Chapter 180:
"Wow… CP-nim, is this for real? KL Entertainnt manipulated everything to bring down Kang Jinseok's reputation just so that KL Entertainnt's na could co up?"
BDD Broadcasting Station Editing Room.
A mber of the "I Want to Know That" team exclaid while looking at the monitor. What he was watching was a video edited by CP Jung Woncheol, summarizing the entire story of KL Entertainnt creating and spreading rumors about Kang Jinseok.
Jung Woncheol paused the video at intervals and said, "I found out while making this that KL Entertainnt doesn't just dislike Kang Jinseok casually. Rumor has it that there's even a Kang Jinseok curse doll in President Lee Youngkyung's office."
"Really?"
"Really. But seeing them go to this extent makes
think it might be true."
"But CP-nim, are you going to release this as it is? If we release this, we'll never be able to work with KL Entertainnt or any entertainnt industry professionals. Variety show PDs and drama PDs might never make a sound with us."
When the team mber spoke, Jung Woncheol glanced at him. His expression toward the team mbers was full of contempt.
"Hey, it's been a long ti since our station worked with KL Entertainnt. What nonsense is this now?"
"Is that so?"
"Is that so? What nonsense. Since KL Entertainnt ssed with our drama departnt after their stunt with Director Kim's work, we haven't used a single KL Entertainnt actor in our dramas."
"Oh, right. I rember that. But what about the variety show side?"
"It's the sa there. Oh, the news departnt will make so noise. They couldn't release the first exclusive report, so they'll make sure to make a fuss."
As the team mbers spoke under Jung Woncheol's not-so-subtle criticism, they were engrossed in a conversation for a while. During their discussion, Jung Woncheol's mobile phone rang.
"Who… Oops."
As soon as Jung Woncheol checked the caller ID on the screen, he straightened up and politely answered the phone.
"Yes, Prosecutor. it's Jung Woncheol speaking. What? Ah… verification, right? There shouldn't be a problem, but we're still in the middle of the operation. Oh, really? You've arrived? I'll co down right away."
"?"
The team mber looked at Jung Woncheol with a puzzled expression. It was the first ti he had seen Jung Woncheol answer a call with such formality.
After a while, when Jung Woncheol finished the call, the team mber asked, "Hyungnim, why did you answer the phone so cautiously?"
"Prosecutor Lee Minyoung."
"Hyungnim, what cri did you commit?"
"…Committing a cri? No such thing. She's soone helping us."
"What is Prosecutor Lee helping with?"
When the team mber asked with a curious expression, Jung Woncheol stood up and vaguely replied, "There's sothing like that, kid. Don't ask too much. It's dangerous."
***
After the release of "The Most Painful Predestined Relationship in the World," I was leading a busier life than ever.
Mostly due to appearances on variety shows and shooting comrcials.
The ad I was shooting today was for ‘Hers.'
"As expected… Actor Kang Jinseok has a unique… feeling. Even if you just take a shot… it turns out well. Just like that feeling… I'll shoot the next product as well."
Photographer Yang Chihoon spoke with his characteristic slow tone. I had felt this before, but it was hard to tell whether he was genuinely pleased with the calm tone or not.
When Yang Chihoon took the pose he had inford
of, flashes went off incessantly. Unlike before, I had beco quite familiar with such flashes now.
"Ten minutes. No, Well take a fifteen-minute break… and then do it again."
After a while of continuous shooting, Yang Chihoon set the cara down on the desk and said. Upon which, the staff mbers who were quietly assisting in the shoot shouted.
"We'll take a break!"
"How many more products do we have to shoot?"
"Six left!"
It was a break, but Yang Chihoon's gaze did not leave the screen. Next to him was a foreign employee from the ‘Hers headquarters, and she, too, carefully examined the footage with Yang Chihoon.
"I should sit down for a mont."
Although I had done several ad shoots, this was my first ti with luxury goods. Perhaps that's why, strangely, I felt more nervous than shooting other ads. I was worried that I might accidentally damage these bags and clothes, even though I didn't know their prices.
As I took my seat, Jang Sunho handed
a drink and said, "You seem to be in great condition today. You seem to shine even more than usual."
"Haha… Well, that's a relief. Honestly, I've been so nervous, wondering if it shows. What if I ss up?"
"There was no sign of nervousness at all."
"Thank you."
Feeling sowhat relieved after Jang Sunho's words, I took a sip of the drink he gave . It was a green juice that was both bitter and good for the body, similar to one I had tried before.
"But today, it seems a bit more bitter. It almost tastes like traditional dicine."
Nevertheless, since he made it for , I couldn't complain, so I managed to finish it sohow.
At that mont, Jang Sunho asked , "Actor, do you happen to have a favorite among the products you shot today?"
"A favorite?"
After glancing at the stacked bags, wallets, and other products, I replied, "I'm not familiar with luxury items. They all look pretty, though. Why do you ask?"
"Oh, the advertiser was so satisfied after seeing the shoot that they wanted to give gifts. They said they would give everything, but it felt a bit much, so I suggested just picking two or three items you like."
"…Giving away those luxury items just like that?"
In a surprised tone, I asked, then quickly added, "Those things are over a million won, aren't they? I checked online before the shoot, and many products cost 3 to 4 million won."
"A million won?"
Jang Sunho looked at
with a puzzled expression, then lightly laughed and said, "Actor, well… The cheapest among the products we're shooting today is $8,900. With the current exchange rate, that's over ten million won."
"…What?"
I thought I had misheard. I had looked into it a bit when they said we were shooting an ad today, and it didn't seem like they were that expensive back then.
"Oh, wallets are a bit cheaper. Still, they usually cost around 8 to 9 million won."
"And they're just giving that as a gift? Why?"
"As I ntioned earlier, they might be satisfied after seeing the footage, but the advertising effect is much greater when the model uses the product. Just like they gave ‘Masareti' as a gift before."
"Oh… I see."
Listening to Jang Sunho's explanation, I sowhat understood the advertiser's intention. However, I still couldn't get over the shock that a single bag cost over ten million won.
As I nodded my head in bewildernt, Jang Sunho said, "If you don't particularly like any of the products, we could prepare sothing else."
"Is there no option to just not accept them?"
"Don't you like them that much? When I explained the ad before, you seed quite enthusiastic, and I thought you liked it."
"Well… It's a well-known brand, so I was excited about that, but it's a bit burdenso to receive such expensive products as gifts. In the case of ‘Maserati,' I heard it was included in the advertising fee, so I accepted it, but…"
Amid my hesitant words…
I suddenly rembered what the leader of the warehouse, Mr. Bang, had said a while ago.
"Co to think of it, the leader ntioned wanting to give a luxury gift to the Madam at so point."
Thinking carefully, I asked Jang Sunho cautiously, "Manager-nim, it wouldn't be right to give away the gifts to soone else, would it?"
"That doesn't seem like a good idea. Why do you ask?"
"Well, the leader of the warehouse ntioned wanting to give a luxury bag to the Madam a while ago. So I thought, what if I don't accept it and give it to him? It doesn't have to be such an expensive product… but maybe it's a bit too much."
At my words, Jang Sunho made a hesitant expression with a soft sound. Then he nodded and said with a careful voice, "I'll talk to the coordinator about it."
"Oh, no, you don't have to do that."
Before I could finish speaking, Jang Sunho was already discussing sothing with the employee next to Yang Chihoon. It was hard to hear because of the distance. Besides, they were speaking in English or French, so foreign language, so even if I could hear, I wouldn't understand.
I continued to feel uneasy, wondering if I had brought up unnecessary complications.
However, at that mont, unexpectedly, Jang Sunho quickly ca up to .
"Uh, what happened?"
"If you agree not to use other brands for the next four years and use our new products for free, we'll gift as many as you want."
"…?"
His unexpected proposal left
looking sowhat foolish. Seeing my confused expression, Jang Sunho calmly continued to explain.
"It's a suggestion considering that you're likely to beco much more famous in the future. Since you might enter Hollywood soon, it could be a good investnt for them."
"That's… I an, Hollywood? ?"
Surprised, I asked, and Jang Sunho paused for a mont, then casually said, "It was a saying that with your talent, you could enter Hollywood anyti."
Although Jang Sunho spoke casually as usual, there was an awkwardness in his words, as if he was hiding sothing from .
Just as I was about to inquire about it, he quickly approached .
"We're starting the shoot again! Kang Jinseok, please get ready!"
***
KL Entertainnt, Actor 2's office.
All the directors' heads, except for director 1, were gathered for a eting.
"Do you all know that Kang Jinseok shot a ‘Hers' ad?"
When Director 2 asked, Director 3, as if asking why she was asking the obvious, replied sowhat sarcastically.
"Is there anyone who doesn't know? It's all over social dia that the ‘luxury actor wearing luxury' is causing a sensation. But why?"
"I think it's a good opportunity for us."
"A good opportunity?"
"Yeah. It's a hot topic on social dia, and we can write articles about it. Before the start of exposing Kang Jinseok, we could tactfully release a few articles, maybe stir up the reporters to move in our favor."
The director 4, sitting next to the director 3, asked, "What kind of tactful articles are you talking about?"
"You know those types. Articles criticizing celebrities who shoot luxury ads or wear expensive clothes, raise the prices of those brands. How about sothing like, ‘Kang Jinseok, the modest youth, turns out to be addicted to luxury?'"
"Ah, I see."
Director 4 nodded. However, with a sowhat hesitant attitude, he spoke in a skeptical tone.
"But do we really need to do that? Anyway, once ‘Kang Jinseok's exposure' begins, he's likely to fall."
"I told you. It's a kind of ‘practice' for our journalists before the real ‘Kang Jinseok's exposure.' We have nothing to lose, so why not try it once?"
The Directors generally nodded in agreent with the words of the Director 2. Seeing this, she added one more reason.
"Also, we need to see how OS Entertainnt responds to negative articles about their actors. We should see in advance. Once the ‘Kang Jinseok's exposure' starts in earnest, we'll be fighting Gene and OS Entertainnt like crazy. We need to analyze their strength in advance."
"Why bother with an analysis of strength? We have around 50 reporters on our side. Will they even stand a chance against us?"
"Well, being thorough won't hurt."
"Yeah, that's true."
As Director 3 spoke in agreent, Director 2 shook her phone and said, "Shall we start the preliminary skirmish lightly?"
Reviews
All reviews (0)