Chapter 186
Even after Han Taesung’s explanation, Baek Seonghan still looked unconvinced.
“That may be true, but... if we’re going to build our own platform, shouldn’t we also be stockpiling a lot of content to put on it?”
“But if we give our projects to Network Flex...”
No matter how much he thought about it, the numbers didn’t seem to add up for him.
“Executive Director Baek has a point.”
“But we need to approach this situation more strategically.”
“Strategically?”
I continued explaining to the doubtful Baek Seonghan.
“Just as CEO Han said, it will take us at least two or three years to build our own OTT platform.”
“But if we work with Network Flex during that time, there are at least three things we can gain.”
“Three things?”
Baek Seonghan crossed his arms.
“Yes.”
“First, know-how in operating a global OTT platform.”
“I already asked Reid Hayes to let our team participate in promotion and marketing if we work together, so that should be possible.”
Han Taesung immediately looked at me in disbelief.
“Is that true?”
“They actually agreed to let us participate in promotion and marketing?”
I nodded.
“Yes.”
“He did give me a hard time for openly saying I wanted to learn their know-how.”
“But yes.”
“If that happens, we’ll be able to learn, directly and indirectly, how their recommendation algorithms work, how they analyze user data, and how they build global marketing strategies.”
“That’s remarkable.”
Han Taesung looked genuinely impressed.
“Sharing that kind of know-how wouldn’t be easy.”
He said that kind of experience couldn’t be bought with money.
“And second, we can test and prove the global competitiveness of Korean content.”
If dramas produced by us succeeded after being distributed worldwide through Network Flex, that would prove the global value of Korean content.
“And once that happens, when we launch our own platform, investors, producers, and actors will all trust us enough to follow.”
Han Taesung looked at me approvingly.
“As expected.”
“When it comes to analysis, you may be one step ahead of me.”
“Then what’s the third one?”
Baek Seonghan, now completely absorbed in the explanation, urged me on.
“Timing.”
“Timing?”
“Yes.”
“In my opinion, the real OTT war in Korea will begin around 2018 or 2019.”
Baek Seonghan tilted his head.
“How do you know that?”
“It could go in the opposite direction.”
Of course I knew because I had already lived through that future before my regression.
But there was no way I could say that.
“Looking at current global trends, it’s something we can predict to some extent.”
“Network Flex is already changing the paradigm of the global media market.”
“And latecomers like A-Prime Video and Hululu are growing too.”
I paused briefly before continuing.
“If that trend continues, then within two or three years, companies in Korea will start jumping into the OTT business one after another.”
“Hmm....”
Baek Seonghan’s expression became much more serious than before.
I continued.
“But by then, several players will already have entered the Korean market, and competition will be fierce.”
“Now, if we start preparing today and enter the market in 2018 or 2019 with a polished platform...”
“We can establish ourselves first.”
Baek Seonghan finally uncrossed his arms and rubbed his chin.
“Exactly.”
“And by then, through our cooperation with Network Flex, we should already have one or two global hits under our belt.”
“Those projects can become killer content for our own platform.”
“Global hits?”
Han Taesung laughed lightly.
“You seem very certain that the dramas we make will succeed on Network Flex.”
“Seriously.”
Baek Seonghan laughed along.
“Confidence is one thing you certainly don’t lack. Hahaha.”
I understood why the two of them reacted like that.
They had no idea just how enormously popular the dramas we would create were going to become worldwide.
I looked at them without the slightest hesitation.
“Yes.”
“Because I’m confident I can make dramas that succeed.”
For some reason, Baek Seonghan looked slightly awkward in the face of my certainty and quickly changed the subject.
“But as far as I know, Network Flex titles are supplied exclusively, aren’t they?”
“Or am I wrong?”
“As I said earlier, IP ownership and the exclusive streaming period are still matters we need to negotiate.”
And even if, in the worst case, we couldn’t bring those titles back to our own platform later, viewers who had learned how entertaining Korean content could be would eventually use our platform too.
“Either way, the production know-how and global network we build during those years will remain entirely ours.”
“So this isn’t about helping a competitor grow.”
“It’s about using them as a stepping stone so we can climb even higher.”
Han Taesung nodded with satisfaction.
“As expected.”
“You really are excellent at arranging the board.”
“That must be why Vice President Richard tried to recruit you.”
I froze.
“What?”
“How did you know that?”
I wasn’t the only one surprised.
Baek Seonghan also turned toward me in shock.
“Director Min, is that true?”
“Quantum tried to recruit you?”
Before I could properly react, Han Taesung continued.
“Vice President Richard told me at the party last night.”
“He said he offered Director Min the position of head of Quantum’s Asia branch, but Director Min turned it down.”
“W-Wait.”
Baek Seonghan’s eyes widened.
“You turned down an offer to become a branch head?!”
“It didn’t feel like the right place for me.”
“And more than anything, I like working at Big Picture as a content producer.”
“But...”
Baek Seonghan still looked unable to believe it.
“A branch-head position at a global company like Quantum must come with an enormous salary.”
Of course it probably did.
But when it came to money, I already had more than enough.
Far more than enough, actually.
There were all the performance bonuses and incentives I had received over the years.
The profits from Kingdom of Crime.
The cash and equity I received when New Wave was acquired and merged into Big Picture.
And on top of all that, I had gradually invested that money into stocks and real estate using my knowledge of the future.
If Baek Seonghan ever heard the actual number, he would probably fall backward out of his chair.
While I was briefly lost in thought, Han Taesung continued.
“That’s why when I heard Reid Hayes contacted you first and wanted to meet, I wondered if you had received another recruitment offer.”
He was right, of course.
But I saw no reason to mention that now.
And now I finally understood the strange tension that had appeared on Han Taesung’s face when I first told him I had met Reid Hayes.
“Anyway, from my perspective, I’m simply grateful that you chose to remain with me...”
He corrected himself.
“No.”
“That you chose to remain with Big Picture.”
“It’s nothing like that.”
“As I just said, I genuinely enjoy and feel happy working here as a content producer.”
Han Taesung simply nodded.
“Oh, and...”
I paused for a moment.
“Since we’re already talking about this, how about instead of completely absorbing Big Picture into Hanshin Media, Hanshin acquires only a certain equity stake and leaves Big Picture independent operating authority as a label?”
Han Taesung looked thoughtful.
“To be honest, after going through this Quantum sale and partnership, I’ve had the same thought.”
“At first, I wanted to absorb Big Picture into Hanshin as quickly as possible and bring people like you, people who could become my hands and feet, under one roof.”
“But the more I thought about it...”
“I started wondering whether that might actually become poison.”
Han Taesung was wary of the decision-making bottlenecks that came with growing organizations.
Especially in an industry where creativity and speed were essential, complicated procedures could easily become a toxin that strangled growth.
“Yes.”
“That’s exactly why I brought it up.”
“Big Picture itself has already become quite large, with dramas, films, and VFX under the same roof.”
I suggested that at this point, it might make more sense to divide the company into more specialized units and have Hanshin manage those labels at a higher level.
That approach would spread risk, preserve creative independence, and create a more diverse portfolio.
“I agree with that.”
Baek Seonghan, who had been listening seriously, suddenly joined in.
“Big Picture has definitely gotten much bigger.”
“The amount of work that needs quick decisions keeps increasing, but even getting approvals up to my desk takes longer and longer.”
Han Taesung nodded.
“All right.”
“Let’s return to Korea and discuss this carefully again.”
Time passed, and eventually all of our schedules in San Francisco came to an end.
Just as they had greeted us at San Francisco International Airport when we first arrived, Ha Sangdo and Frank came to see us off when it was time to leave.
“We’ll see you again in Korea soon.”
Han Taesung held out his hand to Frank.
“Yes.”
“We’ll prepare as quickly as possible and come over.”
While Han Taesung and Frank exchanged their final goodbyes, I said farewell to Ha Sangdo.
“Hyung.”
“What are you going to do about what you mentioned?”
“I’m still thinking about it.”
“I want a little more time.”
A few days earlier, I had told Ha Sangdo about my meeting with Network Flex CEO Reid Hayes.
And during that conversation, Ha Sangdo had unexpectedly told me something of his own.
A headhunter from Korea’s financial sector had approached him with a recruitment offer.
“When I think about the kids, staying in America is probably better.”
“But honestly...”
“There’s a limit to how high someone like me... no, an Asian can rise here.”
Come to think of it...
Before my regression, I first met Ha Sangdo in 2018.
That would mean this was around the time he returned to Korea.
“And watching you from the side has made me want to learn about the entertainment business too.”
That had caught me off guard.
Damn.
What do I do with this?
I knew very well how Ha Sangdo would eventually establish the film company Seungseung Janggu and how badly it would collapse.
But he wasn’t saying he was about to launch a film company right now.
He was only debating whether to return to Korea.
It wasn’t my place to dictate his life.
“Hyung, like I said before, whatever decision you make, I’ll support you.”
“And if you do come back to Korea, make sure you call me.”
“Got it?”
Rather than opposing him blindly, I chose to support him.
“Yeah.”
“Thanks.”
“I’ll contact you if I go back to Korea.”
“And call more often.”
After finishing our goodbyes, we headed toward the departure gates.
Once I boarded the plane, I stared out the window and fell into thought.
There was a mountain of work waiting for me back in Korea.
Yet my head felt lighter than it had in a long time.
“Right.”
“Now the real beginning starts.”
