Trial, day 3.

     Cross-examination of Mr. Han, ex-manager of BTS 

     "So that day Mr. Han, you and your colleague Mr. Lee asked Jeon Jungkook to get closer to Kim Taehyung for their filmed group activities?"

      "That's right," Han replied.

     "You asked them that because you knew very well that the morning radio show might have inflamed fans, right?"

      "That's right," Han repeated flatly, annoyed that he was being asked rhetorical questions that contained the answer to the question posed.

     "So why didn't the two of them do it and instead get closer to Kim Seokjin? Were they trying to challenge the company or were they trying to send a message to their fans and voluntarily excite their passions?"

     "I don't see why it would be either option," Han replied, unfazed by Lawyer Park's guided questions. "First, Taehyung and Jungkook did as they were asked and they got really close to each other, and on the other hand Seokjin got close to Namjoon, you just have to show all the pictures from the photoshoot and you will see that it is the truth, instead of just selecting a few parts to show what you are interested in, the same way shippers do."

     The lawyer seemed destabilized by Han's impassiveness and above all, by his repartee. 

     Surprised to see their former manager defend them with such strength and efficiency, the members of BTS were admiring of his ability to stand up to the lawyer, and grateful for his involvement on their side in this trial. He had promised to be there and help them win this case, and he had kept his word.

     "They did what they were asked," he added, "beyond that, they were free to act as they wished and to fraternize as they wished, with whoever they chose."

     "Are you not responsible for their actions, as their manager?" the lawyer wondered, trying to regain control but in a very inexpert way because Han was a formidable adversary due to his impassiveness, "shouldn't you have stopped them to preserve their relationship with their fans to prevent negative feelings from arising among them?"

     "Then sue me and leave them alone. I wonder what you're trying to blame them for, "the former manager retorted before pointing the finger at Doo-Na. "Don't try to minimize this young woman's wrongs by blaming the boys for what she did to them."

     "Mr. Han, I will ask you to measure your words in the precincts of this court," Judge Choi warned him sternly.

     Han nodded but didn't apologize and didn't even look at the side of the bench where the BTS members were who were trying to meet his gaze to convey their gratitude. He pointed to the photos Lawyer Park had projected that now showed the love battle between Jin, Taehyung, and Jungkook.

     "The sponsor wanted a battle of visuals and it was he who decided to put the Seokjin at the center of his advertising film between Taehyung and Jungkook. You can call him to the stand if you doubt my word. Regarding  the discussions they may have had during the interviews or during the lives, this is a matter of spontaneous discussions and gestures without preparation and consequently, no sanction from the company has been taken, it is not fan service carried out intentionally.

     As for for everything that happens outside of the shoots, all the photos taken subtly in the parking lot for example, are private moments, it is not the will of the company or the necessity of the work. These are times when they are free to do as they wish. Be well aware that outside the times designated by the company, our artists are free to act as they wish and to be close to the members of their choice. Our company has no say in it contrary to what you think."

     It wasn't what Lee, Han, and Bang Si-Hyuk had made them realize, but it was what Lee had made pay dearly for. However, to win the case, it had to be proven that the company was not the enemy of its artists and that she supported them unconditionally.

     Moreover, Han had seen with his own eyes the furious madness that led Doo-Na to attack Seokjin and fall sickly in love with Taehyung and Jungkook and he absolutely wanted to right his wrongs because he was convinced to be as guilty as the sasaeng who had attacked them.

     "You wanted the BTS members to adopt the public relationships that the fans expected of them, right?" Park asked.

     "That's right, we told them that they were the makers of their fans' dreams and therefore had to make their wishes come true."

     "Would you repeat those words in front of the whole court now?"

     Han glared at her.

     "You introduced me as the ex-manager of BTS which means I am no longer theirs. I quit because of my incompetence after being unable to protect the group. You ask me if I still agree with the directives I gave to the boys when that is what led to the madness of Miss Kim Doo-Na and later to the tragedy of the Stade de France and the attack on Incheon?"

     "Mr. Han, Master Park is the one leading the interrogation and not the other way around," Judge Choi reminded him once again. "Answer the question she asked you."

     "No, I don't think so anymore after witnessing the violent assault perpetrated by Doo-Na. I think it is certainly important to make the fans dream because it's part of the idol job, they are not just singers, but not to the point of risking the safety of the artists. And if this dream of ships falls into reality and becomes excessive to the point of assimilating itself to madness, it is a danger and it must therefore be refused or managed with moderation. Artists should have their say and be free to have the relationships they want with each other in reality. If it fits with the dream of the fans, so much the better, if not, too bad."

     Shocked by these remarks which were not part of the defense they had prepared, the members of BTS looked at him with wide eyes. The defense attorney seemed to think quickly of a way to bounce back from this. She was losing her case because of the company's support of its artists, she felt it. She had to find another way to not loose everything.

     "So, Mr. Han, would you consider Miss Doo-Na's actions amounted to insanity?"

     "I saw her wanting to kill Seokjin at all costs under the only pretext that he was too close to his friends and that he was an obstacle between them, without even realizing that it was a very serious crime to kill someone and that she risked imprisonment. When I talked to her, she even considered herself unlucky to have missed twice to kill him and thought a lot of people would be as disappointed as her that she didn't kill him. And she thought the band would love her and be grateful that she did that. She got so into the fiction that she created herself that it actually looks like sheer insanity to me," Han asserted sincerely.

     During the interrogation of BTS' lawyers before the cross-examination, he had already recounted everything he had seen and heard at the airport, as well as his exchange with Doo-Na to reason with her when she was struggling like a fury to escape him and join Taehyung.

     However, BTS's lawyers widened their eyes in horror at this claim of Doo-Na's insanity.

     "Thank you, that's all for me," Lawyer Park said, suddenly very satisfied.

     "Park is going to play the madness card to ease Doo-Na's sentence, that's for sure," Kim Ja announced spitefully to the members. "It's a shame, Han's testimony had started so well but he made one mistake by playing Park's game, claiming that Doo-Na's actions were akin to madness.

     Kim Ja and the group were in one of the inner courtyards of the courthouse, during the half-hour hearing stoppage. BTS's other lawyer was talking elsewhere with Han and Si-Hyuk for the continuation of the lawsuit.

     "What? But she's not insane, she had a well-constructed plan, we know that she was guided by her hatred, just ask her!"

     "Her testimony is tomorrow but her lawyer won't let her say that. If Park manages to establish a conclusive psychiatric assessment and has a psychiatric doctor testify, it is possible that he will claim that her passion for BTS has made her fanatic to the point of taking action. If she finds other girls who happened to then she might succeed but in that case it would minimize the harm to other sasaengs and loses the value of your fight."

     "Does that mean Doo-Na wouldn't be punished?" Jimin was indignant.

     "It would mean that she could seek psychiatric care in exchange for a prison sentence."

     "But that's not fair!" Hoseok exclaimed.

     "I know."

     "She tried to kill Jin hyung, twice!" Jungkook added even if it was useless to remind because none of them had forgotten.

     Everyone turned to Seokjin who remained silent. He hadn't spoken much since he had seen Doo-Na the day before during the first day of the trial, but it was worse since their lawyer had announced to everyone that he had tried to kill himself. Everyone knew he was not well but the trial absolutely had to continue to end as soon as possible.

     "She needs to be punished to match what she did," Taehyung said, feeling his neck itch as he remembered how she grabbed onto his injured neck to prevent him from reaching Jin who was in danger.

     "There's a second issue we talked about that you were already aware of: Doo-Na is underage," their lawyer reminded them. "It was only because the trial was over-publicized that the justice system gave up trying to bring her before a juvenile court, but she also risks having her sentence adjusted."

     "Her actions weren't those of a child though," Yoongi remarked grimly.

     "I know. If she was under fourteen, she would not risk more than two years in detention, but since she is over fourteen, we will insist on the seriousness of her actions to increase her sentence."

      "How much does she risk in that case?" Namjoon asked.

     "As she is still a minor, she can be sentenced to the maximum sentence of twenty years in prison for murder."

     "Except she failed to kill me," Jin reminded them, as if regretting that he couldn't allow the group to establish the best defense.

     "And fortunately!" Jungkook hastened to say, outraged to hear regret in his voice.

     "Hyung, even if she failed to kill you, she is responsible indirectly for the deaths of Paris," Namjoon reminded him, "I will take care of reminding the world so that people don't get too upset at her age. As Yoongi hyung said, she may look like a child, but she has committed monstrous deeds and she must bear the consequences to match her actions. Neither her age nor the presumption of madness should protect her."

      "Okay, you'll do that tomorrow Namjoon, and Taehyung, it is you who will be auditioning in a few minutes, so on your side, you have to make sure to prove that she is not insane and that she knew very well what she was doing and deserve a harsh judgment," the lawyer announced, turning to the second youngest.

     Taehyung nodded.

     "I'll do my best."

     As everyone returned to the courtroom for the rest of the trial, Jin and Jungkook stood back alone for a moment. because Jin seemed particularly distressed.

      "Are you okay, hyung?" Jungkook asked even though he knew the answer. Jin couldn't do well when the trial had just started and clashed with the fierceness of Doo-Na's lawyer, while reminding him of the suffering he had endured.

     "My testimony will take place tomorrow before Doo-Na's, but I don't know if I feel capable," Jin confessed. "I thought I was ready, but I increasingly feel like I'm not. Seeing you on the stand should have given me courage but it just scared me. I don't know if I'll be able to speak again in front of millions of people like before. Look what happens to me just thinking about it," he added, showing him his hand which was shaking with anxiety at the thought of speaking in public. "What if I have a panic attack in front of everyone?"

     Jungkook grabbed his trembling hand between his and rubbed it vigorously.

     "Hyung, you've always been better with words than me, if I got through it, you'll come out of it like a boss," Jungkook assured him, "and by the way, don't worry too much about the millions of people, you won't see them."

     "Yeah, but they see us every single minute," Jin corrected with a pale smile.

      "It's true," Junkook admitted, "but hyung, you don't have to look at people or thing about them, you can look at us if it makes you feel better, we'll be there with you. Always."

      Reassured, Jin nodded.

     "I would also like to be able to look Doo-Na in the eye."

     "Why?" Jungkook asked, curious.

     "I..." Seokjin mused, "...I would like her to know that she failed to break me and most importantly, show Army that I got back up. I don't want them to think I gave up."

     "Hyung, no one thinks you gave up, everyone is supporting you!" the younger assured him.

     "That's what you think..."

     "No, hyung, that's what I know. And I also know that you will succeed in," Jungkook affirmed.

     He gently stroked the permanent scar left by the Army Bomb thrown by Doo-Na overhead across his brow bone. Jin had always had a naturally perfect face that was envied by other idols and now his perfection had been affected by this scar.

     Jin never mentioned it but everyone knew it upset him. When he looked at himself in the mirror, he no longer smiled at himself, he looked at himself sadly, Jungkook had seen him. Even though Jin had regained his good mood, these visible scars prevented him from forgetting what had happened, the fear and the suffering inflicted for a reason as ridiculous as a ship story.

     He would probably never forget as he would see those scars forever, the one on his face and the one on his back, but this trial was supposed to start healing him from some wounds and move on. And that was why they had to win this case. Doo-Na should not get away without paying for what she had done. 

     These scars they both bore would be the remnants of their fight against the sasaengs. 

     "Raise your head proudly, hyung," Jungkook told him, "she needs to see what she did to you and let the whole world see that sasaengs are dangerous but we won't let them go unpunished anymore."

      Trial, Day 3

     Questioning of Kim Taehyung, singer of the group BTS

      "Taehyung, you characterized Miss Doo-Na as a 'sasaeng'. Can you explain to us what a sasaeng is?" asked attorney Kim Yun who had taken over from Kim Ja for Taehyung's interrogation.

       "The sasaengs are the extreme fans in their behavior and their dealings with us. They harass us and think we belong to them," Taehyung explained.  

     "And why do you consider Kim Doo-Na to be a sasaeng and not an ordinary fan?"

     "Doo-Na threatened our tour by harassing us online. Then she tried to kill Seokjin twice, coming all the way to France for it and even following us to Incheon airport. From the begining during the radio show, she never had the behavior of a normal fan, she had the behavior that a person has towards objects that belong to her."

      "Can you be more precise ? Why did you feel like she saw you as objects?"

     "At Incheon, she said to me it's not up to us to make decisions for ourselves or love whomever we want. She said I belong to the fans and we have to do what they want."

     "And how did you feel hearing that?" 

     "Vulnerable and despised," Taehyung admitted while remembering his Incheon experience with more intensity. "It's as if our will doesn't matter. Just like when we were asked to play put forward imaginary relationships to please them, while destroying the bonds of friendship we had with each other."

     "Are you saying that your relationship with your fans can break the relationship you have with each other in the band?"

     "Normally we know how to detach from it as we are idols for a long time now but there are times when it's so rude that it obviously affects us. We feel compelled to do things that we don't want to do just to please them and as long as they are ordinary fans, it's not really a problem for us because they are not really requirements and we like to please them. But when it's the sasaengs, it turns into a requirement and it's like we have to obey them because they try to make us understand that they are the ones who made us recognized celebrities."

     "Do all the sasaengs make you feel that way?"

     "Yes. They make me feel less than human. An object they try to obtain by constraining our own desires by all means, even if it means crushing us. This is even what literally happened at the Stade de France since we were crushed and almost suffocated by this extreme love. There was Doo-Na on one side trying to kill Seokjin but on the other, there was also our fans didn't realize that we were suffocating with this love they were trying to show us."

     "Does this mean that even among your fans who are not sasaengs, there are ordinary people who can go to these extremes sometimes?"

     "Yes, for a moment, they can go into fits of madness seeing us up close for example."

      Immediately after saying that, Taehyung regretted. He had uttered the word "madness" again. But it was precisely to say that anyone could switch, without any link to any psychiatric assessment, so the lawyer of Doo-Na should not be able to counter with that.

     "The line is quickly crossed between a fan and a sasaeng, and people don't realize right away that they've crossed that line. We call them sasaengs if they keep those behaviors permanently and not on a one-time basis."

     "Can we say that Doo-Na is a sasaeng in this case?"

     "She tried to kill Seokjin. Twice," Taehyung repeated harshly, "it is no longer time to  wonder if she is indeed a sasaeng. She is. And if she hadn't been, she would have been a hater and a criminal anyway, it's hardly a more flattering title. And if she claims not to realize it, she is lying. And if she pretends to be insane to better escape justice, then I tell the whole world that she is lying."

     Cross-examination of BTS singer Kim Taehyung

     "You described Miss Doo-Na as a sasaeng, explaining that she was an extreme fan. This therefore means that it is her love for you that has evolved in an extreme way. Don't you think that it is your practices that are responsible for the development of this extreme love?"

     "What would I be responsible for? I love my fans, but a sasaeng in my eyes is no longer a fan because she hurts me while my fans bring me love."

     "Not the sasaengs?" 

     "It's an unhealthy love akin to-" Taehyung began before stopping abruptly, realizing that he was making a mistake.

     "To what?" insisted the lawyer, who understood perfectly.

     "To... to..." Taehyung stammered, trying to catch up without being able to find another word that could characterize this behavior.

     "I believe what Mr. Kim is trying to say is that the behavior of the sasaengs is akin to madness," Park finished, turning to the jurors. "This unhealthy fetishization of idols among young people of our country is indisputable and we have seen the dangers it represents but I ask you, instead of punishing at all costs, is it not urgent to heal?"

     Taehyung couldn't contradict her and cast a disappointed look towards the other members.

     "You have to heal the ills in these young girls but also take into consideration the source of this ills," the lawyer added, staring at Taehyung.

      "I am not the source of any ill!" the idol defended himself, understanding what the woman meant.

     "Oh, I am not accusing you directly, Mr. Kim, I am accusing the practices that you were asked to have and that you have perfectly adopted elsewhere, but which seem to have twisted the brains of your young fans, leading them to a form of sickly fetishism."

     This line was enough to make permanently this lawyer the enemy of all BTS fans. And the comments began to flood the internet.

     What right did she have to say that Taehyung and the other boys were responsible for the actions of this sasaeng? of any sasaeng?

      And how could she believe that she could with impunity attack thousands of fans by criticizing the love they had for their idols and equating this love with madness or something artificial?

     The love of the fans for the artists did not come from their fancies. This love came from the admiration they had for them as artist first and then for the big-hearted human beings that they were then. 

     Appearences and fan service was not the source of their love contrary to what Doo-Na's lawyer wanted the world to believe and who was belittling Kpop artists in their connection with their fans by making this link completely immature and wrong.

     No one had the right to say that the artists were responsible for the violence perpetrated by the fans, or the sasaengs or the haters.

     And no one could say that all fans would inevitably end up like Doo-Na.

     It was as if a double trial was going on at the same time: BTS was suing Doo-Na, but Doo-Na's lawyer seemed through her defense to be suing the idols and the fans on their side were advocates of the idols and protected them with all their might on social medias. They refused to let BTS fight this fight alone and immediately sided with them.

     But for the moment, the artists could not see it as they were at he court, immersed in the bitter fight led by the lawyer Park who was also unaware that she had become with this lawsuit one of the most hated women of Korea and who would certainly regret having agreed to take up this matter.

     In the same way that the Army defended him without his knowledge, Taehyung, for his part, immediately hastened to defend the honor of his fans:

     "Don't talk like all of our fans are like Doo-Na, because you're wrong. Our fans are loving and respectful, it doesn't matter what we do, they mean us no harm. As for Doo-Na, she made the choice to hurt us, it is her choice and only hers. So it's her fault, not ours."

     Where she was in the room, Doo-Na was devastated and crying her heart out. Taehyung loved his fans with all his heart and stood up for them. Conversely, he despised her and would never defend her. 

     "So you're saying you're not pushing your fans to unconditional love?" Park insisted. 

     "Unconditional doesn't mean insane," the singer retorted.

     "So if Doo-Na acted like that, it was because she wasn't not in a normal state, right?"

     "No, it was because of hatred that she did this," he corrected.

     "And where could such a hatred come from in someone as young and vulnerable as Miss Doo-Na?" the lawyer pretended to be surprised.

     "I don't know, ask her!" Taehyung fumed, beside himself.

     Talking about madness and getting sucked into Park's trickery, Taehyung felt like he was the one going mad and he had a headache. He would have liked to go back to the others immediately and for this woman to leave him alone.

     "Mr. Kim, I see an inconsistency in your remarks,"  Attorney Park lamented, "you say you are the source of moderate love from your fans and yet there are also fans who develop a excessive and unhealthy love towards you but you say you are not responsible for the latter, on the other hand. So that implies that you admit that actions like Doo-Na's are not normality but madness, right? Or do you keep denying?"

     "Objection your honor, she is trying to guide the witness's answer," Kim Yun objected attorney Kim Yun.

     "Granted," the judge decided .

     The cross-examination was about to stop much to Taehyung's relief. However, glancing at Seokjin who seemed very upset before getting up from his chair to leave the witness box, he felt like he hadn't fought hard enough for him in this duel against the sasaeng's lawyer. Then, he decided he wanted to win the oratorical contest against Attorney Park so, on his own, he made this statement for jurors and viewers:

      "A crazy action does not mean that the person is sick and deserves our compassion. Doo-Na developed an inordinate hatred towards Seokjin. She had no compassion when she threatened him with death, nor when she chased and stabbed him, nor when she wrote him a cruel letter to ask him do die, nor when she tried to kill him again at the airport." 

     Then he concluded by turning to Doo-Na and giving her a hard look that made her turn pale:

      "Do not plead insanity because you won't make me feel for you, no matter how hard you try. You are going to realize that you were wrong to go after Seokjin."

https://youtu.be/O3_JcImNpP0

_____________

A/N : I wanted to break down the trial to make it more interesting  but I got the impression that the previous chapter didn't seem to have been enjoyed very much. I hope you don't find these chapters too boring