsundere." In terms of personality, there was no issue. 

"What about trainee Nam Chorok?" 

"Chorok is quite the social butterfly. He's very friendly and has a kind personality. If I had to rank personalities, he'd be my top choice." 

"You don't seem to know him very well. Oh... uh, please cancel that! Forget I said anything. I'm not used to this kind of setting...."

"What do you mean? Team leader!" 

"Manager, go on with your statement," Son Joong-ki interrupted. He couldn't let the team leader stop mid-sentence in such an important meeting. It's something no Korean can tolerate. 

"CEO...." 

"Go ahead." 

"Well, here goes... While I can't deny Chorok's friendliness and kindness, what if those are also part of a strategy? He's more perceptive and calculating than we think." 

"Any proof?" 

"Remember that trainee who terminated their contract after causing problems? We all know the story, right?" 

Everyone remembered the scandal involving a Hanul trainee who secretly dated a girl, got her pregnant, and quit before the company found out. 


The company only learned of it through rumors later on, and it had been such a shocking story that no one could forget it. Son Joong-ki eyed the team leader, curious where this was going. 

"Well, it was Nam Chorok who handled that situation behind the scenes." 

"...What? How?" 

"When someone's in a relationship, it usually becomes obvious. But no one knew who he was dating—except Nam Chorok. He somehow found out about the pregnancy and saw that the guy was acting as if nothing was wrong, with no intention of taking responsibility. So, Chorok told him to quit, saying he didn't want to be in the same trainee program as someone like him." 

"Wow...." 

"As a CEO, I should thank Nam Chorok." 

If the pregnant girl had been an ordinary student, the company would've had no way of knowing. 

If the situation had come to light after the trainee was exposed, the scandal could have grown into a huge mess. Son Joong-ki shuddered at the thought. 

Even if the trainee had managed to stay until the end of their contract, the costs associated with their training would have been a loss. If the pregnancy scandal had erupted later, it could have been a public relations nightmare. 

"I thought that trainee and Nam Chorok were friends. Wasn't that the case?" 

"Chorok is friendly with many people but doesn't have many real friends. That guy was just an acquaintance. But even if they were close, Chorok would've cut him off." 

"That's shocking. I misjudged him, but I'm glad it wasn't in a negative way." 

One of the staff members muttered, looking like they'd just been hit with a revelation. 

"It's hard to tell. That trainee who terminated their contract came to me afterward, upset, claiming that Nam Chorok had threatened him to leave. Of course, he conveniently left out his own wrongdoing and wanted to come back." 

"What a shameless brat." 

"Since the contract had already been terminated, I told him it wasn't possible. At the time, neither the company nor I knew anything about the pregnancy, so I couldn't ignore what he said. That's when I started keeping an eye on Nam Chorok. After piecing everything together, I finally understood why he did what he did." 

"...This is supposed to be a debut evaluation meeting, but why is it so entertaining?" 

No one looked the least bit drowsy. In fact, their eyes seemed to sparkle with interest. Though the meeting was about the future of the company, it felt more like they were enjoying a bit of inside gossip. Son Joong-ki just hoped this wouldn't become a habit outside of official settings. 

"It's a relief that the rumor about the pregnancy is out now. If we hadn't caught that trash, Nam Chorok could've faced backlash." 

"You know where that rumor started, right?" 

"Don't tell me!" 

"That's all I'm saying." 

"...!" 

Normally, a trainee's misconduct would be reported to the company, and they would handle it. But Nam Chorok didn't take that route. If he had simply reported the issue, the company would have quietly terminated the contract, avoiding any public scandal. But what Nam Chorok did was minimize the company's loss while socially ostracizing the guilty party. 

"Why are there so many untold stories? While Hong Oran's case wasn't a problem, Nam Chorok's situation should have been reported. The company was involved, after all." 

"I apologize, CEO. It seemed like Nam Chorok didn't want to bring attention to it, and I personally didn't think it would affect his evaluation." 

"No, from now on, report everything, no matter how small. I'll be the one to make the final judgment. I'm glad the management team leader brought this up. Now I know who the most suitable leader is." 

"If Chorok is the leader, I'd have no worries at all." 

The staff nodded in agreement, though some were still shocked by what they'd just learned. 

"He's practically an expert in dance and can even choreograph. Plus, he has a great voice. But honestly, I'd put him in the debut group for his character alone." 

"...Anything else?" 

"No, that's all." 

The staff answered in unison. 

"This is the last one. Let's discuss trainee Ham Iwon."