What a Small World
"I definitely heard you say, 'Yes, let's go,' and 'I'm going, okay? When should I head out? Should I pack the gear?' And I recorded it all."
"...Pardon?"
I couldn't believe my ears. What the hell was this guy just saying? Wasn't the hidden camera prank over now that it succeeded? But he was saying he was actually going? For real?
"Th-this is still part of the hidden camera...?"
Ha Bong-seok PD shook his head with a kind, good-natured smile.
"Come on, Areum. We're not the type to throw together a half-assed show. Of course, we told Seokgyun here from the start when we scouted him. It's a real wilderness variety show."
"......"
I whipped my head to the side. There was O Seokgyun, suddenly staring out the window like he hadn't heard a thing. This guy...
"Traitor..."
"Ah, Areum...? What's wrong? You said you'd go earlier too, all cool with 'Let's go.'"
No, that was because I thought it was a prank... Sure, I wasn't immune to the romance of deserted island camping. Any camper dreams of it at least once—no people around, just the sound of waves, a roaring bonfire. But going with these broadcast folks? That was a whole different story. They'd work me to the bone under the guise of "survival," no doubt.
"Uh, um... I could do a deserted island, but..."
"Really?!"
Ha Bong-seok PD's eyes lit up.
"Well, if I just talk to the boss, it could be arranged... but..."
A string of recent events flashed through my mind.
"Whatever it is, just say the word. Pay? Schedule? We'll make it work."
"No, it's not that. I had some controversy recently. Not the good kind..."
The Outdoor Romance incident. It was resolved, but I worried the fallout might splash over if it aired.
"Of course, it's all cleared up now—proven to be fake news. But I don't want it dragging the show down."
Ha Bong-seok PD waved it off.
"No worries. It's all sorted, right?"
"Oh yeah! What happened to that jerk?"
O Seokgyun suddenly jumped in, exuding big-brother vibes, his face twisting as he clenched his fist. He looked every bit the gang enforcer.
"I saw weird comments popping up on your channel videos, so I dug around. Turns out it was some lowlife troll."
"It all worked out. Since I'm basically affiliated with a broadcaster, they handled it super fast. Being false accusations helped too."
"Affiliated with a broadcaster?"
Ha Bong-seok PD looked puzzled.
"Ah, not working at one directly. My MCN is the one Next made."
"Next!"
He slapped his knee.
"Do you know a PD named Yu Minji there? She has this super dry image..."
"Yu PD? Yeah... she's my dedicated PD."
"Hahaha! No way! She worked under me, then poof—gone. Called me recently bragging, 'Senior, I'm living the dream^^.' Made me wanna throttle her..."
He grinned through gritted teeth.
Dream life...? Yu PD, are you kicking back while dumping work on Park PD? Or does it mean my channel's that chill? Either way, I knew she was competent, but who knew she went way back with legendary variety PD Ha Bong-seok. The industry's small, alright.
"Life's full of surprises."
"Tell me about it. Knowing Minji's handling you makes me trust this even more. Oh, and don't sweat the controversy. We're on YouTube anyway."
"Huh? YouTube?"
Wait, what? I figured Ha Bong-seok PD meant terrestrial or cable TV.
"You do YouTube?"
"Just started. Small channel still..."
He sheepishly showed me his smartphone screen.
My jaw dropped scanning the thumbnails.
"No way... This lineup, and only 100K subs? One video should hit a million easy."
He gave a wry smile.
"We started, but promotion's the issue. Can't exactly advertise it openly since my agency's... you know."
"Ah..."
No one even knows it exists. Complicated rules like broadcast laws. Even top stars get buried without the algorithm's favor.
Pity welled up.
"...Just have the guests who've appeared post about it on SNS once? You're all tight, right?"
His face fell awkwardly.
"That feels pushy... Like forcing them. Could spark power-trip rumors..."
"......"
Surprising. The guy who commands the airwaves like a king was surprisingly timid here.
Can't friends just ask nicely? Guess adults have their politics.
Then I noticed the shop packed with staff: camera ops, lighting, writers, audio... Easily over ten.
Wait... No revenue yet, feeding all these? Reasonable suspicion hit.
...No way. Passion pay?
"...So everyone's unpaid right now...?"
"Gasp!"
Ha Bong-seok PD freaked, waving frantically at my mutter.
"No, no! Absolutely not! Staff get paid on time! Don't jinx us!"
He looked mortified.
"I'm covering out of pocket if I have to! It's in the red, but..."
His voice trailed off. Staff bowed heads or stared afar. Mood sobered instantly.
Ah... Sorry. My bad for asking. This guy's a real leader.
He cleared his throat, shifting gears.
"Ahem! Areum, you're scary... Anyway! Deserted island! We're going! For real!"
"...Yeah, I'm fine with going. But is the spot set? Not every island's fair game."
Permits, safety. And real boonies? Bathroom situation's key.
He grinned confidently.
"Ah! It's 'deserted,' but don't worry. Not totally uninhabited—small island off Geoje-do..."
"Geoje-do?"
My ears perked at the familiar name.
"Yeah. Barely got permits. Owner's quirky."
"Quirky how?"
"First contact, flat-out no. 'That's our granddaughter's playground~'"
"...?"
Was that an impression? Sounds familiar... Not just familiar—the accent!
"Granddaughter's playground...?"
"Yeah. Who calls an island a playground? Turns out he owns most of Imji and the coast there. First time realizing Korea's full of hidden rich."
Imji. Coast. Landlord. Granddaughter's playground. Geoje-do.
Puzzle pieces clicked.
No way. Nah.
Korea's got like 3,000 islands. Odds it's that one? Slim.
"PD, quick question."
"Yes?"
"Got a photo of the island?"
"Ah, got recon shots."
He pulled out his phone.
The pic showed a small sandy beach, dense forest behind—a quaint isle. And one jutting rock on the side.
...Huh?
That rock. Identical to the one from Grandpa's land view last Geoje-do camp.
Not similar—the same rock.
I opened my gallery, scrolled to Geoje-do pics. Pulled up a dawn shot toward the sea.
"Wanna see this?"
I held out my phone. He peered curiously.
"What... Oh! Exact vibe. Our island had a big rock out front like... this..."
His words slowed. Eyes flicked between my pic and memory.
"...Huh? Matches perfectly?"
He tilted his head, calling a staffer.
"Chang-su, check this pic? Matches our recon spot?"
The camera director approached, adjusted glasses, stared. Nodded.
"Yeah... Looks right. Rock shape, island ridge behind..."
I took my phone back, opened the land registry image Grandpa sent. Red-marked "Han Geunja Ownership." Tiny island neatly inside.
Zoomed the map for Ha Bong-seok PD.
"This the area?"
He checked, clapped.
"Spot on! How'd you pinpoint it...?"
Shock froze his mouth.
Final check.
"Owner's name... know it?"
"Yeah, memorable since quirky..."
He rummaged memory.
"Han surname, Geunja character?"
"Gasp...!"
He staggered back, ghost-faced.
"D-did you get possessed?! How even the name...?"
O Seokgyun gawked too.
"Areum, you... a shaman?"
...Why are you chiming in?
"It's my grandpa."
"......"
Ha Bong-seok PD, O Seokgyun, ten-plus staff—all jaws dropped, frozen.
"P-pardon...?"
Ha Bong-seok PD finally croaked.
"Who?"
"My actual grandpa. The landowner."
"......"
His legs buckled. A staffer caught him.
"Wh-what?!"
O Seokgyun dropped his half-eaten green onion pancake.
"Gr-grandpa...?"
Ah... Mokpo bigwig strikes again.
"Hahaha! Jackpot!"
O Seokgyun clapped, laughing.
"Perfect! Owner's cool, you know the spot. No worries!"
Relieved, he chugged makgeolli.
Ha Bong-seok PD still dazed, but brighter.
"So... your grandpa. What a..."
"Coincidence. Or fate, maybe."
Fate. The old monk's words echoed: 'Fate can't be hidden.'
3,000 islands, and it's Geoje-do. Grandpa's land. Pure chance? Or...
Eh. Call it destiny. Easier that way.
Mood settled; we hashed schedule.
"Filming ASAP?"
O Seokgyun asked eagerly.
Ha Bong-seok PD blinked.
"You sure?"
"Anytime!"
"Really?"
"Yes... Why ask like that...?"
Ah... Does he really not know?
You just got back from overseas location...
"...Oppa."
"Yeah?"
"Oppa. Saw your wife's face before leaving today?"
"..."
"Month? Longer? Overseas shoot."
"Yeah..."
Cold sweat beaded his brow. Getting it now?
"...PD. I gotta head home."
"...Yes. Island next week. Sort it by then."
"Ugh...!"
Schedule set. Week later, Geoje-do deserted island.
Heading home, taxi window framed Seoul's nightscape whizzing by.
What a variety day. Midnight summons, prank, island commitment—turns out Grandpa's turf.
"Hahat..."
I chuckled.
Life's unpredictable. Months ago, ramen in my room, lamenting fate. Now? Celeb deserted island camp.
Home, Maximus greeted me.
"I'm back, Maximus."
Hugged him, flopped on bed. Fluffy quilt heaven.
"Deserted island, huh..."
Knew the spot first... What to pack?
Rakgurakgu bed essential. Gotta show it off. Boss could snag sponsor collab?
"Ah! Maximus!"
"Woof!"
Grandpa's land—stop by his place? Probably join in Geoje-do, drop Maximus off first, crash there post-shoot. No loneliness for him.
Sigh. Busy days ahead.