The Irresistible Bait
“No, there's no reason it shouldn't work, right? We even told Do Hyun-woo it would.”
“Why don't you become the national director yourself?”
The SBX national director grumbled as he continued.
“It's bad luck.”
“Bad luck? Have you been seeing a fortune teller, Director?”
“No, think about it. What happened when Young Peral went head-to-head with Gongbeomche? Young Peral got crushed, didn't it?”
“Crushed? Not exactly. They did well overseas.”
“Still, they bombed domestically. Then Oxygen Alert versus At Your Fingertips—what happened? It flew away.”
“Come on, it didn't fly away. Viewership was solid on paper.”
“It lost in buzz. You think we'd be satisfied with the guarantee fee from Tae-woong?”
“Well... yeah, I guess.”
The director spun his pen as he spoke.
“We're already doing Writer Moon Ah-young's project with Tvic. Why feed the competition?”
“A web drama's hardly competition. The release schedules would be totally different.”
“Still, no need to tempt fate. Bluntly put, the rights fee is just 5 or 6 million, right?”
“True.”
“Say we get approval for 5 million. But if the web drama blows up? Upper management will lose it—'We don't even have SVOD here, why'd you sell it?'”
Five million was big money, but it didn't go into the director's pocket.
Better to do nothing.
No loss for the director if they didn't sell the rights.
Simple math.
“So it's really a no?”
“No. Tell them we can't. He's the guy who wrecked Young Peral anyway—no need to cut him slack. Oh Ji-tae’s still a wreck, you know.”
“A wreck? He's just eating well in the cafeteria.”
“He's scared to direct. A PD who can't make shows—isn't that a wreck?”
“Sigh. Got it. I'll sugarcoat it for Do Hyun-woo as best I can.”
Nam CP, who had boldly assured Do Hyun-woo, sighed and started to rise.
“Wait, hold on.”
“Yes?”
“Stay put.”
The director, deep in thought, finally spoke.
“Am I being too passive?”
“About what?”
“We have the rights. So why don't we make it?”
“Us? Produce Tug of War Season 2? With no plan?”
“Who said anything about you producing?”
The director looked at Nam CP pityingly.
“Make Do Hyun-woo do it.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Check through SSK right now how hooked Do Hyun-woo is on this. Joo Young-hoon, right? He's on bad terms with Do Hyun-woo. Dig into that side.”
“And if he is hooked?”
“Like I said—let Do Hyun-woo make it. We keep the project, pay outsourcing fees. SSK does that kind of stuff anyway.”
Strictly speaking, SSK wasn't an outsourcing firm—they didn't make projects without equity stakes.
Equity-free production only happened for massive projects where outsourcing fees alone covered profits.
But there was always a way.
Nam CP, finally grasping the director's intent, spoke up.
“Will a web drama turn a profit?”
“Eight no-names beating Young Peral? That made sense? You handled that one.”
“...No argument there.”
“And does it have to be a web drama? We have a YouTube channel. Worst case, plan something like Kotji Drama. MBX tried it back in the day—crashed hard, but still.”
The director pressed on.
“Do Hyun-woo's got skills. Whatever he makes, we'll use it somewhere.”
“Fair point.”
“So gather intel first. I'll poke around too.”
“What if Do Hyun-woo's really obsessed?”
“What do you mean?”
The director's lip curled up.
“It's simple.”
“Five hundred million?”
Did my jaw drop?
Hallucinating here.
“You meant five million, right?”
Nam Young-soo CP's face stayed calm despite the disbelief in my voice.
“Didn't know myself, but the director had a project in the works.”
“Project?”
“Yeah. Not locked on Tug of War, but planning Season 2 for fan-favorite classics. Tug of War's on the list.”
What nonsense.
Even if the director's plan was real, I'd bet my salary Tug of War wasn't on it.
Why? No SVOD.
Too big for overseas rights alone.
“So no sale, but felt bad after my big talk—scraped this up somehow.”
“And the result is five hundred million?”
Nam CP's friendly smile hardened.
He'd caught the discomfort in my tone.
Am I two-faced or what?
Hong the writer thought I was aggressive; broadcasters treat me like a pushover.
“Do CE, don't make me the bad guy. You think I want this? Stuck in the middle, dying here.”
“Sorry. But five hundred million is impossible to swallow.”
“How about this? Director respects your skills. Says you'd nail anything.”
“Thanks.”
“We'll cover rights. SBX produces, SSK attaches—sound good?”
SSK attaches?
Not splitting billions in equity, surely.
“Outsourcing the production to us?”
“Words say yes... but don't see it standalone. SSK's independent now—piles of work with us?”
“True.”
“Taking Moon Ah-young's too, right? We're in the same boat. Just a handshake first?”
Ah, so SSK's free—terrestrial's a big client now?
Don't piss off the whale; do one freebie outsourcing.
“Or SSK covers part of budget, shares equity.”
“Total budget estimate?”
“Original cast, director's fee skyrocketed... Iconic scenes' locations, props—can't skip. Visuals, mise-en-scène mandatory.”
Slick tongue.
“Rights included, around 5 billion?”
“Five billion? More than Gongbeomche? That was 3.5 billion net.”
Embarrassed by his own words, Nam CP cleared his throat.
Attitude unchanged.
“No-names, no-name writer. Barely any locations?”
So, outsource free or buy in at 5 billion value—your pick.
No loss for SBX.
Wow, this level of gall is talent.
Cleared my head right up.
“Thanks, CP. Honesty appreciated.”
“No problem. Might seem pushy, but break it down...”
“No—company said no, but I was stubborn. This seals it—no way now.”
I smiled at Nam CP.
“Really wanted it. Big shame.”
“Pardon? Then...”
“As one viewer, I'll cheer you on.”
“They passed.”
The director sipped coffee leisurely.
“Passed?”
“Yeah. Didn't look back.”
“Meeting vibe?”
“Cocky. Made his annoyance clear.”
“Good. Got under his skin. Nice work.”
“You know it.”
Truth be told, Do Hyun-woo's vibe turned ominous midway—I backed off.
Didn't admit sounding scared.
“Don't worry. Do Hyun-woo will bite.”
“How do you know?”
“Call from Hong the writer. Wants to try lightly—approve rights reasonably.”
“Ah...!”
“Don't know what he offered her, but he's pushing. And the real kicker?”
“What?”
“This, after ditching Moon Ah-young's.”
“Wait, that make sense?”
Nam Young-soo frowned.
“At Your Fingertips hit big, but SSK assigns safe tentpole to Do Hyun-woo? Seniors everywhere?”
“Moon Ah-young requested. Rivals with Hong Hee-young.”
“Right, yeah.”
“Plus, he trashed Oxygen Alert. Moon'd love snagging him. Kim Dae-hyun's a stickler—CE role's light anyway.”
“Makes sense.”
The director nodded.
“Heard Han Sung-hoon ditched Moon Ah-young's for pre-pro proof? CEO hates passing profit for duds.”
“Do Hyun-woo's cornered?”
“Yup. Wants it, boss pressuring... Why snap at you otherwise? If quitting, he'd smile and go.”
Nam Young-soo CP nodded thoughtfully.
“Heard he's stubborn beyond looks. Tadpole days, shoved eight no-names in.”
“Exactly. He'll do it.”
A knock then—tap tap.
“Who?”
“Called him.”
In walked Oh Ji-tae PD, Young Peral's main director.
“You wanted me?”
“Hey, Oh Ji-tae. Gonna keep slacking?”
“Not slacking...”
“Make this Season 2.”
The director pointed to the proposal on the table.
Tug of War Season 2
20 min x 12 episodes
Oh Ji-tae picked up the proposal, baffled.
“Tug of War Season 2 suddenly? 20-min format?”
“Do Hyun-woo's obsessed. Came for rights—your name popped up, so I threw you in.”
“For real?”
“Yeah. No confidence?”
“No! I got this!”
The director chuckled.
“Get out, start development. Report to me when material's ready.”
After Oh Ji-tae left, Nam Young-soo CP looked puzzled.
“Two tracks? Develop ourselves too?”
“No ground even for that. Bluff, obviously.”
“Ah...”
“Do Hyun-woo's got sneaky intel. Show we're serious.”
The director grinned.
“Drains the cockiness right out.”