Two New Encounters (Part 4)
Ha-jeong spoke with absolute, unwavering confidence, proving her initial critique had been no empty boast.
It stung a little, honestly. It wasn't as if Se-jun and I believed Meari's label was a masterpiece of graphic design. Still, it was the hard-won fruit of two non-majors pouring their blood, sweat, and tears into the project.
Se-jun, who had taken immense pride in contributing to the label, seemed visibly rattled. He cleared his throat and asked in a strained voice,
"Ahem... Well... what exactly was so wrong with our label design...?"
"To put it bluntly, it's awful! It screams out-of-touch middle-aged uncle!"
"Guh...!" Se-jun choked.
"I understand you wanted to capture a magnificent mountain, but frankly, the execution is so clumsy that no one would feel compelled to reach for it on a shelf!"
"Urghhh..."
Taking a direct, unbuffered blow to his pride, Se-jun collapsed onto the table with a pitiful groan. But Ha-jeong, who evidently had a mountain of grievances pent up inside her, was only getting started.
"Using traditional Korean ink-and-wash techniques and making the mountain Meari's core identity were wonderful choices. However, there's no story conveyed, no message delivered. It looks like someone sloppily cropped a generic stock image and slapped it on the bottle—it feels remarkably crude!"
In short: A brilliant concept, ruined by terrible technical execution.
This was certainly a novel interview. How many applicants would dare criticize the owners' handiwork so boldly right to their faces?
As that thought crossed my mind, Se-jun rallied, refusing to go down without a fight.
"B-But as long as it tastes good, that should be enough, shouldn't it? The essence of alcohol is its flavor!"
"Yes! Meari is undeniably an exceptional spirit! Which is precisely why the packaging is such a tragic waste!"
Her rebuttal landed instantly.
If it were a mediocre drink, the packaging wouldn't matter in the least. Who cares what the wrapper looks like when nobody intends to give the bottle a second glance? But what if it were a spirit that captured your heart—one truly worthy of adoration? What if someone became so captivated that they began treasuring every single detail about it, far beyond just its taste and aroma?
"A truly delicious liquor creates devoted fans, and those fans want to collect the bottles and packages! But while Meari's flavor is exquisite, its packaging inspires zero desire to collect it at aaaaall!"
At that, I nodded in agreement.
Regardless of flavor, visual revamps in the spirits industry had always sparked fierce passions. GlenAllachie was a prime example. Its name meant 'Valley of the Rocks' in Scottish Gaelic, and its brand charm had long rested on a bold, craggy font that looked as if it had been chiseled straight from stone. Yet in 2024, they updated the design to a far sleeker, minimalist aesthetic. Although the distillery explained it was inspired by the distinct angles of their pagoda roofs, fierce debates erupted among enthusiasts. While the award-winning whisky inside hadn't changed, a dedicated following formed that prized the older bottles, reverently dubbing them the 'vintage label' and paying a premium for them.
"That is why I applied. I want to redesign Meari and help build a visual identity worthy of the soul of Songhadang!"
"Well... when you put it like that..."
Swayed by her logic, Se-jun nodded in reluctant surrender. Though in truth, it felt less like logic had won him over and more that his wounded ego had been soothed by her calling Meari an exceptional spirit.
Still, passion alone wasn't grounds to hire someone. Ambition and vision meant nothing if the candidate lacked the craft to back them up.
"Then, if you were to join our team, how would Meari's bottle look under your direction?"
"I came prepared! I've brought my portfolio as well!"
Ha-jeong rummaged through her canvas tote bag.
Actually, 'rummaged' was an understatement. What she hoisted onto the table was a monstrous volume thick enough to rival an encyclopedia. Flipping rapidly through the heavy pages, she stopped at one specific spread, turned the binder around, and slid it toward us.
"This is the bottle design I personally envisioned for Meari!"
"Ohhh..."
There on the page was an ink-and-wash mountain. But it was nothing like our crude attempt.
Delicate brushwork captured the lush, breathtaking vitality of a deep mountain ridge, while deliberate, textured strokes lent the composition a grounding weight and pristine clarity. Just looking at the illustration brought the liquor's brisk fragrance and deep flavor rushing to mind.
"Wow... This would definitely trigger the urge to collect."
"You've visually embedded the tasting notes and flavor palette directly into the scenery. Was that intentional?" I asked.
"Ah! Thank you for noticing! I drew the notes I experienced firsthand when I drank it!"
Woven into the landscape were the very sensations we had labored to achieve: wild grass, young pine needles, a clear river winding past, and the quiet chill of morning dew and mountain mist. I inspected the rest of her portfolio, but found nothing to criticize. Her technical draftsmanship was extraordinary.
That left only one final test.
"Se-jun, could you fetch a bottle of recently bottled Meari, and a bottle of 'that'?"
"Got it."
Understanding my intention immediately, Se-jun stood and walked toward the maturation cellar. While he was gone, I turned back to Ha-jeong.
"Why our brewery specifically? I understand you were disappointed by our label, but surely there are other delicious craft spirits out there with underwhelming packaging. Besides, to be completely frank, Songhadang is not a large enterprise."
"Well... um..."
"Feel free to speak your mind."
Unlike her fiery demeanor moments ago, her voice trailed off. At my gentle encouragement, she hesitated for a breath before speaking in a quiet, earnest tone.
"To tell you the truth... I grew exhausted from designing for products I couldn't believe in..."
"What do you mean?"
"I was so tired of dressing up mediocre goods to make them look extraordinary..."
Ah. I understood.
Packaging design existed to make a product appealing and approachable. But the soul of the work was the product itself. If the product was garbage, then dressing it in breathtaking art was little better than a swindle.
"Meari wasn't like that. The moment I drank it, vivid imagery exploded in my mind! It was the first time in my life inspiration gushed out like a geyser. To design the visual identity for a spirit with that kind of flavor and integrity... that was why I applied!"
"I see."
"Yeonwoo, here they are."
As I nodded, Se-jun returned and placed two glasses on the table. They were opaque, colored glasses specifically crafted for blind tastings, hiding the hue and clarity of the liquid within. I pushed both toward Ha-jeong.
"Could you taste each of these and share your honest impressions?"
I also set down a cup of water for her to cleanse her palate. Bowing politely, she picked up the first glass.
This test was indispensable. A designer needed to understand and genuinely enjoy the spirits' aromas and flavors to express them. In truth, it was also a personal desire of mine: I wanted everyone working under Songhadang's roof to love what we brewed, because only genuine affection could sustain true craftsmanship.
"Hmm... this..."
"How is it?"
"Uh... should I be completely honest?"
"Of course."
Ha-jeong's face twisted into an involuntary grimace, her teeth digging into her lip.
Seeing that reaction was already enough to award her a passing grade. Thanks to the supernatural senses Songha had awakened in me, I could see scents and flavors in visual form—and right now, from the glass Ha-jeong held, I could see nauseated, gagging spirits stumbling before collapsing entirely. It was a flawed batch we had recently slated for disposal.
"It tastes and smells like a summer salad that was left half-eaten in the heat and sat rotting for two weeks..."
"Uh... how on earth do you know what that smells like...?"
"I accidentally ate one last week..."
Her reference point was bizarre, but her assessment was spot-on. It matched the decayed, sickly spirits I had perceived.
Feeling guilty for making her drink something barely worthy of being called alcohol, even for an evaluation, I apologized and offered her the water. Ha-jeong promptly drained the cup, thoroughly rinsing her mouth.
Then, she reached for the second glass and brought it to her nose.
"Oh...?"
"What do you think?"
"This is..."
Without finishing her sentence, she took a delicate sip, rolling the liquor over her palate. Closing her eyes, she savored the layered notes, waiting for the finish to bloom up through her throat.
"Autumn... It feels like an autumn mountainnn."
"Yes. That's exactly what we felt."
"The savory richness of toasted grain... and sweet, lingering floral notes... How on earth did you create this...?"
Watching her reel off tasting notes with genuine awe brought a broad smile to my face. Here was someone who loved spirits. Someone who loved Songhadang's spirits.
How could we possibly turn away someone like her?
A glance at Se-jun confirmed he was nodding in complete agreement. There was no need to deliberate any further.
"This is our newly refined Meari."
"A refined... Meari? Wait, does that mean this hasn't even been released to the public yet...?"
"We'd love for you to take charge of designing the packaging for this new Meari, Ha-jeong-ssi. Would you be willing to join us?"
Ha-jeong stared at me, frozen in a daze.
Then, a radiant grin broke across her stunned face.
"Yes! If you'll have me, I can start today!"
"Ah, well, we should discuss your employment terms first—"
"Autumn! Chrysanthemums! Nutty roasted rice!"
"Wait, Ha-jeong-ssi, please calm down for a second—"
And so, a passionate, exceptionally gifted, and delightfully eccentric designer officially joined Songhadang.
Finalizing the employment contract with Ha-jeong went off without a hitch.
Her boundless enthusiasm made every hurdle vanish. Songhadang sat nestled in the deep mountain valleys of Yeongwol, Gangwon Province. While an unavoidable location to secure pristine spring water, it made for a brutal commute. That was why Se-jun and I lived on-site, sleeping in refurbished shipping container dorms.
"Setting up two container dorms just in case was an absolute masterstroke," Se-jun remarked.
"You really think so?"
"Of course. If we hadn't, we probably would've lost Ha-jeong-ssi."
"True enough."
When asked how she intended to commute, Ha-jeong had simply declared that if there was a bunk on the property, she would live on-site. She added that once she dove into a project, going days without returning home was standard procedure anyway. And so, she moved into the brewery alongside us.
"Still, she's the only woman living here among men. Won't she feel uncomfortable?"
"Want my honest opinion? We're the ones who should be feeling uncomfortable."
"Why? Ha-jeong-ssi has a wonderful personality."
While she had an eccentric streak, Ha-jeong was warm-hearted to a fault. She was unfailingly considerate and poured every ounce of energy into her work. I couldn't imagine how she would cause any discomfort.
Yet Se-jun let out a weary sigh, offering a reason I hadn't even considered.
"Sigh. She says she needs inspiration for the designs, so she shadows me everywhere, taking meticulous notes on the entire brewing process!"
"Well, that's dedication. Isn't that a good thing?"
"On top of that, she begs me to let her sample all the aging batches! I'm genuinely worried she's going to turn into an alcoholic!"
"Haha..."
Come to think of it, while I was tending to the mash, Ha-jeong had trailed me incessantly as well, dissecting every corner of our operation. When I had stepped into the aging cellar earlier, Old Man Moktong had even barked with hearty amusement,
"Hey, where'd that new lass run off to? Lord, that girl sure knows how to hold her liquor! A mighty fine lass, I tell ya!"
From what Songha had told me, Moktong was an insatiable drinker among the dokkaebi clan, second to none when it came to consuming alcohol. For a crusty old spirit like him to praise her tolerance meant Ha-jeong was built of sturdy stuff.
"Haha... It's great that she's so invested, isn't it? It's not like she's ever gotten sloppy drunk."
"Ugh, I know, but still... What if her liver gives out? We can't afford to lose these designs."
Se-jun spread several draft mockups of Ha-jeong's new Meari across the office table.
Indeed. Though she had been living at the brewery for only a short time, Ha-jeong had already produced several fully realized concepts.
"Every single one is so striking I can't bear to scrap any of them..."
"Anyone who sees these would say the exact same thing."
Flawless designs, every one so evocative that choosing between them felt impossible. As dilemmas went, it was a wonderfully peaceful one.
It was right as we were savoring that happy headache in the office that a voice spoke.
"My friend, we have a problem."
"Pardon?"
"Huh? Did you say something?" Se-jun asked, glancing up.
"Ah, no. Let me step outside to take a quick call."
Songha had materialized abruptly behind me. Startled, I slipped out of the office; Songha never interrupted without grave reason.
Sure enough, his expression was completely unlike his usual suave demeanor. Gone was the gentle, relaxed smile he always wore when greeting me; his features were rigid, set in a severe scowl.
It was an expression I had never seen on him before.
He looked thoroughly displeased.
"What happened?"
"Hmph... A charlatan has come knocking."
"A charlatan?"
"Indeed. And he has already arrived."
"Arrived...?"
Before I could ask for clarification, furious shouts erupted from the entrance of Songhadang.
"What business does a foul brewery have in pristine Yeongwol?!"
"Down with the predatory business that ignores the local residents!"
Dark storm clouds had gathered over our quiet peace.