The Second Nuke
A cafe in Yeouido.
Click.
Even in the early February chill, a man slurped his iced Americano noisily as he sat down, then opened his laptop on the table with a heavy sigh.
Fuu.
He was Kim Gija, the reporter who'd recently written an article on the drunken antics of the MC for a variety show SBC had been planning, thanks to a tip from Do Yoon-seop.
In other words, he was one of the culprits who'd forced SBC Content Headquarters to redirect their massive variety budget to Monster City.
"……"
Logging into his laptop's email, he found a message containing a video and rough instructions.
Soon.
He hit play on the video—and already, his instincts were firing. This one was another "source" commissioned by DK Entertainment.
But.
This time, it felt a bit risky.
[Lee Tae-gyu]
Do Yoon-seop—that guy still had no idea how he'd known SBC's Hwang headquarters chief would reroute the busted variety budget to Monster City—had scored a three-cushion win with this rookie actor before, and he was the star of this scheme too.
·······Is this really okay?
Unlike last time, when the article was straightforward with no extra spin, this required some fabrication.
And not through him, an entertainment reporter, but via a contact in the social affairs desk at the broadcaster.
Do Yoon-seop's blatant suggestion to leverage Kim Gija's old network from his social affairs days, back when he'd been effectively exiled to entertainment.
It made sense, laid bare. They'd both profited handsomely—he from Do Yoon-seop's tips, building his record—and they scratched each other's backs.
Plus, the hook was solid.
·······It checks out.
A quick mosaic overlay and a few loaded buzzwords, and it'd stick in people's minds. YouTube and public media carried real weight and authority, after all.
Might even spawn follow-ups.
But.
That rookie actor might take some heat.
This plan—reel in attention with scandalous hype and aggro, then detonate with acting chops—hinged on him having the vessel to handle it all.
With Monster City's official teaser dropping soon, did they really need this gamble?
·······But it'll be fun.
Suddenly curious, Kim Gija wondered what tidal wave this monster rookie—already heating up industry insiders and the netizen world pre-airing—would unleash using this "operation" as a stepping stone.
Timing was perfect too.
With Monster City's premiere right around the corner, ignite the gathered buzz with the official teaser and this ploy for a secondary explosion, sustain the fire till episode one...
·······At least the name Lee Tae-gyu would be unforgettable for a while.
·······Yeah.
Kim Gija nodded slowly.
Do Yoon-seop's taking the heat anyway.
With that, he hit send on the email outlining the full operation.
Click.
Do Yoon-seop's planned second nuke bomb crossed over to his old reporter buddy at the broadcaster.
A few days later.
A large sashimi joint in Gyeonggi Province.
Today was the release date for Italian Romance's official teaser.
"·······Everyone, great work!"
The Italian Romance team, fresh off wrapping their final Italy shoot and back in Korea, was in the middle of a welcome-home feast.
"·······And congratulations!"
"Congratulations!"
"Congratulations!"
"Congratulations!"
At the main PD's lead toast with glasses raised and voices booming, everyone turned to Go Seon-hyeong, the mood electric with festivity.
Three weeks till Italian Romance's premiere, but the dozens of cast and crew believed in their victory without a doubt.
It wasn't weird from their perspective.
Weekend terrestrial dramas usually meant a three-way battle, but bluntly? No real competition.
MBS - Italian Romance
KBC - Quietly, Gently
SBC - Monster City
KBC, hearing of Go Seon-hyeong's involvement last year, slotted a mellow healing rural drama with a "we'll coast through the first half~" vibe.
SBC's original PD and writer bailed under pressure, forcing a hasty noir filler with a has-been vibe.
No contest.
Everyone knew.
"All thanks to our writer!"
The ripple from "Queen of Romcoms" Go Seon-hyeong.
"What'll you wear to the year-end awards?"
"Oh, come on."
"Hey? You think I'm joking? I guarantee this hits top ratings this year. Shooting it felt like a dream—one frame prettier than the last?"
"Cut the hype, PD."
Go Seon-hyeong waved off the already-flushed PD, but he pressed on.
"For real. We've got Ji Kyung-ho, Joo Min-hee, Italy's romance, and the romcom queen serving up the perfect feast. How could we lose?"
In the raucous din.
The main PD leaned low over the four-top with Go Seon-hyeong, Joo Min-hee, and Ji Kyung-ho, murmuring conspiratorially as he glanced around.
"·······Still feels a bit deflating. Victory's sweetest when you fight for it, but SBC and KBC both ran scared."
"Why, PD? There's Monster City."
"Pfft."
The main PD stifled a laugh at Joo Min-hee's jab, then eyed Go Seon-hyeong and Ji Kyung-ho for agreement. "Min-hee, too harsh, heh. We were getting serious."
"Was I?"
"Jeez."
A chuckle rippled across the table.
"Those folks are struggling hard right now, Min-hee. Desperate thrashers always gotta get poked, huh?"
"Eh, 'thrash' is harsh. They're just grinding."
"Not wrong, Kyung-ho."
The tipsy main PD, slurring a bit, turned semi-serious to Ji Kyung-ho.
"·······That teaser leak? Desperate move from folks with nothing left. They think we can't see the ploy? They're toast. Probably shitting bricks now."
"Yeah."
Ji Kyung-ho smirked and nodded.
"Jeez. If you're gonna do it, do it right—what was that? If you're CG-ing a face, pin it on Han Joo-hyuk."
"CG?"
"That one with the heavy face filter."
"Lee Tae-gyu?"
Joo Min-hee jumped in.
"He's a real actor, though?"
"Actor, sure. But check the frame shifts and background blur on cuts. Obvious CG stunt double."
"Ah······CG?"
"Years in editing, I'd know. Heard Monster City got a late budget boost and hired a top VFX firm."
Even during final Italy shoots, vague rumors had trickled in.
Viral something-or-other.
Muddled info on that enigmatic actor, Lee Tae-gyu.
Unlike the main PD's snap judgment, Go Seon-hyeong sensed potential chat fodder and spoke up.
"But Cheon Yoo-seong's SNS lately? Something's brewing."
"Nah, writer. That's—"
Then.
The three phones on the sashimi-plattered table buzzed.
Go Seon-hyeong, Ji Kyung-ho, Joo Min-hee.
Checking their messages, they exchanged looks.
"What."
"Writer got it too···no way?"
"You too?"
·······Kwak In-ho.
The trio made baffled faces at the odd message from the writer they'd once crossed paths with.
"Ugh, buzzkill. Gonna smoke."
As the main PD stepped out, they chimed in unison.
"What'd it say?"
"'Let's have a good competition.'"
"Same."
"Random. Mine too. Why now?"
"Jeez."
Puzzled by Kwak In-ho's intent, Ji Kyung-ho and Joo Min-hee flipped their phones face-down.
"No reply?"
"Nah, it's···kinda awkward."
"Right? Suddenly acting all buddy-buddy after we blew up."
"Yeah."
Go Seon-hyeong flipped hers too, murmuring in understanding.
"That guy's always been like that. Overbearing."
"Didn't think we were that close."
"Bit harsh, but lately···feels like he's riding our fame. Still replies every time, but it paints us as the bad guys."
"You reply to all that?"
"Well···boundaries, but replies are basic."
"You two too nice for your own good."
Go Seon-hyeong chuckled.
"Learn to say no. Now that you're stars, you gonna deal with every leech chasing your name value one-on-one?"
"But we've known him forever—"
"Argh! Too soft!"
"Ow!"
"Ouch!"
She flicked their foreheads.
"Hurts, writer—"
"Listen up."
Sighing, she got serious.
"Post-this, your value skyrockets. Got it?"
Rubbing foreheads, they nodded.
"Kyung-ho, no bundling with that Han Ji-cheon whatever. Min-hee, Seol A-yoon? Not unclimbable. Clear?"
"······Yes."
"······Yes."
Go Seon-hyeong, zero doubt they'd lose to Kwak In-ho's Monster City, preached like gospel.
"Top of this game? Biggest threat's people. Leeches chasing fame—dozens, hundreds coming. Waste emotion on every one?"
Even treating once-helpful Kwak In-ho as a leech now? Common in entertainment.
The industry cleaved haves from have-nots like castes.
"Our paths diverged from his."
Underdogs vs. top dogs—entertainment was a jungle where underdogs rarely climbed back, harsher than sports.
"Teaser drops today. He's poking to unsettle us."
Top-dog Go Seon-hyeong always drew swarms of promo articles per project.
"See? Can't blame jealousy."
She pulled up her phone, showing today's entertainment headlines.
Pre-release articles on the yet-unveiled Italian Romance teaser.
That's how it went.
Top-dog dramas got promo from everywhere, drawing eyes to premiere, boosting already-hot ratings.
Pure virtuous cycle.
Winning works launched with boosters losers could only dream of.
"Hey! Channel surf? Ours should drop soon."
At top-dog Go Seon-hyeong's call, someone grabbed the remote for the wall-mounted TVs.
Click, click.
She tapped her phone, turning to Ji Kyung-ho and Joo Min-hee.
"Watch."
Weekend drama wars started with teasers.
Views, follow-up articles dictated premiere inflows and ratings.
"Once ours drops, flood of articles, comments..."
The brief Italian Romance teaser.
Even so.
Expecting solid promo from the fires lit by Go Seon-hyeong's entourage of entertainment reporters.
"Kwak In-ho? Ignore completely! Okay? Our premiere numbers vs. Monster City's? Worlds apart. Few more drinks, then—"
Gazes shifted to the wall TV, still on KBC News, not yet MBS.
"Wait, change the channel already·······huh?"
No need for the main PD bursting back from his smoke break.
"Writer!"
From the TV.
"·······News! News!"
The underdog revolt hit the 9 PM news.
Do Yoon-seop and Kim Gija's roll-out—with viral on a whole other level from some teaser—began alongside it.