Story of a Big Player from Gangnam

Gun-Ho was about to hang up the phone when BM Entertainment's manager quickly brought up another topic.

"I'd like to talk to you about one more thing, sir."

"Sure, go ahead."

"I don't mean to be presumptuous, sir, but I just want to mention Director Woon-Hak Sim's pay, if you have a second to spare for me."

"What about his pay?"

"The main actress of the Chinese TV drama—Shiguang Ru Meng—is Lia, and BM Entertainment is her agency. Huanle Shiji Production Company sends the pay for Lia directly to us, not to Lia with a receipt, and we pay Lia after deducting expenses and other fees."

"Of course, you do."

"We actually already paid Lia in advance for her work with the drama. Of course, we withhold taxes from her paycheck though. Since her work with the drama hasn't been completed yet, we will have to make some adjustments on the amount of taxes that we are withholding."

"You are telling me what I already know."

"I was told that Director Sim is receiving a salary from GH Media, which is not much. I understand that he is also receiving a salary from Huanle Shiji Production Company as well, but as we both know, the amount of salary received in China is very low since it is determined considering the living expenses in China. It's really low if he has to spend it in Korea."

"Hmm."

"I just wanted to remind you that Director Sim is being underpaid for his work."

"That wouldn't be all that he would receive for his work. We have a plan for him."

"Oh, you do? Well, then I feel relieved for him."

Gun-Ho couldn't tell BM Entertainment's manager about Director Sim's low credit score, and that the current payment setting for him was the best that he could think of under Director Sim's situation. If Director Sim made more than the amount of basic living expenses, his creditors or the National Tax Service would probably seize the money.

'I can't tell people that Director Sim is a person with a bad credit score. It will constitute a privacy violation.'

After getting off the phone with BM Entertainment's manager, Gun-Ho thought about what BM Entertainment's manager told him.

'Director Sim is currently receiving a monthly salary of 1 million won from GH Media, and 12,000 Yuan from Huanle Shiji Production Company in China. It's not enough to set aside a certain amount for savings. Director Sim hasn't said anything about it, but I'm sure he must be concerned about his low pay.'

Gun-Ho didn't want Director Sim to worry about it because he could be distracted and not be able to fully focus on his current work. Gun-Ho made a call to China right away.

"Mr. Director Sim?"

"Oh, sir?"

"Are you busy right now? Is it a good time to talk?"

"I'm on my break right now. I can talk."

"Have you received the translated synopsis of the movie—Menghuan Yinghua?"

"Yes, sir. I've finished reading it."

"What do you think?"

"I can't be sure until I see the full scenario, but I think it's good. The scenario is being translated right now, and I need to see it before I can tell more about it. But, I can see why the author is so famous here. Her description of each character is amazing. The movie will definitely help the viewers understand the Chinese and Japanese cultures, and it will also satisfy the currently prevalent Chinese nationalism."

"Is that right? Well, I want to hear more after you read the full scenario later. I want to hear your professional analysis and evaluation. Well, I actually called you today to talk about your pay."

"My pay, sir?"

"Your monthly salary from GH Media was determined to be 1 million won due to your personal situation. And, I believe that you are receiving a salary in China for the amount that is just enough to pay for your living expenses there. We haven't really talked about how much we will actually pay you for your work."

"Well…"

"I've sent 1 million dollars to Huanle Shiji Production Company, but I haven't received any return for my investment fund yet, and I can't really predict how much I should expect to make either. I've been doing business in the manufacturing field mostly, and I don't know much about the entertainment industry, so I don't have information to base my prediction on how much profit I would make from this specific investment."

"I will take whatever you decide for me, sir."

"I will have to see the income coming in from Huanle Shiji Production Company first before I determine the salary I could give you. But, I can tell you now that you won't be disappointed with the amount that I would determine for you."

"Thank you, sir."

"And, I suggest that when you have time, come to Korea and file for general rehabilitation with the court. I believe that this is the right time for it."

"Is it the right time for me to file for general rehabilitation, sir?"

"I used to work as the managing director of a company called Mulpasaneop. That company was in rehabilitation at that time. So, I know the process. Bring your paystubs from GH Media and from Huanle Shiji Production Company when you meet with an attorney."

"It's going to cost me a lot to file it."

"I will make an advance payment for you."

"Pay in advance? Well, sir, I appreciate your concern, I really do; however, for the work filing for general rehabilitation, attorneys usually ask for an incentive as well. When I was in Korea, I did my homework. For personal rehabilitation, I can work with a certified legal consultant's office, and it costs about 1 million won for the case. But for general rehabilitation, I have to retain an attorney, and they will ask for 15 million won and an incentive if the case is concluded successfully. I just couldn't afford it, and I still can't."

"Well, you still have to do it. You don't want to live with your current status forever."

"…"

"When a movie or a TV drama becomes a box office hit, the actual beneficiaries from the success are the actors or actresses, or the screenwriter. You won't get much benefits from it as a director. Of course, you will receive more pay, but it won't be enough at all to pay off your debt. Since the TV drama—Shiguang Ru Meng—is doing well, I will give you an advance payment, so you can pay for the attorney fee. I will give you the attorney fee now, and I will later give you the amount to pay for the incentive."

"Understood, sir. Thank you."

"So, you will visit Korea soon, right?"

"Yes, sir, I will. GH Media's President Jeong-Sook Shin and BM Entertainment's manager don't know about my situation, do they?"

"They don't. They are just guessing that you might be in financial difficulty. They don't know anything for sure about your situation. It's only between you and me."

"Thank you, sir."

It was the end of April when Gun-Ho received a call from GH Mobile's general affairs director.

"Sir, it's Director Joon-Young Choi from GH Mobile."

"Yes."

"I met with the owner of the factory next door. He seemed to be interested in selling it as well."

"How much is he asking?"

"He said that he has to ask at least 1.8 million won per pyung since the building is located on the road."

"The building is partially on the road, just a small portion of it."

"He said that is why he is asking only 1.8 million won. According to him, it would well have been more than 2 million won per pyung."

"How large is it?"

"It's 2,500 pyung large, sir."

"2,500 pyung large with 1.8 million won pyung… Well, it's 4.5 billion won then."

"That's correct, sir."

"How is the building? Is it usable without any repair or addition?"

"It looks good. I didn't see any particular part that requires our immediate attention for repair. Its power capacity is good, and overhead cranes are in place. It also has a system to allow us to use underground water, so we won't have any problem utilizing it as cooling water. There is a motor installed to pump up the underground water."

"Sounds good. Well, try to lower the price with the owner, and make the sales and purchase contract. If the factory is vacant, ask Mr. President Song to visit it."

"Mr. President Song already visited the factory once."

"What did he say about it?"

"He said that it looks in a good shape, and we just need to repair the bathroom and paint the wall and that it doesn't seem to require any major repair at all."

"I see. Can you transfer this call to Ms. Director Min-Hwa Kim at the accounting team?"