Story of a Big Player from Gangnam

It was the end of November. Director Sim called Gun-Ho from Shanghai City.

"We will have the production presentation tomorrow. Lia came to Shanghai again to attend it."

"Really? Where is it going to take place?"

"It will be held at the event hall of the broadcasting station in Shanghai City. We could have reserved an event hall with a hotel as well, but we chose the broadcasting station which will give easier access for journalists."

"Will the whole production crew be there?"

"No, sir. There will be only the lead actor and actress, and President Baogang Chen as the director, and Director Yan Wu and myself. Oh, also two extra actors will be there too."

"Do they expect to have a lot of journalists at the production presentation?"

"We are not sure if everyone we invited will show up tomorrow. They sent out invitations to 100 guests, and they prepared 100 Ke Fan Quan (meal coupons) as well which can be used only on the very day. President Baogang Chen and the Chinese male actor will do the talk mostly including responding to any questions from the journalists. Lia and I will just sit there smiling."

"Well, I hope the production presentation goes well tomorrow, and good luck with the drama."

"Thank you, sir."

The following day, Gun-Ho was surfing the web in the evening. When he opened the entertainment news section, he was surprised at the cover story on the main page. There was a picture of Lia and the Chinese male actor. They were smiling.

[Lia—a former member of a Kpop girl group—along with the famous Chinese male actor—Long Zhang—will star in a new daily soap opera in China. The title of the drama is Shiguang Ru Meng. During the drama production presentation for Shiguang Ru Meng today, Lia gave her dazzling smile which was attractive enough to catch everyone's eyes.

Shiguang Ru Meng is a new TV drama being produced by a Chinese drama production company called Huanle Shiji. The soap opera will be on air starting mid-December in China.]

Gun-Ho smiled, and then he searched on the internet in Chinese this time to see if there was any article about the drama presentation. In the picture that a Chinese journalist took, Lia looked more sensuous. They also talked about the funding that Huanle Shiji Production Company received from a Korean company, specifically for their new soap opera—Shiguang Ru Meng. They indicated that the Korean company was GH Group, and the name of its chairman was Gun-Ho Goo. They also added that Chairman Gun-Ho Goo was fascinated by the scenario of Shiguang Ru Meng, and he gladly decided to make an investment in the drama.

"What? When was I fascinated by their scenario? That's a laugh. I didn't even read their scenario. I guess China has a lot of disgraceful journalists who wouldn't bother to do proper fact-checking, just like Korea."

Gun-Ho believed that the Chinese viewers would be interested in the new drama—Shiguang Ru Meng—especially because a Korean actress would play the lead female character, and the production was being funded by a Korean company.

"But, whether the drama would have high ratings or not is up to the drama itself. It has to be fun to watch."

Gun-Ho was counting on Director Woon-Hak Sim in that aspect. He must be an expert who knew better about how to make a drama fun and interesting to watch.

It was December.

The first episode of Shiguang Ru Meng aired already. It was the third drama for Huanle Shiji Production Company. With the previous experience and Gun-Ho's funds, they could focus better on shooting the drama without being distracted by all the worries about money and other things.

Also, the broadcasting station assigned a very good time slot for the drama to be on air. Gun-Ho believed that it must have something to do with Seukang Li. The viewers often shed tears while watching the drama as the story was being unfolded. It had a wide spectrum of audiences accordingly, and the ratings were high. Lia's beauty certainly helped the ratings.

GH Media's President Jeong-Sook Shin came up to Gun-Ho's office on the 18th floor.

"The Chinese TV drama—Shiguang Ru Meng—seems to be doing great, sir."

"Right. I read about it on the internet too."

"When I went to China last time to sign the contract, I heard Huanle Shiji's President Baogang Chen saying that the casting was very successful. He said that the actors and actresses were working in perfect harmony."

"Hmm, that's good to know. There is always a reason why something is successful, and also, there is a reason why something failed."

"Umm, sir…"

"Yes? What is it?"

"Umm…"

"It's okay. You can tell me."

"It's December now, and we are preparing financial documents concluding the year. I was wondering if we have to include Director Woon-Hak Sim's salary and other expenses related to the drama production in China into our company's accounts."

"Every business that was done under GH Media's name must be shown on your accounts including publishing business, Art Gallery, and drama production. You will also have to share each business's profits and losses as well."

"I am concerned about my 5% share. The profits from the drama production will start coming in next year, and that might complicate the calculation of my dividend."

"There is nothing complicated there. The drama production is being done as part of GH Media's business. Whether it gives loss or profit, 5% of it is yours, Ms. President Shin."

"Oh my gosh, are you saying that I will receive part of the profits coming from the drama production as well?"

"Of course."

President Jeong-Sook Shin smiled broadly.

"How did GH Media do this year?"

"It made more profits than last year, sir."

"The publishing business is a cultural industry, so we don't have to worry about VAT (Value Added Tax). Also, we don't have any loan taken out from a bank, so there is no payment to a financial institution either. So, GH Media's net profit will be about the same amount as its operating profit."

"I thank you for it, Mr. President Goo."

"Haha. I haven't done much. GH Media's success resulted from your ability and hard work in operating and developing the business, Ms. President Shin."

"For next year, I'm anticipating another success with our new plan—the broadcasting scriptwriters' works. I'm working on it right now, and we will publish them next year."

"The broadcasting scriptwriters?"

"Yes. Director Woon-Hak Sim introduced me with several good broadcasting scriptwriters."

"A broadcasting scenario can be a material to be published?"

"Haha, no, sir. We are publishing the broadcasting scriptwriters' essay books. There is this scriptwriter who appeared on a radio show before, and I'm sure this writer's essay book will sell very well. People tend to be intrigued by someone who was on a show either TV or radio."

"Really?"

"I learned that this scriptwriter graduated from Ehwa Women's University—the same college that I graduated from. And I'm senior to her. We get together sometimes to have a drink. I didn't know, but she came to our art gallery several times before."

"I see."

"She told me that her favorite art exhibitions were the Chinese young painters' avant-garde art exhibition and the one with Ms. Marion Kinsky's artworks—the French artist who is considered as the master of color aesthetics. She said she was amazed by those two. So, at that time, she asked around to find out who organized those art exhibitions. When she figured that it was me, she felt so proud since she graduated from the same college as me."

"I see."

"I met with her twice at our rooftop cafe. Her home is close to mine—Nonhyeon Town. If she happens to come to the area, I can introduce her to you, sir."

"Me? Oh, no, no. That's okay. I'm not very interested in socializing with writers."

"Haha. Sir, you should expand your choice of books. Read some novels and essays sometimes, not just management and business books, sir. You probably want to try to watch TV dramas as well."

"Haha. I will try when I have a chance."

After President Shin left the office, Gun-Ho mumbled to himself, "Since the Chinese drama achieved high ratings, I guess I won't have any problem recovering my investment funds. Seukang Li must be feeling relieved by now. He looked anxious when I saw him last time because he was at risk of losing his 300 million won that he had invested in that drama production company under his father's name."