Saemangeum Safari
Today was Friday.
Two days had passed since wrapping up the Halloween special shoot.
"Everyone, great work today. I've got an external meeting, so I'll head out first."
"You too, sir."
"See you tomorrow, Director."
I exchanged goodbyes with the staff and headed straight to a nearby Korean restaurant specializing in formal courses.
It wasn't far from the hospital, but I'd never set foot there before.
It was the kind of upscale place perfect for engagement dinners.
Conveniently close.
Just like the time we'd gone to that Iberico pork place for a team dinner where I hadn't paid a dime, my tightly clenched fist buzzed like a pager today too.
The person I was about to meet wasn't just your average zoo director.
No, even a zoo director wasn't ordinary, but this man was on another level entirely.
I swallowed dryly and stepped inside, where rows of stern men in black suits stood at attention instead of waitstaff.
One of them, a man with a face like a compact killing machine—slightly shorter than Kang Ha-neul—approached with crisp footsteps.
"The Chairman is waiting inside. This way, please."
"Ah, yes."
Wow. Did they rent out the whole place?
Not a whisper escaped as I followed him down the long hallway.
"Chairman, Director Baek Min-hyeok has arrived."
"Show him in."
A grave voice came from beyond the sliding door.
The suited man opened it, revealing an elderly gentleman with graying hair staring at me.
"Hello, Chairman. I'm Baek Min-hyeok."
"Haha, it's been ages since I stepped back from the front lines. Just call me Director—after all, you're here to see the head of Saemangeum Safari."
The table groaned under lavish dishes, but I barely noticed them.
Jeong Yong-gun, the Chairman, smiled kindly.
The title of Chairman suited him better than Director because he was the head of Oseong Group, tentacles spread across cutting-edge tech, semiconductors, high-rises and factories, chemicals, fashion, medicine, finance, hotels, and more.
Jeong Yong-gun... the real Jeong Yong-gun.
People had called him everything from a rich lunatic's folly when news broke that the retired Jeong Yong-gun was building Korea's largest zoo.
Now that the man who'd turned Korea into the Oseong Republic sat before me, my body froze like a broken machine.
"I feel like we're already acquainted from seeing you on TV every week. Come, have a seat."
Jeong Yong-gun... watches Animal Kingdom?
A man who made money just by breathing was making time for me on a Sunday morning. Unbelievable.
"Yes, thank you."
Unaware or uncaring of my tension, he gestured to the seat with that gentle smile.
"You're busy with animal treatments and TV appearances—thank you for making time. You're close with the president of Good Deeds News, right? I saw a few articles about you from his daughter's reporting, which led me to ask for this meeting."
Holy crap.
Shin Min-ji, the reporter. Didn't you say you live in a studio apartment?
With her rumpled clothes and messy hair, I'd pegged her as a total outsider, but she's royalty?
Her articles were always unfiltered rants without a care for others' opinions—I'd thought she was a bit off, but it turned out her family was the eccentric one.
"Have you ever visited our safari, Director Baek?"
"Not yet, but I've heard it's Korea's largest zoo."
"We'd prefer 'safari' over 'zoo.' Saemangeum Safari isn't just big— we've poured immense effort into making it nature-friendly, not human-centric."
"Ah, my apologies."
"Haha, no harm done. Eat up first."
Poured immense effort.
Meaning poured immense money.
Jeong Yong-gun had many labels, but the one that fit best was "master negotiator."
He'd snapped up the cursed 26 million pyeong of Saemangeum land—doomed after a failed expo—for a song and turned it into Korea's biggest zoo.
Did he read my thoughts?
A chill glinted in his eyes behind the smile.
"You've probably seen the headlines. Thief who stole the land for pennies. Madman who gave human habitat to animals. Haha."
Hard not to.
But I had nothing to say, so I just listened.
"I didn't mind the talk. In my later years, I felt a calling to pursue what I truly wanted."
"And that was the safari."
He answered with a faint smile.
"People saw it as a chaebol's plaything, but money alone couldn't make it happen. Was Saemangeum ordinary land? You can't force what isn't for sale. But help from friends can solve things sometimes. So I got a little assistance."
His "friends" were global political and business heavyweights.
Years of uproar when he announced expanding production lines and investments from major nations to secure Saemangeum, unveiling the safari roadmap.
"What makes a good friend? One with precise accounting. I help them as they help me—no handles for them to grab. That's why I need your help, Director."
"I'm not sure I follow. What help could I... provide?"
He replied to my puzzled question with another faint smile.
"Until recently, Korea had just one shoebill. This year, that number rose to three."
The shoebill—vulnerable worldwide with only about 8,000 left—was a massive bird known for its shoe-like bill, hence "Shoebill" or Shoebill.
"You brought in two at Saemangeum Safari."
"One male, one female."
Jeong Yong-gun's pleased expression darkened swiftly.
"We could import the shoebill pair—beyond mere preservation, committing to population growth. But a problem arose."
Not facilities or staff, so only one issue left.
"They're not breeding easily."
He nodded slightly and downed his drink.
"It's not just failing to get pregnant."
"Then what...?"
He gave a bitter smile.
"Even when paired, no mating happens. Zero interest in each other."
"......"
What good are top facilities without action?
"We tried inducing several pairings, but no reaction. And since the last one, the male's appetite has plummeted, weight dropping steadily."
"Any health issues?"
"Our vets say nothing yet. But if intake keeps falling, we're worried."
"If no anomalies, I doubt I can help much."
I'm no shoebill expert.
"Plus, I hear Saemangeum employs the most vets in Korea."
"True. The best in the country. But no root solution. We called in top overseas experts—same result. That's why you."
"If experts couldn't... how could I?"
"I hear you're knowledgeable in large and exotic animals. Forgive the prior digging—circumstances demanded it."
I bit back a "how'd you find that?" Oseong's de facto chairman could uncover anything if he wanted.
Plus, alumni at Saemangeum made it easy.
"I have many enemies. Surrounded by haters since birth. They pounce on any slip."
He popped meat into his mouth and continued.
"Pushing hard for this safari means countless foes still."
"......"
"Less than a year since opening. Trouble with endangered species import for breeding already? It's a bind."
I got his bind. But.
Hearing animals talk—what can I do that experts couldn't?
Connecting with him seemed wise.
But don't eye uneatable persimmons. Greed bursts bellies.
As I pondered polite refusal, he spoke again.
"On Animal Kingdom, you seemed beyond ordinary at empathizing with animals. Like conversing with them."
"Thank you, but..."
"Please help the shoebills, even a little. I beg you."
Saemangeum's director—the man who built Korea's economy—bowed his gray head to me.
Like shoving my head into an alligator's maw. Refuse now, before too late.
"If I could help, I would, but shoebills..."
"Five million won. House call fee per day. Paid regardless of progress. Triple if improvement..."
"I'll help. My skills are limited, but for endangered preservation, I'll do my best."
Too big to refuse.
For real.
A week passed since the meeting with Jeong Yong-gun.
Now was lunchtime, the daily highlight for Hanmaum Animal Hospital's family.
"Oh, right. How's Nero doing lately?"
"Haha, great. Overflowing with affection—wakes me up happy every morning."
That prickly cat suddenly came to mind, prompting my question, but Kang Ha-neul's reply baffled.
Street gang leader Nero, overflowing with affection? Affection?
I wasn't the only shocked one.
Kim Mi-so froze, spoonful of soft tofu midway to her mouth, eyes wide.
"Wait... Mr. Kang, are you a druid or something? That feral cat's suddenly affectionate? You sure it's not another one?"
"Heavens, what're you saying? Our Nero's a total sweetheart, practically dog-level. Haha."
"......"
"......"
"And druid? That's our director, not me. Getting a personal request from Jeong Yong-gun Chairman himself."
Last week, I'd scoured papers—even foreign ones—devouring shoebill info, but the more time passed, the less I believed I could help.
Saemangeum's vets weren't inferior skill-wise.
"Sorry for stepping out often. Time's tight, so I'll head off."
"Safe travels, Director."
"Take care. Oh! Coming back tomorrow?"
"Probably tonight unless issues—might take a day or two extra. I'll update if changes. Just check Ssal-i's eating well."
"Don't worry, go ahead. I'll take good care of Ssal-i."
Saemangeum Safari was in Jeollabuk-do's Saemangeum.
I'd planned to take Jeong's offered car, but circumstances changed that.
Honk honk—
"Directooor! Over here!"
"Coming."
A white van honking on the shoulder. Reina waving from inside.
Sighing inwardly, it was because I was traveling with the Animal Kingdom crew.
"I've always wanted to see Saemangeum Safari! Aren't you pumped?"
"Let's go."
"Maknae PD! Hitting the roooad!"
"Road trip awaaay!"
Shooting day clashed with the house call; explaining led main PD Nam Gyu-won to beg filming the shoebill treatment for the show.
Even if no cure, safari visit alone made great footage.
Hoped Jeong refused. Surprisingly generous.
Ended up long-hauling with the noisy Animal Kingdom team. As usual.
"Heh, big zoos rarely cooperate—they film their own content. This is prime director-bus time."
Nam Gyu-won's self-serving comment from the back didn't irk me.
Wrapped weekly shoot with pay—two birds, one stone.
Tuning out Reina's chatter as white noise beside me, I dozed deeply.
"We've arrived."
Finally, Saemangeum Safari.
"Whoa..."
"Korea's largest" was no exaggeration.
Reina's soft gasp escaped as she stepped out; even I gaped at the massive gate.
The enormous "Saemangeum Safari" gate felt like a portal to another world.
"Director Baek Min-hyeok?"
As I stood slack-jawed like a country bumpkin fresh in the city, a familiar face approached with a grin.
"Long time no see, sunbae."