Cracks in the Goddess's Pedestal
The community post titled Summary of Controversies Surrounding Onhwa Guild's Goddess, Yu Hyejeong had set the internet on fire after the Min Jiyeon incident. The reason it spread like wildfire was the explosive combination of keywords: Onhwa Guild and Yu Hyejeong. Inside, it compiled the countless incidents that had swirled around her over the years.
Onhwa Guild Goddess Yu Hyejeong Controversy Summary
1. When a National Assembly member invited her to dinner, she replied with zero respect, basically saying “I don’t have time for that kind of bullshit.”
2. While lecturing a group of hunters, she told the low-rank ones that anyone without real skill should just go do manual labor, openly mocking both day laborers and lower-grade hunters…
It wasn’t written by a professional journalist, so the summary was a bit sloppy. Still, the Min Jiyeon incident had created reactions that never existed before.
Yu Hyejeong, the Onhwa Guild, and the Min Jiyeon incident had become the hottest potato on the internet. People began revisiting every strange interview she had given over the past month, along with comments that now seemed off.
From those reevaluating past events to others noticing how strange her recent interviews had become, everything was slowly rising to the surface. Of course, the flawless image Han Junho had spent three years building for Yu Hyejeong wasn’t a sandcastle that would collapse overnight.
Still, very slowly… cracks were beginning to form in that once-solid fortress. Yet no one had noticed it yet.
“Mr. Han Junho, please step up to the podium.”
Dressed in a perfectly fitted suit with his hair neatly styled, Junho walked slowly onto the stage with a tense expression. The reason for his nervousness was simple: he was receiving the Brave Citizen Award in recognition of his role in catching Min Jiyeon.
He had been told he would receive some form of commendation from the association hunter who responded to his report, but he never imagined it would be a public award like this.
For your outstanding contribution in the capture of a fleeing hunter…
With deep gratitude. Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Commissioner Min Kyung-jin.
In addition to the plaque, they presented him with a department store gift certificate worth one million won. Junho shook hands with the commissioner while countless cameras flashed around them. He didn’t particularly enjoy ceremonies or formal procedures, but when someone in a high position asked, he couldn’t refuse.
“We are truly grateful. If Mr. Han Junho hadn’t helped us…”
Polite compliments were exchanged several times as the reporters’ flashes continued without pause. While brave citizen award ceremonies usually drew a few journalists, the crowd today was unusually large because the person involved was Min Jiyeon, who had ties to the Onhwa Guild.
There are way too many people here. When can I go home?
Junho kept a polite social smile on his face until the entire event finally ended. It took quite some time before he could escape.
“Mr. Han Junho! Just one interview, please!”
“How exactly did you catch Min Jiyeon?!”
“What was your relationship with her?!”
Even after the police commissioner left, the swarm of reporters around Junho kept firing questions.
“I’m sorry, but I must decline all interviews.”
He firmly refused and rubbed his throbbing temples.
I don’t want anything more to do with the Onhwa Guild, yet I keep getting dragged back in. This is exhausting.
Although he wasn’t a combat hunter, he was still an E-rank hunter. Thanks to his superior strength compared to ordinary people, he could carefully part the dense crowd without hurting anyone and make his escape.
What Junho didn’t know was that one man was desperately trying to keep up with him.
Kim Yeonggil, if you don’t bring back a proper story this time, you’re fired. Got it?!
The memory of his boss—the editor-in-chief—yelling at him made the man shudder as he focused on chasing Junho. He was supposed to have photographed the award ceremony or at least secured an interview, but traffic had been terrible and he only arrived after everything was over.
The man’s name was Kim Yeonggil. He was thirty-three years old. Six months ago, driven purely by his passion to become a reporter, he had joined the editorial department of a small company after working in a completely different field.
Is this what you call an article, you idiot?!
Are you trying to destroy our department?!
Who told you to write this crap? I said bring me something sensational! Something people actually want to read!
He had been cursed at endlessly and had stacks of paper thrown at his head. Yet he refused to give up, all because of his dream of becoming a good reporter. He believed that one day the editor-in-chief would recognize his talent.
Damn it… recognition or not, I’m going to die at this rate…!
After running for a long time, Junho finally stopped on a hill in a shabby neighborhood.
Whew… I was going to give up if he followed me up the slope too. Thank goodness.
Having barely managed to keep up, Yeonggil realized just how good Junho’s stamina was. He expected him to start climbing the hill right away, but—
What is he looking at?
Junho wasn’t moving. He was simply staring at something in the distance. Following his gaze, Yeonggil saw…
“Aigoo… this is so hard…”
An elderly woman was struggling, groaning as she pulled a handcart loaded with waste paper.
Is he watching that grandmother? Does he know her?
The moment Yeonggil’s thoughts paused, Junho began moving again—not in the direction he had been running, but toward the old woman.
“Grandmother, you look tired. Where are you headed? I’ll pull that for you.”
“Hmm? No, no, it’s fine, young man. I appreciate the thought.”
“It’s no trouble at all. I have good stamina and I’m pretty strong.”
He spoke playfully and flexed his arm in an exaggerated pose to show off his muscles. The grandmother laughed at the sight, then mentioned she needed to get over the hill. In an instant, Junho helped her onto the cart and began pulling it up the slope.
I have to capture this…!
A young man helping an elderly woman up a steep hill.
Heartwarming act of kindness.
Yeonggil had always wanted to write good stories. Stories that captured people’s good deeds and shared warmth with the world. That was the kind of journalism he had dreamed of.
He really followed through. As expected from someone who received the Brave Citizen Award—his character is on another level.
Click— Click—!
Hiding as he snapped photos, Yeonggil struggled to keep up with Junho, who pulled the cart without showing the slightest sign of fatigue.
“Ah, so you live in that villa just past the hill. I actually live near there too.”
“Really? By the way, young man, you’re very handsome. You look just like my grandson.”
“Haha, then your grandson must be incredibly good-looking too?”
“Of course, of course. Extremely handsome.”
They chatted like old friends as they climbed the hill. The scene warmed Yeonggil’s heart. When they finally reached the destination and Junho set the cart down, the grandmother pulled something out and offered it to him.
“Here, young man. Eat this.”
“Huh? What is it?”
It was a slightly crumpled black plastic bag. Inside was a modestly sized boiled sweet potato.
“This was going to be my dinner… but you worked so hard. You should have it.”
“…This was your dinner, grandmother?”
While Yeonggil watched with a heavy heart as the old woman gave away her own meal—
“…Thank you. I’ll enjoy it.”
“Good, good. Young people need to eat well.”
“Instead, please use this to buy yourself something delicious for dinner.”
Junho took something from his pocket and handed it to her.
“What is this…?”
“There’s a store called Dulmart over there, right? This is a gift certificate you can use like cash.”
“What? You should use this yourself. How can I accept something like this?”
“It’s fine. It’s not even that much. I earn good money! This amount is really nothing to me!”
Yeonggil’s eyes widened when he caught a glimpse of the certificate’s value. The “not much” amount was one million won—the exact prize Junho had just received.
“Still, how can I accept such a large sum? You helped me so much and I haven’t done anything for you…”
“What do you mean you haven’t done anything? You gave me a sweet potato! I love boiled sweet potatoes!”
“Aigoo, it’s nothing special…”
“I mean it! It reminds me of my own grandmother. Please accept it, okay?”
Of course, as an orphan, Junho had never known his grandmother’s face—let alone his parents’. But he knew she wouldn’t accept it otherwise, so he told the gentle lie without hesitation.
“Well then, I’ll be going! Make sure you buy something tasty with it, grandmother!”
Junho quickly disappeared. The grandmother tried to chase after him, but he was already gone.
Having captured the entire sequence on camera, Yeonggil approached her.
“Excuse me, grandmother! Could I speak with you for a moment?!”
“Hmm? Who are you, young man?”
It was only natural for her to be wary of a stranger who had suddenly appeared.
“Ah, I’m a reporter! A journalist!”
“Reporter? What’s that?”
“You know, newspapers! I’m someone who writes articles for the newspaper!”
“Oh my, someone who writes for the newspaper? What brings such an important person to a place like this?”
For older generations, newspapers had been a window to the world since their youth, so anyone who wrote for them seemed like an impressive figure. Of course, Yeonggil actually wrote for internet news, but he smiled kindly as her gaze turned slightly more favorable.
“Haha, yes. I’d like to write an article about the young man from earlier. Do you happen to know him?”
“I don’t know him at all. I just met him up the road. He pulled my cart for me and even gave me money to buy something good to eat!”
The grandmother spoke with a proud, happy expression, as if she were bragging about her own grandson.
“Even though you were strangers, he gave you such a large amount…!”
“He’s a kind young man. A truly good person. But what exactly are you planning to write? If it’s going to say anything bad about him, stop right now.”
“No, no, of course not. I’m going to write a good story.”
“Really? Then that’s a relief.”
Seeing her relax, Yeonggil took out his camera and showed her the photos.
“So, um, your face is in these pictures. Would it be okay if I use them?”
“Oh, it’s fine. Does that mean I’ll be in the newspaper? I’ll have to brag to old man Kim next door!”
After thanking the grandmother, who gladly gave permission, Yeonggil hurried back to the office.
This… this is a scoop! The editor-in-chief is definitely going to love it…!
Bursting with excitement, he returned to the company only to be met with—
“You crazy bastard! I told you to bring something sensational! What the hell is this about writing an article on helping an old lady?! Have you lost your damn mind?!”
Nothing but the editor-in-chief’s fiery rage.