The Daily Rant: Outcome of Infinity Challenge’s Super 7 Concert, much thanks to the Netizens

Today’s Daily Rant is about the Korean netizens that sometimes really don’t use their mind before they make any assumptions, specifically towards the event of the “Super 7” concert that was supposed to be happening on November 24 and 25 at Seoul’s Gymnastics Stadium, but is now cancelled due to the misunderstandings.

Background Story

So for those of you that don’t know, “Super 7″ is a concert that is put up by the Infinity Challenge members, featuring the members themselves. Since without the support from MBC or other big companies, they needed a company to support the concert, LeeSsang Company, the company of which member Gil owns (along with Gary…like the LeeSsang group owns the LeeSsang company…you get the idea), had stepped up to handle and plan the event. On the other hand, even though they are not all professional singers, the IC members have been practicing hard on instruments and their performances, hoping to bring an amazing show for their audiences.

Me: Yay! Everyone’s Happy!
Netizens: Happy? Did I hear happy? One sec.

And yeah, the Korean netizens just decided to get all angry because apparently “the tickets are too expensive and therefore the LeeSsang Company and Infinity Challenge members are trying to rip people off.” I mean honestly? You are complaining because the tickets are too expensive? Well, what happens if you go to Walmart and find out that you actually aren’t saving money or living better? Do you go to court and accuse them of lying to you? Or accuse them for selling those cheese for a hundred bucks?

That is, if LeeSsang really IS trying to rip people off. Which, they actually are not. Gil himself has addressed the issue personally as well:

Hello. This is Gil. I’m deeply sorry and I bow my head in apology for the cancellation of the ‘Super 7′ concert. But I believe it is basic manners to explain what happened, so I am writing this now. In the beginning of the year, we finally decided to hold a ‘Super 7′ concert. Leessang helped out in a small way, but I had an awesome time practicing as one with the members. The members started to have fun as they learned an instrument or two, and we held band practices 3-4 times a week even though we were all busy. Then we started to think about if the concert should be expensive or free of charge. We got advice from the best director sunbae and we also held many meetings with the members and the staff of Leessang Company. After much thought, we decided to make the best blockbuster concert in Korea with the best sound, stage, lighting and service that would not be put to shame even overseas, and so decided to charge for the tickets.

I believe that you already know that a free concert is difficult unless it is sponsored by a broadcasting company or a large company. Also, we believed that the profits made from it would be spent best if we donated it in front of the large audience. We had been preparing things such as car gifts and various special guests. We were thinking of what to do with the rest of the profits to reply to the people. In this aspect, we were talking big, such as building orphanages or nursing homes, setting up scholarships or a charity. We had no concrete plans, but we had a lot of fun ideas, even if we can’t show them to you anymore. I say it again, but the members did not seek to make any profit from this. We wanted to give back to the world on stage and after the concert in the ‘Infinity Challenge’ style. Leessang Company started with the same mindset, and we were preparing for the concert with a mind to put everything into it. I believed that people would understand in the end and believe in me. However, the ‘Infinity Challenge’ viewers who believed in us for a long time were confused because of the numerous negative circumstances from my decision, and I apologize. The members do not know about performance. The members do not know the stage. The members are not singers who professionally sing and dance. But the members had been practicing until now to build a stage in our own color. We were planning to return the love from our viewers in a large way to the world, and we were preparing diligently. All the decisions and proceedings were by me, and the members came here just by trusting in me. I was the one that made all the mistakes. I bow my head and apologize again. I’m writing this in hopes that the members, staff and viewers will no longer get hurt from uncountable misunderstandings and speculations. We love the ‘Infinity Challenge’ staff and viewers more than we love our family. I cannot write in words how much love we receive. The words that said the concert was not affiliated with Infinity Challenge on the company homepage meant that the concert was not a broadcast, and this was decided with the staff. But it is my mistake for not explaining it properly. Again, I’m very sorry. We decided on canceling yesterday and talked face to face until morning. The members want to start again once time passes, so I hope you can give us much strength as well. We comforted each other over a glass of soju and swore that we will work harder to make the broadcast more fun. Everyone, I really hope the members and staff are not hurt anymore. I’m very sorry to the dance team, Leessang Traveling Theater, ‘Infinity Challenge’ writers, and the Leessang Company workers that worked for months preparing for ‘Super 7′. Lastly, I will leave with a sorry heart. Gary has also decided to leave his program with a sorry heart. I have truly loved ‘Infinity Challenge’ for 3 years. I spent it being thankful for the love that I received from our viewers. Thank you.

Gillmeo

Gil’s post pretty much explains everything. How without a big broadcasting company, it is hard to hold a free concert, and that the concert is not “pointless” as some netizens had said, but they are in fact trying to bring out the Infinity Challenge style into a concert as a pay back to their beloved viewers. All their ideas of charity, scholarships, and others have now gone to waste, much thanks to the ignorance of the netizens. It was even said that LeeSsang had put $100,000 into the concert, and now they have to cover the money themselves. (And netizens still say they are just trying to make a huge profit out of it)

Outcome

This part is what really made me gone crazy. Because of all the fuss the netizens decided to create, the two LeeSsang members have taken the responsibility, and decided to leave Infinity Challenge and Running Man, two variety shows for which Gil and Gary are the fix casts respectively. They are said to be taking a hiatus from variety shows for the time being, and focus on making their company more professional, as well as improving their music.

Gary even tweeted on Twitter, saying, “In order to put more of my energy into Leessang Company and music concerts, I’ve decided to take a hiatus from participating on variety shows. I apologize for the sudden notice without any warning. I’m sorry.”

Personally, I am not a viewer of IC, but Running Man is my LIFE. Joongki’s departure was painful enough, and now Gary? Heck, he did not even do anything wrong! All LeeSsang did was sell tickets that netizens find expensive, and now they are accused for being an unprofessional company. This makes no sense to me. I mean, if the tickets are expensive, don’t go! No one is making you go, so why bother even complaining if you are not involved? I see Super Junior’s concert tickets selling for three times of what I earn from my part time job per month, you don’t see me screaming at SM Entertainment, so why does LeeSsang need to take all the blame?

Netizens, wake up and start turning your brain wheels!