Article: [Exclusive] "BTS merch will also attend"... Jamboree, "casting typhoon" secrets
Source: Dispatch
The K-Pop Super Live, 'Jamboree.' BTS can't go. Jin and J-Hope can't go because they're serving in the military. Suga just announced his enlistment. V is in the middle of preparing for his solo album.
However BTS' face is going. Their smile and winks will be in attendance. But only their pictures, not bodies. To be precise, their 'photo cards' will be making an attendance at the World Cup Stadium in Sanggam-dong.
HYBE is sending out 'merch' instead. They responded to the Jamboree Organizing Committee's request for 'merch.' Rumor has it that they're currently collecting 45,000 units in a hurry.
The K-Pop Concert is a contingency plan for the Jamboree Organizing Committee. To appease Jamboree members, they're using idol groups as "candy." It's a strategy to turn the nightmares of the Saemangeum into K-pop memories.
From the 8th to the 10th, Dispatch asked entertainment agencies about their participation in the Jamboree and it's progress. Officials replied, "Do we have the power to refuse a national event?? If you're asked to attend, you have no choice but to respond."
Even so, recruiting an idol can't happen overnight. Actually, popular idols split their time. You have to complete the scheduled schedule 2-3 times a day without gaps.
In particular, it's more difficult to subtract from a schedule when actively promoting. Fan meetings, fan signs, interviews, photo shoots, content filming, live broadcasts, etc. They're all tightly scheduled to maximize album sales.
However, in the Jamboree, only the circumstances of the 'Organizing Committee' are important. The situation of the 'planning company' is not considered at all. The venue changed twice, and the date changed twice, so they're all on emergency stand-by.
An official from agency A revealed, "I canceled the schedule for that day to attend on Sunday 6th. Then it was suddenly changed to Friday 11th. I'm currently re-adjusting Friday schedules. I don't think they understand idol schedules at all."
An official from agency B stated, "The company puts in a ton of effort to put out an album. Singers put their all into it during that period."
An official from agency C said, "I understand being fortunate enough to receive an opportunity to comfort members that suffered in Saemangeum through K-pop performances but regrettable there is zero understanding or consideration for the singers. For example, they don't understand that when a schedule is canceled, protests from fans and companies follow."
An official from agency D also pointed out cost issues. He revealed, "Idols cost more than a 10 million won Hermes. To organize such an ambiguous event without zero mention of guarantees for staff is.."
"After all, it's the idol agency that suffers from a general mobilization order for the Jamboree. The Organizing Committee seems to be denying they're forcing people to appear and downplaying the controversy claiming, "the production team of KBS 'Music Bank' was in charge of casting."
An official from agency E revealed, "No one is thinking it's just 'Music Bank' when they're recruited to attend KBS 'Music Bank. No one says I'd rather a concert instead of 'Music Bank.' It's an event being held for our country so we're risking everything if we don't go out."
K-pop singers are expected to gather in Sangam-dong from the morning on the 11th. Progress details such as cue sheets haven't even been released yet. We have to check the order on site, do dry rehearsals, and prepare to be on stand-by.
When Korea advanced to the quarterfinals during the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup, everyone wanted a festival so a celebratory performance by singers was suddenly arranged. That was a national festival at the time that was truly 'voluntary.'
However the 2023 Jamboree Concert is different. The justifications they're putting out for the mistakes of the Saemangeum to save face for the Organizing Committee keep getting bigger.
