Chapter 57
Chapter 57
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Translator: Silver Dragon
Chapter: 57
Chapter Title: Documentary
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"It all started in a dingy university dorm room. Back when Savior didn't even have a name yet, Huck and I were crammed into that tiny space, making games on our computer and laptop. That was the beginning."
Park Hyeong-sik, a PD at MBS—one of South Korea's major broadcast networks—was listening intently to the Black man in front of him, hanging on every word.
"How did you end up working with CEO Seon Woo-hyuk?"
"Because no one in the world knew Huck's talent better than I did. I believed that anything he touched would change the world."
Park Hyeong-sik let out an inward sigh of admiration at the man's words.
'He's one of the founding members from Savior's early days, alright. The stories just flow right out of him.'
Suddenly, he recalled the shocking news from two weeks ago, delivered while he was dozing off in the editing room after an all-nighter.
'PD-nim! Savior has approved the shoot!'
'What?! I'll go get the travel permit from the station head right now—you round up the team and start prepping!'
'Got it!'
At the time, the station had been tasked with creating a program to showcase Korea's remarkable progress to the public.
That had prompted an emergency meeting in MBS's current affairs and culture department.
'The Miracle on the Han River? We did that two years ago.'
'Damn it, we already covered Oseong and Jeil Group's global expansion from KSC last time.'
'How about Respond 1988? It's almost been ten years— we could do another Olympics special.'
With faint warning signs emerging in Korea's economy lately, this was a special directive from the government to ease public anxiety, so they couldn't just slap something together.
'That's it! You know that hot American company Savior these days?'
'Savior? The ones who made Byte Office?'
'Yeah! But their CEO is Korean. How about a documentary on his success story? Koreans go nuts for our people making it big overseas!'
'Sounds good! But will it fly? They're huge in the US—why would they bother with a Korean documentary?'
'We won't know until we pitch it!'
Truth be told, Park Hyeong-sik had thought it was a long shot even as they said that.
And rightly so—Savior was a company getting massive attention in the US, well-known even to someone in Korea like him.
No way their CEO would greenlight the hassle of a documentary shoot.
"The CEO has approved the shoot. But there are a few conditions."
But the approval came flying in, shattering those expectations.
He'd first thought it was a scam, but once he confirmed it was really from Savior, he'd been floored.
Park had tensed up at the conditions, but...
- First, the documentary must properly highlight how promising and massive the game industry is.
Second, emphasize that Savior's CEO, Seon Woo-hyuk, is proudly Korean and has deep affection for Korea. Naturally, of course.
'These aren't even conditions!'
He knew better than anyone, as a current affairs PD, how finicky celebrities could be with personal docs.
So he'd accepted immediately, and now here he was, in California, USA, in the thick of filming.
"Good work."
"No problem."
Of course, with the station footing the bill, the schedule was tight, keeping them on the move. But Park was excited—a solid documentary was shaping up.
'A building rivaling Korean conglomerates' HQs, built by a guy in his twenties.'
He still vividly remembered his shock at Savior's massive headquarters when they first arrived to film.
Sure, he knew Savior was successful, but...
'It's just a company selling programs and games—how big could it be?'
That shattered Park's worldview, where big corporations meant electronics giants like Oseong or Jeil.
This documentary had taught him that software—not hardware—was the future.
'Software. The title should be "King of Software"!'
That was the moment the documentary's title popped into Park Hyeong-sik's head.
"I stuck to Scarlett's script to the letter this time!"
"Hmm... Maybe sending out just Rogers would've made for a better visual..."
"Hey! That's racial discrimination!"
"Let's call it looks discrimination, not race."
I ignored Jason's freak-out and watched the film crew capturing other parts of the office.
'Sigh... I get why we need it, but it's still embarrassing.'
The documentary pitch from Korea.
I could've dodged it, but I accepted for one reason alone.
It was time to enter the Korean market.
October 1997.
The government and companies had known for months that Korea was plunging into crisis from foreign exchange shortages.
But they were still packaging it like everything was fine.
'Not for much longer.'
Until now, with limited access to foreign news and info unlike the future, they could control the narrative.
But that limit had been reached—even Koreans were starting to feel the unease.
Factories and firms going bankrupt left and right made it impossible to hide.
This documentary was probably propaganda, like some presidential announcement:
'Korea is safe! Carry on with your livelihoods! Citizens!'
But regardless, Korea's IMF crisis was an opportunity for me.
'I did hesitate.'
Too young to feel it firsthand back then, but every Korean knew the deep scars IMF left.
I'd be lying if I said I didn't wrestle with profiting off that pain for my dreams.
But the conclusion was clear.
'Foreign companies would've done the same without me.'
If I'd regressed to '82 instead of '92, maybe I could've prevented it altogether. But now, the best was maximizing my gains.
And for that, even this documentary was worth it.
"One documentary will really turn Savior into a national darling in Korea?"
"No joke—it's true, Scarlett."
Koreans have this thing: more romance in success abroad, especially America, than at home.
If I entered post-IMF crash without hype, I'd face roadblocks, but...
"After this airs, we might even have fans."
"That much?"
"That's Korea. Dive in blind, even global giants struggle. Prep right, no market's more appealing."
And Savior had the perfect hook for Korean love: me.
A Korean founding an American giant? Even in 2025 Korea, it'd be huge. In 1997, national pride at its peak? No contest.
"Did you send the script to Professor Jonathan?"
"Of course. He griped about putting him in such an embarrassing play, but I said it's pre-onboarding work now that he's joining soon."
"Good call. As a Turing Award winner, we have to feature him."
The crew had wrapped office shots and was prepping to move. Next: Caltech.
Filming my old dorm, campus facilities, and an interview with my mentor, Professor Jonathan.
'Turing Award—computing's Nobel. Perfect catchphrase for Korean ads.'
Jonathan, soon-to-be employee and Turing winner, was too valuable not to use.
Koreans eat up authority figures in ads.
"Tell the crew to head straight to Vegas after Caltech."
"Yeah, perfect timing with the documentary."
"Not intentional, Director of the target game?"
"Let's say so. I see the future, but who you'll marry? No clue."
I quipped back at Scarlett's tease, but honestly, even this was unplanned.
In two days: AIAS Interactive Achievement Awards.
The GOTY ceremony was upon us.
"That's Ricardo?"
Satoshi, director of Final Fantasy 7, glanced at the balding Westerner some distance away.
"Yeah, arrogant prick."
"Arrogant, sure, but his skills are legit."
Satoshi knew PC gaming lagged behind consoles but saw huge potential.
He respected Ricardo for pioneering CRPGs in that space.
Satoshi himself had been inspired by Remus Online while pondering an online Final Fantasy.
But personally? He didn't like the guy.
'That interview felt so good, though.'
Satoshi had gotten heated after Ricardo dissed him out of nowhere, but it was fine now.
—History belongs in museums. Savior lives in the present.
Seon Woo-hyuk, Savior Soft's CEO, had clapped back tenfold in his interview.
"Savior's here too."
"Oh?"
Satoshi turned to where his subordinate pointed and spotted an Asian man entering with his group.
"We're screwed this awards show."
"Huh?"
Satoshi explained to his puzzled subordinate.
"See all those cameras with Savior?"
"Ah..."
His subordinate sighed in realization.
'Can't be helped—that's a force of nature.'
Awards shows usually tipped off winners early, but Satoshi had heard nothing beyond nomination. He'd come hoping, but no dice.
Still, he had to admit it.
Game of the Year would go to Soul Hunters.