Chapter 37
Chapter 37
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: The Illegal Binding Scandal
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"Good. I hate waiting around too."
"Heh heh heh. Just as I hoped. You spit it out so boldly and straightforward—it's impressive."
Kim Jong-hwan had been famous even as a prosecutor for his bulldozer style, relentlessly charging at any case that came his way, so he naturally favored people who weren't frustrating or indecisive.
In that sense, Kang Hyun's refreshingly direct response seemed to really hit the mark for him.
"I've got a case that's really giving me a headache right now. See if you can sort it out."
He pressed his forehead with his hand, as if just thinking about the troublesome matter made his head throb.
"That doesn't seem related to the research."
"No, what's the topic of your research this time?"
"It's a review of the practical operation of major systems in criminal justice."
"Right. This'll make for a perfect case study. Dig into it, put together some content for the 'casebook,' and report back. I'll set you up with access to all the library theses. Speak up if there's anything else you need."
Kim Jong-hwan shifted in his seat. It looked like he was about to get into the details of the case.
"You know the woman running the unmanned photocopy room in the school's First Welfare Hall?"
"Yes. It's close to the law building. It's unmanned, but she drops by sometimes, so we call her the Copy Room Teacher."
"Teacher? She's a businesswoman. Sharp as a tack when it comes to all sorts of ventures. It's just that stubborn streak of hers—she can't even handle a single reporter."
He seemed a little surprised by the word "businesswoman," picturing a surprisingly young woman with brown hair as he spoke.
"I believe her name is... Im Yeon, the teacher. But why bring her up?"
"She's been hit with a complaint recently."
A complaint within the school.
As department chair, it could be a worry for the school's well-being, but it had little direct connection to the law faculty, so Kang Hyun's interest piqued as he jumped in.
"What was the complaint about?"
"From what I hear, it's about illegally binding and selling books with existing copyrights."
"...I see. Isn't that common around universities?"
"Education office crackdowns and internal audits happen often, but a direct complaint from the Copyright Commission is rare. And the case is moving along swiftly—she's in deep trouble."
"I'll look into it first."
"Good."
Kim Jong-hwan spoke with certainty that Im Yeon was "in deep trouble," implying the complaint was malicious.
Kang Hyun didn't fully grasp Kim Jong-hwan's true intentions yet, but he decided to show it through action and stood up.
Korea University Welfare Hall Photocopy Room.
"Huu..."
Im Yeon let out a deep sigh.
The recent complaint had drawn unexpected media scrutiny, putting the photocopy room she'd built up so painstakingly on the brink of closure.
She stared at the "No Illegal Binding" notice posted prominently on the door, unable to shake the pained expression from her face.
Im Yeon had first run a photocopy operation at age twenty.
With nothing to her name and a poor family background, she'd worked honestly and given her all, building experience until, in just a few years, she'd wisely saved enough to start her own business operating around ten self-service photocopiers at a young age.
She'd kept making smart investments, expanding her operations, and even eyed service businesses closely tied to students at universities including Korea University—rising from rags to riches, so to speak.
But then trials came. Caught in the sales tactics, collusion, and public backlash from major competitors, her losses mounted, pushing her toward bankruptcy.
Yet through it all, she'd stayed clean and honest.
Despite the burdens of labor and operating costs, she'd done her utmost to improve service—minimizing downtime, adjusting prices—without joining price-fixing schemes or leading with illegal practices.
By chance, Professor Kim Jong-hwan learned of her plight and extended a helping hand to the woman who worked so uprightly.
He introduced her to the "corporate asset welfare facility bidding" process, enabling her to dramatically participate in Korea University's photocopy room bid.
Of course, winning the bid wasn't easy. Her operation was smaller and less experienced than the competitors'.
But her innovative printing solutions, facility investments, and service plans earned rave reviews, and her clean, transparent management sealed the deal—she successfully entered Korea University's campus.
Years passed that way, and by twenty-eight, Im Yeon's business philosophy remained "honesty," bolstered by steady effort as she faithfully grew her enterprise.
Even looking just at her Korea University Welfare Hall operation, she never went along with the campus illegal binding. She always stuck to principles, doing only legitimate work, and proudly displayed signs calling for the eradication of unauthorized copying and illegal binding.
But now, it all felt like it was crumbling.
Rumors would spread that she'd done no differently from other outfits, and she had no face left to show Professor Kim Jong-hwan.
Lost in despair, she suddenly heard the door creak open.
"Hello."
"We're not operating. Didn't you hear?"
A tall young man who looked like a student greeted her, but Im Yeon snapped back without even looking at him.
Ever since hearing whispers that the recent complaint came from an anonymous someone within the school, she'd started viewing school insiders with hostility.
"I'm not here to copy. Hello. I'm Kang Hyun, a first-year in the Law Department. Professor Kim Jong-hwan, the department chair, sent me."
"The department chair?"
"Yes. Professor Kim Jong-hwan of the Law Department."
At the mention of "Kim Jong-hwan" by the man who introduced himself as Kang Hyun, her expression brightened briefly before sinking back.
"Have a seat for a moment."
She guided him to an inner seat and sat across from him. Even then, her face showed her flailing amid worries, and it took Kang Hyun calling her a few times for her to snap out of it.
"Why would the professor... No, it must be about this incident. I'm sorry. Please tell him he doesn't need to help any more."
"The professor said whatever penalties come from this complaint are one thing, but he'll do his utmost to ensure no further disadvantages lead to your eviction."
"No. That's something I have to accept too. I'm just planning to wrap things up here and close shop."
Im Yeon cut him off sharply, trying to send Kang Hyun away.
But his calm gaze, fixed on her without budging, made her uncomfortable, so she said quietly.
"...I'm not upset about it."
"No, if some students scanned entire textbooks into files, printed them out on the unmanned machines, distributed them, and an anonymous someone reported it— that's plenty grounds to feel wronged."
"...How did you know that?"
She blinked, scrutinizing Kang Hyun's face as if trying to figure out who he really was. A corner of her mind seemed to wonder if he was even a university student.
"This is a self-service operation at its core. Most busts in crackdowns follow this pattern. I'm not an education office staffer. I read it in a book."
"...Ah."
Kang Hyun smiled and continued.
"Copyright Act Article 136: Reproducing, performing, publicly transmitting, displaying, or distributing intellectual property rights or other protected proprietary rights carries up to five years' imprisonment or a fine of up to 50 million won. It's explicitly criminalized."
"...You're right."
As she answered despondently, Kang Hyun stared straight through her.
"But the Enforcement Decree and Rules of the Act on Contracts to Which the State is a Party, plus the special clause in Korea University's photocopy room bid: 'The lessee shall not arbitrarily suspend welfare facility operations, and failure to operate for three or more days without just cause results in termination of the lease.' You wouldn't want to be kicked out by the school for unauthorized shutdown, would you?"
"Th-that's..."
"Shutting down without authorization is just as bad as getting caught for illegal binding."
His words left her a bit flustered, unable to respond right away.
Because while Kang Hyun's tone carried a warning edge, it also showed genuine concern for her.
"If the complaint is malicious, then don't run—find a solution."
Kang Hyun didn't believe for a second that this anonymous complainer had done it purely out of justice or respect for the law. There had to be some shady backstory.
And only then did he realize why Kim Jong-hwan had sent him.
Because someone like Kang Hyun wouldn't dodge or ignore something like this. Kim Jong-hwan had seen right through that and chosen him.
"I... don't even know what to do..."
Hearing her inner turmoil voiced to an outsider—something she hadn't shared with anyone else—made Im Yeon hang her head and start to sob.
"It's true that illegal copying is rampant. Every semester start, whether spring or fall, the student council's print shop crackdowns catch similar amounts. It's blatant illegality, but almost no one gets punished, and the print shops take the full hit. Poor students, unscrupulous binders, and lax laws all tangled up."
As Kang Hyun explained calmly, she lifted her head.
"You need to steel yourself, use this as a warning example, and find a way to prevent recurrences. Giving up and closing shop over this just makes the problem bigger."
There was a touch of comfort in what Kang Hyun said next.
Having heard nothing like this from anyone around her, Im Yeon looked up at him, visibly moved.
"...The media's blasting that our company was reported to the Copyright Commission, the case is serious, and it's been handed to prosecutors. Once the image damage hits, other companies will pounce. It's too harsh. I just don't understand what happened."
"Have you tallied how many illegally bound books were involved?"
"About 150 to 200 copies."
"What kind?"
"Specialty textbooks."
"Over what period?"
"Just one evening."
"Any idea who did it?"
"Couldn't confirm."
It was a thoroughly suspicious incident.
Who in one night would illegally bind and take out 200 specialty textbooks? Unless a student was trying to sell them or something—but even then, without malice, it was impossible.
Moreover, as textbooks, they should've circulated visibly among students, but there'd been no rumors of 200 copies floating around.
"Huu..."
As Kang Hyun sank into thought, Im Yeon sighed deeply, lamenting her fate.
This incident had sparked an uncontrollable blaze, and now everyone around—peers, students—was fleeing, pretending not to know, or shooting dirty looks.
Her business, built on the pride of honesty and the trust it earned, made the punishment she faced feel all the harsher.
Amid the condemnation, she was in full panic, not knowing what to do.
Seeing her like that hardened Kang Hyun's resolve even more.
"Don't worry. I'll definitely help you out."
Then, with eyes gleaming, Kang Hyun said.
"Let's go through it step by step."