Jung Jihoon, The Original Maknae: An H.O.T/Shinhwa Story

Contract Negotiations

January 2003

Eric Mun appeared at Lee Sooman's office for an important meeting. The fact he only called him put Eric in a bit of suspicion.

"Okay ajusshi am I something? Why am I the only person you have called?" Mun blinked.

"Your intelligence proceeds me, Eric Mun. Yes, I have called only you intentionally to discuss the end of your contract." Sooman gestured him to sit down.

"Contracts already ended ajusshi?" Eric's eyes widen in shock.

"Yes, I'm afraid all of your contracts are about to end very soon. When you signed to the label, I gave you five years to promote under this company. You boys did all the time I asked for you to do. Shinhwa has done extremely well despite obstacles, but it is clear the market has entered a slump period. The fact I lost H.O.T and S.E.S is concerning. Aside from BoA, you boys are the only group to keep this company afloat. I hate to admit it, but we are running through a tough time. It's important that Shinhwa remains as a group.

I am offering you an opportunity to renew your contract. Should you renew it you will remain here with all your assets in place. You will continue promoting under the SM umbrella as usual. I am not saying you should accept, you are free to make your choice but do not let this opportunity pass up. You may not get another like this again." Sooman explained.

"A contract renewal?... Gee ajusshi that's a lot to put on me so soon. I may need time to come to a decision. May I ask if the other members received the news?" Eric asked.

"I have not reached to others you are the first ones I have discussed this to. Don't worry I will meet them individually. Just focus on yourself. I expect to hear an answer soon don't take too long. That is all." Sooman replied.

Eric Mun didn't like the news he received. It seemed there was something Sooman wasn't explaining.

"Meet us individually?... I don't know what he's planning. This isn't what I was expecting to hear. Why can't they have us all meet together?" Mun left the office with a lot on his mind.

At the dorm room Mun relayed the news to the others. All of them were surprised.

"Mwo a contract renewal?" Hyesung blinked.

"It's over already like right now already?" Minwoo adds.

"That's what Sooman-nim says. Something about this sounds fishy I can't wrap my head around it. The fact he wants to meet us separately instead of together, I can't help but wonder he's trying to set us up." Mun said.

"That's ridiculous hyung ajusshi could never be like this!! You're overreacting!!" Dongwan said in disbelief.

"This sounds all too farfetched to be believable. What could he hide from all of us?" Junjin wondered.

"Yeah I have to side with hyung. Something's not right about this. What if he's trying to split us apart think about it. Some of us have more fans than others. What if he's only coming after the most popular members?" Andy posed a thought.

"Don't say that! There's no way Sooman-nim would do something like that!!" Jihoon objected.

"You saw how they treated Tony hyung. It was obvious he only wanted you, Heejun, and Kangta to stay. You even said Tony felt disrespected." Andy stated.

"If all of us aren't getting the same contract does that mean one of us will not get the contract?" Minwoo asked.

"It would seem like it. What do we do then?" Junjin asked.

All the boys looked up to Eric for an answer.

"What do we do? Let's wait until you guys get the contract renewal news. If there is one of you who doesn't get an offer then we'll have no choice but to cut ties. Sooman-nim thinks we're naive but I know he doesn't plan on keeping all of us. I value y'all too much to disband. As long as I'm leader I won't leave you out to dry. We stick with this together no questions." Mun nodded.

"I knew you have our best interests." Minwoo chuckled.

"Shinhwa forever!!" Andy proclaimed.

"And we'll never end not even the company can stop us!!" Dongwan adds.

Junjin and Hyesung laughs in amusement, but Jihoon was left conflicted. Should he stay with SM but that would cause the group to break up or should he join the boys and go independent which could result in them losing everything.

Unfortunately, things would only get more difficult when he heard about his mother.

It all started when she was maintaining the house. As she tried to carry on with her work she felt her herself having to catch her breath. She clutched her heart trying to feel its pulse.

"I feel so fatigued. Did I overdo it?" Her body began to sweat as she laid on the floor. Her fingers felt a strange tingling sensation. She felt if she ran an entire marathon. Eventually she struggled to breathe that she collapsed on the ground unconscious.

"Eomma... EOMMA!!!" Hana who was visiting dropped her teacup as she frantically tried to wake her up. In a panic she called emergency.

"EOMMA ISN'T MOVING I NEED HELP I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE DO!! I FOUND HER UNCONSCIOUS AND I'M TRYING EVERYTHING! PLEASE SAVE HER!!" She cried frantically.

Within fifteen minutes the ambulance arrived carrying an unconscious middle-aged woman. She was put under a respiratory mask to help her breath.

"MWO EOMMA IS UNCONSCIOUS!? WHEN DID THIS HAPPENED!?"

"Just forty minutes ago!! We were supposed to cook dinner but I found her on the floor

"Okay I'll be over there just stay with eomma!" Jihoon hung up and made a dash towards the hospital, but this was only the beginning...