Chaebol

We headed to a nearby café.

Bong Joon-oh still had a bewildered look on his face as we sat down.

"What would you like to drink?"

When Jung Jin-wook asked, Bong Joon-oh just blinked.

"Is coffee okay with you?"

"Oh, yes, coffee is fine."

While Jung Jin-wook placed the order, Bong Joon-oh turned his gaze towards me.

The moment our eyes met, he quickly looked away with an awkward smile.

A short while later, when the coffee arrived, Bong Joon-oh asked hesitantly,

"Has the director not arrived yet?"

It seemed he couldn't even imagine that I was the director.

"I'm the director."

At my words, Bong Joon-oh jumped slightly in his seat.

But then, thinking he might have overreacted, he quickly changed his expression, probably assuming it was some child's play.

Once again, Bong Joon-oh looked at Jung Jin-wook for confirmation.

"Where is the director…?"

"He's right here."

"What?"

"This is Director Park Ji-hoon."

Bong Joon-oh slowly turned his head back toward me with a shocked expression.

"You're the director?"

"Yes. I read the manuscript you sent."

"You… you read it yourself?"

Perhaps he thought the content was too complex for an 11-year-old to grasp.

The concern in his eyes was evident, worrying that the director's judgment might undervalue his work.

Hmm.

It was time to demonstrate a bit of my ability if only to facilitate smoother communication.

Well then.

"One of your pieces really caught my attention. That's why I wanted to meet you."

"…Which piece was it?"

"The one about the unsolved cases."

"Ah, yes."

I began to explain which parts stood out to me, taking my time.

"The culprit always hides in the reeds before emerging. After the crime, the victim is abandoned in a reed field. It seems that scene encapsulates the main message of the comic."

"...!"

I clearly saw his eyes widen with surprise.

Bong Joon-oh straightened up and asked,

"Why… why did you find those scenes important?"

"Because they perfectly explain why the culprit was never caught."

I continued with my interpretation.

"Imagine a reed field taller than a person. If I walked in, who could find me? And if I wielded a knife within that field, would anyone be able to notice?"

Gulp.

Bong Joon-oh's Adam's apple bobbed visibly.

"It was an era when the state was pointing guns and swords at its own people. In the vast violence of that reed field, crimes committed by individuals would be invisible. Those scenes sharply highlighted the structural issues within our society."

"How did you…?"

"It was all in the work."

"Well, yes, but still…"

How could an 11-year-old understand all that?

Sorry, but I've watched Memories of Murder at least five times.

If I started discussing it, I could go on forever… but since I'm only 11, I should cut it short.

"The strength of this piece is that even without knowing the director's message, it's still entertaining. It has a strong narrative pull."

Bong Joon-oh didn't respond, just gaping at me with his mouth open.

Seeing that his reaction wasn't likely to change anytime soon, I took the initiative.

"Is it that difficult to read and think about? Especially when the creator is right here."

"But there's also the biological age…"

"That's something I wanted to ask you about."

"…?"

"How does a university freshman create a story like this?"

"Well, I've always liked daydreaming…"

"I'm similar. I've been reading world classics since I was much younger."

"If you don't mind me asking, how old are you?"

"Eleven."

Bong Joon-oh stared at me for a long time, his face frozen in disbelief.

What else could he do? There was someone like that right in front of him, after all.

By the time Bong Joon-oh finished his coffee, I started discussing business.

"Why did you draw the comic?"

"I needed the prize money, but I wasn't confident in writing a novel. Since I've liked comics since I was young, I thought I'd make one and give it a shot."

Right after Bong Joon-oh answered, a second cup of coffee was placed in front of him.

I waited for a moment before speaking again.

"The manuscript was excellent. It could be published right now without any issues. But it's difficult to award a prize because it doesn't fit the submission category, and it raises concerns about fairness."

"I understand."

Bong Joon-oh gave a bitter smile.

His eyes showed deep regret as if realizing that his only hope had slipped away.

"Even so, I wanted to meet you because of a personal desire."

"…?"

"I want to sign a contract with you."

"Are you talking about publishing the comic as a standalone book…?"

"No. I'm talking about an agency contract."

"An agency contract?"

"There are many agencies in the U.S. that manage only writers."

"...!"

"The contract would be for you as a film director. You'd be directing films and leading dozens of staff members."

It seemed like my words hadn't fully sunk in for him yet.

But given Hyungang's reputation, he couldn't just dismiss it as nonsense.

"I'm sorry, I don't quite understand."

"Ask anything you're curious about."

"So… you're saying you'll find work for me to direct movies?"

"That's right."

"And what makes you believe in me?"

"I read your manuscript."

"But that's a comic… and we're talking about movies here…"

That's exactly why we're signing you.

If it were just a comic… I wouldn't have bothered, ahem.

"Think of it as a type of investment."

"I would love to work, but what does the company gain from this?"

"Prestige."

"…?"

"Hyungang will gain the prestige of having Bong Joon-oh as a director in its agency."

"What does that even mean…"

Perhaps due to the confidence in my eyes, Bong Joon-oh quickly changed his question.

"So, how long would the contract be for? Is it a lifetime contract until the investment is recovered… or if not, do I get sold off as a slave…?"

That's an imaginative thought, but no.

"Not at all. The industry standard is about five years."

"So, if I don't get my debut within five years, the company just takes a loss?"

"Are you worried about Hyungang?"

"Oh, no, that's not it…"

"If it bothers you, you can always renew the contract then."

"If I don't debut even after that, I'll still be only 30… too early to make my debut…"

"Then, just renew it again."

"Hah!"

Now he seemed completely lost.

He started scratching the back of his head.

"If you've decided, we can discuss the signing bonus."

"What? There's a signing bonus too?"

"How about we match the contest prize at ten million won? That seems reasonable."

His gaping mouth likely signaled agreement.

"Team Leader Jung, please bring the contract."

Bong Joon-oh fiddled with the Montblanc fountain pen for a while.

"I've always dreamed of signing a contract with this pen. Never thought I'd achieve that dream at just twenty."

He soon tried to open the pen.

But the cap wouldn't budge, no matter how much he pulled.

"You have to twist it."

"Oh… I've never used one before."

Bong Joon-oh then carefully signed his name on the contract, writing it in neat block letters with no flair.

"What's the first thing you want to do with the signing bonus?"

"I'll start by buying equipment. Camera, film, lights, microphone… what else… Ah, and I'll make sure to cover the actors' meals too…"

"So, it's all going into production costs?"

"Well… yes."

"You're filming a short, right?"

"Yes."

"What's the title?"

"Paradise."

I've seen all of Bong Joon-ho's short films, but I've never heard of that one.

Hmm.

Maybe it didn't win any awards, so no records were kept, or maybe the film fell apart due to issues with the Hanyang University students.

In any case.

"When the film is finished, you'll show it to me, right?"

"Of course. You're my agent."

Heh.

"Since we're on the topic, can I offer you a piece of advice? As your agent."

"…As my agent."

Bong Joon-oh slowly repeated the unfamiliar word, as if he needed time to get used to it.

After a suitable pause, I spoke again.

"When I saw you filming earlier, I noticed you were very focused on directing the actors."

"Ah, yes."

"Why not cast a professional actor? Instead of aspiring actors, how about someone from a theater troupe?"

"That would be great, but I don't know if a professional actor would work with someone like me who hasn't even debuted…"

"Or maybe there are real prodigies still in school."

"Prodigies?"

"I heard there's an acting prodigy at Dongguk University's Department of Theater. Haven't you heard?"

Could a first-year university student really be up-to-date on other schools? I asked even though I knew the answer.

Bong Joon-oh scratched his head like he was guilty of something.

"Dongguk University's Department of Theater, you say?"

He immediately opened the fountain pen's cap, ready to jot down any information.

"I don't know the details, but I remember one name."

"Knowing the name is more than enough!"

With eyes shining brighter than when I mentioned the signing bonus, Bong Joon-oh eagerly asked,

"Wh-who is it?"

"Choi Min-seok."

"Choi. Min. Seok."

Bong Joon-oh pronounced the name carefully as if trying to memorize every syllable.

"Is he really that good at acting?"

It goes without saying—he's one of Korea's greatest actors.

The "Hwalin"'s Kangje, All Boy's Go Dae-soo, Crime Wars's Choi Wook-hyun, and so on.

Every character Choi Min-seok has portrayed has left a powerful impression on me.

It's surprising that the best director, Bong Joon-ho, and the top actor, Choi Min-seok, have never worked together.

Maybe I'm connecting these two simply out of curiosity.

So what?

I'm already spending a lot of money.

I can indulge myself a bit, can't I?

Anyway.

Bong Joon-oh stared at the carefully written name for a while before speaking.

"I've signed a contract, met an actor, and had a dream-like day."

It was time for him to return to reality.

He was about to hand back the fountain pen.

But it's not like I couldn't just buy another one.

"Keep it, Director."

"What?"

"You'll need it to sign the re-contract."

"I'll need to get another contract offer in five years…"

Bong Joon-oh awkwardly replied.

"Oh, and Director, just out of curiosity…"

"…?"

"Are there other writers in the agency besides me?"

"Yes, there's a game director."

"In games?"

His interest was piqued.

"You'll find out soon enough, but he's just starting out, so you might not recognize him."

"Sounds like you chose him based on potential, just like me."

Hmm.

In reality, both of you are winning lottery tickets…

I didn't plan it, but I've secured the brightest talents in both film and gaming.

Since it's come to this… Should I think big?

I smiled at the amusing thought.