Korean Hollywood (3)
"*Cough!*" Oh Jeongsu choked, and before he knew it, he started coughing uncontrollably. "*Cough! Cough! Cough! Cough! Cough!*" The fit didn't subside easily, and it was only after gulping down two full glasses of water provided by the MC that he finally managed to stop. Naturally, tears and snot were streaming from his eyes and nose—there was no helping that. If this had been a pre-recorded show, they would have edited it out, but since it was live, the entire nation witnessed the spectacle. To make matters worse, it was the 8:00 PM prime time slot. Oh Jeongsu cursed internally while trying to maintain his composure behind his handkerchief, which he lowered a moment later.
"*Ahem!* My apologies. I was suddenly taken by a coughing fit..."
"Now, it seems Chairman Oh Jeongsu has regained his composure. Choi Yoon-gi, do you have anything more to add?"
At the MC's prompt, Yoon-gi shook his head and gripped the microphone. "No, I do not."
Naturally, it became Oh Jeongsu's turn to speak. 'Damn it, this is tricky.' Yoon-gi’s previous question—asking if it was the President's fault—was a trap. No matter how he answered, he would be stepping on a landmine. Oh Jeongsu felt his blood run cold. No matter how much he glanced at his notes, there was no predicted answer for such a question, and his frustration turned toward his staff. 'Useless bastards!'
In the end, Oh Jeongsu realized he had to debate with his own limited wits. "I am not saying the President made a poor judgment. On the contrary, the President has provided us with equal opportunity." Satisfied that he had handled it reasonably well, Oh Jeongsu’s expression softened slightly as he continued. "However, I believe it is entirely the fault of YK Department Store that this equal opportunity is bringing a crisis to our nation. What is the biggest problem with YK Department Store? It is, of course, the high-priced foreign goods. How much foreign currency leaks out every time one of these items is sold? I would like to hear Choi Yoon-gi’s opinion on this."
With the MC’s smooth transition, it was Yoon-gi’s turn again. "So, you are saying that 'the foreign currency outflow is because of YK Department Store'?"
Even though it was a debate, because Yoon-gi asked, Oh Jeongsu gave a light nod. "That is correct."
"Then, let me ask one more thing. Who are the people who usually buy luxury goods at YK Department Store?"
"Excuse me?" Oh Jeongsu was taken aback by the unexpected question.
"I asked who the people buying luxury goods at YK Department Store are."
"Well... people with... money, wouldn't they be?"
Because it was an unexpected question, he had no choice but to answer honestly, and Yoon-gi didn't miss the opening. "Yes, that is correct. Most of them are people with money. Then, for the foreign currency outflow at YK Department Store to be a problem, wouldn't there need to be a premise that these wealthy people have been using domestic products in their daily lives?"
Yoon-gi deliberately ended his statement as a question, and Oh Jeongsu walked straight into the trap. "Exactly! If it weren't for YK Department Store, their money would have been circulating within Korea."
"I see. That is a valid point."
Oh Jeongsu felt a sense of foreboding at Yoon-gi’s ready admission, but before he could say anything, Yoon-gi continued. "So, I have a question: do you and your family usually use domestic products?"
It was a question he absolutely could not answer "no" to. So, Oh Jeongsu nodded with a feigned look of confidence. "Of course. That is only natural. Isn't that what patriotism is?"
As Oh Jeongsu smiled at the panel, the participants chimed in with "Ohhh" sounds of agreement. However, Yoon-gi shattered that sentiment in an instant.
"Then I have a proposal. At our YK Department Store, we have records of the consumption habits of Chairman Oh Jeongsu and his family. If you agree, I would like to reveal your family’s consumption at YK Department Store to the nation right here and now. How about it?"
"*Gack!*" For a moment, Oh Jeongsu gasped involuntarily. YK had come prepared with an 'Anti-Oh Jeongsu' statement from the very start of the debate. It was a question he truly hadn't imagined, and Oh Jeongsu’s eyes darted around in anxiety. 'What do I do? How should I handle this?'
His anxious appearance was broadcasted across the country, and the citizens watching TV began to focus intently on the screen. However, Oh Jeongsu did not grant the public's wish for a clear answer. "That is... because it is a matter of personal privacy..."
"Why is that? If you reveal it, you could show the nation your wonderful side as someone who loves domestic products, couldn't you?"
"Uh... that is..."
In the end, Oh Jeongsu chose to make a fool of himself. "*Cough! Cough! Cough! Cough!*" Pretending to choke again, he paused his speech, sighing slowly to stall for time. But Oh Jeongsu’s plan was only half-successful. He wanted his opponent to change the subject, but Yoon-gi just waited quietly.
'Damn it, I have no choice.' Oh Jeongsu grabbed the microphone again. "Currently, domestic companies are going through a very difficult time. They would survive if the public used domestic products, but since they only use foreign goods, the industry cannot recover. If companies survive, the people survive. Isn't this the very definition of the trickle-down effect?"
Speaking off the cuff, a term that wouldn't even appear until the 2010s slipped out of Oh Jeongsu's mouth.
"To summarize Chairman Oh Jeongsu’s words, you are saying that the 'Use Domestic Products' movement revitalizes domestic companies?"
"Yes, that is exactly it!" Oh Jeongsu’s face brightened at the thought that the topic had shifted, but even if the topic changed, nothing would really change.
"That part is also strange. If the public uses domestic products, domestic companies are revitalized? What does that specifically mean?"
This time, Oh Jeongsu was confident. "Isn't it a simple story? If domestic companies survive, they will naturally release high-quality products. And that will return as a benefit to the public."
"Then, please provide an example."
"Excuse me?" Oh Jeongsu’s face twisted in disbelief again. But Yoon-gi didn't stop.
"I asked for an example. If the public uses domestic products, the company makes high-quality products. Surely there is an example of this?"
"Ah... that, that is because