The Idol

Park Taeyung was born into a life of luxury, the beloved only son of one of the world's most powerful and feared drug lords. From the moment he was born, his parents ensured that he lived in a bubble of love, wealth, and privilege. Unlike the dark underworld his father operated in, Taeyung grew up in a beautiful, safe community, surrounded by the best education, friends, and experiences money could buy.

Despite his father's empire, Taeyung was raised with kindness and warmth, shielded from the crimes and bloodshed that built his family's fortune. He was a cheerful and optimistic child, never suspecting the shadow that lurked behind his seemingly perfect life. His biggest dream was far from the world of crime—he wanted to be an idol. From a young age, Taeyung idolized famous boy groups, especially VTS, and would spend hours practicing their dances and singing their songs.

At 11 years old, he finally told his father about his dream, expecting resistance, but to his surprise, his father fully supported him. What Taeyung didn't know was that his father had deep connections with powerful entertainment companies, including HYPE Entertainment. With a few phone calls and the right pressure, Taeyung was granted special training opportunities, bypassing the grueling audition process that most trainees suffered through.

For two years, Taeyung lived his dream. He trained hard, sang, danced, and imagined a future where he could stand on stage like his idols. But everything changed when he turned 13.

One evening, while wandering through the estate, he overheard a hushed conversation between his father and some unfamiliar men. Curiosity led him to eavesdrop, and what he heard shattered his entire world. His father wasn't just a successful businessman—he was the head of a global drug empire, responsible for smuggling and distributing illegal substances across multiple countries. Worse, some of the money fueling his idol dream came from the very crimes his father committed.

Taeyung felt betrayed. The man he looked up to, who had always treated him with love and warmth, was nothing like he thought. His mind reeled with questions—how could his mother know and act like everything was normal? How many people had suffered because of his father? And most of all, who was he now, knowing that he was born into a family of criminals?

Without hesitation, he quit training at HYPE and cut off all connections his father had built for him. His love for music felt tainted, as if every note he sang was stained with blood money. The realization weighed heavily on him, and for the first time, he felt utterly lost.

But walking away from his father's world wasn't that simple. Taeyung's rebellion didn't go unnoticed. His father, despite his crimes, genuinely loved his son and didn't want him to hate him. He tried to justify his actions, explaining that the world was cruel and that their wealth was built on power, not morality. But Taeyung refused to listen. He saw the truth, and he couldn't unsee it.

By the time he was 16, Taeyung had become disillusioned with everything—his privileged life, his parents, and even the dream he once held so dearly. But one thing was certain: he didn't want to be a puppet of his father's empire. He wanted to find his own path, even if it meant starting from nothing.

What he didn't know, however, was that walking away wouldn't be so easy. No one escapes the underworld unscathed.