The White Horse Scandal
The moment he arrived at the Tvic building in a taxi, a familiar face came into view.
Sung Tae-chang hyung, dressed in a suit, was pacing around while eyeing passing taxis.
Wait, isn't this guy an RCE? What the hell is he doing?
"What're you doing?"
Sung Tae-chang finally spotted him and came rushing over.
"Hey, you really gonna just sit tight? If I have to cover for you, I'll do whatever it takes..."
"Aigoo, I told you to chill. Why're you so worried?"
"You think I don't have reason to worry? That Park exec is a total pain in the ass..."
"An executive on the ethics committee?"
"Even an EVP could end up there."
"What kinda global megacorp is this?"
"If you're not from production, every exec contract makes you shiver. These idle folks finally got a chance to flex their presence."
He pondered for a moment, then nodded.
"Thanks for the heads-up."
"Hey, maybe I should..."
"Nah, just call Yoon CEO and tell him it's all good."
"Already did."
"Then go grab a coffee somewhere. Don't walk in with me."
He coolly sent Sung Tae-chang off and entered the building.
Heading to the 22nd floor, a receptionist guided him to a conference room where three men were waiting.
Just as Sung Tae-chang had said—an executive VP and a senior VP.
One was the head of legal.
After a brief intro, they got down to business.
"During the Criminal Community casting process, you scouted eight actors not affiliated with D.P."
"And afterward, all of them signed formal contracts with D.P."
"If you used your position as director to make decisions favoring a specific agency and received financial benefits in return, that could constitute breach of trust through solicitation."
"From a corporate ethics standpoint, it's also a conflict of interest..."
Breach of trust, conflict of interest.
Heavy terms flew around.
But he felt more bafflement than the weight of those words.
The article had broken just hours ago, and they were already convening an ethics committee?
Even after Gong Seok-jun, the headquarters manager, suggested SSK conduct its own internal investigation first?
Something was off.
At that moment, the legal head stared straight at him and asked.
"Director Do Hyun-woo, did you receive money?"
"Yes."
"You can prove that? What did you say?"
"I received it."
The legal head's pen stopped dead.
In truth, he hadn't taken a dime.
But denying it would lead nowhere.
They'd start with "Are you sure you didn't?" then demand bank records, accusing him of cash payments if none showed up.
They'd dig endlessly, and he'd have to prove his innocence forever.
In that setup, the truth meant nothing.
No matter how he sliced it, this screamed Joo Young-hoon.
No hard evidence, but when he'd rejected Hong Hee-young's script, that guy's eyes had said it all.
A look of utter contempt, like he could crush him anytime.
So, worst case: Joo Young-hoon, with his total exec background, still had connections at Tvic Korea.
These guys weren't here to prove innocence—they wanted guilt.
That's why he hadn't accepted Sung Tae-chang's help.
Based on the allegations alone, Sung Tae-chang could look complicit—same D.P roots, multiple visits to D.P HQ with him, the guy who'd plugged him into SSK.
Even if not suspected now, prolonged claims of innocence would lead to digging into his tracks.
Maybe that's exactly what Joo Young-hoon wanted.
So he wouldn't claim innocence.
But he wasn't admitting guilt outright either.
"Why did you take the money?"
"The actors were broke."
"What?"
"On-set meal allowances and promo activity funds were short. Specifics: food costs, transport, makeup, promo shoots."
"No, if that was the case, you should've gone to HQ..."
"I did request it. Got shot down because it wasn't production budget."
Not a lie.
He'd asked for more cash; they refused.
Of course, they weren't actually short, but the records existed.
And that wasn't all.
Agencies usually log affiliate activity funds under investment items in financials.
Majors like D.P had no clawback conditions, but smaller ones often carried it as debt.
But D.P was temporary.
Why would a short-term agency create investment line items?
In the end, D.P shelled out pure cash.
He and Yoon CEO had agreed it was seed money for actor contracts.
No formal contract, but...
That convo alone was enough.
On-set meals could be proven via Seo Jae-yeon's catering truck or Jae-hyuk hyung's snack van costs.
Process receipts as D.P payments—no way they'd refuse if he asked.
Net result: D.P spent the cash, but none entered his pocket.
Then the legal head raised his voice.
"So you're claiming not a penny went into your pocket?"
"Yes. All went to on-set expenses. Check with D.P."
"Even if true, it's still a problem. Legally, it's breach of trust via third-party solicitation."
Yeah, he knew.
Looked it up—didn't matter if he took zero; influence as intangible gain made it criminal.
But Tvic Korea couldn't pursue this.
Why?
"Ahem."
"Uh, Legal Head. Hold on."
Because face-saving.
A contest winner, Korea's breakout thriller spawning tons of new subs.
Yet the set couldn't even afford meal trucks, and the total CE's SOS got ignored.
Ends up with CE cozying agencies to feed actors and promo.
US HQ finds out? They'd flip.
Execs aren't even production vets, right?
Trust in non-field hires plummets further.
So his play was simple.
"I'm truly sorry. Didn't realize taking money—not for me—would be an issue. The set was just so strapped..."
"That's not—"
"I'll do a joint interview with D.P right away. Lay out every sin..."
"Whoa, hold up, Director Do. We're not pushing for lawsuits or legal action here."
Threat: Mutual agreement to preserve high seats.
"But it's already public. Letting it fester hurts Tvic and SSK."
Intimidation: You handle public opinion.
"A couple corrections won't cut it for this scale."
Pressure: Spend big.
That was his job.
So, your move?
Tvic mobilized every outlet at their disposal, blasting the story for days.
Do Hyun-woo did nothing wrong.
It was all a mishap.
Do Hyun-woo was the ultimate CE who cared for actors and crew.
Of course, not just crude corrections.
They flooded with content on his stories and chemistry with the Criminal Community cast—beautiful vibes.
Variety bits and interviews before, but this was near-docu level.
Public loved it.
YouTube algo shoved his face everywhere now.
But not all smooth sailing.
Worst bit too.
Embarrassing.
(photo)
That old "embarrassed face" meme with his pic revived.
Damn, not even a storyteller's pivot.
Back from the dead.
Not everyone bought the spin cleanly.
Expected.
No 100% in the world.
Even 30% ratings dramas have 1-2% diehards.
Those reactions? No issue.
Problem: Casting Kim Ra-un could reignite the fire.
Thud.
Gong Seok-jun set down the At Your Fingertips script and spoke.
"Do it. Greenlit. CEO signed off."
"For real?"
"Yeah, for real."
His heart dropped.
Or soared?
Either way, it pounded.
"No feedback?"
"No feedback... but I ain't never seen our CEO grin like that."
"Why?"
"Wouldn't say... but that old volleyball flick turning into this? Blew his mind."
"And you, Manager? Still no?"
"When'd I say no? Said I'm too old to get it. But one thing's sure... Park Seong-hwa better nail it."
Yeah, that was enough.
Dramas start that way.
"Kim Ra-un's the snag. Tvic HQ says no."
"...Why?"
"Why? We torched cash flipping opinion—don't fan the flames. Honestly, I agree. Pick him, and budget gets slashed."
"SSK self-fund then?"
"Crazy talk? Minimum 10 billion—if it flops? We eat it all?"
Brain spun.
"Pull Haiyen Games in as co-producer? Snag 1 bil, hell 2 bil..."
"Oh?"
"Korean English is key char—domestic AI firms might bite."
"Hmm?"
"E-sports teams sponsor, mirror real squad traits?"
Gong Seok-jun eyed him.
"Say it all pans out. Flops? You retire. No one funds your stuff after."
"..."
"Still want Kim Ra-un?"
Retire from CE?
Hell no.
This gig was too fun.
But...
"Yes. Still wanna work with Actor Kim Ra-un."
Dead certain.
No one else could embody Park Seong-hwa like him.
"You didn't tip off the CEO beforehand, right?"
"Huh?"
"Kidding. Fine... snag Kim Ra-un."
"Now? You're approving?"
"SSK self-fund, sway Tvic—we got it. You lock Ra-un first. Casting article? Drop it now. Public remembers scandals, forgets clarifications. You know."
He knew.
Assault suspect cleared? Folks recall "Did he hit someone?"
"Tvic's cash stench still lingers in press. No better timing."
"Ink in two weeks."
"One week. Miss it, game's over."
Pondered, then bowed.
"Kim Ra-un in one week."