Dear JYP

• Published Jan 22, 2016 5:00 PM KST
• Updated Jan 22, 2016 5:00 PM KST

By Jason Lim

Remember me? I was the guy at Harvard Kennedy School who invited you to headline the Hallyu Forum almost nine years ago in February 2007. You were smart, funny, and articulate at the lecture, greeting the overflowing students with a loud, “What’s up? Wait, can I say ‘what’s up?’ at Harvard?”

You were also well prepared and informed about the spread of K-pop around Asia, taking us from its beginnings in Taiwan with the popularity of “KUNGTARI SHABARA” by Clon to where you saw its future going, which turned out to be right on the money for most parts. Afterwards, you rented the whole floor of a nightclub in Boston to celebrate your triumphant turn at Harvard as your posse danced the night away with Boston-based Korean students.

I was surprised when you asked me later on in the night over the din of the music, “What do you think I should do from now on?” You were definitely buzzed, but I managed to catch a note of seriousness in your tone. “Bro, just have fun,” I said, unsure why you sought me out to ask the question and knowing that you won’t remember anything I say. “Continue to do things that are fun and stop doing things if they’re no longer fun because you’re at your best when you are having fun yourself.”

You nodded with the sacred seriousness of Plato nodding at Socrates as the hemlock was taking its final hold. Then you suddenly spun around with a delighted shout as the next beat screamed across the floor, jumping into the throng of adoring fans. In the years afterwards, you became an even bigger star and celebrity Hallyu businessman, seemingly still having fun.

I doubt you’re having fun now.

But there is no way that you could have foreseen what happened over the last few days with the Chou Tzu-yu incident. Actually, it’s nobody’s fault. Not you, not the girl group’s manager, not the staff member who handed Tzuyu the Taiwanese nationalist flag to wave in a photo shoot to showcase the diversity of the team’s members, and certainly not Tzuyu herself, who, after all, only did what she was told to do.

How can you possibly be expected to take into account the One China policy, sensitivity on national flags, meddling Taiwanese singer, upcoming national election in Taiwan that pitted a pro-Beijing against a pro-independence candidate, and the instantaneous nature of social media? Colossal bad luck, bro. But you could have handled it better.

I know that it’s easy to be a Monday morning quarterback, but you should have never exposed Tzuyu to apologize in the video. Everyone could see that she was vulnerable, terrified, and numb. It’s no wonder that people are comparing it to an ISIS video. Even worse, you made her reference the One China policy in her apology. By doing that, you were, in effect, taking a political position and wading into a swamp from which you can’t get out unscathed. I know you were panicking over the unexpected and existential threat to your company. Unfortunately, in your panic, you forgot that your first and foremost responsibility lay with Tzuyu.

As the namesake for your company, you should have taken the full brunt of the sting of an apology yourself and kept the girl under wraps. That would have shown the world that you were protecting the girl as she deserves to be protected. Further, you should have taken to the offensive by rightfully arguing that she was a little girl who was only doing what she was told to; anyone who thinks that Tzuyu was making a political statement should have their heads examined. As is now, the impression is that you threw her under the bus to save your company.

I know that you also apologized, but even your own apology was misguided. You are an entertainment company – why should you be responsible for teaching Tzuyu about geopolitics and navigating identity-based diplomacy? You should be teaching her how to sing and dance, that’s all.

Further, why should you apologize to China? How did China get hurt here? You actually should have apologized to Tzuyu for putting her in this position. She is the victim here, not China. And not even China has the right to bully a little girl over an innocent mistake. Nor do Taiwanese politicians have the right to use her as a political symbol. Let me repeat: Tzuyu is talented 16-year old girl who was doing a photo shoot. No more, no less.

If you were to ask me again today – “What do you think I should do from now on?” – I would have told you that this crisis could have been an opportunity to show the world that you will protect your artists as fiercely as a bear protecting her cubs and honor the trust that they have invested in your care and guidance. You would have shown your character on a global stage and be respected for it. Talents would have flocked to you. And ultimately that’s what any business is all about: people. And it’s still not too late to make this right and work for you if you just refocus on your people.

And one more: go back to having fun. You are at your best when you are having fun.

Jason Lim is a Washington, D.C.-based expert on innovation, leadership and organizational culture. He has been writing for The Korea Times since 2006. He can be reached at jasonlim@msn.com, facebook.com/jasonlimkoreatimes and @jasonlim2012.