The Mysterious Art Museum

Chapter 159 (1) - The Mysterious Art Museum

《W Tree Group announces the opening of Ban Jeong-hoon's solo exhibition starting March 1st》

《The Eastern Star launched from Italy, holding a solo exhibition!》

《W Tree Group reveals SNS star painter A is Ban Jeong-hoon!》

《Artist Company officially acknowledges painter A and Ban Jeong-hoon are the same person》

Bang!

"What the hell is this!"

In the office of Kim Young-min, the CEO of YM Entertainment, one of the top three entertainment agencies in Korea.

Kim Young-min, the CEO of YM, slams his desk after reading an article brought by his secretary.

"Damn it! Call Yong-han in, now!"

After seeing the secretary leave to call Yong-han, Kim Young-min scratches his head in frustration and hurriedly makes a call to a familiar journalist.

The sly tone of the journalist is heard from the other end of the phone.

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-President, what brings you to call me?

"Hey, Jeong reporter. It's me."

-Yes, did the kids cause trouble again?

"No, it's not that. This article about painter A being Ban Jeong-hoon. Is it true?"

-Oh, that. Haha. Yong-han is in a bit of a pickle, isn't he? Didn't he release a new song last week? It's a crucial time for his activities, but now this happens. It's unfortunate.

"Is it really true?"

-Yes, actually, reporters are now taking screenshots of how Yong-han has been hyping up painter A. If this continues, it'll go beyond trouble to being ridiculed.

Kim Young-min clenches his teeth.

"Hey, Jeong reporter. Remember how much money you've taken from us."

-Ah, who said I would write about it? I won't. I have a conscience. But what can you do, how will you stop all the media and reporters?

"......"

-President, you can't stop this. Either make Yong-han apologize officially, or send him abroad for a while. The department head was just making a fuss, asking to find Yong-han for an interview. Is Yong-han at the company now?

Reporter Jeong, pretending to be supportive, subtly asks for Yong-han's current location. However, the experienced Kim Young-min is not fooled by such a shallow ploy.

“Yong-han went to the U.S. for an LA concert.”

-Oh? I haven’t heard of that. When did he leave?

“Just now.”

-Ho, really? I don't recall Yong-han being on the LA concert list.

“He was squeezed in, so know it as such! And pay back what you owe. See how the media moves and report back.”

-Oh, President Kim. I’ve done enough for what I've taken, and this time, it doesn’t look good. It’s impossible to turn this tide. Didn’t I tell you to do something about Yong-han? That guy's mouth is always the problem, how many times have I said that?

“Damn it. Fine, let me know in advance what you can. When did the reporters leave?”

-They've already left.

“Damn it! Hang up!”

After abruptly ending the call, Young-min, who was called away from his album work in the studio, throws an ashtray on the table as Yong-han enters the room.

“You son of a bitch!”

Crash!

The glass ashtray shatters against the door, scattering fragments everywhere. Yong-han, though not hit by the glass, is visibly shaken and swallows hard.

“What’s going on? I didn’t touch any drugs.”

“Look at this, you bastard!”

Kim Young-min throws a tablet PC onto the sofa.

Yong-han, fearful that Young-min might throw something else, cautiously approaches the sofa and picks up the tablet to check the article.

《Artist Company Officially Recognizes Painter A and Ban Jeong-hoon as the Same Person》

Article published 02.15 at 1:41 PM, last modified 02.15 at 1:45 PM

Seo Young-ju, a registered director of Artist Company, issued a statement this morning officially acknowledging the identity of Painter A, announced by the W Tree Group. Painter A, known as the Star of the East in Italy, is the artist Ban Jeong-hoon himself, and his solo exhibition starting in March will feature many of Painter A's works, previously only seen in photos on SNS.

Ban Jeong-hoon, who disappeared two years ago after being attacked by the fervent fans of singer and artist Yong-han, was surprisingly found to have been working in a villa on Udo Island, Jeju.

Director Seo Young-ju clarified that Ban Jeong-hoon wasn't in hiding but needed a two-year break due to an overwhelming TV schedule, leaving him little time for artistic activities. The upcoming exhibition will feature landscape paintings beautifully capturing the island’s natural environment, created during his two-year stay on the island, and is said to include as many as 500 works.

W Tree Group plans to hold a preview exhibition for VIPs from the end of February but will continue to display the sold paintings until the exhibition for general visitors is complete. With inquiries about the VIP exhibition pouring in from renowned collectors at home and abroad, citizens are keenly interested in the prices of Ban Jeong-hoon's paintings.

Meanwhile, Yong-han, who has been praising Painter A on SNS, is now under suspicion of having played the victim through clever media manipulation two years ago. The public is interested in the fact that he praised Ban Jeong-hoon, unaware of his identity as the stubborn and self-absorbed artist he previously criticized.

Singer Yong-han has not yet made an official statement.

Reporter Kim Hyuk-jin ([emailprotected])

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