Chapter 151
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 151
Chapter Title: The 'One Step' Effect
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[The Fire Department's PSA 'One Step' That Gives You A Lot to Think About!]
[Why Didn't the Sprinklers Work!]
[The Reason the Fire Truck Couldn't Arrive Sooner! Prank Calls!]
[Unlike the PSA, Children Who Couldn't Escape Through the Emergency Exit.]
[I Thought It Would Only Be Lee Seojun (Jin Natra), But This Was a Public Service Announcement.]
[Fire Department's 'Everyone Is Coming to Save You Now.']
[MBS Broadcasts 'One Step' Monday Evening!]
-This was good.
-Yeah, it was good how they showed not just the kids evacuating, but the firefighters too.
-Stop the prank calls. They can't get to where they're actually needed quickly.
-I think they left out the sprinklers to show a worst-case scenario.
=22 Lots of old buildings don't have sprinklers, and even if they do, many are broken.
=True, and the fact that the kids didn't have phones and there were no adults.
-But is it really necessary to assume such a worst-case scenario?
=The accidents you think "Nah, that'll never happen" are the ones that do.
-Emergency exiiiit!!
=The emergency exit!! I was an idiot for laughing, thinking they'd just escape through the window!!
=Emergency exits seem like a really big deal. If they're blocked, you can't escape and rescuers can't get in.
=Ah, crap. The place I work at has a lot of stuff in front of the emergency exit.
=22 Ours is locked.
-Heh, I should watch it again on MBS.
=Me too. I was so absorbed, I don't even know what I watched, lol.
Stories about the PSA 'One Step' were popping up everywhere.
[Title: My Thoughts After Watching 'One Step']
Honestly, since it was targeted at kids, I thought some cartoon character would show up. Since Jin Natra was the Blue Dragon, I thought the Blue Dragon would appear and teach emergency procedures one by one, lol. I thought I'd get to feel the Blue Dragon's dignity for the first time in a while, heh.
I was wrong.
They were just ordinary kids, trembling in fear of the fire. It was so realistic my heart was pounding, lol.
Anyway, that's why I naturally started to wonder what I would do. It wasn't some huge disaster movie, and there were no superheroes.
If a fire broke out while I was out having fun, could I try to evacuate like those kids? Could I stay calm? I thought about it a lot. I guess I won't know until I experience it myself.
I think I get why the title is 'One Step'.
Thinking "someone else will report it" could lead to no one reporting it at all.
Thinking "I don't have to move" could make them miss the golden hour.
Thinking "someone else will do it" and doing nothing can be dangerous.
It's saying you shouldn't do that.
I need to take one step forward to report it, one step forward to move out of the way, one step forward to move away from the fire.
Jin Natra mustering his courage at the very beginning is also just taking that one step. Feeling 99 parts fear but finding that one bit of courage.
Even when Jin Natra takes two steps back in fear in front of Room 3, this time he takes another step forward with the courage the other children give him.
That 'one step' saves me and saves others.
The 'everyone' in 'Everyone is coming to save you now' probably isn't just the firefighters.
It's the citizens who called 119, the police officers controlling the scene to prevent further accidents. The cars that moved aside on the congested road. The firefighters who rushed over. And even 'yourself' for trying to survive.
It really was 'everyone' coming to the rescue, lol.
After watching this, I really feel like I should move out of the way for fire trucks and ambulances quickly.
-Yeah, it seems there are no special heroes. Everyone is a hero, lol.
-That was an evacuation video I'll never forget for the rest of my life, lmao.
=Seriously agree. Can't forget 22.
-I started reflecting the moment smoke appeared at the end of the hall. Because I probably would've just gone "What's that?" and kept singing, lol.
=Same. Even if the fire alarm went off, I'd probably assume someone pressed it by mistake and not run (I repent).
=There was an experiment like that... even if smoke fills the room, if other people don't move, the subject doesn't move either. They said it's because of mob mentality.
=444 Desensitized to danger. I've reflected.
"That's Lee Seojun for you."
The senior reporter writing the article smiled with satisfaction.
Even though it was Monday, Jin Natra's and Lee Seojun's names were still on the real-time search rankings. The names of the other child actors, assistant director Kim Soohan, and director Park Jungwoo were also mentioned from time to time.
"Senior! We got a response from Gureum!"
"They must be in an uproar over there too."
"I can barely get through on the phone."
The senior reporter looked at the response from the ad agency, Gureum, and started writing.
[Actor Lee Seojun Auditioned as Jin Natra!]
['One Step' Production Company: "We Didn't Approach Cocoa Entertainment Due to Budget Constraints."]
[Jin Natra, the Only One with a Stage Name Among Actors Who Used Their Real Names!]
['One Step' Set Moved to Baekho Fire Safety Experience Center.]
[Firefighter Lee Youngtae: "I Empathized After Watching the Children's Filmed Scenes."]
Q. Then how did that scene come about?
A. Just when I was thinking they might have to bring in another firefighter, Director Park Jungwoo showed me a previously filmed video. It was footage of actor Lee Seojun—no, actor Jin Natra, actor Kim Jukyung, and actor Kim Hansuk diligently evacuating.
Watching that video, it occurred to me that these children must look just like the people who've been waiting for us firefighters at fire scenes all this time. From that moment on, I treated it not as a shoot, but as a real emergency call. After that, I stopped noticing the camera, and I was happy that the footage came out better than I expected.>
[(Exclusive) Plus+ Shows Interest in Fire Department's 'One Step' Video!]
-Plus+, lol. Aren't they a little too fast?
=Seriously, lol. I think it's only been 14 hours since it aired, lol.
=But it was good enough to be called a short disaster film.
=22 I'm just waiting for MBS tonight.
[Title: It's hilarious that Lee Seojun auditioned as Jin Natra, lol]
Main character 'Lee Seojun' (Shadowman 1, 2, 3), The Devil, Naeuiwon, Over the Rainbow, WTV Film Festival, Golden Globe, Academy Award, KBC Best New Actor Award) → Glamorous
Side character 'Jin Natra' (Children's play 'Spring') → Humble
The difference in their resumes is huge at a glance. For any other actor, the pay difference would be massive too. I guess that's why he applied as Jin Natra.
-His main is already max level, so maybe he wanted to level up his side character a bit, lol.
-Lee Seojun is already on another level, while his side character, Jin Natra, is gaining experience like a normal child actor... with the 'children's play, Spring'.
=Just look at the number of comments on Plus+; that's not normal at all, lol.
=Right? Lol. I can almost hear the screams of parents who've already watched it dozens of times.
-But why did he do it as Jin Natra? He could have just donated his talent...
=If he does it once, everyone will ask him to donate his talent. I'm a civil servant, and that's what's happening to me now, lol.
=22 I'm with an animal-related association, we've sent tons of paperwork to Cocoa Entertainment and are still sending it. T_T
=333 If Lee Seojun donates his talent somewhere, everyone will jump on him. "You did it for them, why not for me?" Cocoa Entertainment would probably block it, but it would still be noisy. If he gets paid as 'Jin Natra', that small fee acts as a primary filter to weed out people who would begrudge even that little amount of money.
=Whoa.
-Besides, if Lee Seojun donates his talent, it would make things hard for other child actors.
=Why?
="Even the great Lee Seojun donates his talent, and you're asking for money?" I bet people would say that 100%.
=...I agree.
=That's so vicious, it would make Satan cry. T_T
***
"...Park Jungwoo?"
"Yes! The director of 'One Step' was Park Jungwoo!"
The film production company, 'Chugye', was in an uproar. Director Park Jungwoo, who they had stolen a screenplay from and kicked out, had become a huge catch.
"No way..."
The president's nephew, who had planned the whole thing from start to finish, stared with a pale face at the phone his uncle had thrown.
'One Step' was the PSA starring Lee Seojun that had aired on KBC two days ago and on MBS yesterday, and its ratings hadn't dropped.
'Park Jungwoo, who's only barely won a few film festival awards, directed that?'
The president's nephew, who had no film festival awards to his name, looked at the phone.
[An Interview with 'One Step' Director, Park Jungwoo!]
[An Interview with 'One Step' Assistant Director, Kim Soohan!]
The president shouted.
"Do you have any idea how many calls I'm getting from investors since that article came out!? They're saying they'll pull their funding if it's not Director Park Jungwoo! Damn it! Those bastards were so quiet when we handed over the screenplay..."
"Un... Uncle..."
The nephew took a step back at the sight of his uncle roaring with anger.
"Go get on your knees, beg, do whatever it takes to bring Park Jungwoo back! Now!"
Watching the back of his nephew hastily leaving the office, the president couldn't contain his anger and gasped for breath.
'If we just had Park Jungwoo, not only the investment but also the promotion would take care of itself... Maybe even Lee Seojun...'
It felt as if an enormous profit had vanished in an instant, and his vision went dark. The president, having completely forgotten that he himself had readily approved the plan to oust Park Jungwoo, finally couldn't hold back his anger and screamed.
Hearing the loud noise from the president's office, the nephew's hands trembled as he tried to contact Park Jungwoo. But Park Jungwoo's phone was turned off.
***
"I never thought this would happen..."
"Me neither. I thought if we succeeded this much, we'd be drinking for a couple of days and bragging excitedly..."
Park Jungwoo and Kim Soohan, seated in front of their respective laptops, let out a sigh. Even so, their hands never left their keyboards.
Lee Seojun's acting had given the two directors a great deal of inspiration, and they didn't want to lose a single bit of it.
Kim Soohan, who was stretching his stiff shoulders for a moment, spoke up.
"Hyung. What are you going to do about the Chugye screenplay?"
"That... now that I think about it, it doesn't seem that great. It wasn't my idea from the start, anyway."
Kim Soohan smiled at Park Jungwoo's words. He liked how Park Jungwoo seemed to have genuinely brushed it all off.
What a world. You think you know, but you don't. Just a short while ago, Park Jungwoo and Kim Soohan had been drinking and lamenting, but now they didn't even care.
'Not that I'm forgiving Chugye, though.'
They would never work with Chugye again for the rest of their lives.
Having completely shaken off the matter with Chugye, Park Jungwoo and Kim Soohan focused on their own screenplays again.
Thanks to the buzz from this project, funding for their next work would likely be plentiful. Since they were the directors who had filmed with Lee Seojun, actors would be interested too.
They had time, money, and actors. The reporters would write articles on their own, so the promotion would go well too.
'After that, it's all up to the director's skill.'
It was the greatest opportunity, and also the greatest crisis.
Park Jungwoo's and Kim Soohan's gazes grew calm. Only the sound of keyboards echoed in the quiet studio.
***
A week had passed since Jin Natra's PSA aired.
The world seemed quiet, but things were slowly changing.
[(Exclusive) Prank Calls to Fire Stations Drop Sharply!]
But then, unexpected news arrived. The prank calls, which used to come in several times a day without fail, began to decrease a week ago, and today, not a single one was received... (omitted)... Opinions are emerging that the Fire Department's PSA has had a significant impact...>
-??Really?
-Yeah, I'm currently working there. No prank calls.
=22 No prank calls and not many minor reports either.
-But is this really because of Jin Natra's ad?
-I can see why. We saw firsthand how the kids suffered because of a prank call... Would anyone with a conscience still do it?
-I really hope this lasts.
[Title: Let's list the things that changed because of Jin Natra's PSA!]
First, me!
I work part-time at a PC bang, and we cleared out all the stuff from the emergency exit, lol. Every time I passed by, I wondered if it was okay to leave it like that, but the day after 'One Step' came out, the owner cleared it all.
(Photo of a completely clear emergency exit)
He also put up a big sign for the emergency exit. And a huge sign for the emergency bell button, lol.
-My company inspected its sprinklers.
-The place I work at bought fire extinguishers, lol. Several of them, lol.
-I move my car immediately when I hear a siren.
-As soon as I enter a place, I look for the emergency exit. I check if it's blocked or if it opens.
=22 I avoid places with blocked emergency exits unless I absolutely have to go, lol.
-When I go somewhere new, I'm already planning my escape route, lmao.
=Me too. If there's a fire, I'll go this way, lol. I'll cover my mouth with this, lol. I'm planning everything from Route A to Route D, lol.
-Cell phones are selling well.
=???
=Kids' cell phones are selling well. The ones with quick emergency call buttons for 119 and 112, lol.
=LMAO, after the TVM broadcast of 'One Step', they put a cell phone ad right after, lol. An emergency call that even sends your location when you report, lol.
=It was an existing product, but not very famous. It's only just started selling, lol.
=The first broadcast was on Sunday, so if it aired Wednesday evening, does that mean they ground it out all day Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday morning? My condolences to the staff...
"Thank you..."
Kim Jihyun said in a dying voice as she read through the comments. The drained figures of her coworkers could be seen all around her.
Because the place that had produced the cell phone ad was right here, the ad agency 'Gureum'.
"Team Leader."
"...Hmm?"
The team leader, who was just as drained, laboriously lifted his head.
"Our company name is Gureum. A fitting name, considering how they 'roll' us around here. They think they can solve anything by working us to death."
"...They offered a lot of money, so I couldn't refuse."
"Yeees. I understaaand."
It was a voice that didn't understand at all. *It's not like it's my money.*
The planning team leader laughed.
"They said we're getting bonuses."
"Waaaaah!!"
*It is my money!*