Editor’s note: This is a translation of an opinion piece that was written by a fan. It does not necessarily represent the opinions of TheJYJFiles but it does provide some food for thought.
The Delusion of the People Who Live in the Kingdom of SM
파플즈 난데모네 작성
파플즈 usappi번역
(Written by Poplez Nandemone, Translated by Poplez usappi)
The Kingdom of SM has a unique business culture. Even though it’s a business run on contractual relationship just like any other, in a bizarre way, it claims to be a family. This is the reason why the residents of the Kingdom of SM can’t think of any other reasonable response to give except, “ungrateful jerk” whenever something like this happens. They say that it’s like betraying the father who raised you as well as the family unit.
But let’s think about this a bit. Where in this world is there a father who suffocates to death his children just because they have left the house?! No father in this world, no matter how strict, will do that to his child, no matter how obnoxious the kid. Does a person who rails against his children who’ve left the house, calling them traitors, promising revenge until his teeth are worn and cutting off all their means of livelihood, does such a person have the right to be called a father?!
Those who believe so easily that SM is a family are living in a delusion. Lee Soo Man is most absolutely not their father, and SM is most definitely not their home. It’s only within SM that such an ardent comparison to the family unit is being circulated, and so it’s only the people within SM who believe it. And all the while those in idol history who have managed to escape SM are testifying how detestable SM really was, are they not?
As I watched the residents of the Kingdom of SM parrot each other one after the other with “ungrateful this ungrateful that”, I immediately recalled a film I saw a long time ago, ‘The Truman Show’ with Jim Carrey as the lead actor.
There was a man called Truman. Unbeknownst to him, his life was being broadcast live 24/7 around the world on television. He was completely unaware that the life he was living was one big studio set, that the people he was meeting were actors, that the one who was really in control of his life was not himself at all. He was convinced that the fake life he was leading was in fact his real life. However, one day he finds out by chance the whole truth. He comes to realise that what he took for reality is in fact life in a delusion, in a ready-made studio set. The stage producer tries to persuade him, “There’s nothing beyond the set but a harsh and painful reality!” But even so, without hesitation, [Truman] runs into that lonely and harsh but real reality with all his might.
In truth, whenever I look at the loyal idols who live in the Kingdom of SM, more than anger, what I feel is pity. They, who believe that the SM that is playing the role of their father and acting the role of their family is their real father and real family, are a lot like Truman inside the studio set. And so, even if others point out to them that the lives they are leading, the lives they are so convinced are real, are in actuality fake they obviously wouldn’t be able to accept it just like that! It’s only natural that they would respond to such counsel with “What the hell do you know?” It’s because SM’s idols continually revere SM. This is why they can’t do anything besides parroting SM’s position with speeches on ungratefulness. On top of that there’s the connection/fellowship that naturally forms between kids who spent long trainee periods together as well as the staff who look over the kids. This much at least is something that can’t be denied! The true culprit here is the giant management company that uses these warm and precious feelings as a flashy pretext to construct ‘an ideology of the family’ that maintains and feeds the inequality and unfairness that have become its raw material.
Until recently, I thought JYJ were also Trumans inside a studio set. [Knowing nothing but] our father. Our family. That no matter how unequal or unfair they had to put up with it all for the sake of the family.
However, after going through a series of experiences, they came to see little by little the existence of a suspicious black curtain that was wrapped around their life. And eventually they came to know that beyond that black curtain is the beginning of the real world. Upon pushing aside the curtain, they came to realise that they had been living their lives on a studio set, that the person they thought was their real father was in fact an actor playing the role of their father.
The stage producer of this entire show is SM. “If you go beyond the curtain, I will never leave you alone. What awaits you out there is cold reality!” But they’ve already figured out that they were living on a studio set, so now how could they be expected to continue living their real lives aware of the fact that they’re on a set!
“Even if a sharp and cold wind blows, even if I lose everything in the process, I want to live a life that’s real.”
I think this is the real reason why JYJ left SM.
The reason why I support JYJ?
Because everyone has the right to live a life that’s real [and not make-believe].
Source: Poplez
Translated by: Jimmie of TheJYJFiles
Shared by: TheJYJFiles
Please do not Add/Remove credits
Soon when those idols no longer bring in the money for their “family”, the first thing that will befall them will be banishment to the ‘attic’ where all other ‘used’ items will go.
The sooner they wake up, the better it is for them.
JCS woke up when they are still SM’s ‘golden goose’ (see what u did? ;p).
Now SM will rather ‘kill’ the geese than give them freedom.
Our boys are like Phoenix!
“The Phoenix burn fiercely and is reduced to ashes, from which a new, young phoenix or phoenix egg arises, reborn anew to live again.”
The whole situation resemblers the fire and our boys will be ‘reborn’ after this!!!
Wow!That is some good stuff you guys. Damn I never though of it in such a way. I always wondered how one could justify staying with such a company. Pity….pity for those who stay.
Every day I realize more and more I am supporting something beautiful, beyond appearances, something…. almost spiritual. I’m glad they are now free, I hope it remains as so.
Very interesting insight indeed…
Oh, and that sound like a great movie! Why haven’t I heard about that?
JYJ3 admin..thank you for sharing… 🙂
THIS IS 5+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++!!!!! This fan SHOULD BE A REPORTER!!!! SM “family” IN YOUR FACE!!!
……… anyways…… JYJ FIGHTING!!!
wow..good deep!!!!A++++++
Made me cry. Those beloved artists we have known since they were children.
In addition, I would like to add another analogy to the Eagles song, “Welcome to the Hotel California.” The line says “You can check out anytime but you can never leave.” Even if they have realized it is a studio set, they must have seen clearly what will happen to them if they try to leave. If SM does this to the hugely popular DBSK, what would they do to anyone else. No chance of escape.
If they think that way, they are coward.
I’ve been thinking that SME must at least has something good that’s why their artists choose to stay. Eventhough, there’s no guarantee that those who stay are not suffered but it’s their choices. -shrug-
“Even if they have realized it is a studio set, they must have seen clearly what will happen to them if they try to leave.” – This is why lot of people see them as a coward for knowing that staying is pain but still choose to stay.
Another very interesting read from the JYJFiles.
Amazing. I love JYJ fans/supporters for always raising such good points. This article was amazing, such good analogies, and they were able to make their point truthfully and without insult. SMent is no family, no true parent would hold their support over a child’s head. Sment is a business that believes in exerting their dominance and power of these ideals and warping their sense of thinking with this crap about family and false sense of loyalty. This article really made me think of Changmin. As upset as I was….and sometimes still am at him, my heart goes out to him now. Its a sad thing that he would rather continue to live a lie, than open his heart to his hyungs.
this article made us jyj family have unbreakable bond to support jyj together and stronger than ever! proud to be a part of this family! FACE THE REALITY… WAKE UP HOMIN… if one day you have the courage to leave sm and join jyj,no need to worry.. we are here for you!
Actually, i thought this ‘SM kingdom’ were all hypnotized to think that they are all unique animals living in somekind of a sircus.. They’re all thinking that they will bite the hand that fed them if they leave the sircus..they just forgot that all this time, they were the one who earned the money to buy the food..and that hand who fed them eat the most, they only got the leftover.. Poor SM artist, they’re all the stars who thinking of themselves as animals..
ahh.. I bit similar to Time Out of Joint in terms of plot… 😀
I’ve never really thought of it this way before, but I find it true >:
seriously JYJfiles is an awesome site ^^ Love this