The adrenaline from the "Live Protest" had barely cooled before it was replaced by the cold, logistical machinery of international expansion. In the K-pop industry, a scandal resolved through a show of unity isn't just a relief—it's a marketing goldmine. Starline Entertainment, realizing they could no longer muzzle the group without destroying their most profitable asset, had pivoted. The "disciplinary action" had been downgraded to a series of grueling, behind-closed-doors lectures and a massive fine that would be deducted from their first settlement.
But the real "punishment" was the schedule. To capitalize on the global surge of interest following the "STEL-R is Five" viral moment, the agency had accelerated the timeline for their first international showcase tour: [STEL-R: THE FIRST FLARE - GLOBAL TOUR].
The Departure: 05:00 AM Incheon Airport
