![[Exclusive] "Refund? Hope you get a big scolding"…Yoo Jae-hwan, scam of independent youth songwriting](http://news.nateimg.co.kr/orgImg/th/2024/05/07/227bee6d-7b0b-45c6-b234-2762c2e3c86e.jpg)
[Dispatch=Kim So-jeong · Jung Tae-yoon Reporter] This is the showcase location proposed by Yoo Jae-hwan for four participants in the ‘independent youth preparation project.’
There was a seafood restaurant on the first floor. Yoo Jae-hwan was using the 2nd floor of this restaurant building as a studio.
“These days, keep it rough. If you do it at night, you can install 10 yellow lights. Get good chairs” (Yoo Jae-hwan)
Yoo Jae-hwan persuaded them by sending photos of the studio consecutively.
Yoo Jae-hwan pushed the seafood restaurant 2nd floor as a ‘showcase’ venue because of 1.75 million won. He had already received the rental fee and used it up long ago. In other words, he had no time to find another place.
‘Dispatch’ found the studio. The view from the 2nd floor of the building was that of an accommodation. In other words, it was a ‘motel view.’ Did Yoo Jae-hwan think he could sing the dreams of independent youth from this place?
The 4 ‘independent youth’ demanded a refund. They asked for a total of 2.75 million won, with 1 million won borrowed personally (before the start of the project) in addition to the rental fee of 1.75 million won.
Yoo Jae-hwan expressed displeasure, saying, “I don’t have 2.75 million won right now, what should I do if you insist on having it right away?” He further added, “My song fee is 700. I gave you 3 songs.”
Ultimately, the independent youth participants moved to another place at additional cost. On November 13, 2023, they held a ‘mini-album’ future showcase at a studio in Ansan.
Yoo Jae-hwan, perhaps feeling sorry, promised, “I will sing one song at the showcase.” Of course, that promise was not kept. The only thing he sent was a dawn text saying, “I can’t go because my house was broken into.”
This is just the start of Yoo Jae-hwan’s songwriting scam. Let’s take a closer look at the ‘independent youth’ songwriting scam.
◆ Dreams of Independent Youth
Children living in protective facilities end their protective measures when they turn 18. (It can be extended up to 25 years if desired.) The government supports independent youth for 5 years after the end of protection.
Over 10,000 (protective facility) youth prepare for independence each year. Local governments help them to stand on their own. For example, they provide opportunities for young people dreaming of music.
A and 3 others planned a music release project supporting the culturally marginalized. They visited Yoo Jae-hwan with 4 million won (4x the local government support) in hand. They asked for songwriting and release.
A told ‘Dispatch,’ “Received over 8 million won for
◆ Yoo Jae-hwan, Recruited as an Audio Mentor
On May 30, 2023, A proposed a music release project to Yoo Jae-hwan. At that time, what Yoo Jae-hwan said was, “Are you going to pay me for this?”
A: I will write lyrics, and you will compose. I have a friend who can sing. What do you think about three songs? And I am also planning to document (the process) on YouTube.
Yoo Jae-hwan: Will you pay me for the composition?
A: I will pay for the composition and song fee.
On September 3, A paid the first installment of 4.65 million won. On the 4th, 175,000 won was deposited as a studio rental fee. On the 18th, for the reason that Yoo Jae-hwan’s parents were sick, 1 million won was sent in advance.
Additionally, they transferred a total of 8.8 million won, including auxiliary facilities (500,000 won), sound engineer (300,000 won), lighting engineer (300,000 won), rehearsal facility rental (300,000 won), to Yoo Jae-hwan (+ Jung In-kyung)’s account.
◆ “However, the Songs Are Not Coming”
Receiving the songs was a difficult process. First, a text sent by A on September 24.
A: It’s getting too delayed…
A: Could you let me know if we can meet for 10 hours next month? I need at least a demo of one song to start writing lyrics.
Yoo Jae-hwan replied two days later (26th).
Yoo Jae-hwan: My mother is sick, so I’m just contacting you now.
A: Oh no ㅠㅠ
A: Teacher, what time will you call me tomorrow?
Yoo Jae-hwan: (No response)
A sent another text on the 27th.
A: Teacher. Can you send me the song at least?
A: I need to send the interim product…
Yoo Jae-hwan remained silent once again. He replied on the 29th.
A: Teacher. I don’t know the current situation. Can we proceed?
Yoo Jae-hwan: Yes, I can proceed at any time.
A: I couldn’t contact you for two days.
Yoo Jae-hwan: I was really sick for two days.
◆ “Teacher? Teacher! Sir? ㅠㅠ”
A expressed that “working with Yoo Jae-hwan was very difficult.” In reality, A spent two months paying money, making requests, urging, discussing, and making excuses repeatedly.
On October 7, Yoo Jae-hwan sent two guide tracks. ‘Let’s Take It Slowly Together’ and ‘Even Without Words.’ A chose ‘Even Without Words’ as the title and added lyrics to the song.
On November 13, Yoo Jae-hwan sent a duet song and a solo song. On the day of the showcase, he barely sent two more songs. However, they were incomplete songs with only one chorus. They were unusable.
A said, “I held the showcase on November 13 as planned,” and added, “In the end, I only sang ‘Even Without Words’ song. I filled the rest with talk. Yoo Jae-hwan didn’t even show up.”
The tough times at that time are displayed in their text messages.
A: Teacher. I need your response to know how to proceed.
A: Is the lyrics I sent fixed?
A: Teacher. We need the instrumental version by November 13… Is that possible?
A: Teacher?
A: Teacher ㅠㅠ
A: ?????
A: You need to provide the instrumental version by the 12th.
From November 6, A sent 13 texts. Yoo Jae-hwan replied 4 days later on the 10th.
“I’ll prepare the instrumental version well and send it.” (Yoo Jae-hwan)
◆ Yoo Jae-hwan Ignored, Dreams of Youth
Independent youth dream of the future. They hope tomorrow will be better than today. That’s why the title of this project album was ‘Today is better than yesterday.’
The society they want to step into is not welcoming. However, they cannot give up. That’s why A prepared this project. He wanted to create an encouraging song that emphasizes not giving up.
Here are some lines from the lyrics he wrote.
“At the end of another tough and exhausting day, whispering to me with words of pain from the hurtful wounds~ It will be better than yesterday, I’m fine. Tell yourself to the child in your heart, don’t rush and feel it slowly Tell yourself in your heart~”
Yoo Jae-hwan ignored the dreams of independent youth. He only repeated the question, “How long can you provide the song?” instead of thinking about their dreams. A received only one complete song. ‘Even Without Words.’ However, this was also a violation of the contract. The processes of audio, release, registration, and distribution did not happen at all.
Moreover, Yoo Jae-hwan didn’t even remember the recording of ‘Even Without Words.’ Next, here is the conversation between Yoo Jae-hwan and A.
Yoo Jae-hwan: Is ‘Even Without Words’ completed up to the 2nd chorus?
A: What do you mean by asking if it’s completed up to the 2nd chorus?
Yoo Jae-hwan: ‘Even Without Words.’ Is it completed up to the 2nd chorus?
A: Oh! We recorded everything together, didn’t we?
Yoo Jae-hwan: What do you mean by ‘we recorded’? Us? Where?
A: We recorded together. We met (on the weekend) and even met your mother.
Yoo Jae-hwan: For ‘Even Without Words’?
Yoo Jae-hwan: Oh, really?
A: We all recorded together. (On the weekend) I also saw your mother.
◆ Although the Motel View Showcase Did Not Happen
Besides the song fee, Yoo Jae-hwan also received the audio presentation and rental fees. A couldn’t have the ‘motel view’ showcase. So he requested a refund of the rental fee.
(The rental fee of 1.75 million won and the 1.4 million won for the showcase were deposited into the account of Jung In-kyung, Yoo Jae-hwan’s fiancée and composer.)
A: Teacher, first of all, the song… when will it be done?
Yoo Jae-hwan: I will send it today!!
A: Sir, please send it today ㅠㅠ Today.
Visited 2 times, 1 visit(s) today