Chapter 37: Once a Month
Chapter 37: Once a Month
It was a reunion with my old colleagues, my first time seeing them since returning to Korea.
We had dinner at a Japanese restaurant, then moved to a pub for the second round.
There was no better place than a pub to talk comfortably with former coworkers.
And to be honest, I'd been craving some chicken and beer.
This time, I sat at a table with Kim Sang-gi, Na Sang-guk, and Lee Jong-yeop.
“You’ve been well, right?”
“Of course. It’s the same old story for us.”
“What kind of watch is that you’re wearing? It looks really nice.”
“It’s been too long, Assistant Manager Kim. I was starting to feel neglected.”
As soon as I sat down, they each had something to say.
These were the people I’d spent the most time with, for better or for worse, during my office life.
I had a lot of bad memories of Na Sang-guk, but now they just felt like bittersweet recollections.
He was the one who had shown me the harsh reality of the world when I was broke and miserable.
I answered Na Sang-guk’s question with a light smile.
“It’s a Patek Philippe.”
“Isn’t that a super expensive watch?”
“Yes, it’s a little pricey.”
“If you say ‘a little,’ how much are we talking? Like, twenty grand?”
For a single watch, twenty thousand dollars was an incredibly high guess.
Honestly, if it weren't for the Forbes interview, I never would have bought such a complete luxury item.
When traveling through different countries, a smartwatch that adjusted the time automatically was so much more convenient.
“It’s around 400,000 dollars.”
“Four hundred thousand dollars?”
“Yes. It’s a limited edition Patek Philippe.”
Even as I said it, I knew I sounded like a jerk.
But seeing the look on Na Sang-guk’s face, his mouth agape as if he’d just been sucker-punched, was strangely amusing.
It felt like our past relationship had been completely reversed.
We hadn’t been on good terms back at the office, so saying this much should be fine.
‘Is this the kind of fun people have when they show off their money?’
Lee Jong-yeop said as he poured beer into my glass.
“You look much brighter.”
“I do?”
“Yes. You used to have this look on your face, like an anxious puppy.”
“...”
Did this guy have a bone to pick with me too?
How many people could truly understand the anxiety and restlessness that came from living with nothing?
And on top of that, my married life had been the absolute worst.
“Are you still dating Yoo Hye-ri?”
“Nah, we ended things amicably a long time ago. Right now, I’m just playing the field.”
“Playing the field, huh.”
“You have to enjoy it while you’re young. You’re not supposed to be sweating the cost of a motel room in your twenties.”
Lee Jong-yeop’s philosophy on life was hard to understand, yet I felt a twinge of envy.
I realized it after making an insane amount of money.
Having even a domestic car in your twenties while in college could bring you far more happiness than driving a Bentley or a Porsche in your thirties.
As time went on, I regretted more and more that I hadn't truly had fun in my teens and twenties.
‘Who would have known that after saving so diligently, most of it would be taken by my ex-wife, only for me to hit the jackpot with crypto?’
It was an injustice I couldn't complain about to anyone.
Lee Jong-yeop asked.
“Ahem. So, what are you going to do now? Are you heading overseas again?”
“I’ll have to if it’s necessary. But there’s something I want to do in Korea.”
At thirty-two, I was still young and wanted to try building something myself.
* * *
After the second round, it was time for everyone to head home.
“That was fun.”
“See you again next time.”
I hailed a taxi for each of them. Team Leader An gently patted my shoulder.
“It’s good to see you’ve been doing well.”
“It’s all thanks to you, Team Leader.”
“Let’s get in touch again later.”
“Yes, sir. Get home safe.”
I called a designated driver for Team Leader An.
The last person remaining was Jo Soo-ah. She spoke first.
“Want to grab a coffee?”
I had a feeling we would talk about something when I saw she was still there.
“Is vending machine coffee okay?”
“Yes, that’s fine.”
I got two cups of coffee from a vending machine, and we stood on the street.
My bodyguards in suits stood watch from a short distance, a sight I was now used to.
I was hesitating, wondering what to say, when she spoke first.
“You know, don’t you? I like you.”
“...”
Not ‘Assistant Manager Kim,’ but my name, spoken with such familiarity.
And to say she liked me.
I had been somewhat aware of her feelings, but hearing it directly left my mind blank.
It was startling, but by no means a bad feeling.
“Do you know why I like you?”
“I’m not sure.”
“You’re the kind of person I’m strangely drawn to. I want to be by your side, to talk with you all night.”
“...”
I never expected Jo Soo-ah to be so candid.
I thought she had cut her hair short to get over her feelings, but she had only gotten prettier than before.
“My mom and dad are driving me crazy, asking when I’m going to bring a boyfriend home.”
“Ah, I see.”
“While you’re in Korea, can’t you meet me, even if it’s just once a month?”
“...”
I couldn't refuse.
Ellie came to mind, but we only saw each other a few times a year, and only for a short while.
It might be selfish or greedy, but I might break up with Ellie someday, and I didn't want to lose Soo-ah.
‘I thought my feelings would fade with time.’
If Jo Soo-ah had left on her own, I would have had to let her go, but it would be too much of a shame to let her go when her feelings remained.
“Let’s meet up, even if it’s just occasionally.”
“You promised.”
“I did.”
* * *
While traveling abroad, I truly felt Korea’s elevated global standing.
Most travelers I met in hostels knew about Korea and were interested in its celebrities or dramas.
In South America.
In Colombia, Peru, and Brazil, local women were especially pleased when they heard I was Korean.
‘To feel pride in being Korean while traveling?’
I often found myself in conversations with slender women.
“Kim Shin, how old are you?”
“Thirty-two.”
“Oh my god, no way!”
“I’m thirty-two in Korean age. I’d be thirty here.”
“Really?”
The Latina women of South America were passionate.
Even though I was staying in hostels wearing a shabby t-shirt, jeans, and a backpack, it was easy to get close to them.
“I wish you were a little more assertive, Kim Shin.”
“Huh?”
“Why don’t you ask me out on a date?”
Whether they were travelers or locals.
Honestly, there were minor temptations in every city I visited.
Once, while having a beer in the evening, a woman criticized me for being too passive because I didn’t boldly ask her out.
Through all this, there was one thing I realized for certain.
‘People love content made in Korea.’
When I lived in a semi-basement apartment, I enjoyed watching entertaining movies, dramas, and variety shows.
They allowed me to forget my difficult reality and laugh heartily.
- Kim Shin: I’m thinking of investing in movies or dramas.
- Oh Myeong-woo: What’s this all of a sudden?
- Kim Shin: It just seems like it would be fun.
- Kim Shin: Imagine making a new drama starring your favorite, IU. With a huge production budget.
- Oh Myeong-woo: That’s awesome. That would be so cool. Do it, you have to do it.
The business prospects were bright, and it was a content industry I loved.
My lack of experience and amateur status were drawbacks, but still.
‘Startup founders weren’t experts in management from the beginning. They started with what they loved, and then they succeeded and failed.’
There were always reasons not to do something.
If you want to do it, you just have to start and learn as you go.
At thirty-two, I was at a good age to experience both challenges and failures.
“A pleasure to meet you. I’m Kim Shin.”
“My name is Jeong Beom-tae. I’ve worked at Indream Investments for twelve years.”
I was meeting a man with a good reputation and extensive experience in the film industry.
The person who introduced us was, surprisingly, Team Leader An.
When I mentioned at the pub that I was thinking of investing in the Korean content industry, he told me his friend worked in a related field and suggested we meet.
“This guy is responsible and has a great track record. He’s the type to work overtime constantly without a single complaint.”
“I see.”
“Just meet him. He’ll be able to tell you a lot about the industry.”
“Okay, I will.”
A talent for overtime.
Wasn’t that the perfect image of an employee at a Korean company?
After being introduced by Team Leader An, my impression of Jeong Beom-tae upon meeting him was that he looked like a motivated and capable worker.
The world is full of scammers, but it’s hard to fake the look of someone who works hard.
Companies sometimes get ten times the value of an employee’s salary, and some employees deliver even more than that.
“I plan to establish a comprehensive content corporation in Korea for investing in films, dramas, and variety shows.”
“I see. Your Korean is very fluent. Are you a foreigner?”
“No, I’m Korean, but my base of operations is mostly in the United States.”
“Ah, I see.”
Jeong Beom-tae had been a short-film director in his youth before moving into the film investment industry.
He had led several successful projects and built a good track record at his company, but political reasons were preventing him from advancing to a higher position.
“I believe Korean films and dramas have what it takes to succeed globally. Especially the zombie movies.”
The movie that takes place on a train to Busan.
It was a box office hit in Korea, but it gained immense popularity overseas among zombie fanatics.
A surprising number of travelers I met in South America had also seen *Train to Busan*.
“I believe Korean content is more than capable of succeeding on the world stage.”
“Yes, I think so too. The sales figures at film festivals have been increasing significantly.”
We chatted briefly over coffee.
I found business meetings with professionals like him comfortable.
Frankly, since I was the one with the money, it was easy to lead the conversation.
In the past, I had been busy just agreeing with whatever the doctors said. It felt like the tables had turned.
“I’m thinking of an initial capital of about 50 billion won for the company.”
“Fifty billion won?”
Jeong Beom-tae’s eyes widened.
It seemed the investment amount was much larger than he had anticipated.
“Yes. I would like you to be the vice president of the company I’m establishing. You will have full authority over most of the investment-related tasks for films.”
Jeong Beom-tae looked genuinely shocked by the investment amount.
It was enough money to independently produce over ten films.
Considering that productions usually involved distributors or other investment firms, it was a massive sum.
“As we build up our workforce, I’m also thinking of acquiring a production company.”
“You’re planning to handle production directly as well?”
“Yes. I’m personally very interested in variety shows. I think the broadcast station system stifles the creativity of variety show producers.”
Overseas variety shows were often structured in seasons, allowing the directors and cast to recharge and experiment with various ideas.
In Korea, shows couldn't take a break all year round due to ratings and advertising.
Popular long-running programs would eventually have their passion and ideas depleted, and if ratings fell, they were unceremoniously canceled by the broadcast station.
It’s hard for good variety shows to emerge from such a system.
When a variety show I truly loved was suddenly canceled, it felt like a little bit of joy had been sucked out of my life.
“I believe Korean variety shows can also appeal to a global audience. I want to recruit producers and give them the freedom to create.”
“So that’s your vision. It’s a very valid point, but in terms of profitability…”
“As OTT platforms become more active, I believe there will be plenty of places to sell completed variety shows.”
It was a thought I’d had ever since my successful investment in Netflix.
In the U.S., broadcast networks and companies like Disney were fiercely competing by creating their own OTT services.
Korea had also created OTT platforms, but it was true that they were difficult to compare in terms of market size or scalability.
Using American OTT platforms offered the advantage of easy distribution to the global market.
“I want to bring in variety show producers and writers to create many entertaining programs.”
“With 50 billion won, it would certainly be worth a try.”
“That money is for film investment. I’m going to invest another 50 billion won separately for variety shows. And this is just the initial capital.”
“Excuse me?”
Jeong Beom-tae looked as if he’d been struck.
‘I’d just have to overwhelm them with money.’
Money was the fastest way to make up for my lack of experience and connections.
Investment was necessary to create high-quality content.
In the U.S., a single season of a drama could have a budget of 100 million dollars. Compared to that, Korean variety shows had a low-cost, high-efficiency structure.
The production cost for variety shows popular in Asia was only about 10 billion won a year.
At one point, a single variety program was responsible for KBS’s profits, yet the production budget and compensation for it were limited.
Jeong Beom-tae glanced at me and my bodyguards before speaking.
“Are the investment amount and everything you’ve just said all true?”
“I plan to execute the investment as soon as the corporation is established. You must have many questions about me, right?”
“To be honest, yes.”
“You’ll find out soon enough if we work together.”