Chapter 148
“The Asian market...”
Reid Hayes studied me carefully.
“Well, our ultimate goal is to become global someday.”
Then he gave me a probing look.
“But in your opinion, CEO Min, if we expanded into Asia, do you think we would actually succeed?”
I answered calmly, but without the slightest hesitation.
“Yes.”
“I believe you would.”
Reid Hayes laughed.
“Hahaha. How can you say that without even one second of hesitation?”
He seemed genuinely amused.
“Because I think Network Flex’s business model is truly innovative.”
I continued.
“I’m convinced that on-demand streaming itself will become the trend of the future.”
At my answer, Reid Hayes leaned forward with interest.
“Interesting.”
“What makes you so certain?”
“Well, this might sound like an obvious answer, but the technological environment is already falling into place.”
“Internet speeds are increasing all over the world.”
“Smartphones and tablets are also spreading at an explosive rate.”
I looked around the table.
“In other words, people are entering an age where they can consume content anytime and anywhere.”
Donnelly joined in.
“I agree with that.”
“Even when I go into a coffee shop these days, everyone seems to be watching something on their smartphones.”
I continued.
“And people no longer want to wait around for a television schedule just to watch a movie or drama they like.”
“They want to watch the content they want, at the time they want, in the place they want.”
Ha Sangdo nodded.
“I read a study saying that’s one of the defining traits of millennials.”
“They hate waiting.”
“I think it was connected to impatience or something like that.”
He laughed.
“Whatever the reason, it does seem obvious that young people these days hate waiting.”
Just then, Gil Boyoung, who had been quietly listening, seemed to remember something.
“Ah.”
“When I used Network Flex for the first time, the thing I liked most was being able to watch an entire drama all at once.”
She smiled.
“Binge-watching.”
“It felt strange at first, but I loved it.”
“I think Network Flex made a really smart move with that.”
Reid Hayes kept nodding as he listened closely to our conversation.
I looked at him again.
“But honestly, everything I just said is probably something Network Flex already analyzed and predicted before starting this business, isn’t it?”
“Of course.”
Reid Hayes smiled.
“We’re running a business, so naturally we’re always analyzing and predicting.”
“But as you know, CEO Min...”
He paused.
“Making a prediction and having that prediction actually come true are two different things.”
He fell into thought for a moment before continuing.
“To be honest... that was one of the things even I wasn’t completely certain about.”
“Would this really become a long-term trend?”
“Or would it simply remain a temporary phenomenon?”
He looked at me.
“But after listening to you, I’m starting to think this may be an irreversible change.”
I smiled.
“Just as iTunes changed the music industry, I believe on-demand streaming will change the video industry.”
“And right now, you may be focused on the American market.”
“But someday, I believe Network Flex will inevitably expand globally.”
I paused.
“And when that day comes...”
Then I continued.
“Asia, and Korea in particular, will become one of your most important footholds.”
Donnelly and Ha Sangdo both looked at me with interest.
Reid Hayes smiled.
“That’s interesting.”
“Why Korea, specifically?”
“Because you’re Korean?”
“Well, yes.”
I smiled.
“I’m sure being Korean is part of why I say that.”
“There probably aren’t many people who understand Korea better than I do.”
“But that isn’t the only reason.”
“Go on.”
I took a sip of wine before continuing.
“Korea has some of the best internet infrastructure in the world.”
“High-speed internet penetration is already above ninety percent.”
“The market is practically ready for a service like yours.”
“And then there’s the way Koreans consume content.”
“Koreans adopt new platforms and technologies extremely quickly.”
“You only need to look at smartphone adoption to understand that.”
“Interesting.”
Reid Hayes leaned forward again.
“And?”
“And finally...”
I looked directly into his eyes.
“The strength of Korean content.”
“Korean content?”
“Yes.”
“Korean content has something unique.”
I continued.
“When I met Director Jean Dumont recently, he told me something.”
“He said that when he watches Korean films, he often feels, Ah, this is an emotion only Koreans could have.”
“But when he looks at the themes underneath, the emotions are incredibly universal.”
I smiled.
“That means Korean content contains something distinctly Korean while still dealing with feelings that anyone in the world can understand.”
“Those emotions and themes cross borders.”
Gil Boyoung smirked at me.
“Kibaek, you sound like some kind of ambassador for Korean content right now.”
Everyone at the table laughed.
I smiled awkwardly.
“I may have gotten a little too passionate.”
“But I mean every word.”
Reid Hayes smiled back.
“Actually, we’ve been discussing global expansion recently.”
“But for now, we still need to concentrate on the American market.”
“Of course.”
I nodded.
“You’ve only just begun producing your own originals.”
“It makes sense to focus more on America for the time being.”
“But...”
Reid Hayes stopped for a moment.
Then he continued.
“After hearing what you’ve said, the Korean market does sound genuinely interesting.”
“And after reading the articles about Kingdom of Crime today...”
He nodded.
“I was struck by how high the quality of Korean content seems to be.”
Donnelly agreed.
“I feel the same.”
“James recommended Korean films to me, so I watch them fairly often.”
He chuckled.
“Korean films seem to produce incredibly high quality on budgets that would be absurdly low by Hollywood standards.”
