The Ultimate Advertisement
When Yoon-gi stepped out into the living room, what he saw was Jung-ah singing and dancing in front of their grandfather and parents. Jung-ah had entered elementary school just a short while ago. Despite turning eight, she hadn't lost an ounce of her signature charm, and thanks to that, their grandfather and parents lived with smiles on their faces every single day.
'Come to think of it, I wasn't that affectionate when I was her age.'
Of course, he hadn't been entirely dry or emotionless. He had often run to his grandfather to hug him, and he had played with his parents plenty of times. But it was true that he had never been as naturally endearing and sweet as Jung-ah. 'That’s why I’m even more grateful to her, in a way.'
It wasn't as if eight-year-old Jung-ah did these things knowing the weight of it, but Yoon-gi felt a sense of gratitude toward her for doing the things he never could.
"Ah, Oppa! Oppaaaaa!!"
Jung-ah spotted Yoon-gi standing by the door, stopped her song immediately, and sprinted toward him.
"You should have kept going. You were cute."
At Yoon-gi’s words as he lifted the running Jung-ah high into the air, she beamed and asked, "Really?"
"Yeah. Oppa thinks you’re the cutest person in the world."
"Then, I’ll do it again!"
Jung-ah hopped out of his arms, stood back in front of the TV, and began to sing and dance once more.
'Isn't that the Japanese style? Wouldn't the Korean style be a bit different?'
'......Jung-ah won't become that kind of person.'
'What was the age gap again?'
'I’m older than that, so it should be fine.'
After some time had passed, Jung-ah seemed a bit tired and stopped her dance. Seeing the situation, Yoon-gi approached her and bent one knee to meet her eye level.
"Jung-ah."
"Yeah?"
Yoon-gi smiled at Jung-ah, who looked up at him with clear, innocent eyes, and asked, "Do you really want to try appearing on television?"
Night fell, and Jung-ah was asleep. The family, minus Jung-ah, had gathered in the living room.
"Are you sure this is okay?" At Park Yeon-ji’s cautious words, Yoon-gi nodded.
"I think Jung-ah is more than capable. Even back in California, I felt that Jung-ah had a natural talent for emotional acting."
Choi Ki-hyun, who had been listening, also nodded. "I can acknowledge that much. That’s why I get played by her so often, you know? I’m sure she’s crying, but the moment I give in to what she wants, she’s laughing. She’s a real little rascal, a total rascal."
The laughter on Choi Ki-hyun’s face was filled with deep love for his granddaughter.
"But she’s still just a little girl... I wonder if she can handle it well." Park Yeon-ji was struggling to decide, likely because of her perspective as a mother.
"If you look at it that way, Yoon-gi took on the role of a manager from a young age, so why wouldn't she be able to do it?" Choi Ki-hyun’s words were decisive, but Park Yeon-ji shook her head slightly.
"Yoon-gi was special from the start. But Jung-ah feels ordinary. That’s why I’m more worried. Don't you think so?"
At Park Yeon-ji’s words, Choi Cheol-ho tilted his head in thought for a moment before looking at her and saying, "Maybe her area of talent is just different from Yoon-gi’s?"
"An area of talent?"
"Yeah. Jung-ah might have a talent for acting."
"Hmm......"
Perhaps moved by her husband’s words, the worried tone in Park Yeon-ji’s voice faded slightly.
"Mother, if you’re that worried, why don't we let Jung-ah decide for herself?"
"Jung-ah?"
"Yes. If Jung-ah says she wants to do it, we let her. If she doesn't want to, we don't force her. Isn't that the guideline of our family?"
As Choi Ki-hyun said, it was a principle of the Samwoo Group not to force family members to do things they didn't want to do. Even when it came to marriage, they allowed political marriages if desired, and didn't force them if not. Park Yeon-ji knew this well, so after a moment of contemplation, she nodded.
"That would be for the best."
The next morning, before she left for school, Jung-ah was asked the question in the living room where the family had gathered.
"Jung-ah, do you want to be on television like your brother said?"
At her mother’s question, Jung-ah beamed and nodded vigorously. "Yes!"
It was decided.
"Excuse me? You want to postpone the launch of the Super Genesis?"
In the Sega president’s office, Nakayama asked back in surprise at Yoon-gi’s words. They had originally planned to launch on May 1st to coincide with 'Koinobori' on May 5th, Japan’s Children’s Day. Hearing a suggestion to delay it, he couldn't help but be shocked.
"Yes. A sufficient reason has arisen."
"May I ask what that reason is?"
Although they were across the sea, Nakayama had been consistently receiving news about what Yoon-gi was doing, so while he might show concern, he didn't show a negative attitude.
"It’s simple. It’s because of the advertising."
"Advertising? The advertising plan has already been drafted and is waiting to be implemented, but is there something you’re unhappy with?"
Asked the question, Yoon-gi took a sip of coffee from the head seat, set the cup down lightly, and shook his head.
"It’s not that I’m unhappy with it. I think the advertisement itself isn't bad. It’s just that a better method occurred to me."
"A better method?"
Sega was already planning to advertise in newspapers, on TV, and in shopping districts. And now, a better advertisement? Nakayama looked at Yoon-gi with interest.
"I’m thinking of making a movie."
"A movie?"
At Nakayama’s counter-question, Yoon-gi placed a brown envelope on the table and pushed it lightly toward Nakayama.
"This is......?"
"Read it."
Inside the envelope was a 'synopsis,' a lightly condensed version of a movie script.
[God of Pachinko]
"Ho-ho?"
Interested in the title, Nakayama began to read the synopsis carefully. In South Korea, where a web novel frenzy had blown in the 2010s, titles like 'God of OO' were worn-out tropes, but in this era of Japan, it was an incredibly fresh title. Furthermore, Pachinko. From the 70s to the 80s, the Japanese Pachinko market had seen such ultra-high growth that it made the bubble look tame, and because of this, Pachinko was a hit all across Japan. Would it be an appropriate expression to say that the entire nation enjoyed Pachinko, enough to easily surpass the viewership ratings of the 90s Korean drama Heo Jun?
Pachinko was the Japanese term for a 'slot machine,' an adult game where you pulled a lever on the machine, pictures appeared on the screen, and if the pictures matched, you received a prize. It was an object that even Koreans had seen at least once in some media. However, because of that, Nakayama had a question.
"Is there a reason you used Pachinko to promote the Super Genesis?"
"Read the content a bit more."
"Ah, I apologize."
Nakayama realized his mistake and began reading the synopsis to the end. And a moment later.
"Oh! Ah! Ohhh! This will work! It will work one hundred percent!"
At Nakayama’s exclamation, Yoon-gi smiled instead of answering.
"This is a scenario that clearly targets the purchasing demographic. There’s no way the adults who see this won't buy the Super Genesis for their children!!"
The main content of the movie was about the protagonist succeeding in Pachinko. Pachinko was a game of chance, but the protagonist had fantastic luck and always won. It was clearly a Pachinko-focused movie, but the Super Genesis was scheduled to be included as product placement.
"Parents go to play Pachinko, and their children feel the same joy at home with the Super Genesis. This is bound to work!"
As Pachinko became a hit, all of Japan was suffering from one problem. It was the neglect of children because parents were away from home all day to play Pachinko. But the advertising message of the movie was that if they bought a Super Genesis, the children could wait happily at home just like their parents.
"In a sense, the Chairman will be the savior of the children. There are already many articles about children being left alone in dark houses without their parents these days, so at least they won't be bored."
Coming from Nakayama, a Japanese person who was deeply experiencing Japan, it was surely correct. The wave of Pachinko hitting Japan could never be stopped. It was a great flow of history. However, utilizing that flow was entirely possible. Moreover, it was the 80s. Since it was an era where one could exercise plenty of ingenuity in product placement, this strategy of Yoon-gi’s was also suitable as a reason to delay the launch of the Super Genesis.
"Setting the movie’s background to August '85. Does that mean you want to launch in August?"
At the sharp-witted Nakayama’s words, Yoon-gi nodded with a smile. "Exactly."
"This is reason enough for a delay. I will persuade the employees, including the developers, so please rest easy."
Watching the excited Nakayama, Yoon-gi chuckled and spoke again.
"There is one more benefit to launching six months later."
"What is it?"
"It’s the manufacturing cost of the hardware."
"Ah......!"
The manufacturing cost of the Super Genesis was higher than the Famicom. Of course, since they had minimized the hardware margin, there wasn't a big difference in price compared to the Famicom. However, the manufacturing unit cost was a significant risk from the manufacturer’s perspective. But if they delayed the launch date by six months, the unit cost for products produced later could be relatively lower. Even looking at computer parts, prices dropped after six months, so the unit cost of the Super Genesis, which used these parts, would also decrease.
"And this is a secret between the two of us, but make sure to meet with this person often."
"Yes? Who is this......?"
What Yoon-gi handed over was none other than a business card. On it was the name 'Andrew.' Andrew, who had been working as an assistant professor at Harvard, had finally come under Yoon-gi’s wing.
"It’s my independent company that researches parts for the Super Genesis. It’s a company that has gathered top talents from Harvard and equivalent graduate schools."
"Chairman, could that possibly be......?"
"We gave second parties the right to participate in parts for the Super Genesis. But we will take everything for the Super Genesis 2."
At Yoon-gi’s strategy, which was already several moves ahead, Nakayama’s jaw dropped.
"Well then, I’ll head back to Korea now. I have to produce the movie."
"Yes, have a safe trip!"
Leaving behind Nakayama, who bowed his waist at 120 degrees, Yoon-gi walked out of the Sega president’s office.
MEV Studio. A Japanese actor whose stock was currently rising in Japan was acting there. Even if the movie was filmed in Korea, they had to use a Japanese lead actor. Since they were filming a movie for the complete Japanese domestic market, this level of expenditure was natural, so Yoon-gi didn't spare the money.
Taneda Hiroyuki, a Japanese actor whose private life had already been confirmed by Choi Deok-bae to be clean for a celebrity. With clear features and wild long hair, Taneda Hiroyuki was the best actor for a Pachinko movie.
'Finally, that scene......!'
Yoon-gi smiled as he watched the set. A studio staged as a Japanese game shop. There, a supporting actor playing the role of the game shop owner placed a Famicom and a Super Genesis on the display case and began his lines first.
"The Famicom is 8-bit, and the Super Genesis is 16-bit. Considering the customer’s pocket situation, the 8-bit Famicom......"
Listening to this, Taneda sharply cut off the owner’s words.
"Forget it! Double it!"