Eric’s Marriage and ShinCom’s Stubbornness, 19 Years of Shinhwa Where Is It Heading to
I don’t have time to translate the whole thing so I picked up some parts to do. She is the same person who wrote the long passage on All About Shinhwa Company. It may give you a bit more understanding to the big fuss in the Korean fandom right now. This is her personal point of view to the situation right now and I hope that international fans could show a bit of understanding to why they are complaining. After all they worry because they care.
Original author: 미코 MIKO [2017.04.21] Original post: http://m.blog.naver.com/secgarden/220989132558
0. Relation
(She started off with the scene of the VCR from last concert. A woman waited for a long time and asked the man “why were you late?”) [She wrote it prettily but I don’t have time so watch it yourself.]
It is not the best analogy but the relationship between Shinhwa and SHCJ for five years after Venus could not be expressed more clearly than this.
SHCJ always arrived first and waited forever until Shinhwa slowly kept the promises. It has been so since the 10th Album Return which the “promise” was actually made.
1. Promise
Standing in front of fans after a long period of time.
Shinhwa said ambitiously. The goal it to release a full album every year.
Shinhwa said it as soon as they comeback. We will compete side by side with the current idols.
Shinhwa said that because the fans want No1, we think we should be No1.
Shinhwa also said that. The tempo of current idols is running too fast, but we will go slow and focus mainly on the album.
Overall, Shinhwa will compete as a current idol. But not like idols nowadays with singles and EPs. And it would still rank No1 because that’s what fans want.
In the end, from this onwards, SHCJ’s aim is to keep Shinhwa within the competitive industry and make them No1.
The reason is not because of them but because that is “what we want”.
2. Part
In fact, Shinhwa’s annual promise has broke a long time ago.
Nevertheless, fans did not rush them.
Because they understand the thorny road that they’ve walked so far, they believe that even if they stay still, they would still be working hard.
Because they believe that even though they are moving slowly, even if it’s a little late, that’s all because they were aiming for a big picture.
Therefore the fans blamed the company instead.
Not giving sufficient support especially when compared to Nfino. The lack of staff and communication led to fans’ criticism. ShinCom has consistently closed their eyes and ears.
And in 2016, during the long awaited 18th Anniversary, they mentioned it would be a “Shinhwa Year” and the full album would be out in Oct. However the promised album came after the “Shinhwa Year”. It was in two parts yet in fact the full album was not completed in time. Fans already set up supporter groups, planned timetables, and took a holiday from work.
Fans protested to ShinCom yet they ignored it as usual.
In addition to that, the year-end gayo performances and music shows, with the news of Vapp “Shinhwa is Already 18” broadcast had settled the fans’ anger.
And in 2017, Eric mentioned it would be a happy year for SHCJ, it was later than planned but 13th Album came. In the short 2 weeks of time, there were no complaints and we did made it to No1. In Oct, as it was not as planned fans started fighting among themselves.
Shinhwa did not keep their promise, but they still kept the promise of coming out as Shinhwa. Now fans are struggling to keep their promise of No1.
3. Mistrust
Feb, confirmed his denied relationship. Apr, confirmed his denied marriage news.
Normally the press release articles at 9:00am. Five minutes before the “Notice” came from Shinhwa Company.
There was no expression of sorrow or thankfulness to fans in telling them beforehand.
The announcement was just a justification to inform fans before the press.
What angers fans were the attitude of a leader who did not even think about holding onto the collapsing fandom.
Fans were already angry since the 13th Album activities. And in the meantime, it appears that Eric began not to care about people around him at all.
While the members were worried and tearful to the fans, Eric who were spending his time in a foreign place further angers them.
The fandom which has supported for 19 years, and the group which has been going on for 19 years.
Releasing a concert notice the day right after the marriage announcement was adding oil to the fire.
After all, an idol which is an “unmarried group” and the “married group” would definitely make a difference.
With the leader’s news, Shinhwa will get even more questions about marriage.
Their music performances and new challenges would become even more obscured.
Despite this situation, Shinhwa has yet to show a blueprint of Shinhwa’s future after Eric’s marraige.
Instead, Kim Dongwan replied “I’m sorry” in seeing fans who were hurt.
He said Shinhwa will continue and he believes in the members.
However the problem is that fans are already in a state of having low in trust with leader Eric.
Even when fans demanded some specific response, they would always avoid the main points and say “believe us” and “we will continue”.
4. Worry
Seems that Shinhwa and ShinCom still do not understand that fans were not angry due to Eric’s marriage.
The reason why fans are angry is because it’s the breaking point of continuous anxiety until now.
Shinhwa fans are worried about Shinhwa’s future.
How will they continue their activities in the future. How “marriage” would affect them on the media.
Shinhwa fans are worried about how Shinhwa thinks.
What Shinhwa wants, what do they want, what are they planning for, what they are aiming for, no one knows that and there is no answer even if you ask.
Worried that are we going to lose the direction in where we are going for.
5. Recognition
-Shinhwa is not interested in No1, popularity and new fans. -We are satisfied to release albums under the name of “Shinhwa” at any time we want and hold concert under the name of “Shinhwa” whenever we want. -Shinhwa’s goal is to keep the group as six until the end. -And in that process, let it flows naturally even when fans want to leave or stay.
If you admit that, everything could be explained. If you admit it that way, I’m sure everyone would be satisfied. If they are already satisfied and thankful that Shinhwa is able to work under the name.
6. Change
(Skipped the part about are they wanting to be idol or artist, how are they or will they even aim at general popularity and how quality does matter.)
Is Shinhwa acknowledging and accepting changes? Or are you going to continue as sunbae, as a 1st generation idol?
What do you think about the fandom? Are you intended into keep the future activities with the cool mind and not aiming to keep people stay?
No, at least is it true that the six of you are all looking at the same target?
Shinhwa always said that the six of them would be together and the name of “Shinhwa” would not change.
However Shinhwa has changed.
A member’s marriage, even if they deny it, it would be one of the biggest change in the idol industry.
No one knows where this change would lead Shinhwa towards.
Sorry to say that but Shinhwa’s fandom has changed also.
Continuous stubbornness, a company which solely relies on fans’ power, a forced march that has been going on for 5 years.
And fans were exhausted of their way of ignoring all complaints and criticism, it was enough for the fans, the moment the news blew up, people started to leave.
Shinhwa is approaching 20th Anniversary.
From the leader’s mouth, he mentioned activities for the 20th Anniversary.
However the problem is that how the 20th Anniversary is going to be remains purely blank and unable to imagine in fans’ mind.
It is 19 years of time. As a human, she would already got into university and grew as an adult.
Where is the destination for the 19 years old Shinhwa? No matter how many questions were raised in the past 5 days, there is no answer at all.
